Metal detecting state parks!!

[Ron Lord]

Does anyone know the FL. statute banning metal detectors from water huntting in State Parks??

 

[hunter 18]

The Division of recreation and Parks has Amended as April 1, 1993 procedures prohibit the use of
metal detectors in stated parks. tha new procedures allow recreational use of metal detectors only in beaches parks in a limited zone. the
zone has been defines as that area between the water line and the toe of the sand dune metal detectors may not be use where designated archaeologocal
sites have been identified within the zone..
the changes in the procedures in base largely on the presumtion that users of metal detectors will advise parks staff of the discovery
of historical artifscts or lost property so that such iteam may beretrived and handle appropriately. the knowledge of where in the
park historis are found may be of more value of that the relics themselves....

Florida Department Of Natural Resorces
I hope the this help
This Is from TREASURE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES by R.W."Doc" Grim

 

[Eric from NC]

The policy is the same in NC.

 

[ROADKING]

I have found that as long as you talk to the park Rangers first they are very good bought letting you hunt like Hunter18 stated but dont assume any thing ask first.

 

[GaBeachsweeper]

If he turns a blind eye to the regulations he's paid to uphold, don't expect him to be true to you.

 

[brobox]

SUBJECT: Procedures on the Use of Metal Detectors

As you should know by this time, the Department has revised the subject
procedures transmitted to you on March 10, 1993. Attached are the revised
procedures which will be incorporated-in the Operations Procedures Manual.

Also attached is a press release that will be disseminated to media by the
Department

 

[DonNWF]

As outlined in the regulations provided by others, Florida permits metal detecting in the narrow strip of sand between the water and the dune line. NOTE - It does not permit you to hunt IN the water in State Parks. Up until two years ago water detecting in some state parks was permitted by the
ranger -in -charge as part of the states Isolated Finds Policy. When that policy was rescinded by the state , rangers went strictly by the book which allows detecting in the sand only. Florida has idiotic laws when it comes to recovering artifacts (Any item fifty years old is an artifact- think about this - A Wheaty 1958 is an artifact !!!!!!! ). There are Florida brach parks all along the states coastal borders both east and west coast and in the Keys. These parks are visited by thousands of tourist and state residents. Why is metal detecting NOT allowed in the water??. One of the more enlightened states in this regard is Alabama, their state polices make sense. Florida can stuff it. I live in Florida and all my old finds are made in Alabama. Yeah sure. HH..

 

[Ron Lord]

I have decided to use the state Park laws to my advantage. State park laws are only good in the state park, so we find the boundary of the state park and hunt out side of them.Wiggins pass boundary is some where between the doons and the water.You can go to your county appraiser office for this info.I have hunted 100's of times in Wiggins Pass state park and only the passed few years that I have been told that I can't hunt in the water.

 

[DonNWF]

That you have hunted Wiggins Pass waters that are adjacent to the park in the past but are not allowed to do so now is a direct result of the Florida Div of Historical Resources (DNR) rescinding their Isolated Finds Policy.. I don't think you will be successful in convincing a park ranger that kicks you out of the park that you are hunting in Wiggins Pass and are therefor outside state park boundaries.. I believe the rangers reply will be that you are detecting the sovereign submerged lands of the state of Florida and that the area in question is leased to the State Park Commission and under their jurisdiction.
I have tried several times to inform Florida Water hunters that they are being short changed by the state and its polices of not allowing water detecting in state parks. A water hunter I know who had hunted the waters of the State Park in Destin for years and then was stopped from doing so, said he believed the ranger was trying to keep water hunting to himself - WRONG. It is State of Florida policy The question is simple and straight forward

WHY IS WATER DETECTION NOT ALLOWED IN FLORIDA STATE PARKS?

I am not talking about disturbing protected historical sites or leased treasure sites, just your ordinary beach waters within park boundaries. Unlike public county beaches state parks have controlled access. If they wanted to look at all my finds made so be it. If they wanted any historical items turned over to the state I would gladly comply, lost jewelry and the owner is there to identify it, no problem.
So what's their hangup?.

 

[Bernie]

Detecting is allowed and encouraged on Vermont beaches along Lake Champlain. I was kicked out once and went to the Director of State Parks and was told that there was no problem detecting there. He also straightened the park Ranger out.

 

[toy4runr]

So, what can be done to change the situation? Who should we contact to represnt our side of this issue??

 

[david bull]

If the current economic crisis continues maybe this problem will correct itself.IE no money =no job!Some of these people act as if they are Gods of some kind while in reality they serve no useful purpose(guarding an empty campground in the dead of winter).Any politicans reading this?DBULL

 

[DonNWF]

So, what can be done to change the situation? Who should we contact to represent our side of this issue??

Before I give you my answers I will add 4 of my own questions .

1) Do you as a Florida water hunter feel you have the right to metal detect in the public waters of your state?

2) Do you as a Florida water hunter feel that Florida State Park regulations that restrict your activities to sand hunting only.
are fair? (consider your answer to this question in light of all the other in-water activities allowed to the general public)

3) As a Florida metal detectorist (hunter on land, beach or water),
are you aware of Florida State policies, not laws, that restrict your metal detecting activities?

4) As a Florida metal detectorist do you belong to a club and/or are you affiliated with any national metal detecting organization?

For any that answered yes to question (4) , you might ask what is your organization doing to promote sensible metal detecting policies? Has your organization examined Alabama's recently changed policies that went to far as to define in specific terms what the state means by the word Artifact and what land and water sires are of interest to the state. and need state protection. .
The word ARTIFACT is at the heart of most of Florida's restrictive metal detecting policies.,both land and water..
If you read through the Florida State Park 1993 regulation change (see in other posts, this string) you will note that notification is given to other state agencies. The DNR and the DHR are the ones that are in opposition to water hunting. The State Park commission and its park rangers have little interest in restrictive regulations - they manage parks and want maximum visitors.. They are following the powerful directives from these other state agencies. It is unthinkable to the DNR/DHR and their paid archeologist's that you might enter state water and actually find an ARTIFACT, ( by the states general definition, any item over fifty years old.). State Parks are one of the few public places over which they have control.
The state park restrictions are NOT LAW but only agency policy. No representative vote are taken on policies or needed to change them..
To answer your questions--- The old true-ism--Squeaky wheel gets greased. I believe the squeaky wheel is open opposition voiced by Florida Detecting Organizations and presented to their state representatives. Individuals could participate with them. : HH

 

[crabby]

Don't know about Florida but North Carolina has a relatively simple law:

It is illegal to MD in a state park unless one of it's boundaries is the ocean. Then, they cannot be hunted from May 1 till August 31st. After that, they are fair game.


Crabby

 

[JoeSWFLA]

In a word"Archaeologist".They are so afraid you may find something,they are willing
to take away your basic rights.If we want them back we will have to organize and
sue them.They will keep on pushing until we push back.That's why Alabama got
their act together.A law suit by someone they pushed too far.A big thanks to
Steve up there in Alabama.Hope it happens here soon.HH Joe

 

[jog]

First off,the people who work for the state have forgotten who they work for.That would be you and me,so they need to be constantly reminded of that.If you get permission to hunt in a park ,get it in writing,that will cover your A@#.

 

[azboy]

Im new to the forums but I recently moved from Arizona to New York for medical school. Does any one know what the MD laws are for the State of New York? In Arizona I searched mainly on private family property.

 

[kraelity]

Hey Azboy ,
Welcome
Where in New York?,NYC parks require a permit!,and not all the parks are available.
New York City Parks Dept.,I would have to dig thru old journals and find Phone #'s.
It's a pain in the butt to get the permit the first time.
Coney Island beach is open as far as I know.

Long Island State Parks require a permit,and again not
all of them are available. Best advice ,call your regional office and ask.
http://nysparks.state.ny.us/

This a link to my County,I'm sure other counties have something similar.
http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/Home/departments/parks/Metal%20Detecting.aspx

If you need any info just pm

HH,Ken

 

[Grunter]

What I don't understand is if a person wants to snorkel or scuba dive looking for objects and in many cases probably as successful as a MD user, then are snorklers and scuba divers held to the same standard???? If not, Why Not(retorical question)???? What are artifacts and other items to be lost forever unless the DHR has thousands of archaeologists hunting the beaches at all times????? Whose going to pay for all of them? Many more archaeological finds could be discovered by recreational MD's and it would enhance the recreational travel for Florida.