Relic Metal Detecting Tips and Ideas By Lucas BullingtonSearching for treasure, especially old treasure, is an exciting hobby. It can also be very profitable if you make some good finds! The use of a metal detector has become a pretty common means to search for treasure these days. There are so many different aspects to hunting for treasure, but one of the most exciting is relic metal detecting. A relic can be so many things. By Merriam Webster’s dictionary, a relic can be “an old thing surviving from the past” in other words, anything old. Not just coins. Some of the different things you might find include… An old wagon wheel hub, eating utensils, a pot (the ones that are filled with coins are great!), knife blades, plow tips, axe heads, and old steel traps… that’s what makes hunting for relics so much fun, you never know what you’ll find! Of course, finding areas to hunt for relics can be difficult at times, but if you keep you’re eyes open, interesting things might become visible to you! Burn sites of old buildings are excellent sources for relic metal detecting. Old road cuts through the woods or along the side of creeks can yield relics of various sorts. These roads can also lead you to old home sites! If you want to look for a real treasure “jackpot” you might need to do more research to find places to hunt… Do some history study to find likely spots. History?! Well, that’s what you’re dealing with when you treasure hunt, right? So, you’d better start liking history! The best place to start in your history research is your local library. Libraries are great resources because of the local genealogies and area information that is kept there. Another place to look for clues is the county courthouse archives, which could provide even more in-depth information. Another way to get info is to talk to local people that have been in the area for a while. Be polite. And ask about the history of the area. You should tell them that you are looking for good places to metal detect. They might have some good information for you. Remember to thank them whether they helped or not! These are just a few ideas to get you started with researching treasure locations. The next step is to get permission to hunt on the areas that you have found! The first step to getting permission is to find out who owns the land that your “spot” is on. It may seem obvious, or it may not. You can go up to a house that is near the land, and ask who owns it. Or you can go to the county courthouse and check the land surveys (you could do this before-hand). Next, you really need to call or write the owner, don’t go to their home. Showing up at someone’s house could intimidate them; you want to give them plenty of room! These are just some ideas for you to consider when it comes to finding that perfect place to hunt. Whether you are relic metal detecting, coin shooting, or just “hunting for treasure”, I hope you have a rewarding, safe adventure!