hello topknocker, ive watched where your post has gone with interest and resisted saying anything until now. my personal approach has worked well for me for many years; i dont know how many other people do it like i do. i am constantly on the lookout for new places to go. its like a radar. when my hot spots start drying up in the winter, the time of year i do the least detecting, [i time it like that] i will spend a full day or two driving around in good clothes, fresh shave, and bright eyed and bushy tailed hahaha, dont laugh! and proceed to talk to as many people as i can in that couple day period, and quite often end up with hundreds of acres and many homesites to do. that would last me quite a while by any stretch of the imagination! that way i dont have to constantly worry about getting permission. why would a rejection or two bother me when i just went out and got five old homesites and ten acres of woods to hunt too? all in one fell swoop. a lot of people dont want you diggin up their yards, especially if its manicured in any way. if you live in a big city, go to the suburbs and work your way into town from a given point. people talk and word carries. as long as you come across as sincere, respectful of them and their property, and point out to the landowner that its just a hobby, not in it for personal gain, etc. you should have no trouble. quite often, theyll call their friends and recommend you. which leads to even more. it sounds to me like you want to hunt an area thats closed minded, old money,or, oh-my-god-hes-really-a-burglar type of place. theres probably nuthin there anyway, because theyre all too busy shunning the rest of the world and havent had time to lose anything!!! hahaha, gray ghost knows!!!
figures some one would throw politics into the mix, i would have never thought that political @#$?&* would be brought up in this peacful hobby. thanks elton! 
