Question for those who hunt schools...

[abcoin]

Hi everyone! I'm new to this forum and this great hobby. I was wondering... do you ask permission before hunting at public schools? I'm curious, since their grounds are often open to public use anyway. Any opinions would be appreciated. Thanks & HH in advance.

 

[Roscue2]

If you just are hunting the sand and wood chip playgrounds then you probably don't have to ask permission. However, some cities and towns might not allow you to hunt there.

 

[waltship]

In rural towns, if you can't find anyone at the schools, would it be advisable to ask the police?

 

[slingshot]

I was off on vacation and mistakenly hunted a school on a Friday-I usually wait until weekends. All at once I was surrounded by kids and was showing them what I was doing when the principal approached and explained that he had no qualms with what I was doing IF I was there when there were no kids. The main deal these days is fruitcakes that prey on children or those who have to shoot their way to being noticed. The other concern is breaking and entering and stealing their computers and just plain pillaging. The final thing is to carry a screwdriver so as not to DIG and tear up the grounds. Now I know that many have diggers and have practiced neatness-but the schools are my main beat and ANYTHING, no matter how small, causes concern. I have called the police when I noticed broken windows, made kids turn off the water instead of leaving it running, reported opened doors, etc. to make sure that they are GLAD to see someone concerned about the schools-they are SACRED grounds in today's situation. They are used for soccer, football, baseball, cheerleading, etc. practice fields and I always move to another when these groups are there. It's worth the effort. Several of the great schools in a town that I regularly hunt have already installed locked fences and it would be a shame for others to have to. Just my thought.

 

[jim tn]

I do any school yard hunting on weekends and usually early mornings. Every so often I'll get questioned by the "school police," but never had a problem in my city. I don't hunt schools on school days, I don't like crowds. HH jim tn

 

[Elton]

No authority for allowing, or not allowing detecting.( Unless they have been asked to cover special property check.) But, they will tell you no just too cover themselves.

If an officer sees an act of vandalism occurring they can and will act. Digging in the schools lawn and fields areas can be mistaken as vandalism.

Most officers know detecting is a hobby, and will not bother you. It's up for interpretation and some may approach you for your identification.

Before you all get in an uproar, remember the officer is only doing what he should be doing. Serving, & Protecting the community (City) in the line of his employment.

 

[Roscue2]

Savest bet in not getting in trouble is to just search the playgrounds that are made of wood chippings or sand.

 

[Joel-Winnipeg]

Usually I hunt early Sat and Sun morning where you are not bothered by ankle bitters.
I,ve learned to stay away when I see groups of kids around as they came be a pain.

 

[Dang]

Never during school hours. Don't ask because of their lack of education they'll just say "no" because they have no idea as to what else to say.
Always carry in your pouch a few needles jagged metal and broken glass from your last hunt, so in case someone tells you to leave ask them "Sure. Would
you like me to put these back on the ground where I found them?" This will impress them that you're doing more good then harm.
Also ask your local dealer if it is allowed in your area. They'll be more then happy to answer any questions you have. Clubs too!

 

[Beale]

I hunt schools a bunch, but only on weekends. I will sometimes go and they will be having a practice or something else. I will stay away then. I like to go eary Sat, or Sun mornings. I have done well at schools with rings,and money, Beale.

 

[Boris]

I recently got permission for hunting a school grounds but I was pleasantly asked to wait 'till summer vacation. I will of course wait, no need to ruffle feathers.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

I'm with Dang, etc... on this: "asking" merely implies that permission was needed (or your hobby was somehow inherently evil enough, that you had to ask), to begin with. And as you say: "their grounds are often open to public use anyway", so what makes you any different? Would you ask to use the swing set? jog the track? etc.... Naturally just use due discretion: don't go when school is in session, or when busy-body janitors are still making their rounds, etc...

 

[blacktoe]

I go on weekends and am very careful about refilling where I dig and if I cut a plug i use the horseshoe method and leave roots attached to one side. I have been looked at but never approached by anyone. I always have some sharp junk in my pouch. I didn't ask, I just went. I also do about 5 baseball fields and have never been bothered. Just be super neat and use the less invasive recovery method you can. I have got pretty good with a brass probe and screwdriver for recovering under 3" targets.

blacktoe

 

[kickback]

Our towns are so small we don't have city police.I asked the sherriff,he said there was no ordinanace against it and thanked me for asking.I'm going to sell his wife a detector one of these days soon.She watched me dig wheaties on the grass strip between the court house parking lot and the school parking lot.You can tell her days of not having a detector are numbered.

 

[Low-Boy/LCPM]

I never ask and never get asked to leave