NO TN STATE PARK DETECTING!!!

[wormnblack]

This is to confirm the rumors for those who don't already know. I wrote the state park dept. of TN about detecting permits and the following is their reply to my email:

Metal Detecting is not allowed in any Tennessee State Park unless you have lost an item. If you loose an item you may contact a park ranger and they will accompany you during your search. Thank you for your interest in Tennessee State Parks.

Tennessee State Parks
(615) 532-0001
Ask.TNStateParks@state.tn.us
www.tnstateparks.com

*If the email address is not included with the name of the sender of the inquiry,
the contact is likely on the state network.

>>> anthony davis <fanofdenise@yahoo.com> 12/24/2007 9:28 PM >>>

I was wanting to ask if Tennessee has a metal detecting permit for it's parks and a list of parks the permit is good for. If there is a permit then what do I need to do to get one?

Thanks! And Merry Christmas!

Anthony Davis Jr.



I knew we couldn't search Civil War battlefields, but what of the lakes on Federal property? I guess it's a definate "NO". I just thought this may help some of you who may have been curious. CIAO!

[Treasure_Hunter]

Only state parks in Fl you can hunt are ones that have ocean beaches with permission from park ranger, and then only the beach itself. I have read of some in the west your allow to hunt, but for the most part state parks are off limits.

Here is a good link to page mark, it gives you a lot of info on the states that allow it and the ones that don't.

http://www.fmdac.org/parks/parks.htm

[CWnut]

You're info is absolutely correct. I left some business cards at the park office, so maybe at some future time someone may need my services to locate something they've lost

[wormnblack]

It really stinks, but what are we to do? Maybe you'll get lucky and some one will give you a call. Good luck and good hunting!

[wormnblack]

LOL Yeah, come to think of it...I think lost quite a few! HAHAHA

[lou423]

Well, one reason we are not being allowed to detect on "public land" is because big government encroaches into everything people do.
Let's elect open minded officials to office and how about Ron Paul for president.
What we need is smaller government.

And also we need people who fill their holes and ask for permission.

[NewbieTR]

I think State Parks may fall under the ARPA (Archeological Resource Preservation Act) law like the battlefield parks do.

My best advice: Don't even have an MD in a State or National Park. It used to be (in 1992) a $150.00 fine just to even be in possession of an MD in a battlefield park.

[ClonedSIM]

As far as I have experienced and researched, all of the state parks in Texas and New Mexico are off limits to hunting.

[ivan salis]

generally speaking fed parks and also many state parks are off limits for metal detecting --- local county and city park --check before hand as not knowing your local laws will not work to cover your butt.

[marinecorpsgrunt]

metal detecting is allowed in tn state parks,,,,detectors can only be used in camping areas and day use areas to find a lost item,,,i battle the these dipshit park rangers every year over water hunting,,,,dont know the chapter but its paragraph 6,,,,you cant use a detector to look for historical, geological, or archiealogical (i cant spell that word) but yes a detector can be used in tn state parks,,,,**** the enforce rules they dont know anything about,,,,,i got a run aroud with two park rangers at lake picwick,,,,they thought they knew the rules,,but it so happend it happend in the middle of the week and i was able to call my contact in nashville and they called down to picwick and explained the law to these two idiots who just happens to also carry guns (yes idiots do carry guns) i was paid to find a lost ring on the beach,,,,

[usmman928]

Yes. I know what you mean, I live near the Tn River and there is a site where Nathan Bedford Forrest defeated a Union Naval base here, and my uncle asked the president of the Old Johnsonvile group about where I could metal detect at, and he about had a fit!! Told my uncle I would go to jail and everything if I was caught digging anything!! All my uncle wanted was to know where I could digg at!! If I found anything,I'd give it to the state parks for displaying!! First time poster! And new to the sport of metal detecting! Thanks

[GaryM5]

I have a cabin at Pickwick Lake, I've hunted several time at the state park swimming area, Lot's of coins lot's of trash.
They have seen me hunting there and said nothing ...so far.

Gary

[The.Boomer]

In this day and age of save the whales and old growth forests, many people are erroneously thinking that it is the tree hugger they have to thank for such restrictive laws concerning our national and state parks. But the truth is that in the late 1800s and early 1900s there was a plethora of people who were fascinated with the likes of Stanley and livingston. Amateur adventurers who roamed the globe in search of artifacts and treasures on a whim and with very little concern for the sites they plundered. As the modern Field of archeology developed their rank first swelled under the title of preservationists. It was these preservationists who appealed to various government entities to set aside land that contained places of historic interests. It was a knee jerk reaction to what the preservationists were telling everyone in public forums was the destruction of these historic sites, which in part was true. But just as true is the fact that they have always lacked the resources to follow through to thoroughly excavate and investigate to document these sites. What we the people who now want access to these sites should do is be just as vocal in public forums to point out the shortcomings of the modern Field of archeology to exploit these sites, which by the way are being destroyed at an even faster pace than ever due to the shrinking budgets of most states and even the Federal govt. to protect and preserve these places. Why protect and preserve them if they'll never be excavated and documented etc...?

[XL-PRO PRO]

Several years ago,I was happily detecting Devils Step swim area while Tims Ford lake was drained for the winter.I had aquired a pouch full of poptops,fishhooks,broken glass and other assorted trash when a lady came from the campground area waving her arms.I removed my headphones and walked over to see what the commotion was all about!No metal detecting in the park she said.I tried to explain that I was detecting the bottom of the lake and that I also had the required TVA permit.I guess this is a case where state government trumps federal !!(I have lived in this area for 50+years and watched the local farmers lose their land to emminent domain and later see the same land they were paid 2-3 hundred dollars sell for 80-150 thousand-hey;this is my home!!)Thanks DBULL

[Baggins]

What about hunting in city parks? I am going to be in Nashville and Memphis and would like to do some hunting....any thoughts?
Baggins

[GaryM5]

What about hunting in city parks? I am going to be in Nashville and Memphis and would like to do some hunting....any thoughts?
Baggins

Baggins, Be very carefull in Memphis, you could get robbed while hunting, Memphis has got very bad the last few years.
I use to live there, but I won't hunt there. Those crack heads will take your detector and pawn it for more crack.

Gary

[Baggins]

thx for the heads up...
Baggins

[MalteseFalcon]

It is a no-no in Nashville to hunt city parks. I do not even own a detector, but I sent an email to the City Parks department to ask about it a couple of years ago, and the reply was basically "No detecting allowed".

[bigtim1973]

I know the state parks dept. here in TN will not allow metal detecting, but the TWRA does. According to their website you are allowed to obtain a permit and go to Land between the Lakes. I saw that posted on their site, but isn't that considered a park also?

[wesmac]

Haha, I found this out the hard way, went to Manchester TN park where there was a civil war scurmish, had the detector in a sly looking bag on my back, asked the ranger and got a flat no....oh well. haha