Land rules
Metal detecting on BLM land
BLM mining rules list detectors used to find minerals as casual use. Its conduct rules allow some rock collecting. Finds are the limit: willfully removing personal property or historic resources is prohibited.
01
What the texts say
One line per rule: the land it covers, what it says, and the text it comes from, with the date we read it.
| Land | Rule | Text |
|---|---|---|
| Bureau of Land Management public lands (mining rules) Definition | In the BLM mining rules, casual use means activities that ordinarily cause no or negligible disturbance. It generally includes hand panning, non-motorized sluicing and metal detectors used to sense the presence of minerals. | 43 CFR 3809.5 (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on ecfr.gov |
| Bureau of Land Management public lands Allowed with limits | Reasonable amounts of rocks, mineral specimens and semiprecious gemstones may be collected for noncommercial purposes. This does not apply on developed recreation sites and areas, or where a posted rule prohibits it. Explosive, motorized or mechanical devices may not be used to collect them, except metal detectors. | 43 CFR 8365.1-5(a)(3) and (b) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on ecfr.gov |
| Bureau of Land Management public lands Digging or removal prohibited | Unless otherwise authorized, willfully defacing, disturbing, removing or destroying any personal property, structure, or scientific, cultural, archaeological or historic resource is prohibited. | 43 CFR 8365.1-5(a)(1) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on ecfr.gov |
| Bureau of Land Management public lands Local rules | The BLM can issue an order that temporarily closes designated public lands or restricts their use. It posts the order at its office, near or within the area, through local media and online. | 43 CFR 8364.1(a) and (c) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on ecfr.gov |
| Federal public lands and Indian lands Digging or removal prohibited | Excavating, removing, damaging or defacing an archaeological resource, or trying to, is prohibited without a permit or a listed exemption. A knowing violation is a federal crime. | 16 U.S.C. 470ee(a) and (d) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on law.cornell.edu |
| Federal public lands and Indian lands Definition | An item is an archaeological resource under ARPA only if it is at least 100 years old. | 16 U.S.C. 470bb(1); 43 CFR 7.3(a) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on law.cornell.edu |
| Federal public lands and Indian lands Definition | Coins, bullets and unworked minerals and rocks are not archaeological resources unless found in a direct physical relationship with archaeological resources. | 43 CFR 7.3(a)(4)(ii) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on ecfr.gov |
02
What the texts cover
Two BLM rules we read mention detectors. The mining rule, 43 CFR 3809.5, defines casual use. It generally includes metal detectors used to find minerals. The conduct rule, 43 CFR 8365.1-5, lets you collect some rocks and minerals, not for sale and not at developed recreation sites.
Neither text gives a right to keep coins or relics. The conduct rule bars, unless otherwise authorized, willfully removing any personal property or historic resource. It sets no age limit.
ARPA, a federal law, adds its own limits. It only covers items at least 100 years old. Coins, bullets and unworked rocks are left out, unless found in a direct physical relationship with archaeological resources.
03
What stays with the land manager
These are the federal texts. The BLM can also close an area or restrict its use for a time. It posts the order at its office, on site, in local media and online. Ask the BLM field office that manages the land before you search.
Other federal land has rules of its own, summarized below. Our rules overview covers the other kinds of land.
| Land | Rule | Text |
|---|---|---|
| National Park Service areas (national parks, seashores, and monuments the NPS manages) Prohibited | Except as the chapter provides otherwise, possessing or using a metal detector is prohibited. Exceptions include a device broken down and stored or packed to prevent its use, and one used for authorized scientific, mining or administrative work. | 36 CFR 2.1(a)(7) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on ecfr.gov |
| National Forest System lands Digging or removal prohibited | Digging in, disturbing or removing any prehistoric, historic or archaeological resource is prohibited. | 36 CFR 261.9(g) and (h) (opens in a new tab)Read Oct. 16, 2026 on ecfr.gov |
04
Questions
Answered from the texts on this page, read Oct. 16, 2026.
The texts on this page set no permit for hobby detecting as such, but ARPA requires a permit to dig archaeological resources. 43 CFR 3809.5 only defines casual use under the mining rules. Ask the BLM field office that manages the land.
None of the texts we cite gives a right to keep coins. ARPA's regulation leaves out coins and bullets, unless found in a direct physical relationship with archaeological resources. The BLM conduct rule still bars willfully removing personal property or historic resources.
No. National forests have their own rule. Under 36 CFR 261.9, digging in or removing prehistoric, historic or archaeological resources is prohibited.
05