IF YOU HUNT PRIVATE SITES....................DO YOU DO RESEARCH OR DO YOU JUST FIND A PROMISING SITE AND JUST KNOCK ON DOORS TO ASK FOR PERMISSION...

[John(H)]

...................................JUST WONDERING...........................JOE

 

[silversmith]

Ah........no and no.

 

[Treasure Nut]

I befriended the homeowner and then gained permission to detect on site.

 

[Beale]

I have hunted a few private home sites. In my case they all worked with me. I asked them and they said ok. I have also been lucky enough to have hunted a few sites that the state had taken over for a road widening. I really have not done any research but just hunt the sites that look good, Beale.

 

[echostar61]

In the winter months I drive around and look for interesting old homesites, go to the library
and do research, make notes and go to the owners and ask permission. This works for me .

Terri

 

[Canewrap]

I hunt 90% private land and always ask permission. I do tons of research on the Civil War and those are mostly the sites I hunt.

 

[nad]

I research, knock and ask..In most cases,I'll tell the property owner what I hope to find..An example would be military buttons on an old Parade ground. In one case, I am giving half the value of the finds to the grounds manager to be applied to the maintenance fund...This is a site one or two people could spend a year on..When there is a refusal, always remember you might out live the present owner.. That has happened. Cordially NAD

 

[John(H)]

I befriended the homeowner and then gained permission to detect on site.

..............................................................................................................TREASURE NUT, How do you befriend the homeowner?? ...........Joe

 

[Canewrap]

Ah, but if you're presenting yourself as someone looking for something of monetary value then you'll have to split it or will be told no. Much safer approach is to have facts from your research memorized and say that you're relic hunting for bits of history from the old school house that used to stand there or the military training camp or the civil war camp or if its just an old house learn who lived there and something about their family. Just be prepared to discuss the history you've read up on while researching the site. Once they're satisfied that you're saving history not pilfering their savings (money in ground they own) they are almost always more ready to say yes. I get very, very, few no's with this approach. Afterall, you're going to dig a lot of old trash, even if you are just coinshooting. Approach is everything in this game if you want to have good sites to detect. Also, do everything you can do to make friends with these people, listen to their stories, entertain their questions and answer as honestly as you can.

 

[Canewrap]

I use what I've learned about the history of the site I'm aiming to detect to open the discussion and frequently it will lead elsewhere. If you can find some kind of common ground to discuss things it will almost always lead to a kind of good understanding and possible friendship. Learn the art of small talk.

 

[Treasure Nut]

Definition of befriend

HH

 

[Ron from Michigan]

n/t