If you ever travel to Wisconsin to metal detect, you better read this!

[Scully]

Archies in Wisconsin last fall closed off ALL lake and river bottoms to metal detecting, and all state land without any public meetings or input. They just decided to shut it all down. No more permits will be issued unless you can prove you are searching for someones lost item. I wont go into their reasoning because it makes no sense to me.

I am Gene Scullion, president of the Four Lakes Metal Detector Club in Madison, WI, and our club decided to fight what they are doing. We have been paying a lot money to a lobbyist and we now have a bill ready to go to committee probably before the end of October. If successful, it will allow us to regain the waters and some of the land sites, with some restrictions I am sure. We will need a lot of phone calls, emails and letters to state representatives to get the majority on our side. When we are ready with the Bill, I will make another post with form letters and links to state reps.

How can you help if you live out of state? Tourism is big here in Wisconsin, so if you ever travel here on vacation and want to metal detect, or if you own vacation property here, contact the rep for that area and let him know your tourist dollars will go someplace else if this bill is not passed. If you have friends/relatives in Wisconsin, contact them and ask them to help. If you are not sure which representative to call, let me know and I will help you figure it out. Out of staters are more than welcome to respond to this.

What we need is you to simply state that you want them to support the bill. No need for blame or argument, we simply need you to show support for the bill. If you want to stress tourism dollars, that would be more than fine. Some offices have telephone recorders that are on 24 hours a day so even if you cant call during working hours, still make the effort. Simply leave a message with your name, what bill you want them to support, and maybe a brief message why. Thats all there is to it. The Representatives all have email as well, and again, you only need to state your desire to have them support the bill. These people are the ones we WANT ON OUR SIDE, so be polite and professional in your actions.

I will make another post once the Bill numbers have been assigned. We really need your help boys, I hope all of you can make an effort to get the word out to your friends/relatives or important prominent people. I would love the representatives to be flooded with requests to support this bill. If you have friends and relatives in other states that visit Wisconsin, contact them as well! Its time to get the word out, and get it out quickly!

Thanks boys. We gotta stick together on this. Results in Wisconsin, good or bad, could have significant effect on other states doing or considering the same actions. Make your voice heard, its time! If you would like more information, or have questions, feel free to contact me.

Scully
Gene Scullion
President, Four Lakes Metal Detector Club (Madison)
badgermd@tds.net
608-213-6622

[kaptainkosmic]

I will bring this up at our next club meeting for sure!

Steve :-)

[Mike from MI]

You have our club's support Scully!

Mike Walker

President - Southwest Michigan Seek & Search Club

[Treasure_Hunter]

Gene,

If you haven't already done so contact the Federation of Metal Detector and Archaeological Clubs (FMDAC), here is their link. http://www.fmdac.org/website/index.html


Mark Schuessler, FMDAC Legislative Officer is the one who helped here in Florida on the Clay county ban.... Look under FMDAC Officers you will find a midwest section, contact the head of that and see what they can do to help you.

When you post the form I will send a copy myself............

[Donut]

I heard a rumor that someone found some very old artifacts from Wisconsin and was selling them on eBay and that is the reason they shut everything down. They ruined it for everyone !!

Also there is a husband and wife couple from the South Bend In. ares that out digging with a shovel and leaving all their holes open. One person at a private camp was injured when they stepped in the and had to go to the hospital and now all MD has been banned from that camp.
If you ever see this couple report them to the police because this is destruction of property.

It is getting harder and harder to find places to hunt and if things like this keeps up you might as well frame your detector and place it on the wall and get a feather duster for it.

Doug