new to detecting

[gunnovice09]

Hello I have never detected and I just ordered one. How do you know where u can do it besides private property?

 

[Tom_in_CA]

You look up the rules or laws for the place you intend to go . For example : If it's city property, then most all cities have websites nowadays, right ? And on there will be subsections with their codes, laws for, etc..... Even often time spcifically for their parks dept. (eg.: close. at sunset, no dogs , etc...). If you see nothing saying "no metal detecting " then there ya go. It must not be dis-allowed . .

Of course use proper discretion. Ie.: don't do obvious sacred historic monuments, avoid busy bodies who might draw connotations & gripe , etc...

 

[TerraDigger]

Research like Tom CA said and also learn how to properly dig a hole in turf and replace dirt/grass so it doesn't look like you dug there. That way you will be welcomed back to areas that are legal to detect on. Use the Internet to research proper digging methods in grass.

 

[gunnovice09]

I called the parks manager here about metal detecting still waiting on a reply. What other spots do u guys hit?

 

[matthias]

I hit old playgrounds, schoolyards and fairgrounds. A house down the street is being renovated by a neighbor I know and I asked permission to hunt there. Another house in my neighborhood is empty and owned by the bank now- I hit that a few times. I roto-till my neighbor's garden and then ask if I can hunt the freshly disturbed soil. I never stop hunting my own back yard. I went to a ball field not long ago and had very little luck but Im going to try it again. Good luck and Happy Hunting. Matt

 

[gunnovice09]

Thanks for the input matt

 

[Joel-Winnipeg]

If you live in a city from the sidewalk to the road curb
can be good.
People on the sidewalk lose coins when they reach
in there pockets and these roll into the grass.
Constrution site when they redo old roads and sidewalks.

 

[gunnovice09]

Cool thanks joel

 

[Elton]

Backyards - your own, your friends, or neighbor's
Look for - old clotheslines, tree swings, flowerbeds, porches, walkways to outhouse
What you'll find - depends on how old the land is that the house its on. Coins, relics, jewelry, bottles, maybe a cache?

Beaches - local beaches, town beaches, ocean beaches. A good selection of beaches on the East coast.
Look for - where most people congregate during the busy season
What you'll find - coins, jewelry, watches, relics depending on location.


Parks - city parks, old parks, old ballfields, picnic areas, campgrounds
Look for - large trees, places lovers hide to get away from the crowd
What you'll find - coins, older coins, maybe jewelry


Playgrounds - city playgrounds, old playgrounds, sandboxes, swings
Look for - grassy areas, old trees, shady spots, unpaved parking lots
What you'll find - coins, kids jewelry, toys, wedding bands, watches


Woods - local woods, stone walls, foundations, cellar holes
Look for - new paths, old overgrown paths, search near the road, hiking trails, old wagon roads, foundations, old cellar holes
What you'll find - coins, bottles, relics depending on location


Fields - old farmfields, tobacco fields, cotton fields, cattle, sheep, any farmfield
Look for - go after a heavy rain, the main entrance to the farm, if you hit on a coin thoroughly search that specific area.
What you'll find - prime spot for older coins, relics depending on location, artifacts


Riverbanks - old marinas, old ferry launches, old fishing spots, old swimming holes
Look for - broken pottery and glassware, iron debris, old bridges
What you'll find - prime spot for older coins, relics, buttons, bullets, sinkers, indian artifacts


Research Your Spots
Find old postcards or maps. Read historical books or biographies. Visit your local library. Ask the senior citizens about the good ole days. Ask about the old swimming holes.

Get Permission
Written permission from private landowners is best

 

[gunnovice09]

Very helpful info Elton greatly appreciated!

 

[Tom_in_CA]

gunnovice09, did you see my post/advice below? Why did "call the park manager"? Can't you just look up any potential rules for yourself? I mean, certainly the park rules are posted on the sign, and city laws are available to public review at their website, etc...

You may think "what difference does it make if I look it up myself, verses ask a park manager", right? The answer is you risk a "no", when there's no real rule saying "no metal detecting". Ie.: No is the easy answer, even though, truth be told, they may never have given the matter thought before, nor actually have cared (till you asked, and now they must address the "pressing issue"). I mean, the mere fact of your asking them merely presumes that something is inherently wrong with your activity, that you had to ask, to begin with (lest why would you ask, if it was innocuous and harmless?). This subconscious effect is not lost on the person receiving the question (I mean, for example, would you have asked to fly a frisbee?).

 

[gunnovice09]

Tom I read it and looked at the town website up and down and couldn't find the rules so that's why I called. Also I am not going to assume im allowed to do it must because there is no rule against it because im in the military and any trouble in town will come down on me in marine corps too. So that's y I called

 

[Elton]

n/t

 

[Tom_in_CA]

"couldn't find the rules so that's why I called."

If I'm not mistaken, every municipality has to have, somewhere, the laws/codes/rules for public viewing. Perhaps on city hall front desk, etc... . even if they had no website .

So how about this then: If this is truly "Mayberry RFD" so-small that there's no signs at the park entrance, no city websites (that have laws and codes sections anyhow), and no city hall where the city charter and books aren't there for public viewing, then here's an option for you:

When you ask, instead of asking "can I metal detect?", you can instead say "where can I find a listing of city codes and laws?" Then whomever is answering that, gives you a list (or refers you to where such an item is located), and presto, you read there. If it says nothing about any prohibiting of metal detecting, then this is not "assuming" in the slightest. You did your homework, and found no prohibitions. How would that be "assuming", if you clearly read and see no prohibitions?

Do the marines require you to ask permission to do things, for which there is no prohibition? Sounds something like their fabled boot camp perhaps, But beyond that, on your own civilian time, ....... is it still like that boot-camp "don't yawn or swat at a fly unless I authorize it" type mentality?

 

[Thound]

I've talked to many LE types here in Texas, and they all say the same thing. We just ask you to leave or stop what your doing. As long as you comply there's no problems.HH

 

[desert walker]

I am also new live in nevada and you can in the parks and school yards as long as you can pick it up off the surface. Find no digging. Allowed. On blm and state land.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

what good is detecting if you can't dig? I mean, if it were "on top of the ground", then you can merely look down and see it, wihtout a detector, right? So what's the point?

I'm of the opinion that the verbage about "holes" "digging" "defacing" "altering" "vandalizing" and so forth, all apply to END results. I mean, think of it: If you leave the area exactly as you found it (no trace of your presence), then by logical definition, you have not "defaced", "altered", "vandalized", etc... Because, afterall, of COURSE no one's gonna say "go ahead and dig in the park", right? Why? Because of the implication that you're going to leave holes. And thus the easy answer is usually "no", just to make things simple for themselves (when in fact, perhaps they'd never have noticed or cared).

Sure, there's the temporary evil process of extraction, and sure, someone may dispute these definitions. That's why I say, sometimes it's a little like nose-picking: you can do it, so long as you're discreet. But the moment you go asking someone "can I pick my nose?", they're going to say "no" and start watching you.

 

[ezra]

If I wanted to go to a park in a specific town to play I would call the police dept. of that particular town and ask to speak to the head of the dept. and find out what their laws are. Then I keep the information of who I spoke to and the dept number and keep it in my vehicle on a tablet. If your metal detecting farmland and want to find out who the owner is just knock on some doors and somebody usually knows. Farmers all know who owns what land and who farms what, remember if you tick one farmer off you just killed your chances of getting on other property so please treat them fairly and do not forget to get a name and phone number and put it in your tablet for future reference and just in case some one asks who you got the permission from you pull the tablet out with the info in case you have to make a call. Good Luck. Ezra.

 

[gunnovice09]

Tom what are u talking about when you say our fabled boot camp? I certainly hope you are not implying its easy or something

 

[Tom_in_CA]

No. Quite to the contrary. "Fabled" as in super hard!! Your every move is scrutinized , etc ....