Are you looking for a place to start your metal detecting experience in Georgia? You’ve arrived at the correct location.
Metal detecting is a pastime in which you go on an expedition and search for everything from jewelry and coins to historical artifacts using a metal detector. This pastime has been around for quite some time. When individuals learned that metal detecting might make them a lot of money, it sprang onto the scene. Metal detectorists are always on the lookout for and discover rare metals such as gold and silver, which they subsequently sell for a profit. A high-end metal detector costs approximately $1000, and if you know where to search, you may return your investment in as few as three metal detecting visits.
Metal detecting is as excellent as it is in Georgia, which is one of the few places in the United States where it is as good as it is. The weather is ideal for metal detecting, and the scenery is ideal for prospecting for gold and silver. Georgia has it all, whether you want to go metal detecting on beaches, rivers, streams, creeks, ghost towns, or state parks. You should, however, do your study and get aware of The Peach State’s municipal and federal metal detecting laws.
Metal detecting laws in Georgia
Despite the fact that metal detecting is seen as a recreational pastime, we can’t rule out the chance of uncovering something of historical significance to the government. As a result, metal detecting legislation and regulations differ from state to state.
In Georgia, metal detecting standards and limitations have been established. The Archeological Resources Preservation Act also governs metal detecting on government land.
Always keep in mind that private property is exempt from state and federal legislation. They are only applicable to metal detecting on state or federal property. You just need written authorization from the landowner or renter to metal detect on private property.
Metal detecting rules in Georgia are rather straightforward. Make sure you’re not metal detecting in any of Georgia’s historically significant regions. As a result, using metal detectors or excavating for relics on any historical site in Georgia is prohibited. As a result, be cautious while excavating native mounds, burial sites, or earthworks.
Metal detectors are likewise illegal without authorization on Trust’s land, according to Georgia law. Furthermore, all historic and prehistoric sites in the Forest Preserves are owned by the State of Georgia, and therefore may not be demolished without authorization. Metal detecting is forbidden in several areas unless you have a valid permit.
If you’re metal detecting in Georgia 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 Georgia National Parks unless previous authorization has been granted. Metal detecting, on the other hand, is authorized as a leisure activity in Georgia’s public parks. It’s possible that you’ll be allowed to metal detect in historically significant locations, but this is quite unlikely.
Overall, it’s vital to understand and follow the rules while metal detecting in Georgia. Breaking these rules will result in severe penalties, including fines or, in the worst-case scenario, jail time. If you’re looking for a new metal detecting site in Georgia, make sure you meet all of the standards by checking with your local, county, and state officials.
Related: Dumpster Diving in Georgia: A Comprehensive Guide
Is it legal to metal detect in Georgia?
In Georgia, metal detecting is fully lawful. Legality, on the other hand, has its limits. Metal detecting without legal permission is prohibited on historic sites, state parks, and federal areas in Georgia, as previously mentioned. As a result, metal detecting on public lands in Georgia can require a permit. Permits are available over the phone and on the internet. To receive one, please contact your local park and recreation office. It is reasonably priced, with a single unit costing around $10.
You’ll be OK if you apply common judgment and just look for jewelry, coins, and gold nuggets in public areas in Georgia. Before metal detecting in a historically significant area, check with the local county office.
Can you metal detect on BLM Land in Georgia?
The same restrictions apply to metal detecting on BLM land as they do on all other Georgia public lands. On BLM land in Georgia, metal detecting is allowed, but you must be careful not to destroy or expose any artifacts. Remember that the government has the ability, according to ARPA, to seize any “archaeological treasures” discovered on BLM territory. 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 Georgia?
Despite the fact that many classic metal-detecting places in Georgia have been banned, there are still a few outstanding metal-detecting locations.
If you reside in Georgia, your hometown is one of the first areas you should go metal detecting. Knowing the history of a region not only saves time but also aids in the discovery of priceless things. What you find and how valuable it depends on where you metal detect and the history of the location. 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 Georgia are:
- Abandoned Buildings and Structures
- Abandoned Parks and Mines
- Old wagon train routes and Churches
- Native American Trails
- Natural Disaster Destruction Sites
- Georgia Beaches, Rivers, Lakes, and Creeks
- School yards and Ghost Towns
- Civil war sites (Fort Mcallister, Fort Pulaski, etc.)
Is there any buried treasure in Georgia?
Georgia is a great state with breathtaking scenery and rich history. Georgia is said to have several Civil War-era hidden riches. Confederate gold and silver coins are said to be buried beneath Georgia’s soil to avoid the Union Army from recovering them. Some lurk in the shadows, waiting to be discovered! Despite the fact that many of these claims have yet to be validated, treasure hunters and metal detectorists remain hopeful that they will be found soon.
| Treasures | Details |
| Nashville Buried Treasure | During the Civil War, $100,000 in gold was allegedly buried. It was buried about 300 yards northeast of the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railroad lines, in a hollow near a spring on the Cobb County side of the Chattahoochee River, not far from the old Marietta Road, near Marietta. |
| Jeremiah Griffin Treasure | Jeremiah Griffin, a plantation owner, is accused of burying $100,000 in gold along the banks of a little creek approximately 2 miles south of the Little River. Griffin died in 1847 without revealing the whereabouts of his fortune. |
| The Jefferson Davis Buried Gold | Confederate President Jefferson Davis is said to have buried $10 million in gold bullion in Wilkes County. |
| Savannah Million Dollar Treasure | Savannah might have hidden treasure worth millions of dollars. Citizens buried many of their valuables just before Sherman’s army arrived. Many of the valuables could not be found due to the city’s devastation. |
Metal detecting on Georgia Beaches
The coastline of Georgia is approximately 110 miles long. Because Georgia’s beaches are so popular, they’re an excellent place to look for lost jewelry and money. As a consequence, you’ll see a lot of other metal detectorists on Georgia beaches late at night for their metal detecting adventure.
Metal detecting is lawful on Georgia beaches as of the publishing of this article. Georgia, on the other hand, has the ability to remove anything that is more than 100 years old.
Some of the most famous beaches to go for metal detecting in Georgia are:
- Little Tybee Island Beach, Tybee Island
- St. Andrews Beach Park, Jekyll Island
- East Beach, St. Simmons Island
- Acworth Beach, Acworth
- Cumberland Island National Seashore Beach, St. Marys
Metal detecting in Georgia Rivers and Creeks
Not only does Georgia have a long coastline, but it also boasts a lot of rivers and streams. Because there are so many rivers, creeks, and streams, it’s an excellent spot to go metal detecting. When detecting in rivers and streams, make sure you have enough waterproof metal detectors. Some of Georgia’s greatest metal detecting rivers and streams include:
- Amicalola Creek, Dawson
- Anderson Creek, Gilmer
- Blood Mountain Creek, Lumpkin
- Cartecay River, Gilmer
- Sope Creek, Cobb
Metal detecting in Ghost Towns of Georgia
Hundreds of abandoned villages and ghost towns dot the Georgia countryside. These are the towns where mining used to take place, but as the ore ran out, people departed. People flocked to other cities and towns for a variety of reasons.
In Georgia’s ghost towns, all of the villages and towns have been abandoned. These communities in Georgia have a long and famous history. Metal detecting in Georgia’s ghost towns may require municipal permission as well. Georgia’s ghost towns will rapidly become one of your favorite metal detecting locations after discovering if you need a permit and acquiring one.
These ghost towns may include historical items. In these Georgia ghost towns, coins, fine jewelry, and other treasures abound.
Some of the popular ghost towns in Georgia for metal detecting are:
- Fort McAllister, Bryan
- Andersonville Prison, Sumpter
- Cumberland Island, U/K
- Griswoldville, Jones
- Jacksonboro, Screven
Metal detecting clubs in Georgia
One of my favorite activities in Georgia is metal detecting because it allows me to reconnect with old acquaintances while simultaneously making new ones. If you want to meet new people and go on a metal detecting trip with them, I highly recommend joining a metal detecting organization in Georgia.
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 might be an excellent method 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 Georgia, there are a number of fantastic metal detecting groups. Metal detecting groups in Georgia can assist you to improve your abilities whether you’re a novice or a seasoned hunter.
It is not necessary for metal detecting clubs in Georgia to have an online presence. As a result, you may join Facebook groups to network with other metal detectorists in Georgia and share your expertise.
Some of the best Metal detecting clubs in Georgia are:
- Stone Mountain Treasure Hunters, Lawrenceville
- North Georgia Relic Hunters Association, Marietta
- Dixie Relic Recovery Club, Ringgold
- Coastal Empire History Hunters Association, Savannah
Similarly, some of the most popular Metal Detecting Facebook groups in GA are:
- Metal Detecting GA
- Metal Detecting Events, US only
- Middle GA Metal Detecting and Relic Hunting
- Metal Detecting Finds
Final Thoughts
Overall, Georgia is a fantastic location for your metal detecting requirements. Nature, history, weather, and liberal legislation all help to make this pastime enjoyable in Georgia. Before attempting it in public, make sure you’re aware of Georgia’s metal detecting laws. If you’re going to private property, be sure you first acquire permission from the proprietor; otherwise, you might be charged with trespassing.
