How I got permission in Gettysburg

[bergie]

I'm a big believer that if you want to accomplish just about anything it's just a matter of putting in the effort. With that, I had the goal of getting permission in Gettysburg, but I live thousands of miles away. I started looking up Google satellite views of addresses with a lot of property/farmland. I drafted and printed a friendly letter about the hobby and how I would appreciate being able to detect there and would be respectful of property, and told them a bit about myself with my phone number to call if they'd be open to it. I sent out a batch of about 10 letters to addresses that looked good (dear owner on envelope since I didn't have their names). No luck with the first batch. I sent a second batch of about 15 and sure enough got a call from a nice older man who is near the battlefield and had 12 acres but sold off over the years and is down to 1 and 1/2. Headed there with a buddy in May. Whether it's Gettysburg or somewhere else, give this strategy a try. I also mentioned in the letter I'd be glad to do something nice like a gift card for the opportunity. Not sure if that made the difference, but it couldn't hurt.

 

[Gare]

Well I wish you luck for your efforts. About 30 years ago I took a couple of my horses and camped at Artillery Ridge camp ground. Had a great time and was a nice place to camp. We rode the battle ground where we were allowed to. We also talked to a few rangers and talked about metal detecting there. They told me there was places on private property there where is was legal to detect there . They also told me to be very careful with my metal detectors in my vehicles. They told me if my detector was 9n my car with batteries in it they considered it like a loaded gun and would get into serious trouble if they found it like that. I wonder now how a lot of detectors have rechargeable batteries. (*NOIN Removeable) what there new options are. Keep us posted

 

[Gare]

I forgot to add what the first things we did when we went there. We got camp set up day one. Then the same day we went to the old museum and , Went through it and then hired a guide from there they drove my truck and went over the whole place telling us about the place. It was a great idea. Then the next days we rode our horses all over the place checking things out

 

[sibbley]

Oh, the opportunities I had years ago. But I didn't metal detect at the time. I had been introduced to a gentleman that owned a farm on East Cavalry field, we became good friends. Heavy fighting happened on his farm July 3. He passed and the farm was sold. I could have had another opportunity, again East Cavalry Field. A friend of another friend that owned a farm in the area. Not so sure that any of the cavalry fighting happened on that farm but soldiers were camped there on the evening of July 2, as evidenced by things found in the barn. There were many other smaller private properties in town and outside the battlefield, but I never thought about detecting in those days.

Not just Gettysburg either, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, lots of private properties where we camped and did living history. Those were the days; I do miss them from time to time.

 

[sibbley]

I'm a big believer that if you want to accomplish just about anything it's just a matter of putting in the effort. With that, I had the goal of getting permission in Gettysburg, but I live thousands of miles away. I started looking up Google satellite views of addresses with a lot of property/farmland. I drafted and printed a friendly letter about the hobby and how I would appreciate being able to detect there and would be respectful of property, and told them a bit about myself with my phone number to call if they'd be open to it. I sent out a batch of about 10 letters to addresses that looked good (dear owner on envelope since I didn't have their names). No luck with the first batch. I sent a second batch of about 15 and sure enough got a call from a nice older man who is near the battlefield and had 12 acres but sold off over the years and is down to 1 and 1/2. Headed there with a buddy in May. Whether it's Gettysburg or somewhere else, give this strategy a try. I also mentioned in the letter I'd be glad to do something nice like a gift card for the opportunity. Not sure if that made the difference, but it couldn't hurt.

I do this in my area; send out letters to owners of potential properties I've researched. Only two responses out of 25 letters. I've actually had better luck using Facebook to get permission. I offer everything found for the opportunity, after all, it is the owners property. I like the thrill of the hunt and documenting the finds.