I'm depressed, (long)

[jim tn]

but actually consider myself pretty lucky. About three year's ago I started hunting area's around a nearby Naval Base that a good bit of the Base ground had been denoted and leased to the ajoining town when the military was down sizing back in the 80's. Over this time span a park, ball fields and just open fields had yielded me upwards of 300 silver coins, several gold rings, numerous silver jewelry items, military devices, many neat foreign coins, countless wheat cents, many dollars in clad and numerous other curio items. After pretty thoroughly hunting one of these spots, I would move on and began to hunt another. Of which, I did yesterday morning. This was a very large field, about three acres, plenty big enough to keep me busy for a while if it showed any promise. Right off, I got a silver Rosie, followed by a wheat cent, then a couple of late 60's clad quarters, then a 40 Mercury dime, a couple more wheat cents and then a silver Washington quarter and then a few more pieces of clad. I was thrilled, particularly since the grass was pretty high and I had had to seek out spots where it wasn't quite as high. I returned to the site early this morning, hoping that I would find it had been mowed, but it wasn't, so I sought out a few more low grass spots. After about an hour and a half with but just a few clad coins, a police car drove out to where I was detecting. He promptly, but nicely, told me he had been called by one of the Base Commanders and he was to tell me I was on Federal land and I must leave immediately. I said I would, and explained that I was told by the Parks Commission that any ground maintained by the city was permissable to detect on. He stated that that was true, except for land leased, which the field was, by the city from the Federal Gov't and again, that I was on Federal land and no ground can be disturbed on Federal land. Anyway, I consider myseld pretty lucky since I was on Federal land. I also now know what other fields are Federal land as well. PHEW! HH jim tn

 

[I a thr]

Jim,
Glad you didn't get in trouble! If you ever get hauled in, give me a call I'll post your bail, LOL Seriously, at least you now know the areas that you can and can't hunt.....

 

[Elton]

Jim:

Sorry to hear you were asked to leave. In a way, you may be Lucky thats all that happened. You now know for certain where you can detect, and will
find many more coins on city property, Good Luck and keep us posted.

Glad you were only asked to leave.

 

[jmaryt]

hi jim!
looks like you caught a "break!"..the fed can confiscate your detector,and grab ya for a heavy fine,and a possible prison sentence!.the "somewhat" unclear distinction between leased and owned land saved ya!....nice to "catch" a break once in awhile!

(h.h!)
j.t.

 

[GRAY GHOST]

jim, sorry to hear of your lost hunting grounds - your're fortunate in that you were asked to leave. the fed isn't usually that nice. but, i do have the feeling that you'll soon find plenty of more ground to detect. congrats on the old coins found while you were there, though! hh!

 

[Cupajo]

If you were in "business" and making a fortune I could understand the motivation for harassing you, but to 'lean on a hobbyist is typical of where we are today!

Sorry you lost you hunting grounds Friend!

Some clown in the federal government has justified his existence at your expense!

GL&HH in the future,

CJ

 

[Joel-Winnipeg]

Just think of all the good finds you found before you got chased off..

 

[jim tn]

Although I would have liked to have been able to continue on and hunt that large field, particularly since it had showed good promise, I can't, know why I can't, and am good with that. I feel fortunate that the powers being chose to handle the situation in the manner that it was and not make a "federal case" out of it. The field was not posted in any manner and was simply an honest mistake. I checked out another "legal" field this morning and walked away with a 47 and 54 Rosie, 2 wheats and some clad. During my hunting stint, I had two policeman wave at me as they drove by...so all is good, except for the heat. It is going to be short, early morning hunts now for a while. Hit 101 here yesterday and more of the same the rest of the week. HH everyone, jim tn

 

[Elton]

n/t

 

[echostar61]

Glad all turned out well Jim .
If your hunting where I think you are , I thought
taht base was closed down . At least thats what I
was told a few years ago when I called to get a copy
of my medical records

 

[jim tn]

All the base housing just to the west of the base was removed and that whole area became a park. Almost everything across the road north of the base entrances is now mostly city maintained and or leased north to near the Navy airfield. Of which, is still in use. What was vacated by the Navy has been wonderful ground to hunt. I remember you telling me you were stationed there, I believe. HH jim tn

 

[echostar61]

Yeah , I lived in that housing for several years and worked on base at a
Military Communications Company. If ya find a big ole diamond ring ...
It's probably the one I lost Glad to hear that the hunting has
been good for ya ....Terri

 

[Furious T]

Jim, although it is sad that you lost a hunting area, at least the authorities were pretty laid back about it. Now you know where you can hunt and where you cant, and can concentrate your efforts on places where you know you wont be hassled (and at loeast you got some goodies before you were warned off). Good luck with the areas you can still hunt. Even though you've already got a fair bit out of them, there still could be quite a bit more. HH Sapper.

 

[jim tn]

one hates to loose a spot that has the prospects for being good, particularly when such sites are becoming fewer and fewer, over all, I can't complain. That area as a whole has been good to me, both in terms of good recoveries and simply having a long term safe place to hunt that has continued to be productive. I went back to the field again this morning that I had started hunting yesterday and recovered 2 Mercs., a watch, 6 wheats and a couple of bucks in clad. The watch actually appears to be in decent shape. I can't see a brand name yet, as it has moisture under the crystal. Other then that, it has cleaned up pretty good. I may have to go back to fishing, however, as it is to hot (for me anyway) to detect past 10 o'clock. 90 at 10 this morning with no breeze. HH jim tn

 

[a4wdguy]

You know, just because the base CO had you chased off doesn't mean you should give up. All it means is, you were in an area under his control without permission. If you were to approach him/her with something like "The other day I inadvertently coin hunted in an area under your control without permission. I would like to request your permission to hunt the areas located at (such and such place). If you are clear on which areas you would like to hunt on and that you now understand who you should have asked, you may be allowed back on them. Especially since they are apparently not fenced in areas.

Just a thought based on my experience in the military...

 

[jim tn]

n/t

 

[dave5710]

Even if this CO says no again, I'd check back annually, the next CO may not have a problem with it. Or if you have a spare machine, invite this guy to join you!!

Take care, Dave

 

[Roscue2]

Funny, my dad and I have been hunting on a military base for the last yr. an a half without any problems. My dads been hunting there by himself since the mid 1990s. The base is one of the biggest bases in the country. Does the base you're talking about have any military houses for families and playgrounds on it???? Or is it just a small base that's strictly business??

 

[jim tn]

A good chunk of the base is still open and has some amount of on base living quarters on it. I hunted on the base twice about four year's ago at the invitation of a Navy fellow who was a member of the metal detecting club I belong to. He has since moved on. The Gov't donoted a good deal of base land to the city when the base was down sized in the 80's. You guys with your suggestions and questions have got me pondering over that one field situation. Other then the fact it is Federal ground.....and within 75 yards or so of one corner of the base airfield, it is not fenced or posted in any fashion. Hmmm? HH jim tn

 

[nicolo]

So where does the Federal Gov. get its money to pay the lease? From us tax payers so I feel I have the "right" to be there...I hate to say it but since I was in the US Army back in '66 the chicken poop is still there...like others have stated be thankful of what you found and that you weren't locked up and had your detector confiscated...one last thing (or maybe two) ask permission first if you are turned down wait until they turn their back and then give them the finger...HH

N. Hunter

PS YES, I am a little HOT under the collar about anti-detecting individuals, businesses and governments, especially when elected officials are cheating on their wives and going on trips at tax payers expense to have an another roll in the hay...it doesn't compute...well you know buddy,,we can't let you DIG UP OUR grass so you can have a little fun but we're going to let Senators Cheat M and Howe go on tax payer paid trips so they can have a tryst or two...have a nice day