Spot got ruined!! :ranting:

[jcooking]

I got up early this morning, and figured I would go for a morning hunt before work. I went to a park in a neighboring town that I have got quite a few very nice keepers out of this season. This park is across the street from the police department and have detected there many times. Well I was there for about 20 minutes when I hear a lady with a clipboard yelling to me as she approaches, I said hi and could tell that this wasn't a social visit. She told me that metal detecting was not allowed in the park and demanded my name and number. I gave it to her and asked what this was all about, and that I have seen the police chief on many occasions while detecting there and even exchanged waves and nods before. I told her that I was very surprised that he had never stopped to tell me that I wasn't welcome there. She told me that last week, the chief stopped to check on someone detecting and they had a crater dug over a foot diameter and left all the dirt out of the hole. I hate that there are people that would do this(this is the second time I have been approached this year and told about a crater digger). I was in the middle of digging a signal when this woman approached and asked her to watch my technique. I had a small plug peeled back and all of my dirt that I had removed in a towel to keep things clean. I showed her how I fill the hole and replace the plug, and presto...u can't see where I was. She agreed that it was very discreet and obvious that not all detectorists take such care in recovery. She said she would give my info to the chief and I encouraged a call to me if there was a problem, she also said that she would mention the lack of damage i do to the ground. It makes me so mad that someone could have ruined this great spot for me and my huntin buddies. It makes me wonder if someone saw me there and decided to give it a try, or someone that I told about the spot hit it? Anyways just wanted to rant because I am so upset about how my hunt went this morning. Anything like this happen to any of you?
HH
Jon

 

[arizonaames]

This has been hapening across the country and you cannot blame other public park users to be upset at the holes that people dig and do not fill. Also, they are killing the expensive lawn that caretakers put in. These parks are for everybody and not just put there for MDers. There seems to be no solution to the problem. I have suggested, on another forum, to get licensing for responsible MDers that have to pass a course for MDing on public land. I received nothing but outrageous remarks to this suggestion. It is my belief that forums like this, that sells advertising or memberships, as well as manufactures, and sales places, should donate money to a common cause to hire a lobbiest firm to protect out interests in the capitol. People do not want to hear this and our scope of being able to detect on public lands are going to be greatly reduced in the future and not just for you in this one park.

 

[Nancy-IL]

We too have been turned down because of "other" people metal detecting and leaving big creators without packing the soil, etc. They haven't a clue the right and wrong way to detect. Some cities have laws against MDing because of such people. It's so sad. We do have the Federation of Metal Detector and Archaeological Clubs (FMDAC) that helps in governing MDing. All we can do is try to educate anyone that we see NOT doing the right technique of recovery. I do stress "TRY". Most will not listen, but then there's some that do want to learn. We will always be dealing with this problem. On that note.......HH to all, Nancy

 

[arizonaames]

I too have shown others the proper way to remove a small clod, put the fresh earth on top of a towel, then when done, replace the soil in hole and replace the clod and tamp down on the clod with your foot. When you leave, no one....yes....no one should be able to tell that you were even there.

 

[Nancy-IL]

Good going arisonaames! So true! Many times when I go back to show Larry where I found this or that, I can't find where I dug. HH, Nancy

 

[Old Katz]

I'm sorry to hear you had all that trouble.
I think the people who do this are new to MDing and
have never taken the time to get on the forums to learn this hobby
the right way. They have heard all the hype of "You TOO can find Buried treasure...etc"
It's not so much their fault as it is the companies who put out the detector but fail
to provide on their DVD (if they arn't too damn cheap to put one out) how to dig
properly...and the problems that occure when its NOT done properly. The failure
falls on both the shoulders of the buyer and the seller. I have yet to see a tutorial
that has an adequate section on the pitfalls that can befall a newbi the first few times out
and the effect bad digging has on everone else.

Of course there are those people who just don't listen anyway or don't give a ^#$@!!

Katz

 

[wojo113]

Same thing happened to me. Only takes one bad one to spoil it for everyone. Had a great spot and lost it because of some lazy person that didn't do what he should have done right. Consider yourself lucky at least they may let you still dig my spot was placed " off limits" to ALL metal detecting. Wojo Tellico Plains, Tn

 

[optitrac]

This crater digger must be found and dealt with J. I hope this idiot doesn't destroy any of your other spots. It sure would be embarassing to get beat with their own detector!

 

[Old Katz]

Well, if you catch him/her, dig a big hole and bury them up to
their neck and let the park attendant find him the next morning
and don't gorget to attach a little note that this is the dip S^%$
that ruined the park.

Of course you's have to explain the big hole you dug
to bury the guy in.
Katz

 

[MontanaMatt]

The park that jcooking is referring to is one we we frequent together on a regular basis and I am equally upset that some lazy detectorist ruined it for us. If i find out who it is I'll whack upside the head with my pinpointer

 

[fiveofm]

i've been detecting since 1982 and the past couple of years have had more trouble in gallatin county than the previous 20 years. Must be something in the water

 

[jog]

It's the way of the future.Don't bother to catch the culprit and make an example out of them because it's easier to just close it for everyone,or gate off areas do to garbage dumping,or vandalism.Nobody wants to exert any energy into catching the the ones that are destroying are freedoms,and it just isn't in MDing.

 

[David]

Yes having to take a MDing course is a great idea and get certified.

I too have shown others the proper way to remove a small clod, put the fresh earth on top of a towel, then when done, replace the soil in hole and replace the clod and tamp down on the clod with your foot. When you leave, no one....yes....no one should be able to tell that you were even there.

Yes and cut only 3 sides making a flap. I use the deep Pistol Probe and it tells me exactly were my target is, does helps alot. Also a suggestion is to tell the athorities or land owner that you will only use a screw driver or simular probe(with a soft tip) and no digging tools may help. Yes it is harder to recover this way but may please them. Probe gently when you do it though.

I wonder if this works? Does anyone know, has used one or heard about it? Might have to use something like this in parks:

Pinpoint Your Target
Without Digging a Hole
Pick up Coins, Rings, All Treasures. Rejects Iron!
CP-250 Electronic Coin & Cache Probe
An Electronic/Discriminating Probe for All Detector Users!!
FREE Shipping
List Price $205.95 INTRO SALE $175.95

http://www.kellycodetectors.com/vibra/CP250probe.htm

 

[montanagold]

Sorry to hear this story Jon and Matt, hopefully the chief will let you guys continue to hunt, I would pay a visit to him just to let him know who you guys are and maybe tell him that you will keep an eye out and try to repair any holes that anyone else digs. its probably some young kid who if you catch him might need a lesson on how to dig a target properly. I hope you guys get this spot back soon.

David, I had to laugh a little at the ad by Kelly co. OK I have pinpointed the coin with this machine and I don't have to dig. How the heck do I get the coin out without digging, it must be just to find the coin and leave it there. pinpointers work great to help cause as little damage as passable. I love my sunray but I still have to dig a plug. As Jon said its all in the technique, dig a deep plug to keep the root base intact and don't cut a complete circle just a half circle.

 

[jog]

Did anybody see the the other MDer? Was probably some kid playing or a dog digging.They just had to have someone to blame it on.Did you get to look at the dug hole.Maybe they are just saying that because they don't want you to MD there any more but didn't have the guts to just come right out and tell you!!!

 

[Cliff60]

Have you guys foundout yet who the jerk is that's doing that? We have the same problem on gold digs with people doing the same thing.. They just don't care and they make things hard on everyone else who enjoys the activity of getting out and detecting or looking for gold.. Let me know when a good time wouild be to come down and go out with you guys, if you still can... Cliff

 

[madaboutmike]

The guy who dug may not have been a MD'er. Just because some irate individual on a mission from God with a clipboard decides to run you down doesn't give her or the police chief the right to write local ordanances. MD laws are on the law books and accessable through the internet. What was that woman's authority? What was her 'office' or was she merely a hysterical self-appointed maniac park ranger. Approaching or calling a town clerk can document if there are restrictions in certain areas. In Ct, schools and parks have signs directing visitor behavior. I have never seen one forbidding MD ing. However, care is always advised. There is a town in Ct where MD'ing is forbidden. Md'ing equipment will be confiscated, an arrest will be made with a big fine.

In my town, I've gone out of my way to ask park workers if I'm violating any laws. Some of these workers have directed me to productive areas.

However, a few years ago when detecting in an area that has become a park, some idiot saw me digging under a fallen telephone pole. I found the case works of an old pocket watch complete with jewels intact. I drove by an hour later and there was a scavenger digging in the same hole that I covered up like a dog after a bone. In a school up the road, I made the acquaintance of guy detecting with a little Bounty Hunter. Later, I want back to detect over what he'd missed and found several plugs the size of slabs of lasagna, These plugs would eventually die and there would be squares of dead grass. A good MD'er is stealthy and circumspect. mike