Collectors and hobbyists use metal detectors to find relics and pieces of metal that can be sold or just kept as memorable trinkets. The state has plenty of opportunities for metal detecting, whether you're looking for natural deposits washed down from the state's four mountain ranges or historical artifacts left over from centuries of settlement. The trick is just knowing where to look, and some locations offer better hunting than others in Oklahoma.
Three Forks
In the eastern region of the state, near Muskogee, Oklahoma, is an area called Three Forks, where the Verdigris River, the Arkansas River and the Grand River converge. The nearby land was traversed by American Indians and settlers traveling across the West, especially Sooners who settled in Oklahoma. The Three Forks Treasure Hunters regularly gather groups who have paid their yearly club dues and take them to places that are good for yielding large amounts of metals.
Oklahoma Ghost Towns
Ghost towns dot the entire state of Oklahoma, including settlements for Sooners who set up small towns and then abandoned them, old military forts and stops on railroad lines that have since been shut down. These ghost towns can be treasure troves for avid metal detector users, allowing them to walk amid abandoned buildings and homes and find artifacts left behind. Good places to visit include ghost towns like Clemscott or Fort Arbuckle, just north of the Texas border in the middle of the state, or Hoxbar, beside a man-made lake, near the border with Arkansas.
Wichita Mountains
Located in southwest Oklahoma, the Wichita Mountains have been known to yield large amounts of precious metal and treasures like gold to avid metal detector enthusiasts. The rivers that run through this small range of mountains wash large amounts of metal and mineral deposits down from the hills. These deposits end up on the river's edge, on the bottom of streams and along the banks, especially after heavy rains or flooding. Many people pan for gold in these areas, drawing more tourists then true metal detectors, which can make finding things a bit more difficult.
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Writer Bio
Hailing from Austin, Texas, Daniel Westlake has written under pen names for a myriad of publications all over the nation, ranging from national magazines to local papers. He now lives in Los Angeles, Calif. but regularly travels around the country and abroad, exploring and experiencing everything he can.
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