Question about metal detecting in City Parks.

[Darth Walker]

Hello, I usually post in the Coin Roll Hunting Forum but I plan to get a metal detector.

I searched in my area and the City allows metal detecting in some parks but the rules say that they do not allow any digging instruments of any kind. So my question is if they expect you to dig with your hands or what? My City is San Antonio Texas. Any one here familiar with this City?

Thanks

[Cranman]

Well I think by that rule you can't dig holes, but maybe you can walk a fine line and probe around with a screwdriver when you have a signal? What I used yesterday, since I don't have a proper trowel yet (just got my detector) I used a very stiff putty knife/scraper to dig. I know that's skirting the rules, but what I'm saying is you can open up a hole without digging sometimes

[Sandman]

In a lot of city parks they have this rule to slow people down from removing plants or other wise being careful of the grass. In our parks being seen with a shovel or trowl can get you a healthy fine for reseeding the area you dug holes. I use a screw driver or bayonet to probe for coins in the grass and "pop" them out. The bayonet works wonders on removing pull tabs. Coin that are deeper I just leave them and move on to coins that are nearer the surface. Course this is in city or county parks with nice grass. In the woods I use a trowl but still cover the hole so nobody can tell I was there. If you must cut a plug, do it on 3 sides and fold it over. Place all removed dirt on a cloth so you can put it all back in the hole. Some parks have security cameras operating so watch where you "Whizz."

[Tom_in_CA]

darth-walker, how did you sleuth out this information? I mean, did you go to city hall and ask someone "can I metal detect?" Or did you read through the parks codes/rules yourself, and find this citation?

The reason I ask is, that if that citation you read about "no digging tools....." is in the context of metal detecting (ie.: "metal detectors" specifically mentioned), then perhaps the fate is sealed there. But if that citation is just a general rule, then it's nothing new to ANY park in ANY city across the United States. That is to say: ALL parks, of course, are going to have rules about defacing, alteration, digging, and so forth. Or put it this way: Imagine walking in to any city hall, in any city in the USA, and asking the desk clerk: "Hi, can I dig in the park please?" What do you think they're going to say?

But cran-man is right: even though all cities will, of course, have codes against alterations and so forth, the truth is, that so long as you're not being a nuisance, or a sore thumb, and as long as you leave no trace of your presence, the odds are, no one cares. I hunt parks all over, and rarely have a problem (yup, even cutting plugs, etc...).

But if your code in San Antonio is in the exact context of metal detecting, then perhaps you've got a specific "no" there? If this isn't the case, and there is no specific prohibition specifically for detectorists, then best to leave it that way, and not ask for clarifications. Just go at low traffic times, where busy-bodies are not around.

[Roland58]

The coin popping method is great, although, I have not had a lot of luck at it and, as mentioned, it is best for shallow targets. I use a horticultural knife (Hori Hori knife from Japan, used for transplanting Bonzai trees) and I keep it sharp. It enables precise plug cutting. The real trick is to do like others have said and keep a small sheet of plastic with you to put dirt on......that way all of the dirt goes back in the hole with the grass on top and it will appear that nothing has been disturbed.

Oh yeah, in my city they issue free permits that are good for one year to locate in the city owned parks......it excludes cemetaries, historical sites and playing fields.

[Michigan Badger]

I've found that the no digging but detecting is allowed park rule is made by people who know nothing about THing with a metal detector. What these people think is THers like to use their detectors to find modern pennies on the surface

But when they say no digging tools in City Park what they really mean is no digging period. They expect you to either go away or hunt surface stuff. However most people dig anyway and rarely do the careful diggers get kicked out of any park or fined (but it does happen).

Most of us get by with digging only because in some areas no one ever bothers to watch us or even think about what we're doing. As long as there are no complaints, all is well. City park authorities usually don't care what we're doing as long as there is no damage or complaints. Those who do care usually will just kick us out of the park.

In the final analysis, detecting is a pirate type of hobby. Whenever one hunts a piece of property, that one has no right to any find if the true owners haven't given permission to both hunt their property and keep the finds.

Here in Michigan all state parks and state lands are off limits unless given permission which is almost impossible to obtain. In some parks and state lands they'll fine you and take your detector if they catch you simply transporting a metal detector over the property (you don't even have to be actually detecting).

There are also many laws pertaining to found items and it's not "finders keepers--losers weepers." But here again, lack of enforcement.

Probably 90% of all detecting done is technically illegal. Yet it is done anyway due to a lack of enforcement.

So the bottom line is beware of places where the laws are strictly enforced and play it cool in all other locations. Learn early not to play the goodie goodie hypocrite thing. We always try to glamorize the hobby but in the final analysis we're pirates. Bummer, eh? But in a way that fact adds a bit of adventure to the hobby.

[Tom_in_CA]

Badger, you say:

"Probably 90% of all detecting done is technically illegal"

It's like this: Noise ordinance laws. There are probably loud noises all the time during the night, that technically exceed noise decibal limits, right? Yet the police don't take notice unless there is a complaint. So you might say, there's no violation, unless someone's there to take offense (ie.: complain about noise). So too, in my opinion, is metal detecting sort of like this.

To carry the illustration further: if you were to walk in to city hall, and ask if you can run your leaf blower in the industrial district of town after 10pm, you will probably get someone to look up your "pressing question" in their rules book, and tell you "no you can't run it". So the "technical" answer was no, while the reality of the situation is, that there was probably going to be no one there to care or complain, as it's not in a residential district. Unless you are a nuisance and playing that same stereo or backpack blower in outside someone's window at 2am, then sure: the police get called, they bring out the decibal meter, and so forth.

It's the same logic for these digging/disturbing laws, in my opinion. If you are not getting complaints (because you are neat, discreet in timing, and and don't stick out like a sore thumb) and thus don't generate any interest, who's being harmed?

[Michigan Badger]

Badger, you say:

"Probably 90% of all detecting done is technically illegal"

It's like this: Noise ordinance laws. There are probably loud noises all the time during the night, that technically exceed noise decibal limits, right? Yet the police don't take notice unless there is a complaint. So you might say, there's no violation, unless someone's there to take offense (ie.: complain about noise). So too, in my opinion, is metal detecting sort of like this.

To carry the illustration further: if you were to walk in to city hall, and ask if you can run your leaf blower in the industrial district of town after 10pm, you will probably get someone to look up your "pressing question" in their rules book, and tell you "no you can't run it". So the "technical" answer was no, while the reality of the situation is, that there was probably going to be no one there to care or complain, as it's not in a residential district. Unless you are a nuisance and playing that same stereo or backpack blower in outside someone's window at 2am, then sure: the police get called, they bring out the decibal meter, and so forth.

It's the same logic for these digging/disturbing laws, in my opinion. If you are not getting complaints (because you are neat, discreet in timing, and and don't stick out like a sore thumb) and thus don't generate any interest, who's being harmed?

Yes that's it. THing is a matter of common sense and many times the rigid law makes no sense. All laws are subject to interpretation in any given context.

What gets me is there are so many THers today who seem to think their on some holy mission by sneaking onto someone else's property or hunting lands without permissions from those really in charge. Just because something is buried and old doesn't mean the land owner has no claim to it. In fact, if it's stolen property a lot of people could claim it (legally).

One reason I never did super good THing over the years is I respected other people's property. Most times I was told no and other times yes but the land owner took everything I found. I once hit a hot spot for silver and dug it like crazy. I showed it to the owner and she took it all (never even said thanks).

I don't say I was always squeaky clean either. But usually I acted by my conscience. My buddies were bold and didn't care and some really brought home the loot.

I made a lousy pirate. Too sensitive to the feelings of others.

[Lakemonster]

http://www.ci.sat.tx.us/parksandrec/metaldetecting.aspx

click on the first PDF file.

Sure enough.... no digging tools of any kind.

Heres a hint.....get outside the big cities and into the little towns and hit the parks and derilict ball fields.

I've had much better luck overall off the beaten track than hunting in the big town.