I was detecting a Corps of Engineers lake beach this evening, which I have done many times in past years. The park attendant came up to me and asked me to leave. He said it was illegal to detect the beach. There was one other person on the beach and I made certain I didn't detect in that area. Before I ever detected a Corps beach I did my research and found that there are restrictions in detecting Corps beaches, the only restriction that I remember that would apply to me was nothing larger that a hand scoop can be used. I have always complied with that and have never been confronted before. I used to have a printed copy of the regulations, but it was in my bag, got wet and since I had never needed to share it with anyone, I discarded it and never felt the need to replace it. My question is have the rules changed?
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Corp Lakes - Asked to leave
- Thread starter sthor
- Start date
I am still looking for the actual statutes, but I pulled this off of East Texas Metal Detectors site.
Corp of Engineer Lakes, Shoreline and Lands - Permission has been granted only on pre-disturbed sites, such as beaches and attached swimming areas. New Corp Lakes and lands must be OK'd by main office of the Army Corp of Engineers. Each area has a district office.
This is an old lake. I will post the statute when I can find it. I just want to be certain that it hasn't changed.
Corp of Engineer Lakes, Shoreline and Lands - Permission has been granted only on pre-disturbed sites, such as beaches and attached swimming areas. New Corp Lakes and lands must be OK'd by main office of the Army Corp of Engineers. Each area has a district office.
This is an old lake. I will post the statute when I can find it. I just want to be certain that it hasn't changed.
Woods Walker
Member
n/t
Steve and Bia
New member
Well, turning in everything BUT "non-identifiable items such as coins of value less than $25" to a commander or ranger so they can be "Publicly Sold or disposed of" under 327.15(c)...
...is pretty silly anyway...
Basically, any ring, glasses or other jewelry can be identified so you have to turn it in. How fun is that?
...is pretty silly anyway...
Basically, any ring, glasses or other jewelry can be identified so you have to turn it in. How fun is that?
Bottomfeeder
New member
n/t
Steve and Bia
New member
n/t
Woods Walker
Member
n/t
I have been working long hours this week and was unable to give an update as to what happened the next day. I printed the regulation and highlighted the part that said metal detecting is allowed on Corps beaches before I went back. I had just finished detecting the beach when I saw the attendant and his wife walking toward me. He said "So you're back. You didn't believe me when I told you to leave?". I politely told him I believed he had been told that it was illegal during his orientation. The person had misinformed him and I had the regulation printed out from the Corps web site that clearly stated that it is legal. His wife said "I will have to see that!". So we went to my truck and I showed them the document. She informed me that she didn't believe that the regulation pertained to Corps parks. I asked her to read the regulation again. When she read a portion of it she started to tell me that this is federal property and I had no right to detect on federal property. I kept my cool, was respectful, but I did reread the regulation. She left in a huff, all the while telling me who she was going to call and what she was going to do. I had shown them the trash that I had removed. Pull tabs, can tops and the sort. I fill in my holes. I don't understand why she became heated over someone detecting. Someone asked if I was legal. Yes, I was legal. If you detect Corps beaches you might want to have a copy of the regs with you just in case. I hadn't carried a copy in over a year. I hadn't needed it until now.
Water-Logged
New member
sthor this is a sensitive issue.one that effects many of us that hunt inland and man made lakes. please keep us posted as this drama unfolds.the wife may just irritate someone into taking action. good luck and HH. 
Have you given any thought to maybe the attendant and/or his wife have other motives keeping you away ???
Sometimes looking into these matters, one finds out the wife or the attendant has a friend that does metal detecting. I would be suspect, just because of her attitude about you mentioning your permission to metal detect there.
Mr. Bill
http://www.surfscanner.com
Sometimes looking into these matters, one finds out the wife or the attendant has a friend that does metal detecting. I would be suspect, just because of her attitude about you mentioning your permission to metal detect there.
Mr. Bill
http://www.surfscanner.com
I had thought about that. It had obviously been detected thoroughly at some time prior to my visit due percentage of dimes that I found. With the exception of one pocket near the water's edge all coinage that I found had been there for months due to the discoloration and penny corrosion. It could be that they or a friend of their's detects. It could be the simple fact that some people can't handle having authority. Who knows.
Just my opinion, but making the wife of the park official even angrier (read even less rational and more vindictive) would hurt more than it'd help. I'm sure park officials can make life miserable for anyone in ways totally unrelated to hunting the beach.
At our Corps beach the regs say that you have to check in with the park office before and after hunting. "Artifacts" must be turned in and if you found anything reported lost, you have the OPTION of contacting the owner.
It just seems like a better approach to have the ones in charge inside your tent piddling out, than outside your tent, piddling in.
JMO,
Tagamet
At our Corps beach the regs say that you have to check in with the park office before and after hunting. "Artifacts" must be turned in and if you found anything reported lost, you have the OPTION of contacting the owner.
It just seems like a better approach to have the ones in charge inside your tent piddling out, than outside your tent, piddling in.
JMO,
Tagamet