Metal Detecting Tips: How to Recover Targets the Right Way

July 27, 2026

By Brant Bowers, Camping Department Manager, Bill Jacksons

You have been swinging the coil of your MineLab or Garrett metal detector back and forth for a while. Finally, a solid high pitch tone is heard in your headphones. A target has been found, and you now must extract it from the ground. One may think, “just dig it up,” but there are some things to know so it comes out quickly, in good condition and without missing anything better. Read on the learn some simple things you can do to optimize this process.

Precision Pinpointing Techniques for Metal Detectors

Before you grab the scoop, you need to know exactly where that target is sitting. Most modern metal detectors have a built-in pinpoint mode, but you should first use the “X” method with your standard search coil.

The X Method for Target Localization: Sweep your coil over the target from left to right until the signal is loudest. Then, turn ninety degrees and sweep again. The point where the two lines intersect is your “X.”
The Coil Tip Trick for Fast Recovery: Many experienced hunters wiggle the coil backward toward themselves. The moment the signal drops off, the target is usually right at the very tip or center-front of the coil.
Utilizing Handheld Pinpointers for Accurate Recovery: Engage your machine’s pinpoint mode. Slowly move the coil over the target. As the audio pitch peaks and the signal strength bar maxes out, you are directly over the center.

Once you have narrowed the location down to a two-inch circle, it is time to bring out a very handy tool in your kit: the handheld pinpointer (MineLab Profind or Garret Pro). This device will signal when the target is near the tip of its wand. No need to stand back up to use the main machine’s pinpointer. It makes recovery more convenient and easier.

Selecting the Best Metal Detecting Digging Tools

Sand Scoops for Beach and Surf Hunting

At the beach, a scoop is the proper tool for the job. Its holes allow sand for sift away from your find. No need to search with just your eyes. There are many types of metal detecting scoops. When selecting, the first decision is between a hand and long handled scoop. There is an opposite correlation between ease of use and ease of carry here. Hand scoops are easy to carry but require you to bend over to dig. Long handles allow you to remain upright but are bulky to carry.

The basket of scoops come in two types, metal with holes and wire mesh. To sift quicker, choose mesh, but if digging in wet sand opt for the ones with cut holes. They are more durable. Also look for bracing to avoid the scoop from bending at the handle’s attachment point. Set the scoop a few inches from the target location and dig up a chunk of sand to sift. Avoid the scoop edge hitting the target so you won’t damage your find.

Sand Scoops for Beach and Surf Hunting

Detecting in the “trough” or the surf line requires speed. When a signal is underwater, the hole you dig will cave in almost instantly.

Face the Waves: Always stand facing the ocean. This prevents a wave from knocking you over or filling your scoop with extra weight.
The Single-Scoop Method: Aim to get the target in one deep scoop. If you miss, the target often sinks deeper into the liquefied sand.

Spades and Sod Knives for Inland Recovery

If you are detecting inland, it would be more appropriate to use a spade or sod knife. Again, a choice of whether you need to crouch down to get the find. These tools often have serrations on one edge to make cutting roots possible.

How to Dig a Clean Plug: The “C-Cut” Method

The golden rule of metal detecting is “leave no trace.” We never want to leave brown dirt spots or “dead” grass circles. The best way to prevent this is by digging a “hinged plug” using the C-cut method.

Position your tool: Use a high-quality serrated digging trowel. Center your “X” and move back about three inches.
The Three-Sided Cut: Cut a semi-circle or a square shape around the target but leave one side attached to the ground. This “hinge” ensures the grass roots stay connected to the water source in the soil.
The Flip: Gently pry the plug up and fold it over onto the hinge.
Ground Cloth: Lay a cloth next to the hole to put extra dirt making it easier to return all of it to the hole.

By keeping the grass attached, the plug will stay green and healthy after you replace it. If you cut a full circle and remove the dirt entirely, the grass is much more likely to die and turn brown.

Metal Detecting Ethics and Environmental Guidelines

Beach Hunting Best Practices and Florida Laws

Even though the tide eventually levels off the beach, leaving deep “craters” is dangerous for walkers and sea turtles.

Fill Your Holes: Always kick the sand back into your hole and level it with your foot.
Pack Out the Trash: For every ring you find, you’ll likely find ten pieces of foil or pull-tabs. Do the environment a favor and put that junk in your finds pouch.
Know the Law: Florida has specific rules about where you can dig (usually between the high-tide and low-tide lines). Check the Florida Division of Historical Resources for guidelines on state-owned submerged lands.

Inland Digging Ethics and Property Respect

Properly closing your hole is a matter of ethics. If we leave messy holes, we lose permission to hunt on private and public lands.

Pour back the loose dirt: Empty your drop cloth back into the hole.
Fold the plug back: Flip the hinged grass back into place.
The “Stomp”: Use your foot to firmly press the plug down. This eliminates air pockets that can dry out the roots.
The Sweep: Brush any remaining loose dirt into the grass blades with your hand.

When done correctly, a passerby should not be able to tell that a hole was ever dug.

Grab Your Gear and Get Out There!

There is nothing quite like that rush of hearing a solid, high-pitch tone and wondering what’s waiting just beneath the surface. Now that you’ve got these pinpointing and digging tricks in your back pocket, you’re ready to get out there, recover your targets like a pro, and leave the land looking better than you found it.

Just remember: staying ethical keeps the hobby open for everyone. If you aren’t sure where it’s okay to hunt around Florida, take a quick look at our guide on metal detecting legalities.

Have questions about gear, or just want to swap stories about your latest finds? Swing by the shop and chat with us at Bill Jackson’s – we love helping folks get set up. You can also connect with a great crew of local hunters over at the Suncoast Research and Recovery Club (SRARC).

Happy Hunting!

Frequently Asked Metal Detecting Questions:

Q: What is the best tool for digging up targets when metal detecting?

A: The best tool depends entirely on your environment. For beach and surf hunting, a long-handled stainless steel or wire mesh sand scoop is ideal for sifting. For inland areas like parks or fields, a serrated sod knife, trowel, or specialized metal detecting spade cuts cleanly through dirt and roots without damaging the ground.

Q: How do you use a handheld pinpointer effectively?

A: Once your main detector narrows down a target’s location to a small area, turn on your handheld pinpointer (such as a Minelab Pro-Find or Garrett Pro-Pointer) and insert the wand directly into the hole or loose dirt. The audio pitch and vibration will intensify as the tip gets closer to the metal target, eliminating the need to guess or constantly re-scan with a large coil.

Q: What is a hinged plug when metal detecting?

A: A hinged plug is an eco-friendly digging technique used inland to preserve grass. By cutting a three-sided “C” shape into the turf with a trowel and leaving the fourth side attached, you create a hinge. When you flip the grass over, the roots remain connected to their water and nutrient source, ensuring the grass stays green and healthy when returned to the hole.

Q: Is it legal to metal detect on beaches in Florida?

A: Generally, metal detecting is legal on public Florida beaches between the high-tide and low-tide lines (the wet sand). However, it is strictly prohibited in national parks, state parks, and on state-owned submerged lands (including any area from the water’s edge out into the ocean). Always check local county ordinances and guidelines from the Florida Division of Historical Resources before hunting.

Q: How do you metal detect in the ocean waves and surf?

A: Target recovery in the surf requires speed because shifting water collapses holes instantly. Always face the incoming waves to maintain balance and prevent water from weighing down your sand scoop. Aim to scoop the target cleanly on your first attempt before the metal object sinks deeper into the liquefied sand.

Q: Why is it important to fill holes after metal detecting?

A: Filling your holes is a core part of metal detecting ethics. Unfilled holes on beaches create tripping hazards for humans and can trap nesting sea turtles. Inland, messy or unfilled holes destroy landscaping, ruin property, and often result in public parks or private landowners banning metal detecting altogether. Always leave the ground looking exactly as it did before you arrived.

Q: How to be successful at metal detecting?

A: Success in metal detecting comes down to three things: learning your machine’s signals, using the right recovery tools for your environment, and practicing ethical digging habits. A beach hunter needs a sand scoop and speed in the surf. An inland hunter needs a serrated trowel and the patience to cut a clean hinged plug. Connecting with a local club like the Suncoast Research and Recovery Club (SRARC) is one of the fastest ways to learn from experienced hunters in your area.