I can clarify that for you. The desert that surrounds Tombstone is owned by a mix of registered mining claims, Open grazing land leased/owned by ranchers, Federal Public land and State Public claimed land, and ranch homesteads and private home sites. Many of the old mining sites claims have expired if they have not been worked on. What I have found thru recent research is that the State of AZ has laid claim to most of the land along the San Pedro River West of Tombstone and they claim historical interest in many other areas as well. They seem to have a fixation on declaring site and land restricted for water right, historical sites , you name it. Their directives for such restricted lands, without exception, specifically ban metal detecting. The casual MDer would have little impact on such lands as you probably noticed during your visit. Before anyone decides to bring a detector to the area they should contact the State of AZ regarding any restrictions. I think you will find it pretty well limited to private property. The trouble with looking back twenty years is thats you can see all these senseless restriction to private citizens using public land. It makes me sick. Few Detectorists posting on this forum and other hobby forums have shown interest in fighting to preserving their rights. US National MD organizations have left it to individuals to fight this battle. and not one has taken a pro-active position. The US detector dealers and manufacturers$$, have contributed a thunderous silence in support of any efforts to reverse or stop Federal and State actions. Take warning - US Public Parks and Public Beaches not aleady closed to MDtecting are on some State or Federal list, to do so. For those of you who think not - pull your heads out of the sand . Thats the way it is in the USA. HH Don
