Comfort Zone...Do you hunt your towns median?

[kanaka2]

Hello,

New to MDing. I've read that hunting between the sidewalk and road can be a good spot for old silver coins in older parts of your town. Do you all just get out there and start swinging the coil? I would love to freeze time and everyone in town while I hunt these high profile high traffic hot spots. I've heard suggestions to go hunting early 5-6am. How are you all getting in to the hot spots with out sticking out like a sore thumb?

 

[pax]

I hit those spots when its raining and if they don't look very well taken care of i'll jump on it

 

[Steve O]

I would love to do that, but too out in the open for me. Like to keep detecting out of the minds of the people who don't detect, if that's possible. They will always find something to b!tc7 about.

 

[Oldguy]

Get one of the bright lime green safety vests, they cost around $10 on Amazon. People will think you are just part of a utility crew. If someone asks what you are looking for, tell them stray pieces of metal (which is the truth).

 

[Elton]

Some are actually owned by the homeowner to the street curb..... For example I do in fact own the tree lawn.

Also.._This is my opinion only.... If you cared for, seeded, and mowed the tree lawn strip.......... How would you feel about having some one detecting the property..

It might not fly with some of the home owners........... [size=x-large]I would not detect it without permission[/size]....... Common sense says your violating a space .... ownership isn't the issue.... common courtesy is the issue here.

 

[GeorgeinSC]

If there is a street that is maintained by the City, County, or State they have a right of way that extends a minimum of 25 feet from the center of the closest lane. Homeowners may think that they own that property and may have paid for that property but technically that property belongs to those that maintain the Street or Highway. If you think you own it try to keep the city, county or state from utilizing it for their purposes. You will not succeed.

If someone objects just move on down the street to the next property. So far I have not had any problems in my area with residents or business owners.

 

[mudpuppy]

Dont know where you live, but if you are in any area that gets a lot of snow, you can find locations in your town that may have a central median/green commons area surrounded by houses...right across the street from everybodies driveway is where a lot of snow got pushed up in the past, and since its a commons, you can hunt that for old glory...all sorts of targets there...I dont like hunting curbstrips in front of somebodies house for the reasons you and Elton mentioned...Its too hard to concentrate when a fellow is worrying about what folks might think.
Mud

 

[randall burd]

Yes I do. Around parks from curb to side walk and the other side of walk,one swing distance. Ihave been finding a lot of clad.this spring i will hunt older parks in town.

 

[khouse]

The City owns most of the strips and expects the homeowners to take care of it including cleaning the snow off the sidewalk without having to pay out anything. You may have to pay a fine if you don't shovel the snow off in a timely manor? I always ask for permission to hunt that strip. However, I do not ask anyone when hunting the median strip between streets. Some old towns have several old median strips that are very old. Especially when the streets are brick.

 

[5900_XL-1]

I would love to do that, but too out in the open for me. Like to keep detecting out of the minds of the people who don't detect, if that's possible. They will always find something to b!tc7 about.

Amen Steve!

 

[Tom_in_CA]

kanaka2, I don't tell too many people this ..... but : It is I, yes I, that own all the parking/curb strips in the entire USA. As such I grant you permission to metal detect them. No .... don't thank me ...... it's the least I can do for a good friend. Just go at low traffic times, don't "stick out", avoid lookie-lou busy-bodies, and you'll be just fine.

 

[khouse]

Hey Mister!!!!! Yes, I'm talking to you!!!! What do you think your doing out there? "I'm just searching for a lost ring" Oh. OK go ahead and good luck Sir. "Thanks"

 

[Goldstrike]

I have for a long time, eyed the wide center median that runs North South through my City. Most of it is fine shredded bark covered and lined both sides with beautiful pepper trees. I have only seen one lady detectorist for part of one day only on the median which I know dates back to the 1800's and must be loaded with coins and who knows what! I suspect she was told to stop what she was doing.
I am friends with the past Mayor and current Mayor and I know the Chief of police and his wife very well and other high profile civic and religious leaders because of both church and past religious council connections. Although I'm lucky to have these connections, I have not dared to metal detect that median. Why?......because it is used by joggers, women pushing their babies and toddlers in strollers and fast walking, jogging/socialising at the same time.
I know that once I start digging any kind of hole, even if it's shallow, the complaints will start to fly. As much as I would LOVE to detect the median, it's a no go for me. It's not worth risking a local law being passed banning detecting from all the other local parks and places I am allowed to detect. Also, common courtesy comes into play in some locations as Elton pointed out earlier. There is a fine line sometimes and it's best not to cross over the line.

 

[khouse]

I understand what your saying. We don't have fancy medians here like you described. If there is it's not many? But the old grass medians are no problem here. It just has to be in an old town with an old road on each side. Plus going right before the Sun comes up and leaving as people and traffic pick up causes no concern. Plus it's safer for hunting.
Here is an example of these old medians that are still there and can be loaded with treasure.
http://bennel.blogspot.com/2013/08/deming-place-springfield-missouri.html

 

[kanaka2]

Thanks everyone for your input. Yeah, just feeling out the norm. I'm mainly interested in the stretch of grass in the residential district from the curb to the sidewalk. I like the neon green vest idea - lol. Most of the homes in our downtown area were built in the late 1800s on many of the city streets. Very intriguing. It was just a thought - I think I'll fish elsewhere until I gain a better feeling of what our locals reactions are. I did get a warm permission to hunt our cities historic Civic Center which is an entire city block in size. It heald annual county fairs datinng back to the 1860s. I'm sure it's been farmed over the years but can't wait to give it a try.

Thanks again -

Jason
Northern Michigan

 

[Tom_in_CA]

... Plus going right before the Sun comes up and leaving as people and traffic pick up causes no concern....

ahhh, picking more opportune times, so as not to get anyone's panties in wads? Yes I see the common sense logic in that (why swat a hornet's nest afterall?). But there are other md'rs who .... when you tell them to "avoid lookie-lous", "stay clear of busy-bodies", and/or "go at lower traffic times to avoid questions", they will accuse you of ninja, sneaky, lawless or illegal, etc.... I guess in their mind's eyes we need to be able to go at broad daylight and waltz over beach-blankets with traffic whizzing by ?

 

[khouse]

I've had two vacations to Destin Florida. I waited until about 6pm when the crowd thinned down and I'll hunt until about 10am until they start flocking back. It's a lot cooler then as well. Even though I have permission to several local parks and grounds I'll still start as the Sun comes up and leave if there's a crowd. No need to let some busy body file some complaint. I just wake up earlier than they do.

 

[ironsight]

Hey Mister!!!!! Yes, I'm talking to you!!!! What do you think your doing out there? "I'm just searching for a lost ring" Oh. OK go ahead and good luck Sir. "Thanks"

OR

"Hey you!! What'n the hell you doing there?? I'm searching for a....I don't give a $%@# what you're searching for! Git the $%^& out of here before i call the police"

Years ago i searched those strips between the sidewalk and street and found them very productive. The most productive strips were the ones that had coin operated parking meters on them. Never had a problem back then.
These days around here in the bigger cities, those old neighborhoods could still hold a lot of silver but would require an armed guard escort.

 

[khouse]

You can get that response too!

 

[Ceebee7]

Another one who feels like a scavenger. I feel for you. I just tell people I'm cleaning up and taking all the trash home! You could always lie your head off and say you lost something and are trying to find it! My wife called me a scavenger the other day! "Quote, don't you feel like a scab scavenging on the beaches" I said "well I didn't until you bought it up, thanks a lot "
She won't take anything I find so it all goes into a bucket for my next detector.
The only way to avoid the people is to go in the early (very early) mornings or at night. I bought a hat with LED lights and go beach hunting in the dark now. Cheers and HH.