This page lists a few of the many thousands of places that detectorists can hunt in central Texas and a few where they cannot or should not. It does not attempt to list every possible place you can hunt, nor every place where you shouldn't. However, this page should get you going in the right direction.

Disclaimer: The information presented here is believed by the authors to be correct. However, neither the authors, nor the AMDC will accept any responsibility for it being wrong in the past, present, or future. Your use of the information on this page is conditional on your acceptance of this disclaimer.

It is always the responsibility of the detectorist to know and obey all applicable laws. Please refer to the ethics page of this website for a more complete list of detectorist's responsibilities. It should also be noted that there will be exceptions to this list to accommodate lost item searches with the appropriate authority's permission and prohibitions where posted as such.

A few common sense suggestions: Schools should be hunted only when classes are not being held and few, if any, faculty members are present. If an area is fenced and the gates are locked, stay out. If an area is posted as 'No Tresspassing', stay out. Do not hunt after dark. If a grass patch looks manicured, it's best not to dig it.

• Austin schools
• Bee Cave city parks
• Blaine's tips Where to Detect? (from a back issue of our newsletter)
  This is probably the most burning question we all have! Where Oh Where can we go detecting???
  Here are a few ideas to keep you hopping! Be mindful of gaining permission if there is any indication it might be private land.
  
  (1.) Check alongside boat ramps. Whether you have a water detector or not, there are frequently many coins, knives, rings etc. lost as folks are launching and retrieving their boats. Check alongside the ramp as it goes down and even on shore. A kid came up to me and said he saw a gold ring in the water at the boat launch.
  (2.) Detect around your motel/cabin. If you travel, detecting on the grounds of your motel/cabin can produce many treasures! If you have the opportunity and time - select older units to stay in when you travel. I have located Barber dimes and turn of the century coins at these older motel sites, as they often have never been detected!
  (3.) Be visual. We can’t use metal detectors at Travis County Parks, LCRA parks, or state parks, but we can visually scan for treasure! If you are at the water’s edge, look for dark circles. Both coins and silver rings look black in the water. You can also find paper money and items to turn in i.e. lost keys that fall out of swim trunks! Pick up trash and dangerous items as you go. Everything positive we do helps us promote the hobby and show that we really are “good guys!”
  (4.) When detecting at an old school yard, church or the like... check the edges of the sidewalks very carefully... I have found many old coins right up against the sidewalk at these sites that are supposed to be hunted out!
  (5.) Review old maps for the surrounding counties and villages. First, look for and mark the old schools, churches, railroad stations, parks etc. to actually go locate and verify. Sometimes they still exist which is great and sometimes they are now a vacant field which is BETTER. Remember to seek permission on private lands.
  (6.) Look at road names as you are going through towns i.e. Church Street, Railroad Ave., Old Bridge Rd, Academy St., Grove St. Along these roads is likely the site of an old depot, bridge, school etc. the road was named after!
  (7.) When scanning fields and empty lots, look for rows of trees, flowers or shrubs that may have been planted years ago. This could be the site of an old home. Anything that does not appear to be “natural” may be the sign of some good detecting possibilities.
• Buda schools
• Buda city parks with city issued permit only
• Burnet city schools and parks When asked, a Burnet city parks department employee reluctantly admitted that there were no regulations prohibiting metal detecting.
• Camp Ben McCulloch Camp Ben McCulloch was organized in the summer of 1896 at Driftwood, Texas.
• Cedar Park city parks and schools
• Gulf coast beaches Most coastal beaches are huntable, unless they are within the boundary of a state or county park.
• Jim C.'s tips Amusement parks
  Around any resort area
  Carnival sites
  Children's summer camps
  Churchyards
  Fairgrounds
  Fishing camps
  Hunting camps
  Old campgrounds
  Old home sites
  Old military bases
  Old school sites
  Parks
  Picnic areas
  Playgrounds
  Recreational vehicle parks
  Roadside produce stands
  Sand, dirt, or grassy parking area
  Schoolyards
  Seaside beaches
  Small circus grounds
  Stock car speedways
  Swimming areas such as lakes and rivers
  Under grandstands
  Under ski lifts
  
• Kyle city parks and schools
• Lakeway city parks
• Lampasas city parks
• Liberty Hill city parks
• Navigable waterways Generally, any public navigable waterway in Texas is usable for recreational purposes, which the author interprets to include metal detecting. See If A River Runs Through It, What Law Applies? at https://tpwd.texas.gov/publications/nonpwdpubs/water_issues/rivers/navigation/kennedy/kennedy_faq.phtml for a more thorough discussion and some legal references.
• Neighborhood parks Many subdivisions have constructed neighborhood parks and operate them independently of the surrounding city. Often these can be hunted even if the city prohibits detecting. Pay particular attention to the posted rules at these sites.
• Round Rock Schools, city parks, curb strips and vacant land owned by the city are all huntable.
• Sanborn map tip Complements of Thomas N Kelly Wyatt on Facebook. These are my main tool for hunting. Texas has thousands of old creek crossings lost to time. Use the maps to narrow down your search areas.
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes The swim beach and designated swim area of these lakes are normally OK to hunt. It may also be possible to hunt other developed areas of the park - IE volleyball court, picnic areas, etc. if you request and are granted explicit permission from a park ranger.

• Austin city parks A special permit must be obtained from the park to conduct a lost item search. No hunting is allowed otherwise.
• Cemeteries In many cases, cemeteries are public spaces and therefore 'technically' legal to hunt. However, NEVER HUNT A CEMETERY because of how it would look to the general public. It would give the impression that you were robbing the graves.
• Historic sites
• LCRA owned parks Some LCRA parks are operated by contractors and city governments.
• Leander city parks and schools
• National parks
• Seguin parks without a permit
• Texas state parks Many states allow some hunting in their parks with ranger permission, but not Texas.
• Travis and Williamson county parks In fact, there are no known county parks in Texas where detecting is permitted.
• W.O.R.D. parks The Water-Oriented Recreation District of Comal County manages Canyon Swim Beach #1 (former Canyon Beach) on Canyon Lake and does not permit metal detecting.