Any common rules?

[Curt_in_W.Mass]

Probaly a stupid question,but new to mding and got chance to hunting with someone else this weekend.Question is are there any rules of mding to go by when paired up as far as whats found or is it best to leave unsaid and finders keepers,iI have no problem with finders keepers,but if i happened on a pot of coins Id kinda feel obligated to share just out of the joint venture...any comments greatly respected...and realize I could discuss this before hunt but is that a practice to accept?...Curt

 

[dirtdigginlady]

I would think that is a very individual thing. Most of the time I would say it's finders keepers. However, to me it would depend on a lot of variables. If I found a big haul I'd share it with my hunting partner only because she is my best friend, smile.

 

[larryk56]

Wish I had a hunting partner, like you!

 

[bula]

When I have been with others it has been finders keepers, we try to take turns with the driving & gas. Just my feeling is that if I did find a stash so to speak I think I would share some of it with another that was with me. I would love to be put to the test.

 

[arizonaames]

Fill in holes and cart away trash.

 

[rodbuster]

I told this story on another forum but it fits the question asked about common rules. Several years ago I had the chance to hunt a home in south central Ill. that dated back to the mid 1840's. The day came and my hunting partner and I couldn't wait to get started. My buddy had gone to school with the home owner so when we arrived I introduced myself, got a brief history of the place and we got started.One thing I didn't do is get a written agreement concerning anything that we found. BIG MISTAKE !!! I took for granted that the home owner knew that I wanted to keep the coins I found, but It didn't work out that way. The coins range from the 1850's to the early teen's. After nine hours of detecting we had over sixty silver plus I H's. We decided to pack it in for the day, I knocked on the door to thank the home owner and he said let's see want you guy's found. We laid everything out and he looked it over, smiled and put all the coins in a bag and said thanks guy's , come back anytime you want. What do you do, take the coins, your on HIS property. Make it easy on everyone and have a agreement up front. I came home empty handed but a little smarter that day. Always dig carefully, cover your holes and have a written agreement if your on private property.

 

[Nancy-IL]

We have always told the owner of the property that if we find something that's identifiable we will gladly return it to them. Other than that, we keep it. Share? When Larry finds a cache spill, he doesn't share with me. I could care less if he did. It's his and his coil went over it before mine. I get to be the one that admires it and say "Good job Honey". Good luck and HH, Nancy

 

[dirtdigginlady]

Yeah it makes it a lot more fun like Friday when we went hunting and she was standing about 4 ft away from me and I turned my ankle standing up on the round rock. I seemed to fall in slow motion and just kept falling. All I could remember was the horrified look on her face and her slinging her arms in all directions like she was catching me but she was too far away to even touch me .... lol I came away with a very sore a@@ but nothing more than a good laugh.

 

[nw1886]

It is a personal decision on what is in need of "giving up". I always return class rings or things that are identifiable and reported lost. Most people are truly appreciative. This latest generation still are suspicious as they walk away with ring in hand!?? Whatever...I couldn't give a rats...job done. I always try and get pics of the find and owner but that isn't always possible so always get a picture of the find though.

Pre-search agreements are a must. There are tons of stories of people being "took" (land owner and detectorist) so it is good not to open yourself up because of lack of agreement. Most people say "keep what you find". "Sleuthing in the dark" (without permission) is a rediculious approach as this is purely a hobby for me and not worth it to act like that.

 

[kakcsdad]

not a dumb question. you have to c y a when it comes to the owner of the property you are detecting. but if you feel you must share with the person you are detecting with then by all means do it.
i go by myself so i dont have that problem. but if i was with someone like was said in earlier reply, he swung over it first so all i would do is be jealous and congratulate them