Update: Cook county forest preserve meeting to address ban on detecting

[Tom_in_CA]

thanx for the update. Did you, or anyone there, ever find out was precipitated all this TO BEGIN WITH ? I mean: what put in on their radar as something that should be prohibited? How did they get this notion? Oddly, the old mantra of "someone must've left holes" can not apply in this case, since .......... we're talking about forests and woods, not turfed parks ! So pray-tell, has anyone sleuthed back to the very genesis of this, to figure out why this ever got on their decision making radar, to begin with?

Now be aware, if you were to ASK them "why?", I'm sure they'll come up with something about cultural heritage, etc.... right? Ok, but what put THAT on their radar ? I mean, seriously, do you really think that some county commissioner was walking his dog out there in the forest one day, sees a metal detectorists, and thinks: "oh me oh my, that guy might find an old coin" ? So what I'm trying to say is: that things like "cultural heritage" and "holes" are often-time just the "go to" answers bureaucrat's hand out, to justify the law they just invented. But tracing back further, you have to ask yourself, "ok, but what put THAT on their radar as a supposed ill to society as something that needed to be addressed all of the sudden ?"

 

[Surfinsafari]

I am planning my Forest Preserve hunt for the day right now! I just can't decide which one I want to go to. We still have a bit of f rozen ground so I need areas that get alot of sun...hmmm..While the "elite ruling class" forest preserve "officials" are suiting up to start their day at their pretend job, I will be out enjoying a beautiful sunny warm day and hopefully digging up some of their precious relics.

 

[ChicagoJohn]

Hey! I don't know that there is new No Metal Detecting signs at forest preserve..... that mean meeting don't work out good! I don't understand and they don't want us to find old coins! Club did show them that club cleaned up many garbage bags of garbage and giving them old indian arrowhead or something! No help them! No clean up for them! (BEEP) them!

 

[Tom_in_CA]

SAY IT ISN'T SO !! Surely you're not just going to go "do it anyhow" ?? And surely you know that navy commando seal team archies are lurking behind every tree out in the middle of nowhere! Haarrummphhh. Indeed !

 

[ironsight]

SAY IT ISN'T SO !! Surely you're not just going to go "do it anyhow" ?? And surely you know that navy commando seal team archies are lurking behind every tree out in the middle of nowhere! Haarrummphhh. Indeed !

Its called civil disobedience!

 

[HaroldILL.]

Well I know some say I'm pointing fingers,But not only the newbee's with shovel's digging up the place they also make YOU-TUBE Video's that they even title hunting a COOK COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE! How in the world could someone be so stupid! That is one reason we got on their radar! Most of them are on the other forum where they keep track of there silver finds. All they care about is how much silver they can find in a year. Once again you can say I'm pointing fingers,But we were fine before all that crap started! Not all Forest Preserves have signs,But most do. There is 6 in my area and 3 have sign's. I guess since the others are next to them or close maybe that is why they don't all have them. At least if you go to one with out the sign you could use that as a reason you hunted it. But it will only work once. Unless they are leaving the one's with out signs for a permit system? I know wishful thinking as 50% of my sites were preserves.

 

[ironsight]

Digging up the place i can understand.
Maybe even posting Screw-Tube videos with that title, especially if those videos show bad plugs, un-filled holes or just plain big ugly deep holes.
Lets see how many 'now incriminating' videos those guys post!

But I think there's more to this ban story thats not being told.
If this ban continues un-contested, i guarantee all Cook County Parks will be banned sooner or later.

 

[happycamper08]

I'll be annother to ask how this all came about. People have said they detected this area for years with no problems. Something seems off. Knowing how this came about could go a long ways in preventing it from happening in other areas.

 

[ChicagoJohn]

Even one person with shovel and leave holes can messy everything up at Cook Co Forest Presreve, public park, near beach and any public places!

 

[HaroldILL.]

Well don't forget now we have all these detecting shows so people see this and think they can get rich. The more people hunting the area's the more people notice and the more attention is drawn. I know many enjoy these shows,But I had a feeling they would cause trouble bringing unwanted attention to the hobby. Also you have the busy body's with nothing better to due complaining along with archaeologist and environmentalist. It is a lot of things combined in my opinion. It sucks for sure as I passed by one of my favorite spots today I hunted for years and it is one with a sign and couldn't hunt it with out risking a ticket.

 

[ScottBuckner]

I live and detect in Cook County. I detect in the preserves only *very* sporadically maye 3-4 times a year, and only in spots wayyyy deep in the woods that I've researched out, hunted before years ago, or have run across new. I cover my holes and leave the land as it was when I found it. I have no problem with a permit system if that's what the county board of forest preserve district wants to do, at a reasonable cost as what the state charges people for fishing licenses. Yes, newbies and morons using YouTube video as a guide that leave the ground all gopher-like *should* have their equipment (and even their vehicles) confiscated and fined very heavily, simply because they're, well, idiots who *ought* to know better. And yes, the county board and the forest preserve district father *need* to know/understand that there are many, many detecting people who DO treat the land well pursuing their hobby

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Are you implying that before all this talk-of-bans began, that certain powers-that-be were up late at night watching you-tube videos, and chanced upon those videos you speak of ? For some reason, that doesn't ring likely to me. I mean, the odds of someone who's not into this hobby, to begin with, surfing the web looking at md'ing videos?

Let me give you an example: How likely are you to be watching the home-shopping channel on TV ? Or how likely are you to be watching blender info-mercials on TV ? Or a certain soap opera or "real housewives of NY" ? Not likely, right? Why? Because you're not into that stuff. Now I suppose if you were into blenders, or real housewives hollywood gossip, etc..., then sure, you might be tuned into those channels.

Hence I somehow doubt some power-that-be saw those videos, and thought "gee, we should therefore outlaw md'ing". If they DID see those, and it had something to do with this, I bet it was something else that brought those to their attention. And that "something else" therefore is the genesis of this. Because think of it: There's nothing to stop ANY archie from cruising various internet md'ing forums, where we hobbyists ROUTINELY post and boast of our latest exploits (all in the show-&-tell fun, without which ... it wouldn't be half the fun).

Sorry, I just think there's more to it than that.

 

[mudpuppy]

Hot damn that Tom's a pip!

note to self, need a new blender... tosspot friend of mine dropped a spoon in it making margaritas last weekend!
Mud

 

[ironsight]

A permit or licsensing system would be better than an unconditional ban for sure.

I suspect part of this whole ban thing aside from unfilled holes and busy body complaints could be the 'green' culture set by the current EPA. No pipelines, no access for mining, lumbering, water rights, protected wetlands, endangered species, curtailing coal mining, etc. Add no metal detecting.
Kook County is highly Democratic and in large part forces the State to go blue in elections. The Chicago Mayor was once in the inner circle of the Administration. The Prez has roots and lots of supporters and friends in Kook County.
Yep, politics and the greenie agenda might not be the sole reason for the ban but it sure fits in nicely.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Hey mud-puppy, what's a "pip" ?

 

[mudpuppy]

Its good Tom...keep it up, makes folks think a little! Mud

 

[HaroldILL.]

Well like I said it is a combination of all above. I also would have no problem with a permit system. I have heard some complain and say once they start charging they will raise the price each year,But hey I'm willing to take a chance as this is the only hobby I have. I don't golf or play biker on my shiny new Harley or even fish. The thing that eats me is the County Of Cook is always crying broke well here is a way to bring in some revenue. It's funny though as they seem to have money for new signs with no detecting added to them?

 

[GKMan]

So many responses to this so I apologize if it has already been said. If a permitting system is even put into place it is surely going to have all sorts of restrictions. I am sure one of them is going to be something like this "no detecting within 300 feet (or some crazy number) of any cellar hole, foundation etc." and probably something and probably another one that says any object older than fifty years old must be turned in to the parks department.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

So many responses to this so I apologize if it has already been said. If a permitting system is even put into place it is surely going to have all sorts of restrictions. I am sure one of them is going to be something like this "no detecting within 300 feet (or some crazy number) of any cellar hole, foundation etc." and probably something and probably another one that says any object older than fifty years old must be turned in to the parks department.

You're exactly right GKman. Rarely ever do "permits" extend allwances for md'rs. But instead serve to restrict. It doesn't take long for a genius desk-bound bureucrat or lawyer, to dream up safegaurds and precautions. Like "oh no, what if they find something valuable?", or "oh no, what if they leave holes?", and all sorts of imagined evils. So anytime you ever read of any locale with has "permits", they are invariably riddled with silly things like you say. Eg.: "sandy beaches only" or "... but you can't dig", or "turn in all items over $25 value", blah blah.

Yet for some reason, whenever skittish md'rs reading forums develope the "sky-is-falling" parania, their eyes wax romantic when they hear of "permits".

Much better that the subject is simply un-addressed, and off any one's radar. And in need of no one's princely blessings. Just silent on the subject, and stay out of anyone's interference zones by going at low traffic times.

 

[marcomo]

Tom, when mud says you're a pip, that means he likes the cut of your jib...another vintage term he likes to use. And I like the cut of your jib too. Your posts are always an enjoyable and educational read.

Your common sense argument for being low profile and against the notion of needing permission for every publicly owned property is a noble and worthwhile fight. And a never ending one.

You are undisputedly our preeminent voice of reason on this subject. I'm only on a couple detecting forums myself, hopefully you're on a lot more...

Stay vigilant, my friend!.