Joe Cannon of Get That Treasure Talks Metal Detecting, Relic Hunting, and Searching for History 

Metal detecting is more than finding coins, relics, and treasure. For serious detectorists like Joe Cannon, it is a blend of research, permissions, patience, land reading, responsible recovery, and understanding the history behind each signal.

Joe is a well-known name in the metal detecting community and the creator behind the YouTube channel Get That Treasure. He has also been a guest on Relics Radio. Currently using both the Minelab Manticore and XP Deus II, Joe has hands-on experience with two of today’s most popular metal detectors. In addition to metal detecting in the United States, he has also detected in the United Kingdom.

In this Focus Speed interview, we ask Joe how he got started in metal detecting, how he researches new sites, what types of finds keep him motivated, how he chooses between the Minelab Manticore and XP Deus II, and what advice he has for detectorists who want to improve their skills while respecting landowners, local rules, and historic resources.

Interview with Joe Cannon of Get That Treasure

How did you first get started in metal detecting, and what originally pulled you into the hobby?

I got into metal detecting during a difficult chapter of my life. In January of 2020, my father passed away, and I was helping my mother sort through his belongings and get everything in order. While going through his things, I came across a Garrett Ace 150 that I had actually traded for and given to him years earlier.

A couple of months later, as the COVID lockdowns began in March, I decided to put batteries in it and see what it could do. Almost immediately, I started finding coins, one after another, and I was completely hooked.

Before long, I was detecting every single day, often for hours at a time, anywhere I could get permission or legally hunt. I eventually upgraded to a Garrett AT Max, but by then it wasn’t really about the detector anymore. I had fallen in love with the hobby, the history, and the community surrounding it.

Looking back, metal detecting arrived at exactly the right time in my life. It gave me something positive to focus on during a period of loss and uncertainty. Whether or not people truly have a purpose, it felt like I had found mine.

Which metal detecting clubs are you involved with, and what benefits of joining a metal detecting club do you think are often overlooked?

I’ve been fortunate to be involved with several great metal detecting clubs over the years. I’m a member of the Golden Triangle Explorers Society, the Lone Star Treasure Hunters Club, the Cowtown Treasure Hunters Club, and the South Carolina Metal Detecting & Relic Association. I’ve also had the opportunity to detect with groups like Digging History U.K., which has given me a chance to experience the hobby and the incredible detecting community on both sides of the Atlantic.

I think one of the most overlooked benefits of joining a club is the people. Yes, clubs put on great hunts, giveaways, and educational programs, but the real value is the friendships and the shared knowledge. You can spend years trying to figure everything out on your own, or you can spend one afternoon with experienced detectorists and learn lessons that would have otherwise taken you years.

Clubs also help preserve the history of our hobby by teaching proper recovery techniques, researching finds, and encouraging responsible detecting. I’ve found that experienced members genuinely want to help newcomers succeed, and that generosity is something special.

If someone is just getting started in metal detecting, one of my first recommendations is always to join a local club. It will make you a better detectorist, open doors to opportunities you might never have found on your own, and very likely introduce you to lifelong friends.

How does the age and history of the landscape affect the way you research and detect a site?

The age and history of a landscape aren’t as important as many people think, at least not in the way most people approach site selection. They’re directly tied to the probability of finding certain types of artifacts, but they can also create bias. If we convince ourselves a place has “no history,” we may never bother to detect it, even though history isn’t always recorded.

For me, the most important factor is whether people actively occupied or moved through an area. Wherever people have lived, worked, gathered, traveled, or simply passed by, they’ve left something behind. History provides clues, but it never tells the whole story.

I absolutely research old maps, documents, and aerial imagery because they improve my odds, but I also remind myself that until a coil passes over the ground, nothing is certain. Some of my favorite finds have come from places that didn’t look especially promising on paper.

Am I chasing history? Absolutely. But from a practical standpoint, I’m chasing iron. Iron is often the fingerprint of past human activity. When I start finding nails, hardware, and other ferrous objects, I know people were there. Once I find the iron, there’s a good chance the history I’m really looking for isn’t far away.

When relic hunting, are there certain land features, old roads, paths, waterways, fields, or settlement clues that you pay close attention to before detecting?

Absolutely. More than any single feature, I’m looking for evidence of human activity. Old roads, worn footpaths, creek crossings, field entrances, and waterways can all be great clues, but so can subtle signs like pieces of brick, broken pottery, glass, charcoal, or compacted paths that have left a visible mark in the soil.

Those small clues tell me people were there, even if history never recorded it. That’s often more valuable than relying solely on old maps.

Ultimately, I’m not just looking for where history happened I’m looking for where people lived their lives. If I can find evidence of that, I’m confident there’s a good chance I’ll find relics.

What types of sites do you enjoy searching most: farmland, old paths, pasture, woodland, permissions, historic settlement areas, or other?

Most people expect me to say old farmland or quiet pasture, but my favorite places to detect are incredibly trashy urban scrapes with multiple layers of historical activity. Those sites can be frustrating, but they’re also incredibly rewarding because every era has left something behind.

I enjoy getting lost in the sounds of the detector. For me, part of this hobby is about drowning out the rest of the world. While I certainly appreciate the peace of an open field, my preference is the chaotic auditory landscape of an old urban site, where iron, foil, modern trash, and history are all competing for your attention. Learning to separate those layers is part of the challenge and part of what I love most about metal detecting.

What research tools or clues have helped you find productive metal detecting sites?

I enjoy using a wide range of research sources, including books, historic aerial photographs, diaries, newspapers, and oral tradition. Each offers a different perspective, and when they overlap, they can paint a compelling picture of a site’s past.

That said, the best research tool any detectorist has is an open mind. Never make assumptions based solely on what you’ve read or what you haven’t. Not every piece of history was recorded, and not every promising site lives up to expectations.

In the end, putting your feet on the ground is the best research tool there is. Walking the landscape, observing what’s around you, and finally swinging your detector will tell you more than any map or document ever can.

What advice would you give to someone asking a landowner for metal detecting permissions?

I think the biggest hurdle is just asking. If you never ask, the answer is already no. Once you ask, the answer might still be no, but it also might be yes. You’ll never know unless you ask.

It’s also important to take rejection gracefully. A landowner doesn’t owe you an explanation, and a polite “no” should always be met with a sincere “thank you.” Leave on good terms because circumstances change, and today’s “no” could become tomorrow’s “yes.”

What has been one of your most memorable metal detecting permissions, and what made it special?

One of my most memorable permissions actually came from simply paying attention. I was detecting a city-owned lot where I’d already found a few old coins and relics when I noticed a construction crew working across the street. I walked over, introduced myself, and asked if they’d mind if I detected the property they were renovating.

They told me to go right ahead. The house was being completely remodeled for resale, and the yard was about to be torn up anyway. I realized I might only have that one day, so I slowed down and methodically worked every inch of the property.

By the end of the hunt I’d recovered nine silver coins, including my very first Standing Liberty quarter. The best part? It had been hiding beneath the concrete walkway leading to the front door, ground that had probably been inaccessible for decades until that renovation.

That permission taught me a lesson I carry with me beyond metal detecting. Opportunities don’t always announce themselves. Sometimes they’re standing right across the street. If you’re willing to introduce yourself, ask the question, and seize the moment, you never know where it might lead.

What is one find that may not look impressive to a casual viewer, but meant a lot to you because of its age, history, or context?

For me, it’s junk jewelry. Most people see a worthless ring or bracelet and think it’s just another piece of trash, but I see something completely different.

There’s a saying in our hobby: “A ring is a ring.” To me, that means every ring proves that people lose jewelry. If someone lost a junk ring, then someone else lost a silver ring, a gold ring, or something even more valuable. Every piece of junk jewelry is a reminder that the next signal could be the one.

Sure, a junk ring may not be worth anything monetarily, but it’s worth its weight in gold when it comes to motivation. It keeps me optimistic, keeps me swinging, and reminds me that persistence is one of the most valuable tools a detectorist can have.

Have you ever had a find that changed your understanding of a site or made you realize the location was older or more active than you first thought?

Absolutely. The find that changed my perspective more than any other was an 1890 Morgan dollar. I found it in the yard of a house built in 1954, deep in the ground near the street. Based on the age of the house, I never would have expected a coin like that to be there.

I still remember seeing that large silver coin in the hole. It felt like a lightning bolt of excitement because it completely defied my expectations.

That one find became the foundation for many of the beliefs I still carry today. It taught me to never assume anything about a site based solely on its appearance or age. It inspired my saying, “It’s never hunted out until I hunt it,” because you truly never know what’s in the ground until you verify it for yourself.

It also reinforced another philosophy I live by: “The shovel of truth tells no lies.” We can research, speculate, and make educated guesses, but the only way to know what’s really beneath your feet is to dig the target. Sometimes the ground has a story that’s completely different from the one we expected to find.

As someone who uses both the Minelab Manticore and XP Deus II, how do you decide which detector to use for different metal detecting conditions? Where do you feel each detector outshines the other? 

I think they’re both outstanding detectors, and sometimes choosing between them is as simple as which one is closest to me or which one happens to be charged.

If I had to give a slight edge to one, it would be the XP Deus II. I prefer its ergonomics, and the battery life is excellent, especially for the way I like to hunt. Those little quality-of-life advantages add up over a long day in the field.

That said, the Minelab Manticore has its own strengths. It’s a quieter machine, which can make for a more relaxing detecting experience. And when it locks onto a good target, it really locks onto it. Those strong, confident target responses inspire a lot of confidence. Minelab absolutely hit a home run with the Manticore. While the battery doesn’t last as long as the Deus II, there’s also something to be said for only having one component to charge.

At the end of the day, I genuinely love both detectors. I don’t think either one is going to hold someone back. The biggest factor isn’t the machine it’s the person using it. If you’re naturally curious and willing to investigate those iffy, repeatable signals instead of only digging the obvious targets, you’ll maximize the capabilities of either detector.

Learn your detector, trust what it’s tells you, and don’t be afraid to dig the targets that make you wonder, “What if?”

How do you set up your detector for relic hunting compared with coin shooting?

For me, the biggest difference between relic hunting and coin shooting is my mindset more than my settings.

The truth is, I don’t really think of myself as a relic hunter or a coin shooter. I hunt for history and treasure. My goal is to recover anything that has a story to tell, whether that’s a coin, a relic, a piece of jewelry, or even an interesting piece of trash.

When I’m relic hunting, I want to hear as much information as possible. Relics come in every imaginable shape, size, and conductivity, so I don’t like to over-filter what my detector is telling me. When I’m in a park looking for older coins, I may become a little more selective to stay efficient, but my philosophy never really changes.

One of my catchphrases is, “If it beeps and it repeats, dig it.” That simple idea has led me to some of my best finds because old targets don’t always sound perfect, and neither do valuable ones.

I also think one of my strengths is that I genuinely enjoy the process, even when I’m digging trash. Every pull tab, bottle cap, or piece of scrap is simply another target eliminated. If you can enjoy the entire process instead of only celebrating the great finds, you’ll stay motivated longer and ultimately recover more interesting finds.

That’s why I spend more time learning what my detector is telling me than constantly changing settings. Every adjustment is a compromise, and no program can replace experience, curiosity, and a willingness to investigate the targets that make you wonder. Once again, the shovel of truth tells no lies.

When relic hunting older sites with iron, trash, or mixed targets, how do you decide which metal detector signals to dig? Do you follow a “dig everything” approach, or do you cherry-pick targets based on tone, VDI numbers, depth, repeatability, and the history of the site? 

The best practice, in my opinion, is to dig repeatable targets. Sometimes that’s pure drudgery. You’ll spend hours digging iron, trash, and questionable signals. But when you’re on an old, target-rich site, that’s exactly when it’s time to buckle down. History rarely comes easy.

I don’t subscribe to a “dig everything” philosophy, but I also don’t cherry-pick only the textbook perfect signals. My decision-making is based primarily on tone and repeatability. If it beeps and it repeats, I’m interested.

I use every piece of information my detector gives me, but I don’t let any single one make the decision for me. VDI is useful, but I don’t consider it the arbiter of whether I dig a target. It’s one piece of the puzzle. I trust my ears far more than I trust a number on a screen.

I also believe discipline is superior to luck. People often see the exciting finds but not the hundreds of targets that came before them. Perseverance is what separates the casual hobbyist from the truly successful detectorist. The willingness to investigate one more repeatable signal, even after a long day, is often where the best discoveries are made.

Many detectorists rely heavily on target ID numbers. How much do you trust VDI numbers compared with tone, repeatability, depth, and site context?

I think VDI is a wonderful tool, but I also think it’s one of the most misunderstood. It’s information, not a verdict.

I use VDI as part of the overall picture, but I don’t let it make the decision for me. Tone, repeatability, depth, and the context of the site all carry more weight in my mind. A target that’s been in the ground for a hundred years doesn’t always read the way the air test says it should.

I’ve dug enough deep silver coins, oddly shaped relics, and unexpected finds to know that history doesn’t always fit neatly into a number on a screen. That’s one of the reasons I rely so heavily on audio. Your ears can often tell you things that a VDI simply can’t.

I also think detectorists can become too focused on chasing perfect numbers. If all you’re doing is digging textbook VDI readings, you’re going to leave some incredible finds behind. Curiosity has always served me better than certainty.

For me, VDI is an advisor, not the decision maker. If the tone is good, the target is repeatable, and the site has potential, I’m probably going to investigate it.

What settings, coils, or search techniques have made the biggest difference in your detecting success?

If I’m being honest, I think people put too much emphasis on settings and not enough on technique. Don’t get me wrong—having a good program and the right coil for the site absolutely helps but neither one can replace good fundamentals.

The biggest difference in my success has come from slowing down. Taking my time, overlapping my swings, approaching targets from multiple directions, and really listening to what the detector is trying to tell me has produced far more finds than constantly changing settings.

I’m also a big believer in using the right coil for the job. Smaller coils excel in heavy trash and iron because of their target separation, while larger coils allow you to cover ground more efficiently and can provide an advantage in cleaner areas. Neither is better; they’re simply different tools for different situations.

As for settings, I tend to keep things fairly simple. I don’t spend my day chasing the perfect program because I don’t believe one exists. Every adjustment is a compromise. I’d rather become an expert with one well-understood program than constantly wonder if another setting would have been better.

In the end, the greatest tool you have isn’t your detector, your coil, or your settings it’s your mindset. Slow down, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to investigate those repeatable signals. More often than not, that’s where history is waiting. Above all, don’t be lazy. There’s a bunch of people online that will give you a million reasons not to dig a target but the shovel of truth tells no lies.

What does responsible metal detecting mean to you?

To me, responsible metal detecting is about being a steward of both the land and its history. Every one of us who swings a detector represents the hobby, and our actions determine whether the next person is welcomed or turned away.

That starts with respecting property owners, asking permission when it’s required, filling every hole, removing the trash you dig, and leaving a site looking better than you found it. If someone can’t tell you were ever there, you’ve done it right.

But responsibility goes beyond the physical side of the hobby. It’s also about respecting history. Every object has a story, whether it’s a valuable coin or a rusty piece of iron. Taking the time to understand what you’ve found and preserving that history is just as important as recovering it.

I also think responsible detectorists share knowledge. We help newcomers, encourage ethical behavior, and remember that we’re all ambassadors for this hobby. The future of metal detecting doesn’t depend on the next great detector it depends on the reputation we build today.

At the end of the day, I want landowners, park visitors, archaeologists, and anyone else who encounters a detectorist to walk away thinking, “That person cared about this place.” If we can leave every permission, every park, and every site better than we found it, we’ve done our job.

What has been one of your most challenging hunts, and what did you learn from it?

One of the most challenging hunts I’ve ever been on was with my good friend Carolina Tom. We spent a couple of weeks hunting an old homesite that was absolutely saturated with iron. It was one of those places where almost every swing of the coil produced multiple targets.

Despite the difficult conditions, we both recovered some incredible finds. I found a silver spoon, a silver half dollar, several silver dimes, and some jewelry. It would have been easy to think we had figured the site out.

Then Tom made two unforgettable discoveries. He dug an 1876 Seated Liberty quarter that registered so low on the XP Deus II it barely reached the low 40s. Right beside it was an 1876 Seated Liberty dime. Both were Carson City mint coins.

The amazing part is that we’d both been over that area multiple times.

That hunt taught me one of the most valuable lessons I’ve ever learned in this hobby: difficult sites demand patience. When iron is thick and the targets are masked, you have to slow down, overlap your swings, and keep digging. More importantly, never make assumptions. Just because you’ve covered an area doesn’t mean you’ve found everything that’s there.

The ground has a way of rewarding patience, and sometimes the best finds are waiting just inches away from where you’ve already been.

Since you participate in many organized metal detecting hunts, what advice would you give to event organizers who want to improve their hunts and create a better experience for attendees, including better planning, target placement, rules, communication, prizes, and site setup?

I’ve been fortunate to attend a lot of organized hunts over the years, and one thing I’ve learned is that the best metal detecting events aren’t necessarily the ones with the biggest prizes they’re the ones where every decision is made with the participant in mind.

Communication is everything. Attendees should know exactly what to expect before they ever arrive. Clear rules, an organized schedule, maps, parking information, and a thorough hunt briefing eliminate confusion and let people focus on having fun.

I also think target placement deserves more attention than it sometimes gets. A great hunt should reward preparation, skill, and persistence not just luck. The best events create opportunities for everyone to succeed while still giving experienced detectorists a chance to separate themselves through discipline and technique.

Prizes matter, but variety matters even more. Not everyone dreams of winning the same thing. A well-rounded prize table with detectors, accessories, silver, relics, and everyday detecting gear gives more people something to get excited about. I also like token-based prize systems because they give organizers flexibility while helping manage fluctuating costs, especially when precious metals are involved.

More than anything, though, I think an event should feel like an event. That’s something I think can get lost. People will gladly pay good money for a memorable experience, even if they don’t find the biggest prize. For many detectorists, especially those who don’t have access to private permissions, organized hunts are their opportunity to experience the thrill of finding treasure. As organizers, we have a responsibility to make that experience feel special.

I think there’s room for a little showmanship. Not in a gimmicky way, but in the sense that people should arrive excited and leave feeling like they were part of something bigger than just another hunt. Create anticipation. Celebrate the finds. Keep the energy high. Make memories.

I hope to organize my own hunt one day. I know that’s much easier said than done, and I have tremendous respect for the people who already put these events together. But if I do, my goal won’t simply be to put targets in the ground. My goal will be to create an experience that people can’t stop talking about on the drive home and can’t wait to attend again the following year.

Simple but last question. What keeps you excited about metal detecting?

What keeps me excited is the resurrection of the lost and the mystery of it all.

Sometimes the greatest things we find represent one of the worst days in someone else’s life. A wedding ring, a treasured coin, a cherished keepsake, they were all lost by someone. I think it’s important to remember the humanity behind every find. These aren’t just objects. They were once part of someone’s story.

I also love the mystery. There are bucket-list finds, and then there are the finds that never made the bucket list because you didn’t even know they existed until you saw them staring back at you from the dirt. Those are often the ones that leave the biggest impression.

There’s something almost poetic about being the next person in history to hold an object that has been buried for decades or even centuries. Your hands become the next in a succession interrupted by time itself. In a way, you’re bringing that object back to life. What was once lost, forgotten, and buried now has another chance to tell its story.

That’s what metal detecting means to me. We are the finders of the needles in the haystacks. We are the resurrectionists of the lost. We give forgotten pieces of history another chance to be remembered.

Why This Interview Matters

For many detectorists, the value of a find is not only financial. A coin, buckle, button, relic, or everyday object can help reveal how people moved through and used a landscape over time.

This interview is designed to help readers learn from Joe’s experience, especially those interested in relic hunting, coin shooting, building landowner relationships, joining a metal detecting club, and practicing responsible metal detecting. 

Final Thoughts

Joe Cannon’s approach to metal detecting shows why the hobby continues to attract people who love history, research, exploration, and the thrill of the unknown. The best finds are not always the most valuable items. Often, they are the ones that tell a story, connect a detectorist to a specific place, or reveal a piece of history that might otherwise have stayed hidden.

For detectorists who want to improve, Joe’s experience highlights several important lessons: research before you hunt, build strong permission relationships, learn your detector, listen beyond the numbers, recover targets responsibly, and take the time to understand the story behind each find.

Whether you are interested in relic hunting, coin shooting, or simply learning how experienced detectorists approach relic hunting, Joe Cannon offers a useful look at the patience, curiosity, and responsibility that go into successful metal detecting. If you haven’t subscribed to his YouTube channel.