How to gain permission to detect on property?

[Kosh]

Hi folks, I was just wondering if you guys would have some tips for gaining permission to detect on someones property. I figured just ask but there are a ton of very nice sights around where I live and I don't want to let any of them slip through my fingers. There is probably 100 cellar holes within 10 miles of me.

"Hi, can I wonder around on your property and fleece your land of anything of value I find" just doesn't seem like it is going to work .

Is there a typical split (what do I give/offer the home owner)?
Is there a name for what we do other than "metal detect"?

Any advice would be appreciated.
KOSH

[kayden]

Start the conversation with anything huge that you find you will split......Its not like they are gonna be there with yah...& if they DO WATCH........dont dig (just kidding) Most people will let you but there is a few in this world that think someday they will buy a detector & do it!

[DoomDrag]

I dont know of any tips cause I haven't done this myself but there is a nice form that kinda let them know what you will be doing on their land.

http://whiteselectronics.com/permission.html

[goldentruth]

Call me timid but I throw the fact that "My son & I" plan to do some Metal Detecting. (The truth). "Do you mind if we see what we can find?" This is a honest approach and people can tell if you are honest. Tell the truth 1st.(With a smile). The last property owner I saw working on his historic 100+ Year old house was in front and I asked him last week.
He has many of his lots for sale and some graded, I think there might be stuff brought up to the top. I have been on the other property (before I knew who the owner was) and had a trash area with looks like had a odd house on the site. I tested with a cheep "Famous trails" now I got a better MD, a Tesoro with Notch, all metal accept & Reject and Discriminate modes. I later met the owner who walked by my house and dropped by to ask. The owner said I could spend 1 day if I want. He also informed me a neighbor... a "So called Professional Metal Detector person, (I do not know how he got that title?) had checked his lot(s). The Property owner sounded like I am not going to find anything, But this is now a challenge for me, because you can never find everything, I would like to come up with something to show it can be possible when things are said to be "hunted out" I could show them different.. So I got the go ahead. I know this town have been here since 1854, 5 years after the original California Gold Rush and the 2nd gold rush.
I do not want anybody shooting at me for claim jumping, It has been done in our town of French Gulch Cal for just going on somebodys property. Get permission if not check public records to see if there are any claims filed or expired, Peace fellow brother.

[Jason in Enid]

Don't ever start off by talking about "big finds" or split percentages. Introduce yourself, explain that your hobby is metal detecting and ask if it would alright to search thier property. Be simple and straight forward. Don't try to go into detail on anything. You can very easily talk yourself OUT of a "yes" from the land owner.

Have business cards made. When you get a "no" thank them for thier time, give them a card and tell them to give you call if they should change thier mind or if they ever happen to lose a ring or something that you could help them find.

[Cool Hand Fluke]

Try and catch the home owner in their front yard while they are doing yard work. This approach is much less threatening than knocking on doors. I've never been turned down with this method. A few months ago I drove by an old Victorian house built in the 1890's and saw the owners rototillering on their front yard. I started up a conversation on the history of the neighborhood and was hunting in 5 minutes!

[bama20a]

Or you could do like I've learned,It is better to ask forgivness,Than Permission. ,Just kidding,

[Bum Luck]

Don't ever start off by talking about "big finds" or split percentages. Introduce yourself, explain that your hobby is metal detecting and ask if it would alright to search thier property. Be simple and straight forward. Don't try to go into detail on anything. You can very easily talk yourself OUT of a "yes" from the land owner.

Have business cards made. When you get a "no" thank them for thier time, give them a card and tell them to give you call if they should change thier mind or if they ever happen to lose a ring or something that you could help them find.

This is probably the best and most concise advice I think I have seen.

Keep it simple.

[gleaner1]

Its a tough one for sure, its all chemistry and proper presentation. I never do it though, not cold. I only ask from people I get to know good enough, and I have never ever been turned down. It takes a special talent to go up cold to some landowner and get permission to dig up their yard, I just dont have it.

[Roland58]

I agree with Bum Luck......Jason has some great points, not the least of which is to start by introducing yourself......shake hands if the situation presents itself, be honest and do your best to make the person feel comfortable around you

[XL-PRO PRO]

I start by introducing myself and a handshake if the situation warrants it.Then I'll usually go into a spill about the local history of the neighborhood or area that I'm asking to search.A lot of people have no ideal of what happened in the past and are really interested in the history of their home.I always promise to show them anything that may be of intrest but never say that I'm going to give it to them although I recently gave a landowner a .54 cal three ringer and a standing liberty quarter because I felt they meant more to them than they ever would to me.Doing so got me a "come back anytime,we know your car,you don't have to ask"and a good reference and leads to other sites.Never try to intimidate the owner,go alone and never give a second party permission to hunt.Neatly fill your holes,remove all trash you dig and show it to them.Good luck,DBULL

[Goes4ever]

I get asked this a lot because I hunt private yards almost everytime I hunt, so I wrote up this FAQ on getting permission:

http://goes4ever.mymdforum.com/permission-faq/

[fistfulladirt]

My friends and I have a good success rate just knocking on doors with a proper intro.
I've never offered to split any finds, although sometimes I offer finds to the property owner.
Forms and such just scare the heck out of owners, I've never done that but they have told me about other detectorists that have.
I like the business card idea though. Good luck. ffd

[sniffer]

first thing is honesty. I tell them who I am and what my hobby is. and then just ask them if it would be ok to md their property. when you do ask, be ready to md at the time you ask, you may not get another chance