USING METAL DETECTORS ON DNR LAND

[Gunnar of bradford MN]

I recently hunted Interstate state park in St Croix Falls Wisconsin , and was stoped by the ranger and told i needed a permit well this is what i found on the permit , Anyone using a metal detector on Department of Natural Resources land must first get a permit frome the property manager. (CONDITIONS OF PERMIT ) In state parks, state recreation areas and developed recreation areas in state forests, metal detectors may be used only under conditions that: DON'T INTERFERE WHITH THE ENJOYMENT OF RECREATIONAL FACILITIES BY THE PUBLIC------- PROTECT THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND MAINTAINED TURF EREAS--- PRESERVE HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT ITEMS . permits are issued from May 1 to October 15; no metal detector sue is permitted during the rest of the year. Permits usually are limited to the hours of 6-- 10 a. m. and 6-10 p.m., but the property manger or representative may extend or reduse the time to not interfere whith other users METAL DETECTOR USE IS PERMITTED ONLY: .( on unturfed areas or on beaches or on unterfed shorline below the ordinary high water level of when locating a specifid item lost by a property user or when specifically authorized by the state Archaeologist on a planned project All excavations must be returned to their original condition befor beginning anew excavations or leaving the area. FOUND ITEMS must be turned in to the property office before the permit holder leaves the property or at the end of the permit period objects whose owners might be found are held at the property office . If unclaimed, and return is requested, the items will be returned to the finder at the end of a 60 day waiting period the finder may keep cash and coins HOW TO GET A PERMIT contact the manager of the property wheare you want to use the detector . for more Information, ask WISCONSIN STATE PARKS, ( 608-266- 2181 ) ok did you get the part no hunting on turfed areas ? thats weare all the good stuff is in the grass or turfed areas that eliminates 90% of the finds what a bummer thats like giving me a driver licence and lold you can only drive in your driveway , whish they would change the rules in the parks and let the responsible diggers dig im shure they dont want holes all over the sodd no wonder the spot i found was so full of coins they have been bulding up for years anyone els have this problem

 

[Jackpine Savage]

most of them let you hunt in the water and that is where the really good stuff is.

Tom

 

[Ron from Michigan]

What I do find annoying are the state parks in Michigan that is open to metal detecting and have their designated areas in hard gravel parking lots (pull up the state parks for MI and check out the designated for metal detecting on their maps)..One good state park Pontiac Lake almost completely access to metal detectors and friendly.Dodge Park from the Dodge Estate completely closed to coin hunters.Sometimes I think we should remind our legislators that we are tax payers to and in the state of Michigan we payyyyy more than our fair share.

 

[Rick(ND)]

Last I checked which was a quite few years ago, but all state parks in MN are closed to metal detecting I was told when some of us wanted to hunt Buffalo river state park in Glyndon MN. Here in ND we are also told the state parks are closed to metal detector even though some have been detected.

 

[Ron from Michigan]

The park ranger at the Hadley Park was very helpful and gave me a map for the area opened to metal detector hunting.I also asked the history of the park and the ranger explained that this park opened in the mid fifties.The grass area of this park produced clad no old coins.There is a beach area in the park I found a 1946 wheat about a foot down with the Sovereign and 10 inch Tornado.There are other state parks in my area much older which I plan on hunting this weekend with two other hunters.