Detecting in Germany

[dasvinni]

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Be careful. Metal Detecting is Generally Legal in Germany. BUT
You can NOT Actively Hunt for WW2 Ammo and weapons
You can not Detect on Plowed and seeded Fields.
Many states now have a Treasure shelf. Meaning, if you for example find a Roman coin, you have to leave it where you found it, protect it and notify the
archaeological society. Even if you pick it up and take it there, you will be fined and your equipment confiscated. There are many confusing laws from State to State. There are many Historical sites to mind.(Churches,castles,near old cemeteries) Your best bet ,go to city hall and ask for a map of city owned property. They will give it to you and tell you where you can Hunt. Always write down the name of the Person that gave you permission. This is the safest way to go Hunting with out Problems. I know ,I am from Germany. If some one approaches you and ask questions, they are probably just curious, so ,Don't be a jerk.A Little common sense, and you will have a great time Hunting. By the way, Many farmers and land owners also own gasthauses (Bars) in the Villages. So go have a beer, talk to them and they most likely will give you Permission to Hunt on there Land.

FRANCE
Except for beaches with Permission of the Mayor it is now illegal to Metal detect
in France.If they catch you ,especially on WW1 &WW2 Battlefield's the very least ,you will lose your equipment. On Battlefields, get caught and you go to jail .These are new and not yet published Laws. Please take them serious ,
Please follow above

 

[Tom_in_CA]

trust me: People are finding ancient coins (like Roman for instance) in Germany, and .... not being arrested. Oh sure: if you go make a big red bullseye of yourself, waiving it around and asking silly questions of bored purist archaeologists ..... WELL OF COURSE they can come up with dire sounding verbage. So too can the same be said of any country in the world. Ok, so what ? Sure use due-discretion, and don't ruffle feathers or be a nuisance tromping on sensitive sites. But beyond that, .... people are detecting there and finding WWI and WWII stuff, ancient coins, etc.... Just stay out of the archie sensitive sites, and .... well.... you know.