Louisiana Metal Detecting

Louisiana Metal Detecting Laws

State parks: prohibited. Beaches: check local rules. Civil War sites protected.

Louisiana state parks prohibit metal detecting. Gulf beaches: varies by parish and municipality. Grand Isle some areas allow. Civil War sites protected. French colonial sites protected by state archaeology law. Underwater artifacts in state waters regulated. Private land with permission. Bayou and swamp access complicated - know property boundaries. Fill all holes.

Metal Detecting - Where Allowed

Louisiana: Metal detecting allowed on some public lands but prohibited on many. ARPA (artifacts law) applies on federal land. Check before you dig.

METAL DETECTING LAWS

WHERE IT'S GENERALLY ALLOWED
• Your own property: Always OK
• Private property: With permission
• Some beaches: Check local rules
• Some county/city parks: With permit
• BLM land: With restrictions (no artifacts)

WHERE IT'S PROHIBITED
• National Parks: Strictly prohibited
• National Monuments: Prohibited
• State Historic Sites: Prohibited
• Archaeological Sites: Felony (ARPA)
• National Forests: Varies by forest
• Cemeteries: Always prohibited

ARPA - ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES PROTECTION ACT
Federal law protecting artifacts:
• Applies to federal and tribal lands
• FELONY to remove artifacts 100+ years old
• Fines up to $100,000
• Imprisonment up to 2 years
• Applies even if accidentally discovered

WHAT YOU CAN KEEP
On allowed lands, modern items like:
• Coins (modern)
• Jewelry (lost, not historic)
• Hardware and debris
• Things clearly not artifacts

CODE OF ETHICS
1. Always get permission
2. Fill all holes completely
3. Remove all trash you find
4. Report significant finds
5. Don't detect where prohibited
6. Respect other detectorists

GETTING PERMISSIONS
• City parks: Contact parks department
• Beaches: Check city/county rules
• Private property: Get written permission
• Schools: Usually need district approval