Any freak outs or trouble makers!?

[Caseman91291]

So this might sound strange but has anyone ever gotten their butts chewed for detecting someplace? I have only been at this for two years and I have never really left my own private properties but I am looking forward to getting out there and asking permission and hitting public places. So, does anyone have any good tales of getting in trouble or crazy people just losing it!? (Sorry, the winter tends to be a little boring and I am looking for stories to curve my metal detecting sickness!)

I know this is not too interesting but I was in a county park one time and I can remember just feeling like I was being watched and I was so nervous that someone would just run up and light me up for detecting there. I knew it was silly but I couldn't help it. I am just curious if anyone has had any incidents or experiences with landowners or bystanders that would make these fears legitimate? Haha. Don't be afraid to tell that story that you embarrassed to tell the friend and family you see everyday, this is the internet!

Always ask permission! Nobody wants to meet this guy after trespassing on his property. He couldn't give chase but his bullets could surely reach out and introduce themselves!

 

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[frogginfish]

I went out doing some country cruising and stopped at a few houses a couple weeks ago. The ones that were home (or at least felt comfortable enough answering the door to a 6'5" 300lb man) gave me permission to do whatever I wanted on their property. Minus their yard around their house but the farm fields around them are excellent for native american artifacts and some civil war activity. Can't go wrong there! I asked people I work with too...they were more than ok with me detecting their property.

 

[smokeythecat]

Never had a problem....

 

[Tony in Virginia]

I think you will find that 90% of the time people are pretty decent especially rural people. Dress half way decent and carry yourself properly and you will get permission most of the time. Of course you are going to run into some asses but don't let that discourage you. Happy Hunting.

 

[Caseman91291]

I went out doing some country cruising and stopped at a few houses a couple weeks ago. The ones that were home (or at least felt comfortable enough answering the door to a 6'5" 300lb man) gave me permission to do whatever I wanted on their property. Minus their yard around their house but the farm fields around them are excellent for native american artifacts and some civil war activity. Can't go wrong there! I asked people I work with too...they were more than ok with me detecting their property.

I am guessing that you are quite the figure when at the door and I mean that with no offense. It is probably even a great testament to your personality! I am guessing that that must not be you in the picture there on the left? Haha. I am jealous of your Civil War activity. I have always wanted to hunt someplace like that but I content hunting coins and old farm relics. Thanks for the advice and happy hunting!

 

[Caseman91291]

I think you will find that 90% of the time people are pretty decent especially rural people. Dress half way decent and carry yourself properly and you will get permission most of the time. Of course you are going to run into some asses but don't let that discourage you. Happy Hunting.

Thanks for the advice! I live in a rural community and I am sure I won't have too much trouble. The discouragement is what I hear slows down a lot of new guys too which is too bad. The ass stories are what I am really looking for! Haha. It might be a little rude to discuss somebodies right to deny you access to their property but the way some people do it is hilarious. I have read a few stories of some pretty outlandish people and I am looking to group those stories together for everyone to enjoy and hopefully encourage the discouraged.

 

[metalman89]

@Caseman91291,
I love your signature!!! AMAZING QUOTE!

A box without hinges, key, or lid, yet golden treasure inside is hid. - J. R. R. Tolkien

 

[Caseman91291]

@Caseman91291,
I love your signature!!! AMAZING QUOTE!

A box without hinges, key, or lid, yet golden treasure inside is hid. - J. R. R. Tolkien

I really enjoy it as well! I just hope that when people see it who have never read the book or seen the riddle before get curious or at least think on it for a bit. It's a good one, plus it incorporates TREASURE!

 

[flinthunter]

Sooner or later it happens to most of us. If you're told that metal detecting in our park is not allowed and you don't want a confrontation just say thank you, I didn't know that, and move on. One of my worst experiences was in the tiny town of Dana, Illinois. My wife and I had been hunting all day and on the way home decided to stop at Dana's small park. We had never been there before and the park looked old so we thought a quick hunt was in order. We no more than got started when this woman ran out from a house across the road, stood in the middle of the street, and started screaming at us. She said she was on the city council and that she was the mayors sister-in-law and if we didn't leave she was calling the county police. She said we couldn't dig holes in their beautiful park. What a joke, the little town is full of abandoned rusty cars and rusty mobile homes. We just walked back to the car and left, no problem. I was in another park that DOES allow metal detecting when a woman walking her dog stopped and told me she didn't thing I should be digging holes in her park. I just smiled and said the dog park is below the hill and maybe she shouldn't be letting her dog pee in this part of her park. I didn't know anyones face could turn that red. Sometimes you just gotta role with the flow.

 

[Ism]

I did some work for a friend, he wanted to pay me but I just asked if I could detect around his house (it was old). He said sure so I made arrangements to stop by in the early morning one day while he was working. He said everybody would be asleep so just park the car and go ahead and detect. I no sooner got started than his deaf father came out to let the dog do its business. He saw me and asked what I was doing. I tried to explain but he couldn't understand what I was saying. He then started reading me the riot act about digging his property and how rude it was not to ask for permission. I was told to leave immediatly and never come back. I asked for a pen and paper in a sort of sign language way but he was so angry he just went into the house in a huff. Well, I did as he said and proceeded to put my gear in the trunk when out of the front door came my buddy's wife. She knew about the permission and explained it to my friends father (her father in law). He apologized and we had a laugh. I went back to detecting for a while.

 

[Caseman91291]

Sooner or later it happens to most of us. If you're told that metal detecting in our park is not allowed and you don't want a confrontation just say thank you, I didn't know that, and move on. One of my worst experiences was in the tiny town of Dana, Illinois. My wife and I had been hunting all day and on the way home decided to stop at Dana's small park. We had never been there before and the park looked old so we thought a quick hunt was in order. We no more than got started when this woman ran out from a house across the road, stood in the middle of the street, and started screaming at us. She said she was on the city council and that she was the mayors sister-in-law and if we didn't leave she was calling the county police. She said we couldn't dig holes in their beautiful park. What a joke, the little town is full of abandoned rusty cars and rusty mobile homes. We just walked back to the car and left, no problem. I was in another park that DOES allow metal detecting when a woman walking her dog stopped and told me she didn't thing I should be digging holes in her park. I just smiled and said the dog park is below the hill and maybe she shouldn't be letting her dog pee in this part of her park. I didn't know anyones face could turn that red. Sometimes you just gotta role with the flow.

HAHAHAHA! I love it! That's a good one! I wish you could have gotten a picture of that lady! I don't blame people for being curious but if they don't know the rules then they shouldn't point fingers.

 

[Caseman91291]

I did some work for a friend, he wanted to pay me but I just asked if I could detect around his house (it was old). He said sure so I made arrangements to stop by in the early morning one day while he was working. He said everybody would be asleep so just park the car and go ahead and detect. I no sooner got started than his deaf father came out to let the dog do its business. He saw me and asked what I was doing. I tried to explain but he couldn't understand what I was saying. He then started reading me the riot act about digging his property and how rude it was not to ask for permission. I was told to leave immediatly and never come back. I asked for a pen and paper in a sort of sign language way but he was so angry he just went into the house in a huff. Well, I did as he said and proceeded to put my gear in the trunk when out of the front door came my buddy's wife. She knew about the permission and explained it to my friends father (her father in law). He apologized and we had a laugh. I went back to detecting for a while.

HAHAHA! Yes! Good stuff. I commend you for trying to communicate yet knowing when enough was enough. Laughing at ones mistakes always helps. Thanks for the story. HH.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

flint-hunter is right: Speaking for public land: If you detect for any length of time, you're going to get weird reactions, people who gripe, etc.... Let's face it: we're in an odd-ball hobby, that draws the stares of curious lookie-lous. They wonder "oooh, what's the man with the geiger-counter thingy doing?" "gee, I wonder what he's finding?" and so forth. And of course there's the inescapable connotation that you might leave a hole or a mess, etc.... There's just no getting around this eye-catching image of ourselves, so you have to develope a tough skin to be in this hobby.

Heck, I even had a lady gripe at me on the beach one time, saying my detector was bothering her dog! (I think she thought it emitted some sound wave or frequency that the dog could hear?).

When it comes to parks (turf), it's gotten to where I only hunt at the most off/awkward times. Night hunting even, after dark. NOT because there's necessarily anything specific that says "no detectors", but SIMPLY to avoid lookie-lous and busy-bodies.

My worst experience was having a gun pointed at me by a military police (and yelled at, and escorted several miles to the exit of the base, etc...) I ended up making a complaint to his supervisor on that one. The long & short of it was, that that officer was demoted, and will never carry a gun again. He was relegated to office work from there-on-after for that. It appeared he had several other "gun-waving" incidents in his file, by that time.

 

[Caseman91291]

flint-hunter is right: Speaking for public land: If you detect for any length of time, you're going to get weird reactions, people who gripe, etc.... Let's face it: we're in an odd-ball hobby, that draws the stares of curious lookie-lous. They wonder "oooh, what's the man with the geiger-counter thingy doing?" "gee, I wonder what he's finding?" and so forth. And of course there's the inescapable connotation that you might leave a hole or a mess, etc.... There's just no getting around this eye-catching image of ourselves, so you have to develope a tough skin to be in this hobby.

Heck, I even had a lady gripe at me on the beach one time, saying my detector was bothering her dog! (I think she thought it emitted some sound wave or frequency that the dog could hear?).

When it comes to parks (turf), it's gotten to where I only hunt at the most off/awkward times. Night hunting even, after dark. NOT because there's necessarily anything specific that says "no detectors", but SIMPLY to avoid lookie-lous and busy-bodies.

My worst experience was having a gun pointed at me by a military police (and yelled at, and escorted several miles to the exit of the base, etc...) I ended up making a complaint to his supervisor on that one. The long & short of it was, that that officer was demoted, and will never carry a gun again. He was relegated to office work from there-on-after for that. It appeared he had several other "gun-waving" incidents in his file, by that time.

I also recommend off hours to detect public places. The 4th of July is probably not the greatest time to hit the park. I am glad you mentioned that our hobby is not necessarily the most popular and thank goodness for that! Haha. I tell people that I enjoy metal detecting and I get all sorts of looks, it is often entertaining. Haha. Thanks for sharing your story! Haha. Glad that the gun waving officer was also not trigger happy! Good luck out there!

 

[frogginfish]

I am guessing that you are quite the figure when at the door and I mean that with no offense. It is probably even a great testament to your personality! I am guessing that that must not be you in the picture there on the left? Haha. I am jealous of your Civil War activity. I have always wanted to hunt someplace like that but I content hunting coins and old farm relics. Thanks for the advice and happy hunting!

Yeah, that's my youngest son a few years back. Like what was said, dress decent and be pleasant. You might get the ok and you might strike out. Hope you have good luck with it!

 

[jeff of pa]

nope

 

[arnofarrell]

Never had a problem. When I detected in Minnesota when I lived there I had a lot of kids watch me and the occasional jogger would ask me what I was doing. I wonder if I were to put a reflective vest on like city workers do would people even notice me or care?

 

[Caseman91291]

Never had a problem. When I detected in Minnesota when I lived there I had a lot of kids watch me and the occasional jogger would ask me what I was doing. I wonder if I were to put a reflective vest on like city workers do would people even notice me or care?

That's actually an interesting idea! Especially in a larger city where people wouldn't know you regardless. It might have adverse effects as well! Haha. I am always happy to talk to people who are interested too. A lot of times that can lead to the next hunting location. Thanks for the input! Good luck out there.

 

[Mortamus]

I am amazed at how many folks ask what your doing.....Sometimes I have fun..I'm looking for pipes, I am helping the grass grow, Looking for history, looking for pennies, I am listening to the ground, I am looking for GOLD!! lolol

 

[jeff of pa]

I am amazed at how many folks ask what your doing.....Sometimes I have fun..I'm looking for pipes, I am helping the grass grow, Looking for history, looking for pennies, I am listening to the ground, I am looking for GOLD!! lolol

" trying to see what I can Find "