Metal Detecting for Beginners : 101 Things I Wish I'd Known When I Started (A Quickstart Guide)

NEW TO METAL DETECTING? Want to start hunting without a long learning curve? This Quickstart Guide will have you out in the field and hunting productively in just a few hours! This isn’t an exhaustive guide to everything you’ll ever want to know about metal detecting. It’s not a complete course in treasure hunting. It’s a quick read from a detectorist who’s been swinging a machine long enough to know how to do it successfully, but who hasn’t forgotten what it feels like to be just beginning and needing a place to start smart.

You know you’re just itching to get your detector out in the field to find all kinds of cool stuff, but who wants to wade through a thick book or watch a hundred videos first? If you have a detector and a few simple accessories, you can start reading this handy little Quickstart Guide while you eat breakfast, and be digging your first target before lunch! Then use the resources provided to learn how to identify your finds. Though this book was written by an American author and primarily references laws and cultural norms of the United States, all other covered subject matter applies to other countries.

Everything you need to get out there for a productive hunt is between these two covers—101 proven tips (Actually, WAY more than that!) from the author’s personal experience with the equipment: finding hunting spots; staying safe, comfortable and legal; the culture and the people; even a glossary, so you can speak the language of passionate diggers. Plus, you get a section of Bonus Material: A list of the same resources the author uses to stay current in the hobby! So, lose those newbie blues: Read this guide and get out there, for memorable days of saving history. Happy hunting!

This small volume is a wealth of information written in an easy-to-understand format. The sub-title, "101 Things I Wish I'd Known When I Started," says that you will find many helpful tips and lots of advice. The title may say, "For Beginners," but even longtime diggers can learn a thing or two from this softcover book. The author, Mary Shafer, may be considered a "newbie" by some old-timers' standards, but that is what I think makes the book so good. She brings her passion and love for the hobby to this book. She has been digging for a dozen years and what she has learned from experience is shared in this guide. She explains the basics and continues guiding the digger into this hobby. As noted detectorist D.J. Yost says in the foreword: "After reading Mary's book, I have to admit there were a lot of thingsI'd forgotten about experiencing as a beginner." She is also generous with her praise of the many folks who helped her learn and enjoy the hobby even more. We all had to begin at some point, and taking the time to put all she has learned into this book is a welcome gift to detectorists. After the introduction, the books begins with an eleven-page Glossary of Vocabulary and Slang. I'm glad she included the slang, because old time diggers, often forgetting that beginners don't know the terminology, rattle off terms that can be confusing. Ms. Shafer helps it all make sense. The heart of the book is the "101 Things." These are divided into categories, which will help the reader find the tip or answer they seek. The first 20 are about the hobby and type of digging you enjoy. The next 28 are about equipment, sub-divided into "Must-Haves, Accessories," and "Nice-To-Haves." My only disagreement here is that I would place headphones in the "Must-Haves," section rather than "Nice-To-Haves." Although detectorists love to hear the beep of a target, those around you (other diggers, onlookers, sunbathers, picnickers, etc.) may not want to hear it. Also, I think you best hear nuances of beeps with headphones rather than without. Batteries last longer when you use headphones, too. Numbers 49 through 70 cover "Finding Hunting Spots." This is a very extensive list with tips about getting permissions and knowing the laws in the areas you hunt. This section I think is very important for beginners to read. The last section, "Hunting," covers a bit more of the basic, but easily overlooked, tasks that enhance the metal detecting experience, as well as the safety, etiquette (including the Metal Detectorist's Code of Ethics), weird stuff, and finds. The book ends with a "Bonus Section on Resources," beginning with your machine's owner's manual and moving on to social media, books, magazines and more. For a small pocket guide book, this one packs a lot of helpful information into its 108 pages (including an index). I would suggest every beginner in the hobby own a copy, but experienced diggers can benefit as well.