Parking Lot Curb Strips

Blewfur

Jr. Member
Jan 12, 2021
84
174
Central Texas
Detector(s) used
Bounty Hunter Quick Silver
Nokta Makro Pulsedive
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Has anyone hunted the curb strips in a shopping center parking lot? who do you ask for permissions, if anybody? Store manager, security guard? Just go and take your chances? What are those strips called anyhow?

I live north of Austin, TX. A lot of the local parks websites state no metal detectors allowed. Some of the other smaller towns allow detecting in parks. The area is growing, so not many abandoned buildings in the area. I'm just trying to think outside the box.
 

Has anyone hunted the curb strips in a shopping center parking lot? who do you ask for permissions, if anybody? Store manager, security guard? Just go and take your chances? What are those strips called anyhow?

I live north of Austin, TX. A lot of the local parks websites state no metal detectors allowed. Some of the other smaller towns allow detecting in parks. The area is growing, so not many abandoned buildings in the area. I'm just trying to think outside the box.
Always ask permission. We must be good emissary for the metal detecting kingdom. I would go with the manager always. And be CAREFUL in a place like that. Would be easy to miss a needle in the grass or mulch and could ruin your day. And possibly life. Good luck in your search and if I may suggest, you might think about relic hunting. Much more rewarding digging up history. Cheers,
 

Always ask permission. We must be good emissary for the metal detecting kingdom. I would go with the manager always. And be CAREFUL in a place like that. Would be easy to miss a needle in the grass or mulch and could ruin your day. And possibly life. Good luck in your search and if I may suggest, you might think about relic hunting. Much more rewarding digging up history. Cheers,
I’m not opposed to relic hunting. Everything around me is being developed at such an alarming rate, I wouldn’t know where to begin.
 

I’m not opposed to relic hunting. Everything around me is being developed at such an alarming rate, I wouldn’t know where to begin.
It is Texas. TONS of history and places out in rural areas. What you will find if you want to be successful is that perhaps 90% of time is research and 10% is actually swinging a detector. But little research needed for curb strips and if that that is your choice, enjoy. Nothing wrong with that and I wish you great luck. But if you want more of a challenge, you have old mining towns, Ghost Towns, beaches, swimming holes, railway towns, old schools, on and on and on. But remember to research laws for public land such as BLM.
This used to be hard to research places in the old days, but with internet, much easier. Whatever your choice, enjoy and remember to be a good ambassador.
 

Find old playing fields in your area. Look at old aerial maps or go to library and research where old schools and play areas were. There is also a guy who detects in East Texas on you tube, MDing e.texas, just look for that I am not giving full title I don't know if thats allowed.
 

Always ask permission. We must be good emissary for the metal detecting kingdom. I would go with the manager always. And be CAREFUL in a place like that. Would be easy to miss a needle in the grass or mulch and could ruin your day. And possibly life. Good luck in your search and if I may suggest, you might think about relic hunting. Much more rewarding digging up history. Cheers,
When approaching a farmer for permission to search a field tell him you'll also remove metal objects that could damage a tractor or implement tire.

Tines often break off from cultivators, a new tractor tire these days can set the farmer back upwards of $8,000.00
 

When approaching a farmer for permission to search a field tell him you'll also remove metal objects that could damage a tractor or implement tire.

Tines often break off from cultivators, a new tractor tire these days can set the farmer back upwards of $8,000.00
good point
 

good point
A lot of days, I only have about an hour to hunt at a time. That’s part of the reason for my thinking. I’d imagine lots of trash as well as modern clad. I was wondering if anyone else tried it and what the results were.
 

If you could find an old strip mall that came about in the 50's or early 60's that has some grassy areas, you could well find yourself a silver bonanza! Problem is, if it isn't closed and abandoned, it's virtually impossible you'd ever be allowed to detect it.
 

A lot of days, I only have about an hour to hunt at a time. That’s part of the reason for my thinking. I’d imagine lots of trash as well as modern clad. I was wondering if anyone else tried it and what the results were.
Whatever you enjoy. It is all good. All the best in your hunts.
 

Has anyone hunted the curb strips in a shopping center parking lot? who do you ask for permissions, if anybody? Store manager, security guard? Just go and take your chances? What are those strips called anyhow?

I live north of Austin, TX. A lot of the local parks websites state no metal detectors allowed. Some of the other smaller towns allow detecting in parks. The area is growing, so not many abandoned buildings in the area. I'm just trying to think outside the box.
Ok, when I was on the road a lot, I used to do rest areas, now I do more relic hunting. I made a “Land use contract”, and it has blanks for the address, what I want to hunt for, and the split/disposition of what I find, signed by me and the person responsible for the property. This gives me legal written permission to be on the property, for specific reasons.
I also made it for the gold prospecting club I belonged too. Rarely do you get turned down when you show perfessional respect for someone’s property, I have a habit of treating others how I want to be treated with my place.
Just a suggestion to get more access to more places, I’ve even had them go too so they can see what I do, and ALWAYS leave it nicer than you find it.
 

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I hunt the sidewalk strips here in town, it’s city owned.
I doubt you would find much in parking lot strips. The ground is not a place that people hang out on. But hope you find something.
 

Whern hunting curb strips try and hunt the side WITH oou the fire hydrants first. Most towns have the hydrants on one side of the streets. The ones with out the hydrants are the least disturbed ones
 

A friend of mine hunted the strips and medians around where he lives and has found Mercury dimes and silver Quarters and lots of clad but he lives in an older part of his town and the median used to be where people waited for the trolley when the town had one. So the odds are good for you as long as you don't run into a bunch of nosy Nellies, I would suggest getting a reflective vest to make you look like a city worker looking for pipes or sprinkler heads with your detector. It could help with the nosy Nellies if it looks like you should be there.
 

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