How To Become Treasure Hunter
Treasure hunting is a fun and exciting hobby. Who doesn’t want to find buried treasure? It can be quite an adrenaline rush when you’re out there in the field, digging for gold. But before you go out on your first hunt, there are some things you should know about treasure hunting.
If you’re just starting out, don’t worry about getting all the fancy equipment right away. Start small, with just a little bit of research and practice. You can then build on your knowledge as you go along. The more experience you get in the field, the better your chances of finding something great!
The first step is gathering information about your target area: where it was last seen by previous treasure hunters; what kinds of treasure have been found there; how deep it might be buried; what kinds of tools might be needed to dig it up; etcetera. Once this information has been gathered, look at maps and aerial photos of the area so that you can visualize where it would be located underground (or under water). This will help when planning your strategy for finding it!
IN ORDER TO BECOME A TREASURE HUNTER – SOMETHING NEEDS TO DRIVE YOU
IN ORDER TO BECOME A TREASURE HUNTER – SOMETHING NEEDS TO DRIVE YOUHow To Become Treasure Hunter
HOW TO BECOME A TREASURE HUNTER
This is a tough question. Where to start with this one… I think the best thing to do is to tell my story and hope that it gives the readers some ideas and tips. I may bounce around from past to present but bear with me on this, I’m sure you’re going to like it.
It all made sense and came together when I was 18 years old. I had two friends at the time that enjoyed looking for an adventure and I just followed along because it seemed fun. We decided to go out on the hunt after a lost Spanish mine and a buried cache. I had no idea how to treasure hunt for this type of thing back then and neither did my friends, so we took the book that inspired us. The book was called, “Of Men and Gold” by Stephen B Shaffer. It took us a couple of hours to get to the mountain range that Shaffer had described in his book and we quickly discovered that the real adventure started at a rough, dirt road that lay ahead. Looking back, I think it was my best treasure hunt yet. Four-wheel driving, metal detecting, and exploring a whole new, unknown area. We didn’t find much that day, but it turned out that I had found the best treasure yet; a passion and love for the hunt.
There has to be a fire in your soul for something in the realm. Maybe it’s the hunt, perhaps it’s an adventure to get outdoors and explore, maybe it’s the excitement of finding your fortune and glory. I’d say it’s all of the above for me and even more. And really, it doesn’t matter what the reasoning is if you like doing it.
For me, I believe it’s embedded in me. I feel that I was the perfect recipe for becoming and learning to be a treasure hunter. Ever since I was 6 years old, I have loved the outdoors. I wanted to go camping, hiking, and exploring every weekend, and when I couldn’t, all I did was think about the next time I could go out again. All I could think about and all I wanted to do was to go and be outdoors. By the time I was 8, I noticed that I really liked history. I loved hearing stories and learning about Ancient Egypt, Greek mythology, and the exploration of the Spanish in the new world. Still to this day, I love doing all of the above. There’s nothing I look forward to more than taking a drive with my family and choosing an unknown road I’ve never been down before. I enjoy four-wheel driving in my jeep, and when we come across an area that catches my interest, I break out my metal detector and we begin exploring our newfound area.
I would say it was my personality and outdoor skills that led up to the treasure hunting. To be the type of treasure hunter I am, historical treasure hunter & researcher, it sure did make it easier to have the outdoor expertise that I had. As a treasure hunter, you need to be able to take on anything that comes your way. That is why I created a team of people with all types of skills, but we’ll leave that for another blog. Now that I’ve explained a little about my lust for the world of treasure hunting, I would like to set some ideas in your head about how you can get started.
10 STEPS TO FOLLOW
1.) You need to do a little research. Find out what it is that drives you. Is it outlaw loot buried in the Western States? Or is it the Knights Templar treasure that is said to be hidden in the United States? Or is it the Spanish exploration here in the Americas? You need to find your passion, whatever it may be.
2.) Once you have an idea, then it’s time to decide how you want to treasure hunt. Do you want to metal detect old fields? Do you want to scuba dive off the coast looking for sunken treasures? Or would you like to do it more in a historical researcher way, start with researching lost history in your area, and set out to find clues, artifacts, mines, and/or buried caches?
3.) Now that you have narrowed it down a little more, I would suggest starting with what is in your area. Treasure hunting can be timely and costly. One thing I’ve learned is to have a direction and plan set so you can stay on task and get as much done as possible in the time you have. Learn your treasure sites. Take drives to it and explore the roads and areas.
4.) Don’t be afraid to reach out to others. Some treasure hunters are going to be really secretive. It’s best to understand that from the beginning, but there are others, like locals, that have families that have lived in the area for generations that would love to share their stories. Those people often have some of the best stories and legends.
5.) Use search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo to find more information. But remember, just because it’s on the web, doesn’t mean that you can take that information to the bank. That’s why you need to research, research, and yes, research some more. You don’t want to be wandering around the wilderness off the word of one person (although you could) but I’d suggest finding at least a few sources that talk about the story you’ve chosen.
6.) Here’s the hard part, find someone to help coach you. This took me a couple of years and it took time because you need to earn their trust before they’ll be willing to give you too much information. Find someone and/or a group that seems like they want to help. If they are only posting information on social media and not commenting on their posts to others, there’s a good chance they may be harder to get in with. Look for websites, authors, and people that seem like they would like to help take you under their wing. They’re out there, don’t give up.
7.) Put a list together of things to look out for. Remember, if it doesn’t look natural, most likely it’s not and it’s man-made. This rule applies underwater, in the wilderness, or metal detecting in a field. Always keep your eye out for structures, artifacts, old camps, rock monuments, and anything else that catches your attention.
8.) You need to really think about this one. Most treasure hunters will disagree with me but I know this is why I became successful in and out of the field. Do you need help? Is there someone you can trust to go with you? It’s dangerous to venture off on your own. Not only that, it’s good to have another set of eyes to help hunt. If you don’t choose to find a partner and/or partners, then make sure you tell someone where you are going and when you plan on being back.
9.) Now that you have learned the history of the area, you’ve reached out to people for legends, you found a mentor (if possible), and you know your area a little… Go out on a scouting trip! Here are some things to do on your scouting trip:
- Decide what road to take
- If you are going to stay overnight
- Where you want to hike and explore and why
- Learn your bearings (North, South, East & West)
- Ponder on the gear you may need
- Consider once again if you need to have a partner
- Keep in mind what you’re looking for and consider the history of how it got there
10.) This is key. Now that you know the area a little and you have somewhat of an idea of what you’re looking for, it’s time to gear up. You’re going to need some basic tools that are available to start out with. You don’t need too much at first, but these are the items I suggest. Use the checklist below:
- Hiking Shoes
- Backpack (Hydration pack would be good – Large Size)
- Hat
- Compass
- Knife
- Binoculars
- Camera (phone or separate)
- Food
- Water & Container
- Metal Detector
- Gold Pan – Backpack Size
- Map
- Light Jacket or Rain Coat
- Extra Pair of Socks
- GPS (Handheld, Phone App, or Watch)
