Sometimes I feel like an alien being a metal detectorist...
Located a little over an hour outside Pittsburgh, PA... there are no local metal detector shops/dealers around here. Sucks because you totally have to rely on reviews, opinions, and the roll of the dice for detectors and gear. Pittsburgh, PA is close and a some hardcore detectorists there, who I have met before, and they hunt the hunted out areas and also have fun finding new places, but pretty much, I am on my own in my area.
There are a few 'perks' to being the only detectorist... or maybe one of the few... around my area...
#1 Nothing gets hunted out... I found places that I am sure I am the first person ever there...
#2 Nothing is really 'off limits' or banned from metal detecting around here...
#3 No one really has a clue what you are doing! LOL!
here's a real life example from not too long ago....
I had the County Sherriff come over to me once while in a local park, checking below a dam, where a syrup factory once stood for WWII rations. When he approached, I was like 'uh oh, here we go...'. This is pretty much the transcript... word for word... give or take a work or two... This stuck out, and will stick in my memory....
Sheriff: "You looking for land mines?"
Me: "No. Just coins or old stuff around here. How are you?"
**introductions and hand shake**
Sheriff: "I saw a guy with one of those a while back and wondered if he ever found anything good"
**Show him my ETrac and the basics of it with headphones off**
Me: "Sometimes, but most times not. It's just nice to get out. It's fun just going to places and seeing if you pick up anything good. Want to see how it works? I have a Minelab Etrac metal detector"
Sheriff: "No, no no, I have no idea about all that tech stuff"
Me: "let me ask you Sheriff. It's OK metal detecting in public parks right?
**Sheriff gets a slightly confused look on his face. I wonder if I was too forward**
Sheriff: "Yeah. I guess so. I don't see why not?!? not like your tearing the place up!"
Me: "No. Nor would I. I would never do that."
Sheriff: "These college kids come down here and tear the place up........"
**Sheriff's story about a college party and trucks turfing the park and a fire in the woods....**
Me: "that sucks. That's really a shame"
Sheriff: "I bet you'd find some good stuff in Veteran's Park. You know they used to have some old houses there and places they hid slaves duing the war?"
Me: "I know where that is"
---NOTE: It's a historic park! It's in town and was build up around it!--
Sheriff: "you should try there. I bet you'd find some old good stuff there. That would be a good place!"
Me: "I bet it would be pretty good."
**Sheriff's radio chirps and messages**
Sheriff: "Nice meeting you Mike. Good luck with finding paydirt. I have to go, have a call."
Me: "Nice to meet you Sheriff. Have a good day! Nice meeting you!"
I GUARANTEE.... I had a window detecting of the Sheriff's 'short-term-memory', that I could have went to Veteran's Park.... and tanked the hell out of it with my ETrac.
The place has had ceremonies since the Civil War,and there is actually a small cemetary on it.. and if someone showed up (it is along a few active streets), and said something,...even the local police... I would tell them the 'Sheriff said it was OK, please call him"..
...and I GUARANTEE, that based of the way stuff happened, the conversation, and what he knew about metal detecting, and his demeanor.... he'd give anyone stopping me the "Oh yeah, I remember him! He's OK. I OKed it.."
Like I said... I get looked at like an alien!
Located a little over an hour outside Pittsburgh, PA... there are no local metal detector shops/dealers around here. Sucks because you totally have to rely on reviews, opinions, and the roll of the dice for detectors and gear. Pittsburgh, PA is close and a some hardcore detectorists there, who I have met before, and they hunt the hunted out areas and also have fun finding new places, but pretty much, I am on my own in my area.
There are a few 'perks' to being the only detectorist... or maybe one of the few... around my area...
#1 Nothing gets hunted out... I found places that I am sure I am the first person ever there...
#2 Nothing is really 'off limits' or banned from metal detecting around here...
#3 No one really has a clue what you are doing! LOL!
here's a real life example from not too long ago....
I had the County Sherriff come over to me once while in a local park, checking below a dam, where a syrup factory once stood for WWII rations. When he approached, I was like 'uh oh, here we go...'. This is pretty much the transcript... word for word... give or take a work or two... This stuck out, and will stick in my memory....
Sheriff: "You looking for land mines?"
Me: "No. Just coins or old stuff around here. How are you?"
**introductions and hand shake**
Sheriff: "I saw a guy with one of those a while back and wondered if he ever found anything good"
**Show him my ETrac and the basics of it with headphones off**
Me: "Sometimes, but most times not. It's just nice to get out. It's fun just going to places and seeing if you pick up anything good. Want to see how it works? I have a Minelab Etrac metal detector"
Sheriff: "No, no no, I have no idea about all that tech stuff"
Me: "let me ask you Sheriff. It's OK metal detecting in public parks right?
**Sheriff gets a slightly confused look on his face. I wonder if I was too forward**
Sheriff: "Yeah. I guess so. I don't see why not?!? not like your tearing the place up!"
Me: "No. Nor would I. I would never do that."
Sheriff: "These college kids come down here and tear the place up........"
**Sheriff's story about a college party and trucks turfing the park and a fire in the woods....**
Me: "that sucks. That's really a shame"
Sheriff: "I bet you'd find some good stuff in Veteran's Park. You know they used to have some old houses there and places they hid slaves duing the war?"
Me: "I know where that is"
---NOTE: It's a historic park! It's in town and was build up around it!--
Sheriff: "you should try there. I bet you'd find some old good stuff there. That would be a good place!"
Me: "I bet it would be pretty good."
**Sheriff's radio chirps and messages**
Sheriff: "Nice meeting you Mike. Good luck with finding paydirt. I have to go, have a call."
Me: "Nice to meet you Sheriff. Have a good day! Nice meeting you!"
I GUARANTEE.... I had a window detecting of the Sheriff's 'short-term-memory', that I could have went to Veteran's Park.... and tanked the hell out of it with my ETrac.
The place has had ceremonies since the Civil War,and there is actually a small cemetary on it.. and if someone showed up (it is along a few active streets), and said something,...even the local police... I would tell them the 'Sheriff said it was OK, please call him"..
...and I GUARANTEE, that based of the way stuff happened, the conversation, and what he knew about metal detecting, and his demeanor.... he'd give anyone stopping me the "Oh yeah, I remember him! He's OK. I OKed it.."
Like I said... I get looked at like an alien!