Tom, actually according to the law, it is technically illegal to hunt on any state owned land or water. That's not rumor, you can google Wisconsin metal detecting laws. Lots of them on T-net forum. Simple fact is that we have a state archaeologist who is big A-hole. I have talked to the DNR and they feel that if you are digging coins and rings, big deal, they have better things to do. I was told to never say the artifact word. State Parks are off limits. You can ask and a few might let you. If you don't ask and get caught, be prepared to pay. I avoid them. Well, most of the time..... Water detecting, no problem. Most state waters are state owned. Again the key is not to say the artifact word. I have talked to both federal park rangers and DNR while water hunting. The thing is- don't be an idiot and do it during a busy time while the beach is packed. Early and late on weekdays is the best time.
All city parks are different. If there is no sign posted that says no metal detecting, I detect. If they don't like it, they will ask you to leave.
For county parks I have a permit for my county. Cost $5 a year. The adjacent county has a county board full of people that should have retired 30 years ago. They prohibit it. An old friend of mine is the county park commissioner in that county. He said no detecting, but thought he should mention that by 6pm for sure they all have gone home. I found plenty of coins in his parks. I usually hunt them after 6 pm.
And then there are lots of national parks. Tom posted a copy of the detecting laws for them awhile back. They are actually the most level headed laws I have read. They consider metal detecting a recreational hobby that has a very low impact on the land and thus allow it. I hunt national parks by me. I gave my friend a copy of the law and told him to carry it with him. A female ranger stopped him and told him to leave or he would get a $3500 fine. He pulled the copy of the law and showed her. She called her boss who came out to park. He didn't need to read it and told her they were perfectly legal as long as he couldn't tell where they dug and they did not have a shovel. She apologized to them and said she learned something today.
Soooooo, you can hunt, dam near everywhere. In some places it is illegal to have guns, like schools etc. They post signs to tell you so. If there is no sign saying it is illegal, then it must be legal. I got stopped once in a city park where the cop told me it is illegal. I told him I read all the ordinances for his town I could find on the internet and did not see it. (of course this was BS). He asked questions about the detector and detecting. I showed him how we cut neat clean plugs that leave no sign of us being there. He said go ahead and detect because in his eyes it was a pretty neat looking and harmless hobby and he had more important things to take care of. The thing is be nice, not arguementive, play dumb if need be, and just shoot the breeze with them.
