Got kicked out of my Park

[harvdog42]

Hello All,

I was detecting the park up the street the other day which I have detected for that last twenty years. There is not much left in that park except "iffy" targets. I have never had a problem with park personnel. I have always just waved and said hello without any issues.

The other day, however, a new guy made an appearance and told me I was disturbing the turf. I tactfully explained to him that I have detected the park for the last twenty years and have probably dug over three thousand holes in the park without any noticeable long term damage. I am very carefull about filling holes and leaving things in as near a pristine condition as possible. After a couple days, the root system would take hold and you would never know the difference. He didn't seem to care and just kept reciting the official "rules" to me.

Nevertheless, I told him I would not detect there any longer. (Untill maybe he finds another job)

I started scouting a new park today outside his area of authority. The "new" park is only about a mile away and is loaded with targets. I dug many high conductivity targets in the new park today and actually found a 1944 silver quarter in it. That was very surprising. I also found a vintage boyscout neckerchief slide.

Maybe the guy did me a favor. The new park seems to have plenty of potential but may take me awhile to get to "know" it.

If it is anything like the park near my house, it probably has plenty of undiscovered jewelry in it.

HH Harvdog

 

[Aaron]

Man that sucks. I know I would be ticked if somebody said that to me in my old park. I commend you on your self control. That guy probably wont be there long anyway. Congrats on your new hunting grounds and finds!
Aaron

 

[cometguy]

I had a really nice place to hunt, with permission and some crazy across the street decided it was his place to protect. He came roaring across the street and told me I couldn't dig holes on the property. I explained I had permission, gave him the proper name, etc. and he and his screaming wife, with cell phone in hand kept insisting they were going to call the law. I got them to calm down, told them I had the owners cell phone number and would call right then. Of course, the number I dialed was no good and he refused to ask the owner if I had permission, so I left. This spring I was delighted to see that the ground's protector had been evicted from his house. I jumped right back in and after several months of success and delightful hunting a new, protector of the grounds emerged. This guy was nice enough to check my story and came back and told me to have fun. It never ceases to amaze me how these renters in the neighborhood come screaming at you like you are running a dozer across their yard.
Let's hope your luck is a little like mine and Mr. Bossy either offends the wrong person or moves up to bigger and better things. Some people just have to be heard. Congrats on keeping your cool and moving on.

Don
HH

 

[jmaryt]

amazing tale since this guy doesn't own this property!..the world is getting
"nuttier" with each passing day!..(w.t.f!)

(h.h!)
j.t.

 

[harvdog42]

Talk about nutty...I forgot one nutty detail in my original post. The park ranger actually told me that I could walk around the park with the detector as much as I wanted but that he didn't want me to disturb the turf if I found something. Is the stupidity in that statement almost mind blowing or is it just me? (You don't have to answer that)

Harvdog

 

[Dan-Pa.]

You can metal detect just don't dig.....sort of makes one scratch his head don't it.... have found especially in State Parks in Pa. one ranger will tell you he is going to issue you a summons and another will say find an anything good....LOL

 

[tvr]

The park ranger actually told me that I could walk around the park with the detector as much as I wanted but that he didn't want me to disturb the turf if I found something.

I actually read a park regulation that said exactly that when I was researching places to hunt ... at the moment I don't recall which park; and yes, it is pretty stupid.
tvr

 

[jmaryt]

depends on who is doin' the investigating as everyone is different!..some will leave ya alone!..some will break
'em.. perception and attitude is everything i suppose!

(h.h!)
j.t.

 

[jmaryt]

it sounds to me like the guy doesn't really know what to do!..on the one hand,he knows you are
not doing anything wrong,yet he has a "'guilty" feeling,because his concern lies in someone "reporting"
to him that you are digging!

(h.h!)
j.t.

 

[harvdog42]

"You can metal detect just don't dig.....sort of makes one scratch his head don't it.... "

Well said Dan,

LOL

Harvdog

 

[garwha]

When I hunt parks and schools I very rarely dig a target. With a good tuned up electronic pin pointer, and a screw driver I can pull targets down to about 3 inches without disturbing the turf. Doing that, after you get checked out a couple of times, he most likely will ignore you afterwards.

 

[Woodchuck]

Here where I am the rule by parks and rec is There are no laws on the books against metal detecting.You may use a metal detector,to look for a lost item on the surface but you can not in any shape form or mannor disturb the ground or surrounding environment.And they are under the impression that we use shovels to dig.!

 

[G.A.P.metal]

I hit golf balls in the park and ripe up the ground, and metal detecting is just a form of recretion .....kids tair up the sod more with there bikes than we MDs do.
And people take their dogs there just to poop !!!!
That ranger guy must be a nut
thankd Gary