Kicked out of Park

[BosnMate]

You did the right thing by not getting nasty with the park manager. I wish that everyone that has found themselves in the same position would show the same maturity and restraint that you have done so. It is truly a sad day when any type of a ban regarding our hobby is implemented anywhere. I feel that the new ban may have resulted from excessive noise that occurred from any dredge operators in the area? The noise may have had an impact on everyone trying to enjoy a quiet natural setting? Personally, I would not want to hear any generators or any type of gas powered machinery if myself and the family were out for a nice afternoon. Metal detecting and panning would not leave a proverbial footprint like a dredge does. I'm not trying to yank your chain with this post as I know we have had some issues in the past with our respected views. I hope that this Bull clears and that you will eventually regain that area to detect again. Sincerely

Backbacon

I don't have a dredge, but the ones I've seen operate don't really have a loud motor, and they aren't used right at the camp ground, the time's I've seen them used is where the boat ramp is, which isn't exactly in the middle of the camp ground, it's off to one edge. I know that in Oregon there is a dredging season, and dredges can only run during low water for a couple of months, when there are no spawning fish, and even then not everywhere on the river. Hobby panning and sluicing with a small box doesn't move enough dirt to talk about, and high banking and damaging vegetation in the river is also already illegal on any stream. So you can see that dredging is extremely regulated already, and in fact is just about banned state wide. As far as metal detecting, it has never been a problem in any local park. I do have an ace in the hole however. One of our county commissioners is a Viet Nam vet, and he belongs to our American Legion Post. He's a nice guy, and I'm planning to have a heart to heart with him, just to see what gives. Might even get it turned around, at least that's what I'm hoping for. But the dredging is bigger than the county, there are state wide problems there, and I would expect Oregon to eventually go the same route as California and ban them all together.

 

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[George (MN)]

What if all outdoor hobbyists that have had extreme restrictions banded together in a single organization? Wonder if anything would change?

 

[Jason in Enid]

What if all outdoor hobbyists that have had extreme restrictions banded together in a single organization? Wonder if anything would change?

It will never happen. Too many only care about their specific activity and too many think other's activities are wrong or harmful. Hunters and fishers who don't like ORVers, campers who don't like hunters and fishers, fishers and rafters who don't like prospectors. etc, etc.

 

[Holly_squirrel]

Hmm, I bet I know the reason this came on decision-makers radar as something that needed to be addressed.

Not sure about the "gold panning" part. That would seem to VERY innocuous. Doesn't stir up sediments like gas-powered dredging, and only finds naturally occuring elements (rather than something with "cultural heritage" potential to rile archies). But as for the Metal detecting part, the knee-jerk reaction will be "someone must've left holes". In fact, if you were to ask high enough up the chain-of-command, "holes" may even be the answer you are given, as the reason for the rule. And then all us md'rs say to ourselves "durn those people who left holes".

However, I'm of the opinion that that's only the "go-to" reason, to justify the rule they just made. I mean, let's face it: what is some people connotations and mental image of metal detectors? HOLES! So when someone says "because of holes", I am a firm believer that a lot of times, there never was such an actual case. Or even if there had been, it's not always the impetus to make a formal rule. Instead, what brings it to the burner, to enact a rule, is people that go in asking "can I metal detect?". And stumped rangers and desk-bound bureaucrats stumble to find an answer (again, with the mental impression of "holes"). So given enough inquiries, they must "address this pressing issue".

For example: there was actually a case that the city thinking of enacting a rule, ACTUALLY SPELLED IT OUT that THAT, in fact, was their rationale. That someone(s) had called and written in, asking "Are there any rules for detecting?" And clear inference of the inquiries was inescapable to the person fielding the question: The inference being "be prepared to show me chapter and verse if you answer 'no' ". So guess what's brought up at the next city counsel meeting? "Whether or not we should enact a no-detecting rule". True story! And that was just a case where the steps were in-escapable and written up as such. I have no doubt that many more are like that. But, like your case, the rank-&-file telling you, doesn't know, or just says "because of holes" etc.. In other words, NO govt. official ever says "the reason we're telling you no is because you asked" or "the reason we made this rule, is because people asked". No. Of course not. They will just say "no because of holes" or "no because of cultural heritage". Or simply .... No one knows the evolution. But I bet you this "squeeky wheel" pyschology is the genesis of a lot of cr*p.

We all know by now that you hate when people ask permission, Tom. Lol

 

[Holly_squirrel]

I love the 300- 400 acre wooded parks around my way with zero grassy areas that ban detecting . Why?? Say worst case scenerio... Holes weren't filled in... ( which I would never do, for fear of a deer breaking a leg or something highly unlikely like that) .. It's a forest, a 3 inch by 5 inch hole is seriously a problem?

 

[New Orleans Relic]

I believe it is a mistake to politicize this. Liberals aren't against metal detecting. More likely, it's about insurance liability, complaints from fellow campers, or that park management has wised up and decided that it's not so smart to give up for free what could be valuable resource. Regardless, in my experience, what has happened at this park is more the norm than the exception.

What it is, is that most all conservatives are FOR metal detecting. More likely most conservatives would deal with insurance liabilities appropriatly! As well as complaints.
Park management "wise", I think not.
Oh, and we don't just roll over, regardless. I won't !
Ray

 

[BosnMate]

Further information. I haven't talked to the County Commissioner yet, but I did run into a friend in the Gold Prospectors Club. He didn't know anything about detecting in the park, but he said it's still possible to pan there if you get permission. In order to get permission you have to go to the of the head of all the county parks at the court house, and get permission from him. He will ask you to mark the map on where you want to pan, then he will give you a note to take to the park manager. You then drive to the park. and give the manager the permission note, and then he escorts you to the place you marked on the map, and then he checks back and makes sure you stay there. Without knowing much more than that, my SWAG would be that probably last year a couple of guys got into each others way either dredging or panning, and got into a pizzing match over who was going to pan where, and the park did the thing that all parks would do in a situation like that. Shut it down, no more problems, and there by screwing every body else.

 

[Native Floridian]

Your right it is getting so bad...... That if you go out of your house.... You will get a fine or tossed in jail for you are not safe..... And our current administration wants to keep you safe....So they can make slaves of all of us..... They tell us what to eat now what to drink , ect.,ect .... They want complete control of our lives.........

YOu just described Real ID for which the conservative right banged the drum to get passed into law. Now that it is law and the bill is due on enacting it, the conserv right is saying "Wait a minute, we didn't think this through."

You cant' have it both ways. And pointing the finger at the current admin for what is going on is beyond uninformed.

 

[jerseyben]

ya gotta love the liberals who make these rules.Sitting around a table and deciding what is best,"for us"....horrible.Oregon has its share of em too.

Good to know. "Liberal" is the new bad word/insult.

 

[MikeOregon]

Are there current rules anywhere for the Oregon State Parks? If I follow their link to "metal detecting" they suddenly ask for a user name and password without an opportunity to sign up, meaning it's just for state employees, I assume. The links posted on this forum and in other sites all end up asking for this. I heard the rules were changed and that most parks are now open, but I need proof!

Thanks if you know how to get the latest information.

Mike

 

[Whatacoin]

All the campsites that i know of have rules banning metal detecting. Shame it came to your park as well.

I believe it is a mistake to politicize this. Liberals aren't against metal detecting. More likely, it's about insurance liability, complaints from fellow campers, or that park management has wised up and decided that it's not so smart to give up for free what could be valuable resource. Regardless, in my experience, what has happened at this park is more the norm than the exception.

I would agree, we cant blame this on a political group. Down here in Ocala, FL a largely republican representation, we are having issues keeping metal detecting from being banned at county parks, so it really happens to anyone despite the political party in power.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

reply

Are there current rules anywhere for the Oregon State Parks? If I follow their link to "metal detecting" they suddenly ask for a user name and password without an opportunity to sign up, meaning it's just for state employees, I assume. The links posted on this forum and in other sites all end up asking for this. I heard the rules were changed and that most parks are now open, but I need proof!

Thanks if you know how to get the latest information.

Mike

I wonder if you could just go up to any state park office (like a kiosk window at any particular park), and ask for a complete list of park rules? Certainly it's available *somewhere* for public viewing. You know: "dogs on leash", "no fireworks", "no off-road vehicles", and so forth. And if you worry that the pamphlet they might hand out at a kiosk window is only an "abbreviated version" (and that there's a longer version elsewhere), then it would *seem* that since this information must be public domain, that someone should be able to direct you to where it is. And once you get it, print it out, and carry it with you. If it's silent on the subject of metal detecting (ie.: nothing saying "no metal detectors"), and you have that print out right there for any busy-bodies, then ..... there you go. Just don't have any "cultural heritage" artifacts on you (no coins over 50 yrs. old for show-&-tell), and you're looking for the boy-scout ring you just lost. And ...... of course, use common sense and stay away from obvious historic monuments and busy-bodies.

 

[BosnMate]

Are there current rules anywhere for the Oregon State Parks? If I follow their link to "metal detecting" they suddenly ask for a user name and password without an opportunity to sign up, meaning it's just for state employees, I assume. The links posted on this forum and in other sites all end up asking for this. I heard the rules were changed and that most parks are now open, but I need proof!

Thanks if you know how to get the latest information.

Mike

I have experience in two Oregon State Parks. You go to the kiosk window at the camp ground, and they have a paper that you fill out, and then they give you a written permit for just that park. The permit has a list of rules that must be observed, among them anything of value, like rings or any other personal things, you are required to turn into the park and they keep it for a set amount of time, and if it isn't claimed, they will give it back to you. I detected Sunset Beach, picked up some change and pop tabs, nothing of real value. Being an above average smart , when I left I stopped by to turn in the stuff I found. He didn't think I was funny and wouldn't take any of it. Another time we went to the Umpqua Light House park, detected the beach, which is a county park and they didn't care, then went up to the camp ground and got the permit. One of the guys got a merc dime, but we didn't find anything worth turning in. That was a couple of years ago, so don't take my word for it, check at the kiosk of the next state park you go to, and go for it.

 

[Jackalope]

If metal detecting is not allowed would it be OK to just randomly dig deep holes all over the place, then fill them in. Could call it the opposite of metal detecting - perhaps "empty hole" detecting. Then those bureaucrats who know more and care more than the rest of us can outlaw this new form of detecting.

After that, we begin phase "B" ... piling small stones into pyramid formations randomly around the park. It will be called "rock pile" detecting. Our all-knowing and caring city officials will be forced to add one more line to their park rulebook: "No rock piles are allowed."

Phase "C" will involve the use of sticks to make parallelogram shaped designs on the ground, even star shapes around the park. So, the response will be quick: "no stick-designed shapes are permitted".

Eventually the park will be enclosed in plexiglass and no one will be allowed in.

 

[brandonsmith]

glorified camping!