A few years ago, we noticed that our son possessed an intriguing skill. A knack, if you will. He could find lost coins seemingly anywhere. Walking down the alley after school? Oh look, a dime! Standing in the arena parking lot? Oh look, a quarter! Roasting marshmallows on the campfire? Oh look, a Loonie!
So fascinating was this gift that his mother and I set about finding a way to exploit it. As good parents do. For his benefit, of course. For Christmas gift ideas. Honest. We’re not shallow.
The fruit of this brainstorming was a Bounty Hunter Tracker IV metal detector and with it, the beginning of our metal detecting journey. Hey, if he can routinely find money with just luck imagine the booty he could accumulate with some technological support! Uh, I mean fun. Imagine the fun he could have. Not shallow.
And it’s a good thing we aren’t shallow because as far as get-rich-quick schemes go, metal detecting is only marginally faster than procrastination. A lot more fun, but oh so slow.
In fact, like many hobbies, metal detecting can be a bit of a money pit. Sure, our Tracker IV was relatively inexpensive at the time, at a touch over $100 on sale. This very entry level detector is a decidedly analog beast, with dial knobs and a needle gauge. It works but it’s far more Volkswagen Beetle than Porsche 911. Or Honda Accord, for that matter. Take a step into the modern, digital world, however, and detector costs can rise to several hundred or even thousands of dollars.
Then there’s the complementary equipment you’ll soon find yourself buying; some required, some optional. It turns out the stereotypical metal detector you’re familiar with is somewhat insufficient for uncovering buried treasures on its own. It’ll find the general location of a target, speculate as to its composition, maybe even estimate its depth, but unless you want to dig potholes all over creation, you’d be wise to invest in a secondary metal detecting device known as a pinpointer.
Pinpointers are miniature, handheld metal detectors that, as the name suggests, help narrow down the location of the item within the ground. The most popular model, made by Garrett, is bright orange, about 25 cm long, and affectionately known as a carrot.
A pinpointer is a detectorist’s six shooter, so a holster is often preferred over slipping it into your waistband. Not necessarily an expensive accessory, but if you colour-coordinate with seasonal metal detecting outfits, you may need more than one.
Once you’ve (cough) pinpointed your target, you’re going to need something to dig it up. The most grizzled metal detecting veterans can pluck a coin out of six inches of ground with a flathead screwdriver, but for the rest of us mortals some sort of shovel is required. A digging tool, if you will.
A small garden trowel can suffice, but some of the cheaper versions are less adept at slicing into turf. Thankfully, there are many task-specific digging tools available, many with sharpened or even serrated edges to facilitate cutting through sod, small roots, or compacted dirt.
A digging tool is a detectorist’s second six shooter. Or maybe it’s more of a Bowie knife. Regardless of your preferred metaphor, another holster is on the wish list, pardner.
For older detectorists, getting down to the ground can be difficult and long-handled digging tools are quite popular to enable digging from an upright position. Akin to a garden shovel, these devices sport a narrower blade again to reduce ground disturbance while hunting.
All this digging can get rather dirty, not to mention blistery. I highly recommend gloves to protect your beloved hands. Here again, garden gloves will work but there are specialty metal detecting gloves available that fit the hand snuggly enabling better tactility when trying to remove targets from their prison.
Everything changes if you’re metal detecting beaches. Beach hunting is exponentially easier than hard-ground metal detecting and produces far less ground disturbance. An ethical detectorist aims to minimize impacts on the environment everywhere they hunt, and sifting through sand is more conducive to success in attaining this goal.
Instead of a digging tool, beach hunters use a sand scoop. A sand scoop is essentially a sifter that allows the sand to drain away while keeping the treasures within. They can be cheap and plastic or expensive and stainless steel, handheld or with extended handle. Seriously, a top-notch, metal sand scoop with an extended, removable handle for upright use can run a couple hundred bucks.
Of course, everybody embarks on their metal detecting adventure with the expectation of finding stuff. Be it treasure or junk, you’re going to need somewhere to stow your finds until you get back to your vehicle or home. Pockets do work but after about the fourth time dropping to your knees and impaling yourself with the rusted nail in your pants, you’ll understand the appeal of a metal detecting pouch.
Reminiscent of a fanny pack, but sexier (I promise!), these pouches allow for safe storage of your finds during a hunt while keeping your nether region unscathed. They also allow for easy removal of trash unearthed during your hunt, another important element of the detectorist’s code.
Now, if you’ve ever used a metal detector or been around one in use, you’ll know there’s one last accessory you’ll likely want to add to your arsenal. Headphones. Detectors relay their information via assorted beeps and squeals, not unlike R2D2. These sounds can be quite loud and in busy, public spaces, rather annoying, also not unlike R2D2. Headphones eliminate both your disruption of the public and the public’s disruption of the tell-tale beeps and squeals revealing your successful target acquisition.
As you can imagine, all this gear can add up to significant dollars. Oh, you can do it on a budget with second-hand and off-brand purchases. In fact, when starting out, I’d wholly recommend keeping it modest to be sure metal detecting is to your liking. Then, once you’ve triggered your addiction, you can begin the process of upgrading and filling-out your metal detecting kit.
If you really want to get hardcore, branded clothing that matches your gear can bring your entire collection together. With hats, shirts, and jackets emblazoned with famous metal detecting brands, it’ll put the most audacious billionaire socialite to shame. Instead of Prada, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton, you’ll be decked out in the finest Garrett, Nokta, and Minelab has to offer.
Thankfully, you may not even have to pay for such garb. I mean, you can if you want to, but I prefer free. And with such items being common prizes at metal detecting club events and seeded hunts, free is certainly a possibility.
This is the final cost a budding detectorist must account for, fees. Metal detecting can certainly be a rewarding individual pursuit, but like many hobbies, finding like-minded fans enhances the experience. And for novices, the knowledge and comradery of a metal detecting club can be invaluable.
It’s what we did soon after our inaugural hunt with the Bounty Hunter Tracker IV. We found our local metal detecting club, many major cities or regions have one, and joined. We started in the spring attending regular weekend club hunts at local schoolyards and finished in the fall with a club camping weekend and seeded hunt at a member’s rural property. It was a fabulous initiating to metal detecting and we met great people who welcomed us to the club and the hobby. They helped us understand our detector and shared knowledge on the ins-and-outs of metal detecting.
We’ve now paid our dues for our fourth hunting season. Along the way we’ve won several prizes, including the aforementioned branded clothing as well as some of the items discussed above. There is no shortage of pouches in our possession.
We’ve also won some more substantial prizes. A gold coin is displayed proudly on my son’s desk and a collapsable detector awaits our next trip abroad. He won both at an annual seeded hunt presented by a metal detecting retailer in our city. It truly is a great community with generous sponsors. Don’t miss out.
So, why aren’t we rich yet? Beyond experience, that is. Well, I’ll leave that for my next post. The reality of metal detecting is, shall we say, enlightening.