Where Can You Metal Detecting in Oklahoma And Detailed Guidelines

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Metal detection in Oklahoma can be quite an undertaking. So many licensed detectorists have found some pretty amazing metals precious antique coins, jewelry, and relics – while hunting on Oklahoma soil, and its waters.

The Sooner state has 16 places where a detectorist can grab a metal detector and legally go out and about and detect for metals. However, all artifacts recovered from a state land must be deposited in an Oklahoma museum or depository.

Metal Detecting In Oklahoma

Where are you allowed, legally, to treasure hunt in Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s state parks are where it’s legal for metal detectorists to treasure hunt. You do have to have a permit, however. Below are a few places, including parks, where you can legally detect metals in Oklahoma:

  • Boiling Springs State Park
  • Beavers Bend State Park
  • Lake Murray State Park
  • Osage Hills State Park
  • Ouachita National Forest
  • Robbers Cave State Park
  • Robbers Cave State Park
  • Tenkiller State Park Sequoyah State Park
  • Public Beaches
  • Texola, Oklahoma
  • The Blue River
  • Ingalls, Oklahoma
  • Lenora, Oklahoma
  • Mill Creek
  • The Arbuckle Mountains
  • Private land


These places are not only legal but likely where you’d find valuable metals. They receive a great amount of foot traffic and hold historic events that would highly suggest great chances of discovering some of the more distant past valuable artifacts that a metal detectorist would cherish; you can discover artifacts that are accepted by Oklahoma múseums.

  • Boiling Springs State Park 820 – acres of land with high foot traffic. The front office provides a map to support your metal detecting journey.
  • Beavers Bend State Park – Includes a 14,000-acre river for underwater metal detecting. This park has the second highest visitation rate out of all state parks in Oklahoma. Has a great history of natives and settlers.
  • Lake Murray State Park – 12,500 acres of land. The largest state park in Oklahoma. Not only the largest but the first Oklahoma state park – dates back to the early 1930’s. Can support both beach and field metal detecting.
  • Osage Hills State Park – Over 1,100 acres of land: creeks, lakes, and hiking trails. A popular tourist spot. Recreational inclusions; tent sites; and RV parking areas: The front office provides a map of the location at your convenience.
  • Ouachita NatiChal Forest – Extremely large amounts of grounds: 1,784,457 acres of land that continues throughout both Arkansas and Oklahoma. This land once belonged to the Native Americans. It consistently attracts heavy ground traffic of hikers. Includes the Cossatot river which contains a high concentration of quartz crystals, and other precious minerals.
  • Robbers Cave State Park – known for sheltering fugitive from the law, dating back to 1936 Criminal names include Jesse James. Belle Star, the Rufus Buck Gang, just to name a few. Over 8,000 acres of land including 3 lakes. Offers recreational inclusions. Attracts very high foot traffic.
  • Tenkiller State Park – 150 miles of shoreline that borders the Tenkiller Lake. A highly popular tourist spot. High foot traffic. Includes recreational activities. Beach and trail detecting available. Maps are available to metal detectorists.
  • Sequoyah State Park – 2,200 acres of land. Includes a golf course, which includes a loft that houses over 100. The front office offers a map for better metal detecting navigation.
  • Public (local) Beaches – This is only really recommended when beaches aren’t too busy with foot traffic. Usually, there isn’t a problem and doesn’t require a permit, but if the guests complain, management may ask you to stop.
  • Texola, Oklahoma – A small town that doesn’t gain over 400 residents. Currently, buildings within this town have fallen down into tiny pieces. Builders haven’t restored these buildings or have replaced these spots as of yet; replaced by nature: weeds. Dates back to 1907. Best known for its Magnolia Service Station. The last town in Oklahoma you’d visit before entering into Texas.
  • The Blue River – Rumor has it that the Blue River carries burled treasures left by a gang of robbers (outlaws) during the Civil War. These outlaws robbed Confederate soldiers who themselves robbed a federal supply wagon in Kansas. What they stole were barrels of gold coins.
  • Ingalls, Oklahoma – A small town with a couple of wooden buildings that comprise mainly of an empty field. Dates back to the 1890’s, which the maximum amount of residence was150 people. Known for its historic shootout between Doolin-Dalton Gang and the U.S. Marshalls in 1893.
  • Lenora, Oklahoma – This city was once recognized as a vital part of trade and ecommerce in Oklahoma. Its maximum population didn’t extend past 300 people. Currently, it is an unincorporated community.
  • Mill Creek – A payroll coach was robbed of three piles of gold. The looter buried two piles of gold in Mill Creek. The treasure was never discovered.
  • The Arbuckle Mountains – The third pile of the treasure that was robbed from a payroll coach was buried in The Arbuckle Mountains. This pile was never discovered either.
  • Private Land – Simply asking the owner of private land if you can metal detect it isn’t against the law. As long as they give you clearance, you are free to detect metals on their property.

How do you go about getting a license to metal detect in Oklahoma?

Metal detecting in Oklahoma is regulated by the Archaeological Resources Protection Act and the Antiquities Act of 1906. You must obtain a permit must from the state park in which you choose to metal detect. Likely, the permit will cost you $25, in some cases.

If you violate metal detecting laws

Anyone who violates the metal detecting law, that states that if a license is required to metal detect you must possess one order to metal detect, you will be committing a misdemeanor. If convicted. you’ll be subjected to pay fines up to $500 and /or imprisonment in a county jail for 30 days.

Being insured as a metal detectorist

This is an expense that can be worth the charge. In the instance that you’ve damaged or caused a loss to a property, you’ll be responsible for the costs. If you’re interested in an insurance that can protect you in such cases, The National Council for Metal Detectors will cover you.

Are there metal detecting professions?

Experts don’t normally quit their day job for metal detecting. The average metal detectorist makes about $20 per week. However, there can be an instance when you find a metal that could be worth millions. Actually, that’s what the hunt is truly about.

Metal Detecting Clubs in Oklahoma

If you’re looking to join a metal detecting club to go hunting with Oklahoma you are definitely in luck. Joining á club is definitely valuable: you can gain expert advice on becoming better with metal detecting from experienced detectorists: discover the best places to go hunting at; you’ll know which areas were already hit the most; the list goes on. areas were already hit the most; the list goes on. Below are a few clubs to consider if you’re interested in joining a metal detecting club in Oklahoma:

  • Indian Territory Treasure Hunters Club, Inc.
  • Oklahoma Diggers
  • Oklahoma Metal Detecting and Treasure Hunting Club
  • Oklahoma Metal Detecting Club
  • Three Forks Treasure Hunters Club

Best Metal Detector for gold

Having the best metal detector for finding little gold nuggets makes a big difference. Some detectors may, unfortunately, detect mostly trash, while others will get you what you set out for Gold!

Not all detectors are designed to discover gold, so be careful about what you buy. There are three types of metal detectors, very low frequency, multi-frequency, and pulp induction. If you’re searching for gold in detail, you want to make sure your metal detector is a pulp induction.

To discover little gold nuggets and flakes, a higher frequency detector is recommended.

Gold typically falls in the mid-frequency range 30 KHz – 100 KHz. So, due to this fact, it is recommended to purchase either a multi-frequency or pulp induction metal detector to ensure that you have the best chances of finding the most gold for your time.

  • Garret At Gold
  • Minelab Equinox 800
  • Minelab Gold Monster 1000 Metal Detector
  • Minelab Goldmonster 1000
  • Nalanda MD056
  • Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV
  • Fisher Gold Bug-2
  • Bounty Hunter Discovery 3300

Best Metal Detecting Shovels

Being a metal detectorist requires the proper tools in the trade. What makes the best metal detecting shovel? Efficiency digging more holes in less time. Fiskars and Radius Garden are two of the better brands of metal detecting shovels.


Metal Detecting accessories

Besides your typical equipment for metal detecting: shovels and metal detectors, there are a few other things to own that will likely make your metal detecting pursuits in Oklahoma much more enjoyable, efficient and complete.

  • Headphones – blocks out noises in your surroundings
  • Handheld Pinpointer – faster discoveries and less of a damaging factor to properties
  • Pouch or bag – For collecting whatever you discover
  • Search coil covers – protects your metal detector coil from wearing out easily
  • Cover-ups – keeps your detector’s control box from entering the water
  • Additional batteries and/or chargers – never stop the hunt if you do not have to
  • Carry bags – makes it easier to carry along your metal detector
  • Additional search coil – depending on where you’re searching, an area may need more of a shorter coil (a small, tight area) to fully get the benefit of your metal detector.

There are more than enough places of plentiful land in Oklahoma to grab a metal detector and search for precious coins, jewelry, and relics. Just as long you own a license metal detect you are legally eligible to Rome.

If you do not want to go metal detecting on your own, find a metal detecting club in Oklahoma. There are quite a few of them that are willing to accept your membership. Have some fun, discover some valuables and explore the historic lands of Oklahoma.