If you’re looking for a comprehensive guide to your next metal detecting excursion in Missouri, you’ve come to the perfect 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.
Treasure seekers and metal detectorists go to Missouri in great numbers. The weather is perfect for metal detecting, and the location is rich with previously 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. However, you should research and get familiar with The Show-Me State’s local and federal metal detecting rules.
Metal detecting laws in Missouri
Even if we don’t want the government to meddle in our private life, historical landmarks on their territory 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 institutions in Missouri. The Archeological Resources Preservation Act or ARPA governs metal detecting on federal land.
Metal detecting prohibitions imposed by ARPA or state legislation, on the other hand, only apply to public or federal land. Furthermore, metal detecting is only authorized on private property with the owner’s or lessee’s express permission.
The rules for metal detecting in Missouri are rather simple. Check to see if you’re metal detecting in any historically significant areas of Missouri. 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 Missouri. Furthermore, the State of Missouri owns all historic and prehistoric sites in the Forest Preserves, and they may not be demolished without permission. Without a proper permit, metal detecting is prohibited.
Don’t dig up anything that appears like an artifact or is more than 100 years old if you’re metal detecting in Missouri on a state or federal land. If you locate and collect a historical relic, notify officials so they can properly care for it. In Missouri National Parks, metal detecting is also forbidden unless prior permission has been provided. Metal detecting, on the other hand, is permitted in Missouri’s public parks as a leisure pastime. It’s conceivable that you’ll be allowed to metal detect at designated historical sites, although this is rare.
Overall, it’s critical to know and observe the restrictions when metal detecting in Missouri. 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 Missouri, check with local, county, and state officials to be sure you satisfy all of the requirements.
Related: Dumpster Diving in Missouri: A Comprehensive Guide
Is it legal to metal detect in Missouri?
Metal detecting is permitted in Missouri. Laws, on the other hand, set limitations. As previously stated, metal detecting without a permit is forbidden on historic sites, state parks, and federal lands in Missouri. As a result, metal detecting on Missouri’s public lands may require a permit. Permits can be obtained over the 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 just seek jewelry, money, and gold nuggets on public land, you’ll be OK. Check with the local county office before metal detecting at a historically significant location.
Can you metal detect on BLM Land in Missouri?
The same laws apply to metal detecting on BLM land as they do on all other Missouri public lands. On BLM land in Missouri, metal detecting is permitted, but you must be cautious not to damage or expose any antiquities. Remember that, according to ARPA, the government has the authority to take any “archaeological treasures” uncovered on BLM land. Archaeological resources are tangible objects from human life or activities with archaeological importance and are at least 100 years old.
Where can you metal detect in Missouri?
Despite the fact that many classic metal-detecting settings are prohibited in Missouri, the state still has a few great metal-detecting locations.
One of the first areas you should go metal detecting if you reside in Missouri is your hometown. Knowing the history of a location not only saves time but also aids in the discovery of great jewels. 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 Missouri are:
- Abandoned Buildings and Structures
- Abandoned Parks and Gold Mines
- Old wagon train routes and Ghost Towns
- Native American Trails
- Natural Disaster Destruction Sites
- Missouri Beaches, Rivers, Lakes, and Creeks
- School yards and Old Churches
- Civil war sites
Is there any buried treasure in Missouri?
Missouri is a beautiful state with beautiful scenery and interesting history. Missouri is said to be home to a trove of Civil War-era buried treasures. Confederate gold and silver coins are said to be buried beneath Missouri 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 are incorrect, treasure seekers and metal detectorists remain hopeful that the wealth will be found shortly.
| Treasures | Details |
| The Big Lake Gold Coin Discoveries | Near Big Lake, on the east bank of the Missouri River, gold coins have been unearthed. It’s possible that the coins came from the steamboat W.R. Caruthers, a neighboring ship that sank. It had $30,000 in gold coins on board. The place where the gold was discovered is located on U.S. 29, roughly ten miles west of Mound City. |
| The Sultana Crash | About two miles south of Big Lake, the Steamboat Sultana sunk. The Sultana had $65,000 in gold coins on her person. |
| The Kaffer Treasure | A vast trove of gold coins was allegedly buried near Armstrong, on County Route 3. |
| St. Charles Historical Treasures | During the early 1800s, St. Charles was a historic town well renowned as a major fur trade location. Many intriguing antiques and coins have been discovered here throughout the years. It’s located about twenty miles northwest of St. Louis, on the Missouri River. |
Metal detecting in Missouri Rivers and Creeks
Missouri is home to several rivers, lakes, and streams, as well as rugged mountains and historic sites. 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. The following are some of the greatest metal detecting rivers in Missouri:
- Beaver Creek, Douglas & Taney
- Big Sugar Creek, McDonald
- Black River, Reynolds
- Elk River, McDonald
- Little St. Francois River, Madison
Metal detecting in Ghost Towns of Missouri
Hundreds of abandoned communities litter the Missouri 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 Missouri’s ghost towns, all of the villages and towns have been abandoned. These communities in Missouri have a long and famous past. Municipal consent may be required for metal detecting in Missouri’s ghost towns. Missouri ghost towns will rapidly become one of your favorite metal detecting locations after discovering if you need a permit and acquiring one.
These abandoned communities may include historical treasures. In these Missouri ghost towns, coins, fine jewelry, and other treasures abound.
Some of the popular ghost towns in Missouri for metal detecting are:
- Arlington
- Empire Prairie (Couchtown), Gentry (or Andrew)
- Old Greenville, Wayne
- West Liberty, Putnam
- Old Aurora Springs, Miller
Metal detecting clubs in Missouri
Metal detecting is one of my favorite pastimes since it allows me to reconnect with old friends while also creating new ones. I definitely recommend joining a metal detecting club in Missouri if you want to meet new people and go on a metal detecting trip with them.
Metal detecting has been increasingly popular in recent years, with clubs cropping up all across the United States. Members of the club are involved and supportive of one another. Once a month, these groups meet together to show off their discoveries, plan their next expedition, and discuss how to assess the variety and value 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 Missouri, there are a number of fantastic metal detecting groups. Metal detecting groups in Missouri can assist you to improve your abilities whether you’re a novice or a seasoned hunter.
It is not necessary for metal detecting clubs to have an online presence. As a result, you may join Facebook groups to network and exchange your expertise with other Missouri metal detectorists.
Some of the best Metal detecting clubs in Missouri are:
- Mid-Mo Metal Detecting Club, Holts Summit
- US Detecting Club, Montgomery City
- 417 Relic Hunters, Springfield
- Springfield Metal Detecting, Nixa
Similarly, some of the most popular Metal Detecting Facebook groups in Missouri are:
- Metal Detecting Group – MO
- MO Metal Detectors
- Metal Detecting Finds and Advice
- Mis. Metal Detecting – Coins Silver Relic Gold
Final Thoughts
Overall, Missouri is an excellent spot to satisfy your metal detecting needs. Missouri’s natural beauty, history, weather, and permissive laws make this a very delightful sport. Just make sure you’re familiar with Missouri’s metal detecting regulations before attempting it in public. If you’re going to private property, be sure you get the landowner’s permission first, otherwise, you might be punished with trespassing.
