You need to contact DNR but asking permission to detect on private property is
always an option.
"The Wisconsin DNR requires a State issued permit to use metal detectors on state owned land or water. You can only use a metal detector to find "lost" items that are specified on the permit application. and cannot remove anything more than 50 years old. Below are the conditions of the permit. If you are found with artifacts on State land they will be confiscated, along with your detector."
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"The DNR has now made it virtually impossible to legally search for artifacts on State land. This makes artifact hunting on private property the only alternative left to artifact collectors, this was not the case when we began hunting artifacts but it is a fact of life today for metal detectorists. The DNR folks sitting in their cubicles in Madison Wiscosin seem to think that artifacts are better left in the ground where no one will ever know they exist, rather than being recovered, recorded and studied. (Wisconsin)
Conditions of permit:
Permit Conditions
1. Metal detectors may be used on Department of Natural Resources land or waters only for locating specific lost personal items, which
must be described in the permit application.
2. A metal detector permit is issued only to a specific individual or their designee for the recovery of said personal items.
3. The permit will specify both a reasonably limited search area within the DNR-managed property and a limited time period between May
1 and October 15 (from either 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. or from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.) when the detector may be used.
4. Any proposed metal detecting within recorded archaeological or historic sites requires prior review and approval by the Departmental
Archaeologist.
5. Any recovered item(s) must be presented and reported to the property office for comparison with the permitted recovery description.
The Property Office will retain all recovered items not belonging to the permittee.
6. Archaeological and historic materials (i.e., all those 50 years old and older) may not be removed from their locations.
7. All excavations must be returned to their original conditions.
8. The Property Manager or authorized Department of Natural Resources representative may terminate this permit by verbal notification at
any time.
9. The Permittee agrees to reimburse the Department of Natural Resources for any damages to State property resulting from the
Permittee's actions or omissions. The Permittee is subject to all rules and laws regulating conduct on State property.
10. Additional restrictions and description of specific lost personal item(s):
The DNR has now made it virtually impossible to legally search for artifacts on State land. This makes artifact hunting on private property the only alternative left to artifact collectors, this was not the case when we began hunting artifacts but it is a fact of life today for metal detectorists. The DNR folks sitting in their cubicles in Madison seem to think that artifacts are better left in the ground where no one will ever know they exist, rather than being recovered, recorded and studied.
Artifact hunting is like other outdoor hobbies, do it responsibly. Never disturb Native American burials, if these are are going to be disturbed, these should be left to archeologists to excavate properly. Ask for permission before hunting on private property. Leave the area you have hunted so no one can tell you have been there, if you dig a hole fill it in before you leave, don't leave trash behind. Do these things and you will be welcomed back again.
If you decide to go artifact hunting remember that you can expect to look for a long time before you find that first artifact. Unless you do some research before going you will most likely be disappointed with your results. Expect to dig a lot of holes and turn up pull tabs, bottle tops, aluminum cans, lead sinkers, metal fishing lures, and scrap metal of all kinds. Some areas in northern Wisconsin have a great deal of magnetite which can drive you crazy. The new higher end detectors have the ability to discriminate between metals and can save a great deal of digging and frustration once you learn how to use them.
