As Magnet Fishing Booms, More Guns Are Being Pulled from America's Waters. Can Magnet Fishers Legally Keep Them?

Outdoor Live via msn ^ | 12 dec 2022 | Katie Hill

[rellimpank]

The list of reasons why someone might toss a gun in a river is pretty short. But the list of reasons why Bryce Nachtwey throws magnets tied to rope into America’s waters is even shorter: finding unclaimed property is really cool. If you don’t believe me, take a dive into magnet fishing YouTube and feel the hours disappear. Enthusiastic treasure hunters pace back and forth on bridges and cast shiny hockey puck-sized magnets into murky depths, pulling in bike parts, railroad spikes, jewelry, coins, and, yes, firearms. Nachtwey’s YouTube channel, Outdoors Weekly, features long, energetic videos of his exploits for his 626,000 subscribers.

It's a rare video when Nachtwey doesn’t pull a gun or two out of the water. He recently hauled six handguns out of a river in Louisiana, three of which were zipped in a bank deposit bag. But that doesn’t make Nachtwey uniquely good at this hobby. For magnet fishers across America—a fast-growing group—guns are among the most common type of catch. But even though they’re seemingly ubiquitous, they aren’t treated as such. In fact, the pistols, rifles, and shotguns are usually the headlining finds of magnet fishing content.

[cport]

Well autocorrect ruined that joke... supposed to be “chainpaws?”

[Allegra]

…supposed to be “chainpaws?”

Heh! Good one. 😁

[bert]

“Well, it looks like that Boy stole more chains than he could swim with”

[ViLaLuz]

Coins and jewelry, only the ones made of iron-based metals.