DON'T WE ALL LOVE THIS FINE HOBBY TO MUCH TO SEE THIS EVER HAPPEN??---We've got enough nuts out there looking for excuses to do just that, shut us down--and we sure don't need to give them any more help. But I'm telling you right here & right now--MANY more sites ARE going to be shut down if we don't get a handle on top ground / turf damage in our recovery techniques. I've always been such a stickler on leaving the grounds looking like they did (or better) than when you got there. I'm just an old fogey that got his first detectors back in the 1970's--been to MANY states detecting-been on hundreds & hundreds of hunts and DUG thousands of coins-I try to take care of EVERY one of those holes I dig the best I can. So I know SOMETHING of what I'm talking about here. I could tell you horror storys about other peoples digs on many, many sites in many states from hunters that was there before us, but going into those details is really not my intent here. Suffice to say--we have spent half of the time on many different hunts attempting to take care of their mess (to save the site AND this fine hobby). Have seen ALL the parks in a whole town closed to metal detecting because of the carelessness of a few---Fairgrounds closed to all metal detecting because of the carelessness of a few.----And yes, beaches can be shut down to--do you think it's good P.R. digging craters big enough to throw a kids wagon into (from detecting & sifting)---and then walking off and leaving them?--seen it happen (didn't have my SCOOP SHOVEL to cover that mess). If you can go back into an area a few days after you've been there and see damage all over the place from your digging--you can rest assured that you are REALLY hurting this hobby (and all of us). When in doubt,dig-yes----but for crying out loud---DIG RESPONSABLY. If you don't know proper digging procedure---LEARN IT!! There will probably always be sites for my wife & I to hunt in our lifetime, but what about you younger people?? I sure hope we will ALL do our part and whatever we can to make this hobby last--long term. It's too great to have it taken away from us! Input please!! Anybody out there with more comments/solutions?? Take care my friends, Del
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ALERT---HUNTING SITES SHUT DOWN???
- Thread starter D&P-OR
- Start date
Del, you have said it all. I have seen three spots put off limits to detecting because of sloppy digging. We have too many meat hunters out there. We all have to remind ourselfs to take our time and dig a neat plug and get all the dirt back in the hole. Keep on preaching! R.L.
Chris(SoCenWI)
Well-known member
n/t
cassiekarimom
New member
I know I try my best to fill in and fix any holes I make, some places are harder than others but I try.
GRAY GHOST
New member
hi d&p, i haven't heard that any better said anywhere. and you are absolutely right. uncovered holes have always been a problem. i sometimes encounter them in my travels, and quite frankly it p****s me off! iv'e seen some real moonscapes in my 25+ years too. it comes down to a flagrant disregard and disrespect for the landowners and the hobby, and others as well. there's just no excuse for it.
i believe that 90% of all mdr's are good and responsible people. iv'e had the pleasure of hunting with, talking with, and knowing some of the best hunters that exist. there are quite a few on this forum.
i hope that the small percentage of mdr's who are making the hobby [and consequently themselves] look bad will wise up and get with the program. i sure would hate to see us go to a system like great britain has. almost everything you find that's worth anything is turned over to the gov't. if the piece is considered treasure trove or of value to history in any way, the gov't buys it and the money is split 50/50 between hunter and landowner. and you hafta take what they offer.
i suppose i'm done with my rant for now. i once sprained my ankle in a spade munkey's uncovered hole, and it was a long and painful walk back to the truck. such events i don't easily forget. thanks for reading, and hh,
i believe that 90% of all mdr's are good and responsible people. iv'e had the pleasure of hunting with, talking with, and knowing some of the best hunters that exist. there are quite a few on this forum.
i hope that the small percentage of mdr's who are making the hobby [and consequently themselves] look bad will wise up and get with the program. i sure would hate to see us go to a system like great britain has. almost everything you find that's worth anything is turned over to the gov't. if the piece is considered treasure trove or of value to history in any way, the gov't buys it and the money is split 50/50 between hunter and landowner. and you hafta take what they offer.
i suppose i'm done with my rant for now. i once sprained my ankle in a spade munkey's uncovered hole, and it was a long and painful walk back to the truck. such events i don't easily forget. thanks for reading, and hh,
another good idea that i also try to do is fill any holes that i find that has been left by others. i think it is just pure disrespect to leave them like that. sometimes it is not possible to do . depend on how long the hole has been there i guess. ya it cuts down on my detecting time but i dont mind. i think of the ground owners and how i wouldnt want that on my property and of any kids who may run past and trip because of a hole...they may get hurt and i dont want to see that.
mattockman
New member
n/t
Unfortunately, it is the few "bad apples" that can, and in some cases do, ruin it for the rest of us. I've run into a few on sites over the year's that have told me to "mind my own business" when picking up their dug trash and filling in their half filled holes. There are some in this hobby that to them FINDING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE is what metal detecting is all about. It is a numbers game with them and that is the way they see it. There really is no answer for this mentality except for us to continue to do what we do....clean up their messes and hope we are able to do so in a timely enough fashion so as the site does not become off limits. We are now into the hot and usually dry summer months so it is important for us all to be mindful of where we do our digging. HH jim tn
MATTOCKMAN-----I wasn't pointing my finger at anyone in particular or any age group in particular on these forums--and if you think I was--you are missing my whole point. I'm sure most ALL the people on these forums ARE RESPONSIBLE--however-"if the shoe fits ---- --". By and large--the problem we've got is "with those other people"--and I'm serious saying this. WHO ARE THEY you ask---in most cases, "I dunno". And thats probably one of the biggest problems we all have to this whole issue. We come along "after the fact"-the damage has been done (to the area) and these CHAMPIONS have moved on to "new area, new damage". We can't catch them (as much as I'd like to). And yes, as you said-getting the word out to them may pose a problem. WHERE ARE THEY you ask---just about everywhere! ANY of the many states I've traveled to detecting and many of the parks, fairgrounds, etc. in EACH of those states. Well, I don't know what the solution is guys--or even if there IS a REAL solution. I just know this problem is going to hurt us all BIG TIME down the road (in the future) if SOMETHING isn't done about it. I'm not about to "roll over and play dead" and I'm sure you guys aren't either. Take care, Del
robert roy
New member
I see the same kind of irresponsible MDing going on here in Indiana.
Your talking to the wind. These people don't give a flying crap. Sorry but thats
the way it is. The only way these people will learn is if the police catch them,
Fine them and take away their detector.
RR
Your talking to the wind. These people don't give a flying crap. Sorry but thats
the way it is. The only way these people will learn is if the police catch them,
Fine them and take away their detector.
RR
robert roy
New member
Good point.
WELL-----I'M GETTING OFF MY SOAP BOX!!!-----SERMONS OVER!!! (and everybody gives a collective sigh of relief). I think some of you got it and some of you didn't. It is wide spread and it is serious. I just hope for the sake of all of us that this hobby survives-long term Del
RelicDigger1
New member
Seen sites closed down like that here in SC. Farmer on the coast would let anyone out in his fields, even during planting season. "Just dig in between the rows," he'd say of his soybeans. Went back a year or so later, can't go. Someone dug up row upon row. I know who it is and when I see him I will allow him to know my thoughts.
But even deep in the woods relic hunting, cover a hole. Whether it's yours freshly dug or an old one you see laying open. Fill it in. Most land owners I know aren't just armchair owners. They get out on their land. They see.
And if Del doesn't mind, let me offer a parallel thread just for a minute. If you dig a bottle cap, pull tab or beer can -- take it with you. I consider it the mark of a true amateur to leave dug trash in plain view.
This site has some upstanding guys and gals on it. But in case there's one or two yokos snickering at picking up trash, let me give you another reason if the "right thing to do" doesn't strike a chord.
I was digging in a Union camp on the SC coast April 16, 2005. Got a faint signal. About 10 inches down in a previously dug hole was a shotgun shell. I pocketed it just like all other trash. Swept over the hole again -- faint target. Deep.
I later took the target to the Savannah (Ga.) Relic Show, asked a well-known button expert how many MS76s have been dug. He said none. I asked him if he wanted to see one of what I now know to be three dug New England Guard (NEG) buttons. I have the only dug cuff button.
Haul the trash out folks. Six pocket pants at the army surplus store works great for just this.
Begging your pardon, Pastor Del.
Richard
But even deep in the woods relic hunting, cover a hole. Whether it's yours freshly dug or an old one you see laying open. Fill it in. Most land owners I know aren't just armchair owners. They get out on their land. They see.
And if Del doesn't mind, let me offer a parallel thread just for a minute. If you dig a bottle cap, pull tab or beer can -- take it with you. I consider it the mark of a true amateur to leave dug trash in plain view.
This site has some upstanding guys and gals on it. But in case there's one or two yokos snickering at picking up trash, let me give you another reason if the "right thing to do" doesn't strike a chord.
I was digging in a Union camp on the SC coast April 16, 2005. Got a faint signal. About 10 inches down in a previously dug hole was a shotgun shell. I pocketed it just like all other trash. Swept over the hole again -- faint target. Deep.
I later took the target to the Savannah (Ga.) Relic Show, asked a well-known button expert how many MS76s have been dug. He said none. I asked him if he wanted to see one of what I now know to be three dug New England Guard (NEG) buttons. I have the only dug cuff button.
Haul the trash out folks. Six pocket pants at the army surplus store works great for just this.
Begging your pardon, Pastor Del.
Richard
dougmoore34
New member
its sad to walk into a moonscape. I have seen it a few times and caught them at it a couple of times too. Should have broken their detectors, but instead I chased them off and filled in the holes.
Doug in OR
Doug in OR
I have given this a lot of thought and I hate rules and regulations as a whole, I would prefer not having to jump through any hoops to enjoy my hobby, but I think if we don't do something soon we are going to loose public property hunting all together. Now if we leave this up to the Government city or state it will get totally screwed up, so I propose we start an organization to represent the hobby as a whole. We would have local chapters and membership credentials that you get only after you pass a course on proper detecting and digging technique, the guy in charge of the local chapter could in most places work with the authorities to make it illegal to use a metal detector on public grounds without passing the course we offer. The local authorities should be glad to cooperate with us and we would have the right to terminate someones privilege to hunt public sites if they were caught breaking member rules.
This self policing is what we need and like I said if we don't do it they will, and we won't have any say, but there has to be some authority to it and some punishing ability for the bad guys. We would have a lot of eyes out there watching those who just can;t act responsibly and we would be able to keep them from hurting the rest of us. If we banned someone and a member saw them out on public property detecting, then we could call the police and let the law handle it. All this would take some refining of course but we need to do something like this in my mind soon! Not only would we get the obvious benefits but we would then have a unified voice, a political force that could represent us to politicians and brothers and sisters politicians make the rules. We are easy pickens now because we are individuals and weak, but if we unite we would have a voice and we would be able to apply some pressure where needed. Most especially to city and county officials that would like to shut us down. look at what blacks and women have accomplished by uniting and speaking with a common voice, they were fighting for there rights and we need to fight for ours. I don't know who could get this rolling but we would have to elect leaders and start enrolling the membership and collect a membership fee, we would have expenses to build this organization unfortunately, but somebody needs to step up and get this rolling, I would gladly be honored to be the first member!
This self policing is what we need and like I said if we don't do it they will, and we won't have any say, but there has to be some authority to it and some punishing ability for the bad guys. We would have a lot of eyes out there watching those who just can;t act responsibly and we would be able to keep them from hurting the rest of us. If we banned someone and a member saw them out on public property detecting, then we could call the police and let the law handle it. All this would take some refining of course but we need to do something like this in my mind soon! Not only would we get the obvious benefits but we would then have a unified voice, a political force that could represent us to politicians and brothers and sisters politicians make the rules. We are easy pickens now because we are individuals and weak, but if we unite we would have a voice and we would be able to apply some pressure where needed. Most especially to city and county officials that would like to shut us down. look at what blacks and women have accomplished by uniting and speaking with a common voice, they were fighting for there rights and we need to fight for ours. I don't know who could get this rolling but we would have to elect leaders and start enrolling the membership and collect a membership fee, we would have expenses to build this organization unfortunately, but somebody needs to step up and get this rolling, I would gladly be honored to be the first member!