The term "nugget shooter" is a slang term that is used to refer to someone who is involved in the activity of searching for gold nuggets using a metal detector. The term "nugget shooter" may have originated in the gold mining industry, where it was used to describe individuals who used metal detectors to search for small deposits of gold in deserts, mountains, plains, and even rivers, streams, and other bodies of water.

The term "nugget shooter" is derived from the word "nugget," which refers to a small or large solid piece of gold that is found in nature. Nugget shooting is the activity of searching for these pieces of gold using a metal detector. Nugget shooters typically use specialized metal detectors able to handle severe mineralization that are designed to detect small deposits of gold in the ground or even in bodies of water.

Nugget shooters are often associated with the gold mining industry, as they are typically involved in the search for small deposits of gold that are difficult to locate using traditional mining techniques. Nugget shooters often seek out areas that have been previously worked by other prospectors or areas adjacent to known gold bearing districts in hopes of making new discoveries. Nugget shooters also detect gold specimens in old mine tailings piles.

The term "nugget shooter" is also used in generality to refer to individuals who are interested in gold prospecting as a hobby. Nugget shooting is a popular hobby among individuals who are interested in searching for gold as a leisurely healthy excercised based activity. Many people enjoy the thrill of using a metal detector to search for gold nuggets, and they often enjoy the challenge of trying to locate small deposits of gold that are difficult to find. These areas are often referred to as virgin patches.