Was in the city park today when Barry of the city told me no digging. I told him I DIDN'T dig because all coins were on top- I simply used my thin screwdriver to probe the grass (the truth!) and flip the target out. His reply? We don't want any type of INCISION in the ground! He has approached me before at ballparks to check me out- mainly to say stay off the ballfields. None of the other workers ever bother me.
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It's getting crazier...
- Thread starter slingshot
- Start date
Dancer
Well-known member
Well you got nothing to lose Sling. Go to who ever His boss is, or to who's in charge of the parks. Explain what's going on, bring up the harassment you're getting. Ask them to show any proof of damage you've caused. Also go see local politician, your retired, this is your hobby. Your not a vandal. You got nothing to lose. Let us know.
Dancer
Dancer
still looking 52
Well-known member
Slingshot, agree with dancer. The worst case scenario is you end up where you are now. Some of these guys like being Barney Fife and they really don't know what there talking about. We've got it lucky here in WV so far we are allowed to hunt our local parks and we actually take divots.
Sl52, I think you and Dancer are correct. He kinda oversees the workers- Barney Fife cracked me up! He's new and I think the way vandals mess up the bathrooms, the park fountain, etc. has put the pressure on users. For instance, dogs have to be leashed and a pooper scooper has to accompany them! The other workers just wave at me, as they have seen me for years. I AM going to FINALLY build my walking cane metal detector with flashing neon to indicate metal as it's all about perception.
Your post is very revealing. Here's why: There's been many md'rs who rationalize just as you did. Thinking this skirts them around rules which forbid "dig", "alter", "deface", and so forth. They feel that if they just "probe" or "slit" or "pop", then that's technically in compliance, eh ?
But as your story shows, NOTHING is gauranteed to stop a griper. And that even the mere act of (gasp) probing and popping out your target can be construed by someone as a violation. Even with next-to-zero ground disturbance and CERTAINLY leaving no trace. Doesn't matter. They can still say this is construed as "digging".
And seriously now, do you REALLY think you're going to win a debate of semantics with them ?? More on that under Dancer's post.
But as your story shows, NOTHING is gauranteed to stop a griper. And that even the mere act of (gasp) probing and popping out your target can be construed by someone as a violation. Even with next-to-zero ground disturbance and CERTAINLY leaving no trace. Doesn't matter. They can still say this is construed as "digging".
And seriously now, do you REALLY think you're going to win a debate of semantics with them ?? More on that under Dancer's post.
Dancer said:
You really think so ? Seems to me you've got a lot to loose. Here's why: When/if you "go to his boss" (ie.: higher-up-the-ladder), you could possibly run into someone who .... at the mere mention of the words "metal detecting", will simply conjur up images of geeks with shovels. And you can be summarily shut down by that person, who will/can simply give the safe answer of "no".
Especially when they go to consult with the rank-&-file gardener who booted you, guess what will happen ? The gardener will say "but he's tearing the place up" (which isn't true , of course).
You can end up with TWO people telling you "no" now, instead of just one . In other words, you can end up getting a department wide "B.O.L." issued to all city/park employees to boot md'rs from here on out. And you say there's "nothing to loose" ?
If you ask me, the best advice is to steer clear of Barry. If it's only Barry that cares (as you yourself say), then how difficult is it just to stay off his radar ? I mean, can't you figure out his shift, and simply not go during that time ?? I too wish I could every last person to love and adore my hobby. But it just aint gonna happen. So sometimes the better tactic is to avoid those singular persons who might be offended. Don't swat hornet's nests. IF YOU know you're not harming the ground, then why isn't that good enough ? If someone else disagrees, avoid them. You might call that "sneaking around". Fine then: sneak around.
bootyhoundpa
Well-known member
That's fair so long as the rule of no incision applies to all... no tent pegs,sports cleats,ect... oh and no vehicles on the grass either... good luck... i try to go when maint people are not on site. .. out of sight out of mind... all it takes one kill joy to bring whole thing to an end.
bootyhoundpa said:
This ^ ^ Thanx bootyhound-Pa . You're right: Best not to spit in people's holy water, rather than trying to get them to believe it's not really holy. I too wish I could convert every last person. But sometimes, like nose-picking, best just to do when those-that-might be offended are not watching. Presto, problem solved.
HaroldILL.
Active member
Well hear I go again with what happened to are Forest Preserve's We lost a year or so back.For years you could detect, But you were not suppose to dig. But as long as you were alone or maybe one other guy with you and using a small hand trowel and not a 'shovel' like a idiot, the Tree cops were cool about it. This went on for about 20 years. Well enter the newbee yuppie silver counting youtube watching Detectorist who needed another Hobby to screw up with all their yuppie buddie's. They meet up at the Preserves 10-15 even 20 at a Time to play thier little silver counting game digging everthing and anything with a Samson type shovel for every busy body to see. This gets complaints to the County to were they Change the rule to
"No Use Of Metal Detector's" so there is No loop hole to work with. So if a Tree Cop sees you with a Detector even if you are not digging you get a Ticket of Minimun 75.00. That is what happen to us plan and simple. And this is what will happen eventually across U.S. so enjoy My Friends while you can.
"No Use Of Metal Detector's" so there is No loop hole to work with. So if a Tree Cop sees you with a Detector even if you are not digging you get a Ticket of Minimun 75.00. That is what happen to us plan and simple. And this is what will happen eventually across U.S. so enjoy My Friends while you can.
still looking 52
Well-known member
What's next, kill all the squirrels because they are damaging the grass?
That's truer than you think!! When I'm in the bark chips playground, I smooth out where the squirrels have dug just so Barry won't think I did it! I even mentioned it to him and he sheepishly said "Yeah, I know"And bootyhoundpa, they had tents up on the fourth, as well as booths- glad you mentioned that. I'm with Tom on this issue. When the Corp of Engineers found out md'ers were finding stuff at our Lake O' the Pines, they closed it to detectors. How do you mess up the sand? Unless you build sand castles or bury each other like the swimmers! Honestly, I think Barry is reacting to pressure from his peers. The vandalism of the park, along with less than desirable homeless persons is a concern. Not to mention the police are oft called due to racial quarrels.still looking 52 said:
After 20 years of hunting there shouldn't have been enough silver left to keep them interested more than a day or two. I started in 1971 and most of the silver was gone by the early 80's when the better machines came out. Of course the minelab sovereign did provide some more silver in the old spots.
chuck said:
Chuck, I know the old saying of "no such thing as a worked out park", and "no one ever gets it all". But what you are saying is exactly the way I recall it too. I started in about 1976. And I recall the era (late 1970s when the 6000d first came out) when you could take a beginner out for his first lesson to the inner-city old-parks. And they could find silver or at least wheaties on their first training lesson out.
But now, .... pity-the-poor soul who tries to get silver out of those same parks now. Yes they "came alive" a little bit at the advent of machines like the Sovereign and Explorer. But basically, you have to be ONE TOUGH COOKIE to pull more silver out of those sorry sad parks nowadays. And FOR SURE beginners are not going to go get silver out of them now.
slingshot said:
I swear I am not the Barry he"s talking about LOL but I will say this here in My town I hunt the parks sometimes not often , But I have been watched by the parks employees and been confronted only once and he just looked at my plug and said don't do too much damage and then he left. Now with that being said I kinda read between the lines and figured it would be best to pick my times to hunt these areas and that is after working hours as these guys just want to make it through their shift and go home . Not saying he the parks guy was right or wrong but they do not like having to fix divots or holes when mowing hell most of em don't even want to get off the mower to pic up a piece of paper.
HaroldILL.
Active member
This all started when the Etrac first came out. The Etrac is a lot user friendlier then the Explorer's with a way shorter learning curve. They were pulling a lot out believe it or not at least to do enough damage to get them closed. There just too many out there with shovels.I mean how stupid can you be?