At the park

limitedthoughts · Mar 11, 2008

Went to the park today for a hour.

Guess its aginst the law to make plugs in Idaho.. Who knew..

One 1998 Quarter

One 1998 Dime

LT

MUD(S.W.A.T) · Mar 11, 2008

Good year I got out of high school that year. :thumbsup:

Keep @ it and HH!!

Pepper2004 · Mar 11, 2008

Keep your chin up, limitedthoughts. Do you have a fairground near by? Those are good places to hunt. Congrats on your finds.....things will get better. We all have our share of days like that.

HH,
Pepper

davest · Mar 11, 2008

did the law shut you down? I don't dig plugs in public parks, I use either a long thin screwdriver or a 1/4 inch chisel to poke the ground. When I touch the object, I circle it with the tip and then pry it out of the soil. Works as much as 4 inches down. Or it make a bunch of punch holes in the ground, stuff my pinpointer into the salad, and use my fingers to pull out my find. The tamping of the soil doesn't even show that I've been there. :icon_pirat:

limitedthoughts · Mar 11, 2008

No the law diddnt come and yell at me. One of the park and rec guys came over and told me nope.. cant do that. He did compliment me on the way I was putting my plugs back. Cause he thought I was on my first coin i had detected.

He did say I could probe with a ice pick so all is not lost.

It did suck though cause I was just starting to get use to my sounds and I can pinpoint within a couple inches using a L shape.

LT

Lookin · Mar 11, 2008

Limited,

Do a search on the 'net and get the name/address of the head of the recreation and parks department. Write him a letter inquiring into M/Ding in the parks, explaining that you don't leave holes, etc. Maybe you will end up with a letter in hand saying something like, "No problem!" And, it might be signed by the big "boss!"

I did this, after getting "shut down" by a park employee. After doing some research and writing the Parks Dept., I received a vague "Okay" to M/D in our parks (in KY, not ID). Basically, it said I could do it, as long as I wasn't destroying park property, including turf. He said, if I can abide by that, go for it. Hmm, now what does that mean

At any rate, I have been to a couple of other parks without any problems.

Best of luck and keep swingin'!

I_Dig_NYC · Mar 12, 2008

Maybe they could even issue you a permit like they do here.
Your lucky,
the fine here for "excavating" with out a permit,
or with anything larger than a small gardening tool,
or in a restricted park is $450.

,
possible confiscation of your gear as well as being prosecuted by the law man.

Don't ask how I know that.

Korban · Mar 12, 2008

Where in Idaho are you hunting. Im originally from North Idaho and only went out a few times there and no one said a thing to me.

N.J.THer · Mar 13, 2008

I've never had a problem here in NJ but I do avoid one county that I hear is very strict. The park I hit that is close to work I usually have the park workers watching me or working around me and I've only had one approach me. I thought he was going to ask me to leave but he just inquired what I was looking for. The park is in a urban area and they actually thought I was testing the soil since there is a gas station across the street from the section I've been focused on. I also think that the fact I'm metal detecting in a suit they probably think I'm nuts so they leave me alone. I have the business attire hunting down to a science. One thing I do whether I'm being watched or not is pick up all the trash I walk past metal, plastic or paper it all comes with me and I think the park workers see that and figure if he will do our job for us were not going to stop him...lol.

NJ

I_Dig_NYC · Mar 13, 2008

N.J.THer,
That's a good story. Its always a good idea to do a little community service by leaving the park cleaner than we found it. I keep my trash pouch nice and full in case I am approached I can show them the service I am doing for the parks department.
The one time I had a problem I had noticed the park workers van do a couple of slow drive by's to see what I was doing. Moments later a jeep carrying 2 park officers was driving across the lawn towards me. I knew detecting in that park was prohibited so I came up with an excuse of looking for my wife's wedding ring, then I showed them how neat I covered my holes, and for extra credit I pulled a hand full of metal trash out my pouch. ::)

That was all good and well to them but it didn't really matter, as they explained that they were giving me a break only out of kindness and that if it was any other officers I would be getting a $450 fine.

I thanked them and volunteered to leave quietly before they changed their mind.
New York City issues a free metal detecting permit but it's only good for certain areas on beaches and specific areas in just a few of our many parks.
Moral of the story is; :icon_study: