Metal Detecting Hunts in Massachusetts
Massachusetts carries one of New England's better hunt lineups: a memorial natural hunt on 28 acres in Dartmouth each spring, Massachusetts Bay Relic Recovery's charity dig in Boxford in August (natural hunting with seeded prize tokens), and the Northeast Relic Hunters' two-day Fall Classic in Granville combining a seeded token hunt with natural relic ground. Between them you get every format the hobby offers without leaving the state.
Upcoming hunts in Massachusetts
Northeast Relic Hunters 2026 Fall Classic Seeded and Natural Open Hunt
Oct 3–4, 2026 — Granville, MA · Seeded + natural · $115
Two-day fall open hunt combining a seeded token hunt and natural relic hunting. Saturday Oct 3: check-in 8:00 AM, seeded hunt 9:00–11:00 AM (token redemption 10:00–11:30 AM), main raffle at 11:30 AM, natural hunt after the raffle until 5:00 PM. Sunday Oct 4: natural hunt 8:00 AM–3:00 PM. Hosted by Northeast Relic Hunters.
Recent hunts
- MBRR Digging for a Cause — Boxford, MA — Aug 1, 2026, Boxford, MA · Seeded + natural · hosted by Massachusetts Bay Relic Recovery (MBRR). Charity dig hosted by Massachusetts Bay Relic Recovery — primarily a natural hunt with seeded tokens for exchanging 'top pocket treasures' prizes.
- Dave Bonin Memorial Natural Hunt — May 30, 2026, Dartmouth, MA · Natural hunt · hosted by Independent (memorial hunt organized by Steve Hassell). Memorial natural hunt in memory of Dave Bonin, fellow detectorist and friend. Rain or shine at 1213 Russells Mill Road, Dartmouth, MA 02748 — 28 detectable acres.
Recurring hunts to watch
The Northeast Relic Hunters' Fall Classic and MBRR's charity digs recur annually; the Dave Bonin Memorial ran for the first time in 2026 and is expected back. New England hunt announcements cluster in club Facebook groups — dates firm up 2–4 months out.
Detecting in Massachusetts: the short version
Organized hunts are the easy way in — the host has already secured land permission, and that's most of what your entry fee buys. Outside events, get landowner permission on private ground and check state and local rules for parks and beaches before digging. Seeded hunts are the friendliest start for beginners and kids; natural hunts reward experience. New to organized hunts? Start with the guide to metal detecting hunts and the FAQ.
Nearby states with listed hunts: Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Vermont. Listings come from the DigRallies directory — dates and fees are checked against the hosts' own announcements, but always confirm with the host before traveling.