I live in a little farm town for nearly 30 years that has a park across the street from my house that I would detect from time to time. Last year I noticed a guy detecting at the park, so I went over to say hello. We talked about detecting for awhile and I said good luck and went on my way. The one thing that I didn't care for was to retrieve targets he used a relic shovel, in a park I don't feel this is your best choice. In the last year I had talked to this guy a few times and in the nicest way I told him to be careful digging, this didn't go very well. I was detecting 2 days a go when I guy from the village came up to me and said sorry, but no more detecting because some other guy with a shovel dug thing's up to much. Well that's great, all these years and no problems, but no more detecting in the park. I have been detecting since 1972 and always been respectful of places I hunted, even if I was deep in the woods or on a beach, but because of this one person detecting is closed. Please be careful and don't spoil things for others, stop and think or ask for permission if needed. Once you lose a place you never know if you will have the chance to change people's minds about your hobby. Thanks for letting me vent. Ben
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I had to tell you this story
- Thread starter rodbuster
- Start date
Grilled Scallops
New member
slingshot said:
Yes. Shallow plugs will always die. Coins in the 1-2 inch range need to be popped. Deeper ones you can usually cut a half or full plug and the grass won't die, so no one cares.
always diggin 2
Member
so sorry to hear that.so for I only had to say something to one hunter about the way he was digging. he got a little mouthy and said how am I suppose to do it & I replied find a target & I will show you how I do it. Afterwards he Thanked me for being able to not leave a mess. when I walked over there to introduce myself as another hunter he had dirt slung everywhere that's when I showed him the half moon cut ( that's what I call it) stuck around awhile & watched him & you couldn't tell where he was digging. so sometimes a little help really pays off. Thanks for reading. Hope it makes sense.
dfmike
Well-known member
Sad story and I'm not really surprised. There a way too many newbies using shovels in areas where they should be banned. When you say that a guy from a village told you no more detecting, who was he ? I'm just wondering if he has the credentials to tell you what you can and cannot do.
The guy from the village was from the maintenance department, I don't blame him, he was just doing his job. Over the years we have seen each other and its always been a wave, never any problems. The told me sorry but because of what the other fellow had done to the lawn they wouldn't allow detecting anymore. Its just sad to lose a spot because of someone neglecting there responsibility as a treasure hunter.
still looking 52
Well-known member
We've got this really nice park near my house and so far me and my two brothers have been able to hunt it for years without any problems. If I would see someone doing damage I would say something to them but so far so good. The only suggestion I have for you now is go to the park authority, explain your situation and ask for written permission to hunt there,if your lucky they may help you out.
GeorgeinSC
Well-known member
I was visiting a city in NC a couple of weeks ago. Big beautiful park with four tot lots. I was working the totlots to see what might come out of the wood chips when I was approached by a park employee and told that due to guys digging up the soccer fields with a SHOVEL the city had passed an ordnance prohibiting digging in any of the city parks. He had no problem with me detecting as long as I DID NOT dig. But again folks have cast a bad light on detecting by using SHOVELS in areas where the authorities can be given a bad view of our hobby.
At the time when you met this other fellow with the relic-shovel, did you notice if he was covering and stomping (and fluffing up the grass) when done ?
Because basically, a predator relic-shovel (if that's the type shovel you're referring to) is nearly a Lesche, but simply on a long pole. So whether dug with a hand-held lesche, or a screw-driver, or a long-handles predator, they can all leave holes, if the person doesn't use drop cloth, stomp, and go when moist (not during the height of dry summer). All methods can be left with no trace, is what I'm saying.
So I suspect that if that village worker said "because a guy with a shovel dug too much", it might be just "image sakes", not actual holes left. Ie.: the mere fact of a man with a device that looks like a shovel, conjurs up images that he's about to leave a hole, whether or not he actually did.
Because basically, a predator relic-shovel (if that's the type shovel you're referring to) is nearly a Lesche, but simply on a long pole. So whether dug with a hand-held lesche, or a screw-driver, or a long-handles predator, they can all leave holes, if the person doesn't use drop cloth, stomp, and go when moist (not during the height of dry summer). All methods can be left with no trace, is what I'm saying.
So I suspect that if that village worker said "because a guy with a shovel dug too much", it might be just "image sakes", not actual holes left. Ie.: the mere fact of a man with a device that looks like a shovel, conjurs up images that he's about to leave a hole, whether or not he actually did.
And on that note: Be aware that stories such as yours have occurred (someone saying "no because of holes"), EVEN when no one ever actually saw a hole. Just the mere sight of an md'r (even if he's not stopping to get targets) will, in some people's mind's eyes, have the connotation of "oh no, he might leave holes".
But yes: having a long-handled shovel does not help this image/connotation factor.
But yes: having a long-handled shovel does not help this image/connotation factor.
detectin4fun
Active member
Too bad that the actions of another caused an end to detecting in the park you hunted for so long. You tried to help the other guy do right but bad habits are hard to change and bad practices learned harder to unlearn. Detectors are sold everywhere and the hobby is promoted effectively in media as being fun and it is. The experience and carefulness that is taught when we have a hunting mentor that introduced you to the hobby is missing when we go it alone. Some are lucky enough to find a local club and find a hunting buddy to show them the right way. It is learning by the good example. As far as I can find there are no active clubs near my area and have not been for awhile. I do know there are detectorist around my town just not meeting as a group that includes newcomers. As far as I can tell the closest searchable club is an hour and a half away. Not much chance for learning from a more experienced digger for me.
My employment was in a trade that didn't have a manual or written circulium of learning how to do the job. OTJT only I was lucky the people I learned from others that had a background education aka book knowledge to apply to the trade where there was no books to help. I learned the right way from the aquired decades of experience of others that shared the knowledge with why it was done the way it is. Being in the central office and responsible for training of others it was difficult to train out bad habits that older employees across the state passed onto the new employees outside our daily influence. Bad habits and bad knowledge was learned by the next generation of of employees. Bad practices were repeated.
I had a co worker ask me about deer hunting he kept asking until I agreed and took him out and showed him how to be a woodsman, find deer and how to set up an ambush. He learned and has out done me on the number of deer he harvests. I know bla bla bla...
The truth is Imho I could had ignored his need to learn and allowed him to go find his own way and do things that may had harmed hunting. Maybe he would had found his way on his own or not?
When we are isolated and do not share our knowledge or experience with others the new hobbiest can take bad knowledge, and have flawed experience and use that to damage a hobby we enjoy. You tried to help when you offered the experience of your knowledge. The other guy just didn't get that needed training soon enough to prevent the bad habit of digging big holes other people were seeing. Sometimes it is not the hole that can be see it is the the imagined hole size as a previous posted stated. Take a new detectorist under your wing before he become the guy that ruins your good hunting location with a backhoe. Thanks for trying to teach the right way to dig hopefully the next time it will be a newbe and they will get it and pass the information on to others.
My employment was in a trade that didn't have a manual or written circulium of learning how to do the job. OTJT only I was lucky the people I learned from others that had a background education aka book knowledge to apply to the trade where there was no books to help. I learned the right way from the aquired decades of experience of others that shared the knowledge with why it was done the way it is. Being in the central office and responsible for training of others it was difficult to train out bad habits that older employees across the state passed onto the new employees outside our daily influence. Bad habits and bad knowledge was learned by the next generation of of employees. Bad practices were repeated.
I had a co worker ask me about deer hunting he kept asking until I agreed and took him out and showed him how to be a woodsman, find deer and how to set up an ambush. He learned and has out done me on the number of deer he harvests. I know bla bla bla...
The truth is Imho I could had ignored his need to learn and allowed him to go find his own way and do things that may had harmed hunting. Maybe he would had found his way on his own or not?
When we are isolated and do not share our knowledge or experience with others the new hobbiest can take bad knowledge, and have flawed experience and use that to damage a hobby we enjoy. You tried to help when you offered the experience of your knowledge. The other guy just didn't get that needed training soon enough to prevent the bad habit of digging big holes other people were seeing. Sometimes it is not the hole that can be see it is the the imagined hole size as a previous posted stated. Take a new detectorist under your wing before he become the guy that ruins your good hunting location with a backhoe. Thanks for trying to teach the right way to dig hopefully the next time it will be a newbe and they will get it and pass the information on to others.
I hate to say it but this is a no-brainer
Dancer
Well-known member
Year before last. A guy came over to talk while I was hunting around some bleachers. Asked me if I'd found anything yet, and how he had cleaned it out. And his machine was the best and on and on. Well after I got away from him, noticed he dragged a long handled shovel for a tool. Wondered where all the damage was coming from. Anyways this guy was telling me about all the parks he hunted. So I contacted some hunters I know to put the word on this guy with their grounds keepers. Month later he was given the heave ho soon as he was spotted at another park. Afterwards like rodbuster, I was chased from a park I've hunted for 16 years. All because of this nut with a "Long Handled Shovel"
So today if I see someone digging like that. I'm going straight up to a grounds keeper and rat him out. Way things are today, go up to somebody and libel to get involved in a "detecting rage incident" Can't afford to lose not one valuable place to hunt.
So today if I see someone digging like that. I'm going straight up to a grounds keeper and rat him out. Way things are today, go up to somebody and libel to get involved in a "detecting rage incident" Can't afford to lose not one valuable place to hunt.
Thanks for all the responses, this park was fun to hunt at because there was a house that sat on the property from the 1880's. Mr. C.C. Campbell was one of the founders of this village. Its a nice park in a small town that's given me many good memories, over the years I had the opportunity to meet other responsible people with detectors and share many good stories. Well there isn't much more to say about this, I have other places to detect. I have seen this happen before in the past 40 years of detecting, but each year sites are being developed or possibility being put off limits for a varieties of reasons. We should take care of places we have and not take it for granted. Good luck to everyone, enjoy this great hobby.