You’ll need a free permit from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to metal detect on Lake Conway’s lakebed during drawdowns, with strict hand-tool restrictions and 12-inch depth limits. Federal lands managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers require advance authorization, while National Parks like Buffalo National River ban detectors entirely. You must report items over 50 years old to state authorities and avoid all historical sites and burial grounds. Understanding these regulations alongside proper recovery techniques guarantees you stay compliant while exploring Conway’s opportunities.
Key Takeaways
- Free permit required from Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for metal detecting on Lake Conway lakebed during drawdown periods.
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes near Conway require permits and restrict detecting to designated beaches and disturbed areas.
- Hand tools only allowed, with digging limited to holes under 12 inches deep and 3 feet wide at permitted locations.
- Items over 50 years old are state property and must be reported; archaeological artifacts must be surrendered to authorities.
- Metal detecting is completely prohibited at National Parks like Buffalo National River and all Arkansas historical sites or burial grounds.
General Metal Detecting Laws in Arkansas
Before you begin metal detecting in Conway, Arkansas, you must understand the layered framework of federal, state, and local regulations that govern this activity. The Archeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) prohibits removing man-made objects over 100 years old from federal lands, emphasizing historical artifact preservation nationwide.
Arkansas state law grants exclusive rights to field archaeology on designated sites and requires landowner permission for detecting on others’ private property rights. While you’re allowed to detect on your own land, the state strongly discourages it. Items exceeding 50 years old are considered state property and must be reported. Written landowner permission is essential before conducting any metal detecting activities on private property to ensure legal compliance.
Arkansas Act 58 protects archeological heritage, making unauthorized excavation from state sites a criminal offense unless you’re an authorized agent of the Arkansas Archeological Survey. Arkansas follows the treasure trove doctrine, which generally favors the finder for items defined by antiquity and concealment, potentially transferring ownership rights to those who discover qualifying treasures.
Lake Conway Drawdown Permit Requirements
If you’re planning to metal detect on the Lake Conway lakebed during the renovation drawdown, you must obtain and carry a free permit from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission at www.agfc.com/lakeconway. The permit establishes specific requirements for tools, excavation depths, and access times that protect the lakebed while enabling public participation in this rare opportunity.
Permit holders may access the lakebed between sunrise and sunset, and must use only hand tools for digging, as motorized vehicles are prohibited. Digging is restricted to holes less than 3 feet wide and 12 inches deep to minimize disturbance to the lakebed. Verifying these permit conditions guarantees you remain compliant while contributing to the responsible stewardship of this 6,700-acre recreational resource.
Obtaining Your AGFC Permit
While metal detecting opportunities exist at Lake Conway during the drawdown period, you’ll need to guarantee a Special Item Removal Permit created by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission in October 2023.
However, before completing permit application, verify current availability—AGFC has suspended all item removal permits until further notice.
When permits resume, access www.agfc.com/lakeconway to obtain yours. You must print and carry this permit while accessing the lakebed.
For specific questions about verifying permit validity or application procedures, contact Nick Feltz, District 10 Fisheries Supervisor, at 501-604-0492 or Nicholas.Feltz@agfc.ar.gov.
Additional Land Use Policy regulations are available at www.agfc.com/en/resources/regulations/land-use-policy/. The 5-year timeline extends from the start of drawdown through refill and restock completion. The AGFC is also working to remove passive fishing devices and metal stakes that were illegally placed in the lakebed over the years. Always confirm suspension status before attempting lakebed access to ascertain you’re operating within current AGFC guidelines.
Allowable Tools and Depths
Understanding Lake Conway’s tool and depth restrictions guarantees you’ll maintain compliance with your Item Removal Permit while protecting the lakebed ecosystem. Hand tool restrictions limit you to one-handed implements no wider than 4 inches and no longer than 12 inches. You’re authorized to use ice picks, screwdrivers, and probes up to 2 inches wide.
Sand scoops can’t exceed 6 inches wide or 8 inches long, with perforations at least ½ inch wide for sand surfaces only. Motorized equipment remains strictly prohibited. Lakebed disturbance limits require all holes stay under 12 inches deep and less than 3 feet wide. You must fill every disturbed area and restore it to its natural state before sundown, removing all trash to approved receptacles while preserving the resource for future use. When metal detecting in the Ozarks region, remember that the ground is more rock than dirt, which may impact your digging approach and tool effectiveness.
Daily Access Time Restrictions
Your Item Removal Permit authorizes lakebed access exclusively between sunrise and sunset during Lake Conway’s five-year drawdown renovation, which began in 2023 as the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission‘s first complete drainage in 75 years. These sunrise closing hours protect both the restoration work and your safety during this unprecedented opportunity.
Required compliance includes:
- Carry your required printed permit downloaded from www.agfc.com/lakeconway at all times on the lakebed
- Complete all restoration of disturbed areas before sundown—no exceptions allowed
- Remove all equipment and possessions before leaving; overnight presence strictly prohibited
Contact Nick Feltz at 501-604-0492 for specific questions. The project reached its halfway mark by January 2026, with dam construction and habitat improvements continuing through completion. Lakefront property owners seeking to build private piers or install irrigation systems must obtain separate structure permits valid from February 20, 2026 through December 31, 2027.
Federal Lands and Corps of Engineers Sites
You must obtain a permit before metal detecting at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lakes in the Conway area, submitting your application at least 30 days in advance to the appropriate field office. Detection is restricted to designated beaches and previously disturbed areas where archaeological resources aren’t expected, and you’re prohibited from detecting around occupied campsites.
Federal compliance standards require you to surrender all historical or archaeological items to the Resource Manager, though you may keep non-identifiable coins valued under $25. All articles you find must be deposited at the Manager’s office or with a ranger for proper handling and documentation. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in fines or imprisonment.
If you observe any illegal digging or artifact hunting activities, report them to the nearest project office with details on location, persons involved, and vehicle information, but do not attempt to intervene directly. Your cooperation helps rangers preserve these irreplaceable resources for future generations.
USACE Permit Requirements
Metal detecting on federal lands managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requires advance planning and proper authorization. You’ll need to navigate specific permit application procedures to legally detect at USACE lakes including Ouachita, DeGray, and Greeson.
Essential USACE Permit Steps:
- Submit your application at least 30 days before your planned detecting dates to the appropriate field office with two completed forms containing your contact information and specific location details.
- Sign acknowledgment of all permit conditions, including compliance with 36 CFR 327.14 and 327.16, prohibition from occupied campsites, and reporting requirements for discovered items.
- Carry your approved permit during all detecting activities and understand permit renewal requirements, as the Resource Manager or Operations Manager issues permits with specific expiration dates and designated contact points.
Allowed Detection Zones
Federal lands surrounding Conway offer several designated zones where metal detecting is permitted under specific conditions. You’ll find Bureau of Land Management lands accessible when you comply with artifact preservation requirements.
Corps of Engineers projects at nearby reservoirs allow detection in previously disturbed areas like developed campgrounds and swimming beaches, provided these zones don’t contain archaeological resources.
Lake Conway’s lakebed remains open for detection during sunrise to sunset hours with a valid treasure hunting permit. You’re restricted to hand tools only, with holes limited to 12 inches deep and 3 feet wide. You must restore all disturbed ground before sunset.
Remember that historical resource sites and areas containing heritage materials remain strictly off-limits. National parks require prior authorization before any detection activity.
Federal Compliance Standards
Understanding compliance requirements protects you from serious legal consequences when detecting on federal properties. Federal land permit exceptions exist primarily for previously disturbed areas and designated beaches at Corps of Engineers sites like Nimrod Lake, where you’ll need advance authorization.
Private land use requirements differ considerably—you’re free to detect with owner permission without federal restrictions.
Critical compliance standards include:
- Artifact Protection: You can’t remove man-made objects over 100 years old from federal lands under ARPA regulations, with violations carrying felony charges and $10,000 fines.
- Registration Protocols: You must carry signed permits and registration forms during detection activities at authorized Corps of Engineers projects.
- Physical Limitations: You’re restricted to hand tools only, with holes limited to 12 inches deep at sites like Lake Conway, requiring restoration before sundown.
State Parks and Game Lands Regulations
Arkansas has designated nine state parks where you’ll find metal detecting opportunities under carefully defined conditions. You can search Crowleys Ridge, Daisy, DeGray, Lake Catherine, Lake Charles, Lake Dardanelle, Lake Ouachita, Village Creek, and Woolly Hollow—but only within designated swimming beach areas. You’ll need to register at each park’s visitor center before beginning your search.
The state permits detection from the day after Labor Day through the weekend before Memorial Day, operating between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. This policy emerged from a successful 1998 pilot program, reversing previous restrictions. Your digging tools can’t exceed two inches in width, and you must restore all disturbed areas. Any archaeological items over 100 years old stay with park staff—removing them violates federal ARPA protections. Modern valuables require a found property report.
City of Conway Municipal Guidelines
When searching Lake Conway’s lakebed during renovation periods, you’ll need to complete a registration form and carry your printed permit at all times. These seasonal lakebed changes create unique opportunities from the day after Labor Day through the weekend before Memorial Day, with access from sunrise to sunset daily.
Essential Requirements:
- Digging specifications – Use hand tools only, limiting holes to 12 inches deep and 3 feet wide, with all areas restored before sundown
- Park rehabilitation impacts – Avoid designated beaches, archaeological sites, and occupied campsites to protect ongoing restoration efforts
- Artifact protocols – Leave items over 50 years old in place and report them to the Field Office, as they’re considered state property
You can’t use motorized vehicles or leave equipment overnight on the lakebed.
Prohibited Locations for Metal Detecting
Before you begin detecting in Conway, you must recognize that several locations remain strictly off-limits under federal, state, and local regulations. National Parks, including Buffalo National River, prohibit metal detectors entirely to preserve protected cultural resources and protected natural resources.
All Arkansas historical sites, native mounds, and burial grounds remain closed regardless of ownership. Lake Conway’s lakebed restricts removal of archaeological artifacts and cultural items without proper permits. USACE properties like Nimrod Lake ban detecting near occupied campsites and areas containing historical materials.
You’ll face prosecution under ARPA for removing man-made objects exceeding 100 years old from public lands. State parks typically require advance permits, while many developed recreation sites close entirely when heritage resources exist. Understanding these boundaries protects your detecting privileges and preserves Arkansas’s irreplaceable heritage.
Proper Digging and Recovery Techniques
Successful metal detecting hinges on your ability to recover targets while preserving the ground you’re searching. Conway’s public spaces demand discretion and respect, making proper technique essential for maintaining access rights.
Essential Recovery Steps:
- Pinpoint precisely – Use your handheld detector to narrow the target location before cutting any soil, minimizing disturbance and restoration time.
- Cut strategic plugs – Create horseshoe-shaped flaps with intact roots in turf areas, leaving one side attached for easy grassy plug replacement that’s virtually invisible.
- Sift systematically – Deploy portable sifting trays to process excavated soil efficiently, breaking clumps and rescanning until you’ve located your find.
Complete each recovery within 2-3 minutes, leaving no trace of your work. Your commitment to responsible digging protects everyone’s freedom to pursue this rewarding hobby.
Reporting Archaeological Discoveries
As a metal detectorist in Conway, you shoulder important legal responsibilities when your discoveries suggest archaeological significance. Procedures for discovering artifacts require immediate contact with the Arkansas Archeological Survey’s Registrar’s Office at 479-575-6552. You’ll document finds using the appropriate Site Survey Form and submit it to 2475 N Hatch Ave, Fayetteville, AR 72704.
Protocols for responding to human remains demand heightened action. You must consult law enforcement, landowners, and tribal representatives within 48 hours before disturbing anything. Contact the Regulatory Staff Archaeologist immediately—Arkansas Act 753 governs disinterment from unmarked graves, requiring State Historic Preservation Office permits.
Remember: Arkansas Code § 25-19-105 protects site locations from public disclosure, safeguarding these resources. Your responsible reporting preserves freedom for future detectorists while honoring Arkansas’s heritage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Metal Detector Models Work Best in Arkansas Soil Conditions?
You’ll find multi-frequency detectors like Minelab Manticore, Garrett AT MAX, and Minelab Equinox 900 perform best in Arkansas’s iron-rich soil composition. They effectively handle mineralized clay under varying weather conditions, ensuring you’re free to detect deeper targets consistently.
Are There Local Metal Detecting Clubs in Conway I Can Join?
Conway lacks dedicated local club membership options, but you’ll find metal detecting events through Arkansas Diggers Club statewide. You’re free to start a Conway chapter yourself, connecting with fellow detectorists while following established regulations and ethical practices.
What Insurance Coverage Do I Need for Metal Detecting Activities?
You’ll need liability insurance coverage to protect against third-party injury claims and property damage insurance for your equipment. While not legally required in Arkansas, coverage proves responsibility to landowners and protects your freedom to detect confidently.
How Do I Identify Valuable Finds Versus Common Trash Items?
You’ll identify valuable finds by evaluating object condition through visual inspection and identifying object composition using your detector’s target ID, discrimination settings, and physical tests like magnet response—empowering you to distinguish treasure from trash confidently.
Where Can I Sell or Appraise Metal Detecting Finds Legally?
You can legally sell non-historical finds at local pawn shops or auction houses after confirming compliance with federal and state regulations. Always verify your items aren’t archaeological artifacts and obtain proper landowner permission before selling.
References
- https://sites.google.com/view/arkansasdiggers/home/arkansas-metal-detecting-law
- https://www.agfc.com/news/commission-creates-treasure-hunting-permit-to-encourage-responsible-use-of-lake-conway-during-renovation/
- https://www.ktlo.com/2023/10/27/agfc-creates-treasure-hunting-permit-for-lake-conway-druing-renovations/
- https://www.swl.usace.army.mil/Portals/50/docs/nimrodlake/MetalDetPermit.pdf
- https://media.conwayarkansas.gov/media/documents/ZONING_CODE_OFFICIAL_10.30.23_zvnnqh7.pdf
- https://metaldetectingforum.com/index.php?threads/arkansas.275722/
- https://www.sos.arkansas.gov/uploads/rulesRegs/Arkansas Register/2008/jun_jul_2008/002.00.08-009.pdf
- https://www.silverrecyclers.com/blog/metal-detecting-in-arkansas.aspx
- https://metaldetectingforum.com/index.php?threads/arkansas-laws-need-some-clarification-please.84237/
- https://shilohmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/metal_detecting_policy-1.pdf
