Kentucky is another good state where not only you can metal detect peacefully, but also hope for some interesting finds!
The only thing you should pay attention to before holding your beloved machine there is the regulating rules …
… Indeed, in this Guide, I list what you should generally be aware of in terms of regulating laws, in addition to other topics like …
- Some solid locations that you can explore
- A Detection Suggestion for Kentucky type of ground
- Possibilities to come up with Gold
- Which clubs should you opt for
In addition to some solid info …
What are the metal detecting laws in Kentucky?
It must be kept in mind that there is no law in Kentucky prohibiting metal detecting. However, ARPA is applicable in still applicable effectively prohibiting digging in most areas of the state!
The law aims to protect anything structure or location, which is historically significant. So, you would have to avoid digging up anything deemed a historical relic or is more than a century old.
ARPA is applicable by default on all lands owned by the State. In other non-private lands, it comes down to the discretion of local authorities.
Like most state parks, the hobby is prohibited in Kentucky state parks too! The right to provide permit in the state parks resides with the archaeology department…
…You would have to go through the usual routine to get a permit within state parks by addressing directly its manager!
Other than that, there are no specific laws prohibiting detection activities on beaches, lakes, and rivers …
… Thus, as long as you take care not to violate ARPA, you can consider yourself in a safe spot! Private lands come outside the purview of state laws. If you want to detect on individual properties, take explicit prior permission from the owner.
Where to go detecting in Kentucky?
Kentucky’s vibrant metal detecting community suggests that the state has many places to go on the hunt. Gold is not the state’s strong suit. Only limited spots are said to yield gold! These include Kenton County, area around Ohio River and the border touching Tennessee.
However, this doesn’t mean that there is no scope for other types of detecting. Kentucky has an abundance of good places! There are plenty of old churches, schools, and building that you can explore.
Parks would be a great place too, but they would need a prior permit. Vast farmlands also promise some unlikely treasures, but they are almost always private properties and thus would require written permission.
The state has no beaches, but the rivers and lakes do promise excellent prospects. Also there are lot of deserted towns. This means that a lot of land of prior human settlement is ripe of your taking, without an owner to take permission from.
In truth, any site holds the chance to yield something interesting. Just make sure you remember the regulations of each area you are entering while on the hunt.
A Good Detector Recommendation for Kentucky Soil!
The state has a prominence of red soil and varieties across the state. It has good water retention, making it soft and sticky. This would be a good help in digging up the soil while detecting.
Also, the soil has average-to-low levels of mineralization. This would also allow you to come up with finds in an easier way as the low mineralization would not give false signals to your machine!
However, it is essential to consider what exactly you are looking for during the expedition …
… Keeping all things in mind, the Fisher F75 (Check it Right Here at Amazon!) is what you would need. Since gold is negligible in Kentucky, you would have to focus on relic hunting.
And there is nothing better to hunt relics than this. The F75 comes with a static all-metal mode that allows you to look for all metals without having to adjust it again and again.
Occasionally, you can use the Boost mode, which offers enhanced depth and sensitivity. When you are looking for deep/large objects, you can use its Cache mode. The device also comes with 65 tone IDs and multiple coil options!
It might be a little heavy on your pocket, but it ensures that you have excellent relic hunting.
Finally, if for whatever reason, this machine doesn’t fit your budget, you can still Check its Little Brother Here at Amazon! It is another Fisher model that’s also reliable.
Searching for Gold in Kentucky…
To be entirely honest, Kentucky is not the place you might want to visit when you are searching for gold. Most collectors agree that the state has perhaps one of the poorest gold prospects in the entire country. Unlike most other US states, it never had a single instance of gold mining.
However, that does not mean that there is zero chance of striking gold in the state. Specific locations have been known to have gold, however unlikely that might seem.
Campbell, Kenton, and Boon counties have known to contain underground gold. As always, rivers also promise good gold prospects. Ohio River has been known to occasionally yield some gold nuggets, though it is now a rare occurrence.
The highest chances of finding gold lie along the borders of Kentucky. While Kentucky itself is poor in gold, it is surrounded by states that have rich gold mines. Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia are all gold-rich states.
It is natural to assume that some of the buried gold might be on the other side of their borders. However, the state also has excellent deposits of pyrite, also known as fool’s gold. Collectors must be wary of it while hunting.
Finally, to know more about this Topic, I highly encourage you to check this Gold Detection and Prospection Guide! I’ve spent days putting it together and I am sure that you will learn a Ton …
What other finds should you expect there?
The rich history of Kentucky does indicate a variety of things to be found apart from gold. Indeed, the state has been a site of many significant battles over the course of its history.
During the Civil War, almost a dozen battles were fought here. The state also saw action during the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. All of these mean that a lot of historical relics must have been left here and never recovered. These include coins, buttons, weapons, and other metallic accessories worn by soldiers.
However, battle sites are not the only source of treasures in there! A lot of tourist spots keep yielding items which might have once been worthless, but time has made them valuable.
From old keys to early Coca Cola bottle openers, collectors have been finding weird but exciting stuff in Kentucky from time to time.
In more popular tourist spots, you are more prone to find relatively modern items. However, these items could turn out to be valuable nonetheless. From watches to rings, there is no telling what you might end up digging from the ground.
Detecting in Kentucky Lakes and Rivers!
Expert collectors in the state say that unlike many other states, Kentucky doesn’t seem to offer a great bounty near its lakes and rivers.
There are not many lakes and rivers in the country, to begin with. Being far away from Canada, its rivers cannot boast of gold flour which is characteristically found in the glacial rivers.
However, not all hope is lost; some treasures are still to be found here. The Ohio River (Learn about metal detecting in Ohio) is the most famous river in Kentucky for treasure hunters. It is occasionally known to cough up gold nuggets. If not, there are always the plethora of historical relics and tourist items alongside the river shore.
The lakes, few as they may be, offer similar treasures. Some notable lakes to stake out are Rough River, Barren River, Taylorsvile and Laurel River.
Streams of significant rivers have a higher chance of yielding treasures as you can go in the middle of the flow to look for them.
Do pay attention while hunting in the water bodies. While some might argue that since they are open for commercial purposes, they must be public properties, others don’t necessarily agree. Hence, remember to contact the state/city authorities and seek their permission before hunting in the water bodies.
For more info about that, you can check this Rivers Detection Post!
Are there detection clubs in there?
There are several clubs spread across the state! Some of the right ones could be found in Independence, Greensburg, Paducah, Marion and Elkhorn City.
Louisville boasts of the best detecting community in the entire state. These clubs are an excellent way for amateur collectors to get started, as it would be very hard to go detecting if you are both alone and new.
Since gold is very scarce in Kentucky, there are predictably no clubs exclusively for hunting gold!.
Detecting in Kentucky Parks!
Any kind of detection activities (or digging in general) is strictly prohibited in Kentucky parks!
Even the park officials or the state officials cannot give permits to go metal detecting within the state parks (Seems to be the case!). You would need to contact the archeology department for the permit!
Even then, you would need to convince them that your hobby will not damage any archeological or natural structure.
Digging up in state parks without a permit carries a serious penalty and can easily get you arrested.
Hence, do not even dream of going exploring state parks before you get the permit. However, if you are lucky enough to get it, get ready for a host of exciting items you might find.
Getting your detection permit
Getting your permit should you be your top priority before you even start your trip. As stated earlier, the permit for Kentucky state parks are granted by the archeological department.
Most other land owned by the State also requires a permit, but it is easier to get and is issued by the state authorities.
Federal property, however, is the most exclusive zone and only experienced collectors ever get a permit for federal property.
The laws about the hobby in waterways are pretty complicated, so it would be wise to seek permission before you go. Properties that come under local authorities can be dug up by taking a permit from them. Private properties only need the consent of the property owner.
Conclusion
I am not sure how helpful all the information I’ve provided in this Post was for you … But, I’ve tried to provide you with useful data that should make your detection journey in Kentucky easier, safer and more successful!
If I meet at least 50% of your expectations in this Post, I would be very happy …
… My mission through this website is to help in your happiness … In other words, if I am able to help you enjoy your beloved hobby better and safer, this will certainly make you happier!
Finally, for more states to explore, please have a look at this metal detection guide in South Carolina!
Have a nice day and Gold Bless you.
