Before hunting arrowheads or collecting surface artifacts, you must understand the laws in your state. PointFinder provides a state-by-state guide to artifact collection regulations across the United States.
The Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) prohibits the excavation or removal of archaeological resources from federal lands without a permit. The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) provides additional protections for Native American cultural items.
Most states prohibit collecting from state-owned lands without permission. Many allow surface collecting on private land with landowner consent. A handful of states treat any arrowhead removal as illegal regardless of land ownership. Check the guide for your specific state before you go afield.
On private land you generally need written permission from the landowner. Even with permission, disturbing human remains is a criminal offense in every state.
Read the full artifact collection laws guide with state-by-state breakdowns and citations.
