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football fields

D

don_detectorist

New member
I was hunting at a nearby highschool football field when out of the blue,this guy shows up shouting and telling me to leave.He said that he was the guard there.I told him that it was a public school and that state taxpayers pay for it.Then he says,"Do I need to call the police?"I got so frustrated I took off .Has anyone else experienced this,and how did you handle it? thanks
 
You will need to check up on your local laws, just to know where you stand. That way if you know that you are 100% sure that you are allowed to be there, then let him call the police. However, sometimes discretion is the better part of valour, and leaving kept the peace. You can go back once your egomaniac acquaintance had left the building.
Here in Australia, it is illegal to go onto school grounds without permission of the school principal. However, about half of them will give you the go ahead if you ask. I was once approached by a security guard, but after a pleasant conversation (and getting some info on some old sites to hunt) he left me to it.
I understand that in a lot of the states of the US, you seem to be allowed to hunt on school grounds any time you want. Lucky guys.
Mick Evans.
 
Around here all the "high school" and "Middle school" football and baseball fields are locked up after school. I like to try to find the smaller schools, and practice fields. It can be frustrating I know, Beale.
 
Hi Don:

No. I have not had that problem but I usually try schools on the weekends and only if I don't see any cars parked in the lot...and that means ANY cars parked in the lot.
If I see a car there I just move on.

Keep in mind that many schools have experienced vanalism and some schools have hired security to keep any and all people not affiliated with the schools off the property.

As already said by another member here, its best to just say,"Ok, no problem." and leave.

Regards
Robert R
 
I agree. In some parts of the country (like mine) high school football approaches a religious status, and digging on the field is a sacreligious act. Besides, the grass is so thick and interwoven that digging in it is like trying to dig through layers of burlap.

If a school has reason enough to hire security guards, you can bet they have reason enough to approach you and ask you to leave. Yes, you may be paying for that security through taxes, but that doesn't give you an automatic exepmtion from the rest of the population. If the police get involved they could charge you with destruction of public property, no matter how well you've filled in your holes.

I live in a part of the country where the kids don't have to go through metal detectors to get into class, and where common sense still reigns supreme. Around here the schools ARE treated as the public property they happen to be, with folks even bringing the kids to enjoy the playground equipment, throw a frisbee, let the dog run or watch the stars at night over the weekends. A guy swinging a detector doesn't even raise an eyebrow. The police have better things to do than get bent out of shape over it, if some crotchety neighbor complains it's the neighbor who's told to get a life and stop wasting the cops' time. But I won't hit a football field, I stick to the practice fields, playgrounds and common areas where nobody cares that I'm digging up a few coins.
 
I was working around some ball fields during my lunch break a couple years ago in a nearby town. The Library and Town Hall is out in front. I would hit it for about a half hour and was succesful for about 5 or 6 times then one day the eldery gentelman came out of the town office and said I could not be here people would trip in my holes. I showed him how all the holes were covered and assured him no one would trip in my holes, he was happy about that, I then packed it in and have not been back. If I do it will be on the weekend on after the town office hours are closed. in the mean time the goods will just acumulate for a bit. No big deal with me, pleanty of other places to go.
 
I MD'ed a ball field at a local high school on a Saturday. The coach came out and had a talk with me. I showed him the slice I made and how I pushed it back together. I also showed him the trash I had collected including that heavy, sharp fence wire. Also had found a live shell. Always good PR. I told him I an glad he came out to make sure his kids would have a safe playing field. I asked him where his office was so if I had found something valuable maybe we could find its owner. He thanked me and left.
 
Early, stealthy, clean and quiet. I try and stay as low profile whenever I detect. I dress nice and always say hello because as unfair as it may seem, we are doing something peculiar to those who don't have hobbies, or think M.D.ing is a hobby that does not conform. But I love it!
 
[quote John 'n' W.Va]I MD'ed a ball field at a local high school on a Saturday. The coach came out and had a talk with me. I showed him the slice I made and how I pushed it back together. I also showed him the trash I had collected including that heavy, sharp fence wire. Also had found a live shell. Always good PR. I told him I an glad he came out to make sure his kids would have a safe playing field. I asked him where his office was so if I had found something valuable maybe we could find its owner. He thanked me and left.[/quote]


That's a well thought-out answer :thumbup:

Smitty
 
I have hunt quite a few schools and always find it to be a good idea to at least let someone know that I am going to be there. I went to one school that was hard to get permission to hunt and turned in a few objects that I had found, including a small pocket knife. The principal was very impressed and I now have no problem hunting there. Now if I were approached by security I could tell him that I have permission. He never did ask me if I had found the knife on school grounds.:).
Dennis
 
I would have waited for the cops and asked to see the statute that forbid me being there.. We don't have those problems out here. All public property is open to the public. We even own the ocean beaches. I hear this a lot from places back east. Didn't used to be that way when I lived in the Midwest.

Bill
 
Yeah all the schools and their sports fields are open to the public here after school and on weekends. I've been detecting here for over 35 years and never been run out of anywhere, even private schools. Course some arse hole ruined one of my favorite playgrounds at a Christian school that I had hunted for years by setting fire to the wooden playground equipment. Now the playground is fenced and locked when school is not in session. I'd like to catch the guy and set fire to his rump for more reasons than one.

Bill
 
Yeah I've hunted around libraries, court houses, etc. I was hunting the hospital grounds one day while my wife was inside undergoing some tests and this guy walked up and asked if I had permission to hunt the grounds. I told him politely that my permission was inside laying in an MRI. He says, " Oh you have someone inside undergoing a diagnostic exam." I said, " Sure do, my wife."

He says, " Well have a nice day and enjoy yourself."

Bill
 
Well, I wish all the schools here were open to the public.
Most of the athletic areas: foot ball fields, baseball diamonds, and the track are locked up.
SHort of carrying a st of bolt cutters there is no way in. I'll just take a hint and leave the
bolt cutters at home:nono:. :laugh: Usually the tennis courts are left open. I went to a tennis court on
Turkey day and cleaned up in clad on a grassy area just in front of the parking lot. I don't think
anyone had been there for a long long time. No matter where I put the Ace sniper coil
I got good targets. Lord knows what I could find if I could get insided the locked areas.

Robert R
 
Thats the same where I live. All locked up.
Like I said, there has been so much vandalism, some schools have
no choice but to keep everyone out after hours.
Robert R
 
I'd say 90% of the schools and fields here in the part of CA I live in are open. I've never had anyone give me a problem. I carry an ample supply of trash in my pouch to show what I am cleaning out just in case I am ever asked.
 
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