What is the general consensus on the use of "relic shovels" at public sites???

[Critterhunter]

I'm afraid to use my digger in ball diamonds hunting for rings. One look from a cop or the grounds keeper and I'm sure it would be all over, so I try to use my screwdriver whenever possible at those places. If I do use my digger there I take a good look around to make sure nobody is watching me. I couldn't even imagine taking a long handled digger or a shovel into a place like this, let alone to a local park.
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[Mr. Beard]

I have detected for over 40 years and have never been kicked out of any location. I always use a garden trowel or Lesche digger in areas that are open in parks and a garden trowel in totlots. ONLY in a deep wooded area of a park where people can't readily see you unless they are also in the woods, do I take a shovel. I have seen many detector users get told to leave areas when they have a shovel with them--even when I'm detecting the same area using my small hand digging tool.
IMO-- you are asking to be told to get run out of a park by carrying a shovel.
Who would the busybody call the police on for digging holes in the park --a detectorist carrying a shovel or the one carrying a small hand digger???

 

[Markmac]

Lets think whats best for our hobby and not whats best for us individually as we pick what digging tool we should use,respect the hobby above all else....Thanks and good hunting to You all...Markmac

 

[ramer]

Being observed carrying a shovel in a public park immediately gives the impression of an impropriety about to take place, especially when viewed not by the public but a park ranger. I have a USA made army entrenching tool, folds up 3 times, so as I am walking through a park to get to a wooded area, the shovel is completely out of sight of everyone.
And who knows, Mr. John Q. Public walks by, sees you digging with a long handled shovel but doesn't say anythng but upon returning to his home may call the town hall and complain that someone with a shovel is digging up HIS beautiful park.
I get by just fine with my lesche tool, although on deeper digs, a shovel would be nice. Imagine being seen using a pick ax in a park or on someone's personal property as the last show of American Digger displayed??

 

[5900_XL-1]

It is my basic feeling that anything beyond a hand digger should not be carried into a public place, i.e. any city park, any public school or any non-private place where the public eyes exist. If it is not private property or out in the boonies in the woods, you are simply nudging do-gooders to complain about all of us in time. It is just common sense, and to push it with still using the shovels in those places is a selfish act IMO. martin

 

[Steve O]

A buddy and I were digging with small 6"x8" (blade) spades in a park a few years ago looking for colonial coinage The area was in a hay/weed field a farmer leased from the county. A park ranger walked up and said "someone called in saying someone was digging holes". The ranger saw that we were detecting, asked for permits and said "have a nice day fellows" then left.
One should use common sense as to when and where to use a spade or a hand digger. A sharp non toothed spade will absolutely dig a cleaner less destructive hole than a hand digger. Question; What's more important, how the grounds look, days after digging, or how it's perceived while in the act of digging? You and I know it's the former and the end result,.. but Joe public doesn't.
If you feel uncomfortable in an area with a shovel and eyes are upon you, that's your conscious telling you that a hand digger/tool is appropriate, the shovel should go back in the truck.
We do live in a world with other people, and should consider them, and hopefully, likewise.

 

[Critterhunter]

Excellent advice you guys. Makes perfect sense.

Speaking of pick axes, a couple of winters ago I was driving through our local park system. There was snow on the ground and the ground was frozen. Some guy metal detecting was hunting a sled hill, happily chopping away at the frozen ground with a pick ax. I cringed when I saw that. The Rangers in our park would NOT be happy with that. If I had my cell phone on me I would have called the park system myself.

 

[Johnnyanglo]

Washington State Admin Code 352-32-235

In Washington State parks:

"Limit digging imlements to ice picks, screwdrivers and probes not to exceed two inches in width and sand scoops not to exceed six inches in width and eight inches in lenth ... Any holes dug shall be limited to six inches maximum depth and shall be immediately refilled and the surface restored to its earlier condition."

and

"... shall not allow any emitted metal detector sound audible to other park users"