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Where Is The Best Place To Go Metal Detecting In Winter?
Every year, the winter months come and people begin to wonder whether they should put their metal detectors away for the season.
16:16 08 December 2021
Every year, the winter months come and people begin to wonder whether they should put their metal detectors away for the season. It is a common misconception that it is not possible to use your metal detector during the winter because it will be too cold and there isn't much snow on the ground. This way of thinking couldn't be more wrong!
There are actually many benefits of metal detecting in winter. Your metal detector can detect metals from up to two feet below the surface of the snow, so you will be able to find more treasures with your detector this season! When it snows, cold air moves in and the snow rapidly accumulates on top of your treasure. In order to find something, you have to dig down into that deep snow. If you try to detect in winter under those icy conditions, or even just a regular day with no or little snowfall, it will be very difficult if not impossible without a lot of shovel work.
Many people like to spend winters indoors on their couches, but if you are willing to put on some warm clothes and get out there on your metal detector you will find that your treasure hunting is more successful than ever. You'll never know what you might find buried deep under the snow. Metal detecting in winter can actually be very rewarding if you know the right places to go.
The 5 Best Places To Go Metal Detecting In Winter
If you are ready to take advantage of all that winter has to offer, then consider checking out these top five best places for metal detecting in winter!
1. Beaches/beach shorelines
Metal detecting on the beach in winter will be easier than in any other season because of all the loose change that has washed ashore over the summer months. Floating in the rough water along our coastlines are coins, necklaces, rings, and even watches that have fallen off their owners' hands when they were enjoying the beautiful weather.
2. Unfrozen Water Bodies
Unfrozen bodies of water such as rivers and lakes will attract a lot of underwater hunters when the waters freeze over in winter. The ice that forms on rivers is often very thick and it will take several months to completely freeze over, so your chances of finding something valuable are high. Metal detecting underwater in winter is easier than during any other season because when water freezes, it changes consistency and becomes easier to dig through. The mud at the bottom of the riverbed will also become much thicker when winter comes around, so you can be sure that your metal detector will pick up more signals in these places than in any other season.
It is important to note that you will need a completely waterproof metal detector in order to search for treasures in unfrozen bodies of water in winter.
Metal detecting along slow-moving rivers and trickling streams can be very profitable because water tends to deposit metals downstream, leaving your detector more signals to discover in the process. Slow-moving bodies of water are less likely to freeze over compared to fast-flowing ones, so you'll have a much easier time with your metal detecting in winter here.
3. Winter Gathering Spots
Another set of places worth mentioning are the places like ice fishing ponds, sledding hills, hockey rinks, and ice skating. These are all places that get a lot of heavy use during the winter months. These places will be good for your metal detector hobby because the metal detectors will be able to detect jewelry or coins that may have been dropped on the ground or lost underneath the snow.
4. Thick woods
If you're metal detecting in winter, then thick wooded and heavily forested parks are some of the best places to go. Metal detectors work best when there is a lot of ground clutter such as leaves on the ground or snow that has fallen on branches and is still hanging low to the ground. There is more "ground clutter" in the winter than any other season, so your chances of finding something are much better.
5. Winter tourist spots
Another place that is great to detect in winter are the winter tourist spots. Whether you're detecting on a ski hill or at a popular beach during the off-season, there will be plenty of treasures for you to find if you know where to look. Metal detecting in the wintertime can provide hours and hours of fun and success!
Final words
There are many places to go metal detecting in the winter that people commonly do not think about. Some of the best places are beaches, rivers, lakes, ski hills, and other tourist spots! If you're ready to put on some warm clothes and get out there on your metal detector, you will find that your treasure hunting is more successful than ever. You'll never know what you might find buried deep under the snow!
If you're considering metal detecting in winter for the first time, then you should keep these things in mind: There is a chance that your metal detector will freeze up in the cold winter air. You can prevent your metal detector from freezing up by simply covering it with a blanket or scarf before you head out. It's also important to remember to charge your batteries before heading outside because if they die early on in the day you won't be able to find much treasure.
Many people also think they need to spend a lot of money on equipment before they can go metal detecting, but there are lots of free things you can use to get started. You could try placing your metal detector in a sandbox or filling a bucket with sand and dirt to see how it detects the different types of metals. If you have kids, they will probably enjoy searching for treasures, too!
Metal detecting is a fun activity that anyone can do. Whether you are going out to look for something specific or you are simply looking around your yard to see what you can find, metal detecting is a great way to get out of the house and enjoy the fresh air.