What or who is the strangest thing/character you have ever come across on the beach while detecting ? :yikes:

[Surfdigger]

I was hunting one night on the beach in the Southern part of Atlantic City some years ago and I literally ran into a group of folks (4 of them) in black hooded robes walking out of the surf chanting something I couldn't understand. To this day I haven't seen them again.....I don't hunt at night there much anymore....atleast by myself....does anyone have any accounts of things that have happened to you before while out there detecting? any strange people or things anyone would care to share?

 

[Pete in MI]

who appraoched me at a county park on the beach of the public swimming area. They were 'park rangers' and each told me something different as to where I could detect, or not detect. Each one was mis-reading the policy. Basically the grassy area (where swimmers left their blankets, towels, etc. was a no hunt zone. The beach was open to detecting and so was the water (but only when life guards are on duty). One said no detecting period end of conversation. Another said no detecting in the water. Another said no detecting on the beach.

To make things understandable I wrote an email to the director of parks and asked for clarification - one that was in plain english - not the legalese the policy was written in. The director was glad to assist and I made copies of his email and comments. I carried these with me whenever I went to that park.

I used the email copies on several occassions to let the 'park rangers' know their boss's boss - the director himself gave me persmission to detect and exactly where. Shortly after the harrassment stopped.

A few things to keep in mind:
(1) Be courteous. Arguing will get you no where and only harm those who follow behind wanting to detect where you are.
(2) People in authority sometimes let it go to their heads - I used to be a cop and I know first hand of others who let the badge overule thier better judgement.
(3) Just because someone is in charge doesn't mean they are right. Find the facts - from higher up the chain of command if necessary and ask for written clarification - then use it 'courteously' to better inform those who were mis-informed.
(4) Always haul away your trash and fill your holes. Leave the place better than you found it. (It never hurts to show the trash and dangerous items you have found to the people in charge. They will see you are doing them and the public a huge favor and you'll be more welcomed the next time you come back.
(5) Set a good example for other detectorists - even the amateur needs to learn and let them not learn our bad habits.

Happy detecing - be safe and courteous

God bless you and yours

Pete
Houghton Lake, MI

 

[Macaco]

I was working a beach near an old Spanish Colonial townsite. Found a few Spanish cobs then detoured into the jungle which is right at the water's edge. I had found a gold sewing thimble in the jungle on a previous outing so I wanted to see if there were any more goodies there.

My father and a friend of ours were already detecting around the trees. Some movement caught my eye so I looked up and saw two Panamanian locals with rifles. I waved to them and they waved back. Then they disappeared into the jungle. I was startled and hoping they didn't have a grudge against gringos.

Anyway, after about an hour I saw them again and they had shot some kind of small animal that looked like a huge hamster(they were hunting small game). We got to talking to the guys and they were funny as heck. They gave us a bad time about eating chicken in the restaruants and told us that the jungle game was way better than any farm raised meat. Sadly, they didn't invite us to dinner.

 

[BEACH HUNTER]

the police told us a skull and jaw were found the week before!!! happy hunting!!!

 

[NC GHOST TEAM]

but I ran into this guy with an Excalibur on the beach...he had PVC pipe and wires coming out of everywhere going everywhere and some of the places I didn't want to know.

and of course your normal handcuffs, black lace bra 38D, underpants, brass knuckles, leather wear, little whips and such...affectionally know as adult beach toys to the "Boy did we have fun last night on the beach" crowd.

 

[jim/wpb]

with a small dog attached about 15" down.

 

[goldnugget]

I was detecting North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina ( Cherry Grove section ) and there was a Possum up near the dunes and rock.

 

[eebee]

Topless sunbathers (both male & female) at South Beach in Miami Beach.
The latter made an otherwise slow day bare-able (hah hah).

 

[nanwate7]

and several years ago, a friend and I were "streaked" by some fraternity pledges. Once, I saw the side of a tire sticking out of the bottom of a huge cut, and was afraid it was a surfer in a wet suit!!

 

[Sanddigger]

n/t

 

[bdahunter]

last summer in the early afternoon. I was wading with the Excal as I came around the stern of my neighbour's (Hartley) 18' catboat which he leaves anchored off the beach and wasn't I surprised to find the nice young german couple I had met earlier on the beach. They were in their early 30's,told me they were staying at the hotel and asked me a bunch of the usual questions about what is the machine? what do you find? etc. They were both very pleasant and I couldn't help but notice that she had a terrific figure in her very teeny bikini.
Anyway, I swing around the stern of Hartley's catboat and run smack into the german couple for the second time that afternoon only this time they're not saying a thing.
She's hanging onto the rail of the cat boat for dear life and he's hanging on to her for dear life. I smiled (what else could I do), she smiled back, he was too busy to notice anything else around him. I continued on my way, leaving them what little privacy an 18' catboat can provide on a busy private beach, surrounded by a resort and facing onto a busy channel that the tour boats use to get to the Vixen wreck.
Crazy europeans!

Here's a pic of Harley getting his catboat ready for a sail later that afternoon. The boat is usually kep about 50' off the shore.
[attachment 47715 P7230048Small.JPG]

Cheers,

BDA

 

[Surfdigger]

n/t

 

[Macaco]

n/t

 

[deerman]

i was'nt detecting but while i was in the coast guard we pulled up to a boat with no ancore lights on and hit the spot light and ....a couple having at it,never saw anyone turn on an ancore light so fast

 

[bdahunter]

It didn't bother this guy in the least, he didn't miss a beat. She didn't seem to care either. I just moved on in search of loot, a peek is as good as a look I guess.

BDA

 

[GaBeachsweeper]

n/t