My Books
The most comprehensive metal detecting & treasure hunting book series available. Written by a detectorist, for detectorists.
33 Books Published
Metal Detecting in Tennessee
Tennessee’s ground holds the stories of America’s westward expansion, Civil War campaigns, and frontier heritage. From Nashville’s historic surroundings to the Tennessee River valley and the Smoky Mountain foothills, this guide covers detecting laws and permits across Tennessee, the best locations by region, Civil War site considerations, and techniques for finding Tennessee’s rich variety of historical artifacts.
Metal Detecting in the Southwest
The American Southwest holds centuries of Spanish colonial history, Native American cultures, and frontier legend — all preserved beneath its arid, mineral-rich soil. This guide covers metal detecting laws and permits across New Mexico and neighboring Southwest territories, Spanish mission treasure legends, ancient relic considerations, BLM and state land regulations, and techniques for detecting in the Southwest’s unique desert environments.
Metal Detecting in Missouri
Missouri sits at the crossroads of American history — the Gateway to the West, a Civil War border state, and home to some of the most productive treasure hunting ground in the Midwest. This guide covers Missouri’s metal detecting laws and permit requirements, the best locations across the state, detecting along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, and the remarkable history buried beneath Missouri’s soil.
Metal Detecting in North Carolina
North Carolina offers detectorists a remarkable range of history — from Outer Banks shipwreck artifacts to Cherokee trading paths, Civil War battlefields to colonial homesteads. This guide covers North Carolina’s metal detecting laws and permit requirements, the best locations across the state, beach and coastal detecting tips, and the rich variety of finds that make North Carolina one of the Southeast’s premier detecting destinations.
Metal Detecting in Illinois
Illinois sits at the heart of America’s history — from French colonial settlements and frontier trading posts to Civil War era homesites and immigrant farming communities. This guide covers metal detecting laws and permits across Illinois, the best locations by region including the Chicago area and rural downstate, techniques for Midwest soil conditions, and what detectorists have found across the Prairie State.
Metal Detecting in Ohio
Ohio’s rich history spans Native American cultures, frontier settlement, War of 1812 battles, and the Civil War era — all leaving traces in the ground for detectorists to find. This guide covers Ohio’s metal detecting laws and permit requirements, the best locations across the state, techniques for Ohio’s varied soil conditions, and what detectorists have recovered from Ohio’s historically significant ground.
Metal Detecting in New England
New England is America’s oldest settled region — and its ground reflects centuries of history waiting to be uncovered. From colonial homesite cellar holes to Revolutionary War encampments, fishing village artifacts to 19th century farmsteads, this guide covers metal detecting laws and permits across all six New England states, the best locations by state and region, and techniques for detecting in New England’s rocky, root-filled soil.
Metal Detecting in the Mid-Atlantic
The Mid-Atlantic states sit at the cradle of American history — from Colonial Williamsburg to Revolutionary War battlefields, from Ellis Island immigration history to Civil War Maryland and Pennsylvania. This guide covers metal detecting laws and permits across Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, the best locations by state, and techniques for uncovering the incredible depth of history buried in Mid-Atlantic soil.
Metal Detecting in Arizona
Arizona’s desert holds some of the richest treasure hunting ground in the United States — Spanish mission gold, lost mine legends, frontier outpost relics, and Civil War era artifacts buried beneath its sun-baked soil. This guide covers metal detecting laws and permits for Arizona’s diverse land types including BLM, state trust, national forest, and city parks, plus the best locations across the state and techniques for detecting in mineralized desert soil.
Metal Detecting in Florida
Florida is a metal detectorist’s paradise — thousands of miles of beaches, Spanish shipwreck history, Civil War sites, and century-old tourist towns all hiding treasure beneath the surface. This guide covers Florida’s metal detecting laws and permits for beaches, parks, and public lands, the best locations by region, techniques for salt water beach detecting, and the incredible history of what’s been found across the Sunshine State.
Metal Detecting in Georgia
Georgia’s deep history — from Native American settlements to Revolutionary War battles, Civil War campaigns to antebellum plantations — makes it one of the most historically rich metal detecting states in the country. This guide covers Georgia’s detecting laws and permit requirements, the best locations across the state, techniques for Georgia’s red clay soil, and the remarkable finds detectorists have made across Georgia’s storied ground.
Metal Detecting in Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s unique history — from the Five Civilized Tribes and the Trail of Tears to the Land Rush of 1889 and the outlaw territories of the Indian Nations — makes it one of the most fascinating metal detecting states in the country. This guide covers Oklahoma’s detecting laws and permits, the best locations across the state, and the incredible variety of historical artifacts that Oklahoma’s ground holds for the prepared detectorist.
Metal Detecting in Alabama
Alabama has a rich history written in the ground — Civil War battlefields, antebellum plantations, river crossings, and frontier settlements that predate the nation itself. This guide covers where and how to metal detect across Alabama, including laws and permits for every land type, the best locations by region, target identification tips for Alabama soil conditions, and the stories of what detectorists have found across the state.
Metal Detecting in Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon & Washington
From Alaska’s gold rush country to Hawaii’s volcanic beaches, Oregon’s coastal shores to Washington’s historic trails, this guide covers metal detecting across four of America’s most unique and geographically diverse states. Includes state-specific laws and permit requirements, best locations for each state, gold prospecting opportunities in Alaska, beach detecting in Hawaii, and the rich pioneer history waiting beneath Oregon and Washington’s soil.
Metal Detecting Gear & Equipment Vol 3
Volume 3 of the Metal Detecting Gear & Equipment series rounds out the most comprehensive equipment reference in the hobby. Covering finds care, storage, cleaning techniques, accessories, and the tools that serious detectorists rely on to protect and preserve every recovery. Also includes guidance on maintaining your equipment for maximum performance and longevity in the field.
Metal Detecting in California
California’s Gold Rush history, Spanish mission heritage, and thousands of miles of coastline make it one of the premier metal detecting destinations in the country. This guide covers detecting laws and permits across California’s complex land ownership landscape, from BLM and national forest to state beaches and city parks. Includes the best gold prospecting locations, beach detecting hotspots, historic homesite research tips, and target identification guidance for California’s varied soil conditions.
Metal Detecting in Texas
Everything really is bigger in Texas — including the treasure hunting opportunities. With over 268,000 square miles of historically rich land, Texas offers detectorists Spanish mission gold, Civil War sites, frontier outpost relics, outlaw caches, and some of the most legendary lost treasure stories in North America. This guide covers Texas metal detecting laws and permits for every land type, the best locations across the state’s diverse regions, and techniques for Texas’s varied soil and terrain conditions.
Metal Detecting Gear & Equipment Vol 1
Choosing the right equipment can make or break your metal detecting experience. This volume covers the full spectrum of metal detecting gear — from entry-level detectors to professional machines, pinpointers to digging tools, headphones to finds pouches. Packed with reviews, comparisons, buying guides, and real-world advice, this is the reference every detectorist needs before spending a dollar on gear.
Metal Detecting in the Mountain West
The Mountain West is America’s treasure hunting frontier — gold and silver mining districts, ghost town relics, frontier trading posts, and some of the most spectacular detecting terrain in the country. This guide covers metal detecting laws and permits across Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming, including BLM and national forest regulations, the best gold prospecting locations, historic mining district access, and techniques for high altitude and rocky terrain detecting.
Treasure Hunting Adventures & Expeditions Vol 4
The final volume of Treasure Hunting Adventures & Expeditions rounds out the most comprehensive treasure hunting collection ever published. Covering legendary discoveries, remarkable recoveries, the stories of treasure hunters who found what they were looking for — and those still searching. A fitting conclusion to a series that captures everything thrilling about the pursuit of history’s hidden wealth.
Metal Detecting in the Midwest
The American Midwest holds the stories of westward expansion, Native American nations, frontier homesteads, and the agricultural communities that fed a growing nation. This comprehensive regional guide covers metal detecting laws and permits across all Midwest states, the best locations by state and terrain type, techniques for Midwest soil conditions, and the remarkable variety of historical artifacts waiting beneath the region’s farmlands, river valleys, and historic town sites.
Metal Detecting in the Southeast
The American Southeast is a treasure hunter’s dream — Spanish colonial history, Civil War battlegrounds, Native American sites, antebellum plantations, and thousands of miles of coastline all combine to create one of the richest detecting regions in the country. This comprehensive guide covers metal detecting laws and permits across all Southeast states, the best locations by state, beach and inland detecting techniques, and the incredible variety of historical artifacts the Southeast’s ground holds.
Beach, River & Outdoor Detecting
From sandy shorelines to rushing rivers and open fields, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about metal detecting in outdoor environments across the United States. Packed with location guides, techniques for different terrain types, tips for water detecting, magnet fishing, and making the most of every outdoor hunt. Whether you’re working a beach after a storm or wading a productive river bend, this book delivers the knowledge to find more wherever you detect outdoors.
Treasure Hunting Adventures & Expeditions Vol 1
The world is full of treasure — and this volume documents the legends, expeditions, and adventures of those who go looking for it. From sunken ships to buried pirate gold, lost mine expeditions to legendary hoards, this book brings together the most compelling treasure hunting stories, historical accounts, and real expedition reports ever compiled. Equal parts history, adventure, and practical guide for anyone bitten by the treasure hunting bug.
Metal Detecting Finds, Stories & Jewelry
Every signal tells a story. This collection brings together the most fascinating metal detecting finds, personal stories from the field, and a deep dive into jewelry recovery — one of the most rewarding and underappreciated aspects of the hobby. From Civil War relics to Victorian jewelry, everyday coins to once-in-a-lifetime discoveries, these stories and guides will inspire every detectorist to get out there and start digging.
Lost Treasures of America Legends Vol 2
The search continues. Volume 2 of Lost Treasures of America Legends picks up where the first volume left off, documenting more of America’s most compelling buried treasure stories, lost caches, and legendary hoards. From forgotten mining fortunes to pirate gold and pioneer silver, each entry brings together historical research, known clues, and the enduring mystery of what’s still out there waiting to be found.
Coin Hunting, Gold Prospecting & Relic Hunting
Three of the most rewarding specialties in metal detecting come together in one comprehensive volume. Learn where and how to find coins from every era of American history, prospect for gold in fields and streams across the country, and recover relics that connect us to the past. Covers target identification, best locations, legal considerations, cleaning and preservation, and the techniques used by serious hunters to maximize every outing.
The Metal Detecting Handbook Vol 1
The most comprehensive metal detecting reference ever compiled in a single volume. Covers everything from choosing your first detector to mastering advanced techniques, understanding metal detecting laws across all 50 states, researching productive locations, target identification, finds care, community and competition, ethics and responsible detecting, and the full spectrum of what makes this hobby one of the most rewarding pursuits available to outdoor enthusiasts. If you own one metal detecting book, make it this one.
The Metal Detecting Handbook Vol 2
Volume 2 of The Metal Detecting Handbook continues the most comprehensive metal detecting reference ever assembled. Covering advanced techniques, community and competition, ethics and responsible recovery, safety in the field, and the full range of topics that take a detectorist from beginner to expert. Paired with Volume 1, these two books represent the definitive library for anyone serious about the hobby.
Treasure Hunting Adventures & Expeditions Vol 3
Volume 3 of Treasure Hunting Adventures & Expeditions explores the full global scope of treasure hunting — from America’s legendary lost caches to ancient treasures around the world. Covering sunken ships, legendary hoards, geocaching adventures, puzzle quests, and the technology modern treasure hunters use to track down history’s greatest mysteries. If treasure hunting is your passion, this volume will fuel it.
Treasure Hunting Adventures & Expeditions Vol 2
The adventure continues. Volume 2 of Treasure Hunting Adventures & Expeditions digs deeper into the world’s most compelling hidden treasure stories — ancient hoards, lost gold mines, pirate caches, and the modern expeditions still searching for them. Packed with historical research, expedition accounts, and the enduring legends that keep treasure hunters searching, this volume delivers the thrill of the hunt from cover to cover.
Metal Detecting Gear & Equipment Vol 2
The most comprehensive metal detecting equipment resource ever compiled continues in Volume 2. Covering advanced detector technology, specialized machines for gold, beach, and relic hunting, plus in-depth comparisons of the top brands and models on the market. Whether you’re upgrading your current setup or researching your first serious machine, this volume delivers the detail you need to make the right choice.
Lost Treasures of America Legends Vol 1
America is hiding billions in lost gold, silver, buried caches, and legendary treasures — and this volume documents hundreds of them. From Civil War gold to outlaw loot, Spanish mission treasures to pioneer hoards, this is the most comprehensive collection of treasure legends, historical accounts, and hunting tips ever assembled. Each story includes historical background, known clues, and what searchers have found so far. Whether you hunt or just love the legends, this book delivers the adventure.