FIND THE SLOB HUNTER POSTER

[Heyjak]

Been in this hobby year and a half. I won't go within 20 feet of someone at beach ,I bury my holes,would never hunt the strip without permission. Actually never asked to hunt anyone's yard unless I know them. There's plenty of places to go I just researched some bungalows from way back on a beach area ( polar vortex please go home) what turns someone into a slob hunter Loving the sport but we need to police up our hobby by making slob hunters accountable. There really ruining it for the rest of us. Too late to buy a fishing pole. I like this hobby just not all the people in it.




I had just started hunting a parking strip in front of an old house, when on my second target I popped a big silver ring from about 2" down with my probe. As soon as I saw the ring, I grabbed it, and at the same instant, a guy claiming to be the home owner is yammering in my ear asking what I thought I was doing "digging" in his yard. I casually slid the ring into my pouch without him seeing what it was and turned to address his concerns. I politely pointed out that from the sidewalk out into the street belonged to the city but he was in no mood to hear facts when he already had his mind made up. He continued on complaining that I was digging up "his" grass and that he was the one who "maintained" it. Since I had just used a probe so far, I explained that I wasn't "digging" but that fell on deaf ears as well. It was all I could do to keep from laughing at his "maintained" grass as it was virtually dead and just dirt in many spots but I managed to bite my tongue and be nice. He then said "you better not be here when I get back"! I just smiled and said, "have a good day" and continued my search as I went down the block. About 15 minutes later I had made it to the next corner and as I was zeroing in on another target, a police car rolls up, and then another. I start taking to the first cop, answering his questions, and discussing the situation when my hunting partner comes around the corner and says HI to the cop I'm talking to. Seems they know each other, in fact, they work in the same office! We had a pretty good laugh on that one. The second cop waves and takes off. We all talk for a while, swap stories, and he wishes us good hunting as he takes off for more important duties than hassling us. He wouldn't say, but we figured the knucklehead I had the run-in with must have called and complained. I showed my partner the ring I found and I say, "I hope it was the guys wedding ring and that his wife gives him grief about it every day of his life"! I normally try my best to return rings when I can, but if it's his, this guy is going to do without....in more ways than one!

 

[Roland58]

I agree with you in every respect, however, the strip of "city" property between a sidewalk and the street, also known as a "utility easement", can vary in restrictions from city to city. It becomes a touchy legal question. Like you, I would first check with the city to determine their take on the situation and then I would honor the homeowner's request to 'move on', just to keep the tension down......even if you are in the right. I think you did the right thing, especially in keeping the ring!!!

 

[cudamark]

I agree with you in every respect, however, the strip of "city" property between a sidewalk and the street, also known as a "utility easement", can vary in restrictions from city to city. It becomes a touchy legal question. Like you, I would first check with the city to determine their take on the situation and then I would honor the homeowner's request to 'move on', just to keep the tension down......even if you are in the right. I think you did the right thing, especially in keeping the ring!!!

Thank you, that was my post. I did the legal research and found no prohibition against it. I do also move on when asked. I don't know what Heyjak's definition is of a "slob" but in my case, I think I dress quite well for my detecting outings. Regardless of where you hunt (unless you're just going to stay in your own yard) sooner or later you will run across someone who doesn't think you should be detecting the area you're in. If you're going to let that bother you, you need a new hobby. Not everyone is going to approve of what we do for a whole variety or reasons, logical or not. All you can do is your best to make a clean recovery, be friendly, pickup up any trash, and try to search sensitive areas in off-hours to avoid the chronic complainers. Sometimes you're successful, sometimes you're not. I've run across those types on the beach at 2:00am walking their dog. Sometimes they're just unavoidable. It's not going to stop me so I just try to make the best of it.

 

[deadeye 22250]

Technically you are somewhat right about the strip of grass along the street. Some towns will tell you that you have to have permission from the landowner to look, because they don't want any disputes with the residents. My brother and I talked with a guy that detected years ago in a town. The residents kept telling them they weren't allowed to detect, and the people detecting told them they could detect if they wanted to. So the residents got together and had detecting shut down in that town. So you have to be careful what you do, if you make very many people mad, where will you detect ?

 

[bottlecap]

If the utilities are in the front you have a pretty good chunk of easement to work with, some people don't realize that they only actually own about 15 feet in front of their house and half their yard is easement for utilities. I am not suggesting you go up into their actual yard and detect, just saying a lot of people are surprised to find out how little they own. Where you have to be careful is where the utilities are in the back yard, usually on poles. Then the front easement is just what the city owns and you would have to find out what the much smaller easement is. Most OLD neighborhoods are rear utility easement because utilities never used to be buried, they were all up in the air on poles. Newer neighborhoods where you see the phone ped, transformer and CATV ped in the front yard have huge utility easements. The city doesn't need a large easement because their utilities are typically in the street(water, sewer) and the gas company also typically has their main in the road or right along the curb line in most neighborhoods. I have seen easements be as much as 30 feet up from the curb, and as little as a couple feet behind the sidewalk, or right along the edge of the sidewalk. Just thought maybe someone would find this info helpful.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Mark, I read your post, of which Heyjak is here quoting. I did not see where this made you a "slob", in any way. I'm assuming you left no trace (holes, marks, etc...). And assuming your particular city is like most, where this is public right-of-way, then .... so be it.

To the degree that the ring might have belonged to that particular fellow, well, gee, SO TOO might ANY coin or item we find (on any beach, park, school, forest, etc...) also "might belong" to someone else. Where does it end? If the concept of md'ing to find and keep-what-you've-found is loathsome to someone, then at some point, they have to ask themselves: "why then did you get into metal detecting ?" I mean, didn't it occur to those people who find that offensive, that they might a) find something with their detector, and b) dig to find it, and c) keep it? Otherwise, why the heck get into metal detecting ?

 

[SoCalBeachScanner]

-
Great! A new thread, same subject ... Been There, Done That, so here you go........

Metal Detecting questionable areas without permission that COULD get someone all riled up will continue to give the hobby a bad rap.

Detecting areas right out the front door of a personal residence without permission is way too up close and personal. And just because no one was home or was home and didn't see you, doesn't mean the neighbor next door, neighbor across the street, or people driving by that know you don't belong there, will also give the hobby a bad rap.

Ever hear of neighborhood watch programs? Neighbors look out for each other and report suspicious activity!! The last thing the police want to do is come out to the residence to see what is going on.

It's all about perception!! ... Even if people don't understand what you are doing, why you are doing it, you may look suspicious to them and they call the authorities which also gives the hobby a bad rap.

If you assume it's your right and only leave after the homeowner complains to you, it's TOO LATE, the damage to the hobby is done!!

Confrontations in front of a personal residence is why cities make stupid laws and give metal detecting a bad rap.

 

[Rawhide]

I agree if it doesnt look right dont do it. Having caught people on my easement and having dealt with them I can attest if cops are called you will be asked to leave. The fine folks I detect with are always working to improve themselves. I have seen those lone hunters following behind us using a gold pick on a manicure lawn. They guy with the gold pick leaving large scrapes feel they have rights too. Its how it starts, they we got to have permits, then we get told metal detectors are not allowed anymore. Enjoy your rights as there is folks out there trying to get this hobby banned.

 

[Msbeepbeep]

I don't think its a slob factor, they're not sure what your doing. I asked a police officer if it was ok to detect in a park he said some of the towns people were sticklers, about their park & they didn't even like the teenagers in it and would call the police on them. I told him I would only use my probe to pop the coins out, no dug holes, and if any one had a problem with me doing that I would stop. He told me go ahead.
I was watched close by the older citizens, who were trying to figure out what I was doing, but never complained about me doing it.

 

[cudamark]

That's one of the points I was making.....it doesn't matter where you hunt, sooner or later you'll come across someone who doesn't like what you're doing. Each of us will have to ask our self if that is a deal breaker or not. Are you going to hunt and take criticism in stride or crawl home with your tail between your legs because someone got upset. Just because you don't hunt parking strips doesn't make you immune from complainers looking to keep you from detecting. Look up the laws for the area you wish to hunt. If it's legal and you want to hunt it, I say go for it in a responsible manner. If someone confronts you, try to ease their concerns while informing them of your right to be there. If you're going to let people bully you everywhere you hunt, they've already won without having to change the law. When I hunt, I do a whole lot less damage than any utility company! You'd have a hard time finding evidence or any of my recoveries, even if you watched me do it! Why anyone would get upset about something that every gardener does on a daily basis is beyond me.

 

[bottlecap]

I agree with staying low key as much as possible and maybe skipping questionable areas. There are really cool out of the way places you can take full advantage of easement. Bridges crossing a creek or river is one that comes to mind. I see a lot of similarities between detecting and some of my other hobbies and being discreet can be a key to having fun and being successful, my goal is to avoid confrontation even if the aggressor is wrong.

 

[cudamark]

Yup, that's my motto too, but it's not something that you can keep at a 100% rate unless you're extremely lucky.

 

[cudamark]

Mark, I read your post, of which Heyjak is here quoting. I did not see where this made you a "slob", in any way. I'm assuming you left no trace (holes, marks, etc...). And assuming your particular city is like most, where this is public right-of-way, then .... so be it. To the degree that the ring might have belonged to that particular fellow, well, gee, SO TOO might ANY coin or item we find (on any beach, park, school, forest, etc...) also "might belong" to someone else. Where does it end? If the concept of md'ing to find and keep-what-you've-found is loathsome to someone, then at some point, they have to ask themselves: "why then did you get into metal detecting ?" I mean, didn't it occur to those people who find that offensive, that they might a) find something with their detector, and b) dig to find it, and c) keep it? Otherwise, why the heck get into metal detecting ?

Since he quoted my post, it seems to me that he's calling me one because of it.

 

[SoCalBeachScanner]

I agree with staying low key as much as possible and maybe skipping questionable areas. There are really cool out of the way places you can take full advantage of easement. Bridges crossing a creek or river is one that comes to mind. I see a lot of similarities between detecting and some of my other hobbies and being discreet can be a key to having fun and being successful, my goal is to avoid confrontation even if the aggressor is wrong.

Yup, that's my motto too, but it's not something that you can keep at a 100% rate unless you're extremely lucky.

That's all well and good guys ... the point of the discussion between the two threads was detecting in the personal space of a homeowner, regardless of who owns it, without asking permission, whether it is next to their porch or by where they park their vehicle at the parkway.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

- .... It's all about perception!! ... ... gives the hobby a bad rap.....

Agreed. The perception to some people, when looking at a guy with a metal detector, is holes. EVEN if you aren't about to leave holes, and EVEN if it's legal where you are, etc... blah blah blah. Sure, "perception" trumps reality. Agreed. Therefore I do not allow myself to be "perceived" by them, to begin with. In other words, if md'rs would use a little common sense and discreetness to avoid such lookie-lous in the first place, then this "perception" thing would be solved! So for example: if you're going to work parking strips, do so at odd-ball hours when you're not inclined to bump into someone. And if the street is just plum-so-busy that there's never a time when you can be invisible like that, then sure, don't hunt there.

Also So-Ca beach-hunter: I'm assuming you're watching this incoming SW swell poised to hit your So. CA beaches starting Saturday, right? Better git your b*tt down there starting Saturday, to look for erosion!

 

[SoCalBeachScanner]

Also So-Ca beach-hunter: I'm assuming you're watching this incoming SW swell poised to hit your So. CA beaches starting Saturday, right? Better git your b*tt down there starting Saturday, to look for erosion!

Hi Tom, You bet your ass I am watching it ... I was down there this afternoon during the minus tide at 2:00PM checking out the situation. The swell was up a bit, no wind, about 4-5ft waves, no major erosion yet. By Friday/Saturday the waves should be up to 8-12ft with about 20+ knots storm winds.

I will be checking out several known beaches each morning over the next few days that are known for major beach erosion.

 

[Treasure_Hunter]

HeyJak you open this thread to attack another thread and member, next time it is a timeout...

Thread is locked






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