If you are looking for an ultimate guide for your next metal detecting quest in Arkansas, you’ve come to the right spot.
Metal detecting is a pastime in which individuals use a metal detector to search for expensive and rare metals such as gold and silver that may be sold for a profit. As a leisure pastime, this hobby has a lengthy history. Going on a treasure search while earning money, on the other hand, is a relatively new option. Detecting these uncommon metals has gotten a lot simpler thanks to technological advancements in metal detectors, as long as you know where to look.
Arkansas is a popular treasure-seeking and metal detecting state. The weather is perfect for metal detecting, and the area is full of undiscovered gems and gold. Metal detecting is made more enjoyable by the state’s beaches, rivers, lakes, and streams. On your adventure, you never know what you’ll find: diamonds, money, Civil War artifacts, or even gold nuggets. You should, however, do your study and get aware of the local and federal rules that regulate metal detecting in The Natural State.
Metal detecting laws in Arkansas
Even if we don’t want the government to become involved in our leisure activities, historical sites on their land must be protected. As a result, metal detecting legislation and regulations differ from state to state.
Metal detecting standards and restrictions have been established for state-owned facilities in Arkansas. Metal detecting on federal land, on the other hand, is supervised by the Archeological Resources Preservation Act, or ARPA.
Keep in mind that metal detecting limitations under ARPA or state legislation only applies to public or federal land. Metal detecting is only authorized on private land with the owner’s or lessee’s express authorization.
The rules for metal detecting in Arkansas are simple. Make sure you aren’t metal detecting in historically significant places of Arkansas. On any historical site, metal detecting and earth-digging are banned. As a result, exercise caution when excavating native mounds, burial sites, or earthworks.
Furthermore, using metal detectors on Trust’s property without permission is illegal in Arkansas.
If you’re metal detecting in Arkansas on a state or federal land, don’t dig up anything that looks like an artifact or is more than 100 years old. Notify officials if you find and gather a historical artifact so they can properly care for it. Metal detecting is likewise prohibited in Arkansas National Parks unless previous permission has been granted. Metal detecting, on the other hand, is authorized as a recreational activity in Arkansas’s public parks. It’s possible, but unlikely, that you’ll be granted authorization to metal detect in designated historical sites.
Overall, while metal detecting in Arkansas, it is critical to understand and respect the restrictions. Breaking these regulations will result in harsh consequences, such as fines or, in the worst-case scenario, jail time. If you’re looking for a new site in Arkansas, check with local, county, and state officials to be sure you’re following all of the requirements.
Related: Dumpster Diving in Arkansas: A Comprehensive Guide
Is it legal to metal detect in Arkansas?
Metal detecting is permitted in Arkansas. Laws, on the other hand, impose limits. As previously stated, metal detecting without a permit is forbidden on historic sites, state parks, and federal lands in Arkansas. As a result, metal detecting on Arkansas’s public lands may require a permit. Permits can be obtained by phone or over the internet. Please contact your local park and recreation office to obtain one. It’s inexpensive, with a single unit costing about $10.
If you use common sense and only seek jewelry, money, and gold nuggets on public land, you’ll be OK. Check with the local county office for advice before metal detecting at a historically significant site.
Can you metal detect on BLM Lands in Arkansas?
Metal detecting on BLM territory is subject to the same rules as it is on all other Arkansas public lands. Metal detecting is allowed on BLM land in Arkansas, but you must be careful not to destroy or expose any relics. Remember that the government has the ability to seize any “archaeological treasures” discovered on BLM territory, according to ARPA. Archaeological resources are tangible artifacts from human life or activities that are at least 100 years old and have archaeological value.
Where can you metal detect in Arkansas?
Despite the fact that many conventional metal-detecting venues have been outlawed in Arkansas, the state still contains a number of excellent metal-detecting spots.
If you’re from Arkansas, your hometown is one of the first sites you should go metal detecting in the state. Not only can knowing the history of the place save you time, but it will also assist you in locating the tremendous treasures. What you find and how valuable it depends on where you metal detect and the history of the area. Metal detecting based on historical study will, on average, produce better results than detecting in random locations.
Some of the best places you can go for metal detecting in Arkansas are:
- Abandoned Buildings and Structures
- Abandoned Parks and Churches
- Old wagon train routes and gold mines
- Native American Trails
- Natural Disaster Destruction Sites
- Arkansas Beaches, Rivers, Lakes, and Creeks
- School yards and Ghost towns
- Civil war sites
Is there any buried treasure in Arkansas?
Arkansas is not only a lovely state with breathtaking scenery, but it also has a long and illustrious history. Arkansas is claimed to hold a significant amount of civil war-era hidden treasure. To prevent the Union Army from obtaining Confederate gold and silver coins, they are claimed to be buried beneath Arkansas’s soil. There are still some out there waiting to be found! Despite the fact that many of these legends are unsubstantiated, treasure seekers and metal detectorists are confident that they will locate it one day.
| Treasures | Details |
| Knights of the Golden Circle Buried Treasure | The criminal Jessie James, a suspected member of the “Knights of the Golden Circle,” KGC, is said to have hidden thousands of dollars in gold in the Brushy Mountains between Hot Springs and Plainview. The loot was taken from the stagecoach at Hot Springs. |
| The Hermann Family Hidden Treasure | During the Civil War, the Hermann family hid five big ceramic jugs containing gold coins and bars. They were laid to rest in different sites on their property in Dutch Mills. Three of the jugs were discovered at the end of the battle and two are still missing. |
| The Flynn Farm Buried Treasure | On the William Flynn property, $115,000 in gold coins are said to be buried. The property was a few miles east of Fayetteville, on county route 45. The coins were reported to have been buried by the family’s grandpa in 1897. |
| The Quachita River Buried Treasure | Hernando De Soto, a Spanish adventurer, hid a gold treasure in Arkadelphia along the Quachita River. These gold treasures were allegedly robbed from the Indians. |
Metal detecting in Arkansas Rivers and Creeks
Numerous rivers, lakes, and streams, as well as harsh mountains and historic places, may be found in Arkansas. It’s a great place to do metal detecting because there are so many rivers, creeks, and streams. Make sure you have adequate waterproof metal detectors while detecting in rivers and streams. Some of Arkansas’s best metal detecting rivers include:
- Alum Fork Saline River, Saline
- Cole Creek Branch (Baxter and Stone Counties)
- Cossatot River (Howard and Polk Counties)
- Eleven Point River, Randolph
- Illinois Bayou, Pope
Metal detecting in Ghost Towns of Arkansas
Hundreds of abandoned settlements litter the Arkansas countryside. These are the towns where mining used to take place, but as the ore ran out, people departed. People have fled to a number of historic cities for varied reasons.
In Arkansas’s ghost towns, all of the villages and towns have been abandoned. The history of these Arkansas towns is lengthy and storied. Metal detecting in Arkansas’s ghost towns can require municipal permission as well. Arkansas’s ghost towns will rapidly become one of your favorite metal detecting destinations after verifying whether you need a permit and acquiring one.
These ghost towns may include historical gems. In these Arkansas ghost towns, coins, fine jewelry, and other treasures abound.
Some of the popular ghost towns in Arkansas for metal detecting are:
- Riverton, Colbert Co. Alabama
- Slonikers Mill, St. Francis
- Lewisburg, Conway County
- Mount Tabor, Independence
- Daleville, Arkansas
Metal detecting clubs in Arkansas
One of my favorite activities is metal detecting since it allows me to reconnect with old acquaintances while also making new ones. If you want to meet new people and go on a metal detecting trip with them, I strongly suggest joining a metal detecting organization in Arkansas.
Metal detecting has grown in popularity in recent years, with clubs springing up all across the country. The club’s members are active and supportive of one another. These groups come together once a month to show off their treasures, plan their next trip, and talk about how to evaluate the diversity and worth of their finds.
Metal detecting clubs may be an excellent way to learn about new treasure-hunting locations. Setting up your metal detector for a specific place might be tough if you’re a beginner. As a result, being a member of a metal detecting group is an excellent approach to addressing this issue.
In Arkansas, there are a variety of fantastic metal detecting groups. Metal detecting groups in Arkansas can assist you to improve your abilities whether you’re a novice or a seasoned hunter.
It is not necessary for metal detecting groups to have a digital presence. As a result, you may join Facebook groups to network and share your knowledge with other Arkansas metal detectorists.
Some of the best Metal detecting clubs in Arkansas are:
- Tri-States Historical Recovery Club, Genoa (870-774-1230)
- Arkansas Treasure Hunters, Ward
- Central Arkansas Treasure Seekers, Hot Springs (501-321-4798)
Similarly, some of the most popular Metal Detecting Facebook groups in Arkansas are:
Final Thoughts
Metal detecting in Arkansas is a terrific experience in general. Because of the natural beauty, history, weather, and flexible guidelines, this is a terrific pastime. Before going metal detecting in public in Arkansas, be sure you’re aware of the state’s rules. Also, if you’re on private property, be sure you get permission from the owner first; otherwise, you might face trespassing charges.
