a word on recovery techniques

[osgood]

I should be finished next week detecting a very large church estate and will post some finds. Although the grounds keeper says not that he knows of, Im telling him someones been here before me. I have deducted this due to the nature of the finds, (as I will post in the future when Im finished) and the physical evidence (deep huge divots and scars,even in which some I recovered the coin the previous digger obviously missed) The church administration was reluctant at first and I think for some name dropping and showing them my tools first, and explaining my technique etc I was granted permission. This week an church elder came out and said, we had a guy a couple years ago hunt, and he made huge horrible holes, and we threw him out. right then Im thinking , oh no, I bet Im out of here, but he said but we've been checking your work and thats OK. You know guys, only in the woods and or only with permission to use it , will I bring out a shovel. I do not cut a whole plug or square and haul it in the air like a shrunken head and shake it all about. I pinpoint with my machine than I make a lateral slightly angled cut and gently lift the "hinged " piece, usually less than fifty degree if possible, as if partially opening a book. I then get in there with my handheld pinpointer and make my recovery. The piece, which is never disassociated from the earth, is then gently laid back down and patten down or stepped on etc to seat it flush again. I hate to think I would of been denied access for the sloppy approach of the fellow before me. Pinpointer are becoming more affordable every day (and once you use one youll think how did I get by without this before) and help as well as a good MD digging tool. In this same town a major historical park was recently put off limits to detecting for sloppy recovery techniques, and because someone decided to dig up the fenced in, majorly manicured ball fields. Its a shame. Sorry for spouting off, CO

 

[jim tn]

Another good reminder. For the life of me, I just cannot understand why someone won't take the few seconds extra to dig and refill a hole right. Like with so may things, it is the one's that do it right that end up suffering the ill consequences of others. HH jim tn

 

[Bill Ladd]

Just don't watch my new Omega video as I use an army shovel & really hack away But, when I'm in the woods (which is 95% of the time) shovels are fine......
Lawns need extra special care & you described that well...
HH,
Bill

 

[jmaryt]

this is so true!..it's truly a wonder we have any public places left to hunt!
just sayin!

(h.h.!)
j.t.

 

[TerraDigger]

Interesting post. Today I was doing the sidewalk parking strip of a 1913 Carnagie Library. The main lawn is a no-no as its a registered historic site. So I walked across the street to my car when I was done. Guy was watering his lawn. Asked me if I found anything. I said, not really, just the usual trash. I said alot of people detect there, and someone dug up a large nail & a pulltab and just left it on the curb. I gave a short pointed opinion of detectorists that do that, and how they kill this hobby I love. Told him I picked up the trash on the curb. Talked for a bit, asked the guy if he would mind if I searched his parkway. Sure, he said. Asked if I could do the lawn of the house. Ok, he said. Told him how I dig a flap hole and replace the lawn. No problem he said. It's a 120 yr old house. One of the oldest in my city. Moral of the story. Responsibility & honesty can still open doors.

 

[PulltabPirate]

Thanks osgood for this post! I've been detecting 4EVER & have been denied permission B4 due to those before me digging TRENCHES to recover pennies! Whether we like it or not, EACH of us are ambassadors for this "Hobby" and it's the example WE set that not only determines whether we go back to a location or not but how the NEXT generation behaves in the field! I see Youtube videos of supposed "seasoned swingers" absolutely hacking up parks and lawns with shovels etc... You bet I leave comments but does it do any good? In the 70's & 80's + we didn't have electronic probes! We KNEW our machines & we used ice pics or whatever to locate our finds BEFORE we dug a giant pit! WE, got invited back! FILL IN THE HOLES of the morons who came before you! Pick up trash, leave the area BETTER & CLEANER than it was before you hunted & our hobby will not only grow & be respected, we will be looked at as an asset & not a pain in the A$$!!! SHUN those who don't hunt by these rules!

 

[marcomo]

Can't argue with any of these good points.

I'll add that most of the holes and yard damage I come across is created by non-human animals. To be safe, I always try to point out animal lawn damage to property owners even though they are usually already aware of it.

 

[jmaryt]

heh! heh! heh!..if ya only could point out the "human animal" damage as being done by non-human animals!
you could "catch" a break!..just sayin!

(h.h.!)
j.t.