With a background in automobile manufacturing and some beautiful rivers and creeks, Ohio is a perfect place to start metal detecting. If you spend your time looking in the right places you can come up with all sorts of treasures that you wouldn’t have expected to find. But even with metal detection being such a popular hobby to have in Ohio, there are some things to remember when searching the state.
We’ve supplied you with an overall guide to metal detecting in Ohio, complete with places to check out and what you should remember when you head out for a hunt. So before you plan your adventure into Ohio’s mineral-rich environments, take a look at what we found out for you.
Metal Detecting Laws In Ohio
The Antiquities Act Law of 1906 regulates the metal detecting activity in Ohio. It is also managed by NHPA, and according to them, you are not allowed to dig anything that is close to or older than a century on certain areas of state soil.
In addition to that, if you’re looking to hunt or dig on someone’s private land, you must get written consent from that person. Verbal consent works as well, but written consent ensures that you won’t get in any trouble if someone goes back on their word or the authorities ask.
In Ohio state parks, metal detecting is not allowed. If you want to detect metals in a park, you have to get permission from the owner. Not to mention if you have decided to go to a park or a forest, you must communicate with the related manager for approval. Even after doing this, you will only be permitted to visit limited recreational places and campsites.
If any archaeological remains are discovered in such sites, a conclusion is placed. Collection of several ancient coins in permissible, but the digging of gold is a different aspect according to Ohio Laws.
Where in Ohio Should I Go Hunting?
There are a great variety of places to go hunting and come up with some good finds.
There is an Ohio legend that states the riverboat pirates obtained and lost a lute, worth over twenty thousand in silver and gold while passing through the Ohio River. These pirates originally stole this away from another boat and the treasure has not been seen since the 1870s. The location is rumored to be around the northeastern part of Crown City.
There is also a rumor circulating that the northern beach of the Sandy River has treasure worth $25,000. John Ashland Farm, located right next to Wyandot, is also rumored to hold treasure worth almost $25,000. It lies on the south shore of the one and only, Sandusky River.
As you can see there are numerous spots rumored to be hiding wealth. So it wouldn’t hurt to check a few of them out and see what you can find with your detector.
Best Detectors to Use for Ohio’s Environment
Ohio’s soil is actually incredibly diverse, so any detector you might want to use to go searching must be able to accommodate different kinds of land. The Fisher F22 detector is a cost-effective and highly recommended detector for this kind of job. (Read a review of the Fisher F22)
On the other hand, if you want to avoid the hefty price tag, The Minelab Equinox 800 should be your go-to. It can perform well on five different frequencies at a single time; however, it is target specified, ground dependent, and conductive. It can detect objects in many environments like fields, seashores, mineralized, and low-grade soil.
Creeks to Look Into
There are several creeks you can look into as many of them serve as great opportunities to metal detect and are surrounded by a pleasant environment. It is expected for hobbyists to find a great amount of treasure from these rivers, but the average finder may not get as much as they are hoping. Some places to check out are:
- Big Walnut Creek
- Raccoon Creek
- Paint Creek
- Killbuck Creek
- Ohio Brush Creek
- Big Darby Creek
Parks to Look Into
As mentioned above, if you are planning on taking your hobby to a state park you’ll need to get written permission from the owner. Even then, you may still run into some parks that restrict where you can search. Others might be more generous but it is very important to know before you go, so you can be prepared for what your limits might be.
Here’s a list of popular state parks to try out for your hunting:
- Geneva S.P.
- Punderson S.P.
- Salt Fork S.P.
- Hueston Woods S.P.
- Caesar Creek S.P.
- Mohican S.P.
- Findley S.P.
- Nelson-Kennedy Ledges State Park
- Indian Lake S.P.
- Hocking Hills State Park
Metal Detecting Clubs
Since metal detecting is a popular hobby, there are various detecting clubs in Ohio that offer guidance and help with getting consent from park owners and managers so you can keep hunting with a clear mind. We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of some of the clubs you should look into if you’re thinking of going metal detecting:
- Ohio Coinhunters
- Black Swamp MD Club
- Ohio Valley Research & Recovery
- Ohio History Detectors Club
- Darke County Treasure Hunting Club
- Buckeye Treasure Hunter
- T.H. – Troy Treasure Hunters
- Treasure Trackers
- Tri-State Historical Research & Recovery Association
- Tri-County MD Club
- Buckeye Treasure Hunters of N.E. Ohio
- Ohio Happy Treasure Hunters
- Southwest Ohio Treasure Hunting
- ODA – Ohio Detectorist Association
- Silver Seekers
- Central Ohio MD Association
- Dayton Diggers
- O.M.D.A.-Central Ohio MD Association
- P.A.A. Buckeye Chapter
- North Coast Historical Recovery Association
- North American Historical Research Society
- Falls Buckeye Searcher Association
- P.A.A. Lucasville Chapter
- Columbus Area Recovery Group
What Can I Expect to Find?
The state has a vast history, so your findings largely depend on exactly where you’re thinking of searching. You can find amazing things, such as ancient coins, Indian currency, and tools if you look in the right places and happen to be lucky.
Where Can I Buy a Metal Detector in Ohio?
The state has a wealth of history with metal, mining, and so there are several places to look for detecting equipment as the hobby is relatively popular.
- Jeff’s Metal Detecting
- CEIA USA
- DICK’S Sporting Goods
- Treasure Hunters Supply
- Sylvania Metal Detectors, Inc.
- J R Enterprises Detecting
Metal Detection in Different Regions of Ohio
- Columbus: The capital of Ohio is a perfect location for detecting as it is situated near the joining of the Olentangy and the Scioto rivers.
- Cleveland: The second-largest city of the state is situated on the southern side of Lake Erie, and is undoubtedly a suitable spot for metal and treasure detection.
- Akron: The fifth-largest city of the state, founded in 1825, lies among the Little Cuyahoga River.
Some other places for detection are:
- Stan Hywet Gardens
- Cascade Valley Park
- A. Seiberling Nature Realm
- Springfield Bog
- Springfield Lake Park
- Near Cuyahoga Falls
- Gorge Metro Park
Final Thoughts
With its rich history and the wealth of places to hunt and get help with hunting, Ohio is a great place to take a trip if you’re a metal detecting enthusiast. You’ll find plenty of places to search and are likely to return with a ton of souvenirs that you’ve found yourself. It is worth the time to research and figure out exactly where you want to detect and what you hope to find, but we hope this guide has helped you start planning your next hunt.
