law question: metal detecting on beach

[TexasComputerDude]

Hey yall,

I've recently bought a metal detector. I was going to find meteorites (or weather balloon/jet parts) up at my families ranch in New Mexico but all I have found so far are a bunch of old 22 casings and dip cans going back a long long time. Its amazing how long metal junk stays in the ground.

Well, my girlfriend and I thought it would be fun to go to a small beach and mess around with our new toy and I figured I sure better know the law. I've been researching it the past few days and haven't really found much makes me feel "secure." Do yall have any advice that could keep me out of trouble/jail?

[WildBill]

Hey yall,

I've recently bought a metal detector. I was going to find meteorites (or weather balloon/jet parts) up at my families ranch in New Mexico but all I have found so far are a bunch of old 22 casings and dip cans going back a long long time. Its amazing how long metal junk stays in the ground.

Well, my girlfriend and I thought it would be fun to go to a small beach and mess around with our new toy and I figured I sure better know the law. I've been researching it the past few days and haven't really found much makes me feel "secure." Do yall have any advice that could keep me out of trouble/jail?

Metal detectors are a lot of fun. I don't know of any regulations forbiding their use on public property such as the beach. This is OT a little, but if you are on public land such as a park, don't dig up any grass or plants. Sometimes that will violate Fish and Game laws or destroying public property. Of course the beach is a lot different because you'll be sifting through sand to find your treasure. Happy hunting!

[TexasComputerDude]

We always do our best to take care of the land and follow all rules and regulations. Some are just not so easy to find :-P

[WildBill]

We always do our best to take care of the land and follow all rules and regulations. Some are just not so easy to find :-P

Since the beaches in Texas are owned by the State, you shouldn't have any county or local ordinances to worry about. I hope!

[TexasComputerDude]

well, from my research, I think metal detecting is covered under the texas historical laws or something. I'm looking for a copy lol.

I know I can't keep anything over 100 years old or thats an "artifact." whatever that means. I guess if I hope to find buried treasure I should hope its a recent drug cartel drop or something :-P. kidding. lol

[Keith B]

I used to treasure hunt quite a bit when we spent 2 weeks in the fall every year on the beach in Florida.

A few tips:
. You will find it wet sand will trigger your metal detector due to the minerals in the salt water, so you will have to stay up on the dry portion.
. Look for areas where people tend to sit out with their beach chairs or blankets.
. If you have a discriminator, set it to filter out aluminum as that is pretty common from pull tabs. Don't filter out iron or you will miss any gold.
. Use a long metal stick of some type to probe with. A kitchen colander with fairly large holes to sift the sand through.

Also headphones will help with hearing the tone and pinpointing the exact spot. Usually the items on a beach will be right under the top of the sand or no more than 6-8" down.

Never was real serious about hunting the beach, but I have found a lot of loose change, and even found a couple of 10K gold rings and a inexpensive watch over my time.

Have fun!!

[TexasComputerDude]

I'm still learning to use the detector. For 125$ I'm quite impressed with it. Its detected and identified everything I've tested on it.
My mentally challenged uncle threw down a 20$ bill and wanted me to see if we could detect it. Well, it did... kind of... apparently there was a nail under the floor in that exact spot lol.


Good tip on the salt water, I'd never thought of that. And the rings and pocket knives are exactly what we are looking for :-P. I'm taking a stick, magnet stick, and a tiny shovel with me. Maybe a shifter thing too.

[WildBill]

I used to treasure hunt quite a bit when we spent 2 weeks in the fall every year on the beach in Florida.
. If you have a discriminator, set it to filter out aluminum as that is pretty common from pull tabs. Don't filter out iron or you will miss any gold.

I am so glad that they don't make these any more. Over 95% of my hits on the beach were from these dang things.

[Keith B]

I used to treasure hunt quite a bit when we spent 2 weeks in the fall every year on the beach in Florida.
. If you have a discriminator, set it to filter out aluminum as that is pretty common from pull tabs. Don't filter out iron or you will miss any gold.

I am so glad that they don't make these any more. Over 95% of my hits on the beach were from these dang things.

People still rip off the pull rings and you will find them on the beach, along with aluminum foil coated wrappers, so filtering out aluminum is good unless you don't want to miss anything that is buried.

As for detectors, you get what you pay for in them. The more you pay the better they are at what they do. However, you can have a lot of fun with a cheaper one to start. Just don't get frustrated because you don't find anything of value right of the bat; it usually takes a LOT of hunting to even find one good item unless you just get lucky.

[puma guy]

I had a beach house on Bolivar until Ike and never saw any one hassle the people with metal detectors on the beach. Keep in mind the dunes and anything behind are off limits and obviously any private property.
I was visiting my Mom and Dad years ago and one of the neighbors whose kids I grew up with saw me and waved me over. We talked about his kids and what they were up to and while we were talking I saw shelves filled with jars of coins and other metal objects. He explained he'd found them with his metal detector. He showed my many old vintage coins, most of them silver, a couple of gold coins, a bunch of gold and silver rings, assorted jewelry and big brass hinges and a latch with some old water worn wood attached. Like form a very,, very old chest. All this valuable stuff in jars in the garage and he them tells me to wait while he retrieved something from inside his house. He returned and handed me an ornate, curly brass object that he said was worth no telling how much as it was a pair of antique tweezers. Possibly part of Lafittes's treasure. I chuckled for a moment and he asked what was funny. I knew exactly what it was and it wasn't an antique. He didn't believe me when I told him it was a fancy "roach clip" . Flattened ends with a little slide to pinch the ends together and some fancy silver emblem soldered on the curly handle. He didn't belive me and was convinced he was right. Never did find out if he checked it out. LOL

[TexasComputerDude]

I'm looking at it as a chance to form a hobby that doesn't involve me being indoors on a computer lol. EXERCISE! lol

Since I have some OCD tendencies I figure its only a matter of months before I find something.

[LSL]

A few more hints --

Go to a thrift store and buy anything PLASTIC that you can sift sand through -- colanders, inside of salad spinner, slotted spoon or ladles. You can put a "clump" of sand or dirt in the plastic and target away from the ground, and/or wash in the surf.

As responsible hunters, we carry away all recovered trash [I use an old, plastic laundry soap bucket]. If someone gets to curious or uppity -- you always can show them the "junk" and say that you are part of the "Clean the environment/beach patrol," picking up litter that others have trashed the area with.

Keep your goodies in a "concealed" pouch, bag, or pocket -- it is a dangerous world out there.

Double-ziplock back for wallet, phone, camera, watch.

Have fun -- good luck

[TexasComputerDude]

good ideas. I hadn't thought of what to do with my phone.

[WildBill]

A few more hints --

Go to a thrift store and buy anything PLASTIC that you can sift sand through -- colanders, inside of salad spinner, slotted spoon or ladles. You can put a "clump" of sand or dirt in the plastic and target away from the ground, and/or wash in the surf.

As responsible hunters, we carry away all recovered trash [I use an old, plastic laundry soap bucket]. If someone gets to curious or uppity -- you always can show them the "junk" and say that you are part of the "Clean the environment/beach patrol," picking up litter that others have trashed the area with.

Keep your goodies in a "concealed" pouch, bag, or pocket -- it is a dangerous world out there.

Double-ziplock back for wallet, phone, camera, watch.

Have fun -- good luck

These are all great ideas.

I was out one day and a group of kids started following me around. They asked me what I was doing so I told them I was "vacuuming the beach". They were pretty smart so they didn't believe me.

Everytime the detector beeped they jumped down and started searching in the sand. I couldn't get rid of them so I went to my car until they got bored and went away.

[ScooterSissy]

Metal detectors are a lot of fun. I don't know of any regulations forbiding their use on public property such as the beach. This is OT a little, but if you are on public land such as a park, don't dig up any grass or plants. Sometimes that will violate Fish and Game laws or destroying public property. Of course the beach is a lot different because you'll be sifting through sand to find your treasure. Happy hunting!

Since the beaches in Texas are owned by the State, you shouldn't have any county or local ordinances to worry about. I hope!

Padre Island is a National Park, and I'm almost 100% sure I've read that there are no metal detectors permitted anywhere on the beach. I'll do some checking to be sure.