What's your lingo when asking permission

[larryk56]

Hello ....

I just thought that I would put this out there.

Every hear of the old saying ... depending on what you say
and how you say it, may have an effect on the answer you get back.

So here's the question?

When asking permission to hunt a property, what do you say?

I'm have a hobby of metal detecting ....
Do you mention what you are looking for ...
Youl always leave your detector in your car when asking permission - correct?

How many No's do you sometimes get before you get the "yes" !!

Maybe some of the veteran's in the hobby want to chime in on this one.

 

[treasure4pleasure]

Hmm I plan on making it hard for them to say no. I will have my young son with me and will probably just say " Hi there, I was wondering if it would be alright if we metal detected your yard.

 

[larryk56]

That is an interesting approach.

I think it we mention we are looking for coins or if the owner
percieves we are looking for something of value, they might say no!

 

[Hank68]

That is a interesting concept !

 

[treasure4pleasure]

Haha Yeah I would not mention what we are looking for. And I think with the kid along it will be harder to say no. hee hee

 

[darrenb]

Treasure4pleasure, I think you have an upper hand on most of us old ugly guys!

 

[Blink]

Here is an approach I have been using for years and I have had more success getting permission then not. First of all I like to know the name of the property owner. That may take a little searching but it's not all that hard.

When I approach the property owner I address them by their name and I introduce myself. I tell them where I live and that my hobby is searching for lost and buried items from the past. Never tell them you are looking for coins, or other items just items from the past is enough.

( And if necessary I tell them that I use a metal detector to locate items under the ground and explain how I remove them )

It's good to have a little information about the place you are wanting to search such as the age of an old house or that there was an old house located on such and such road that you found belonged to them and is now only a field or woods.

As you talk to people you may find that they don't even know that there was an old site on their property.

Now is the time to ask for permission to search the site you want.

I always ask the owner if they would sign a permission form so that I have something to show in case I am accussed of trespassing. I also, always provide the owner with my business card in case they should have questions after I leave.

Try this approach and I'll bet you will find it works. The main thing is don't be afraid to approach someone. If they say no, just thank them, give them your business card and move on.

HH

 

[johnmusk]

Though I stick to mostly schools these days I used to start if off with "I'm sorry to bother you". "I was wondering if you would mind if I used my metal detector on your property". This will usually get you a "Why?" look. What you tell them next is up to you, I would just say I'm looking for old coins and buttons (which is the truth), they never seemed to care what I was looking for because it was already assumed I was an idiot by that point. For what it's worth I don't ask permission to hunt private yards anymore unless I know them, it's just too intrusive.

 

[TerraDigger]

Blink's approach is pretty much like mine. And it works more often than not. I recommend that one is clean shaven....very presentable clothing.....and leave 'all' your metal detecting items in the vehicle when seeking permission. Also, if one get's permission and neighbors are checking you out..walk over, introduce youself and ask permission to do their property. Heck, they see what your doing so it saves explaining it. And do be friendly....it goes a very long way.

 

[treasure4pleasure]

Blink's approach is pretty much like mine. And it works more often than not. I recommend that one is clean shaven....very presentable clothing.....and leave 'all' your metal detecting items in the vehicle when seeking permission. Also, if one get's permission and neighbors are checking you out..walk over, introduce youself and ask permission to do their property. Heck, they see what your doing so it saves explaining it. And do be friendly....it goes a very long way.

This sounds like good sound advice. I will tell you what, if some scroungy looking man came to my door I probably wouldn't even answer it and if i did , I sure as heck would say "No dice buddy"....not to be mean, but just because of safety purposes. This world is full of crazies!