LEGAL PLACES TO HUNT? ADVICE PLEASE? LOL

[OUTCOME1]

So i have been researching on the topics of Legal places to relic hunt without having written permission. Now i know the best bet is to gain written permission first. Has anyone had any problems with hunting school grounds on the weekends during the day? what about public county parks? (not national battlefields). Churches? i have been reading conflicting information. I like to go at night often and while i do have some pieces of land that i do have written permission in possession i still like churches, parks ect....about two weeks ago i went to a church at 1:00 a.m. and a cop had pulled in just to probably take a break. i saw him put the headlights on my four runner and then park. I figured the best thing to do would be to approach him and introduce myself. (i probably should have just stayed in the field or hid in the woods for a while..lol) anyway he looked very surprised when i approached him and asked how he was doing? He then of course asked me what the hell i was doing so i told him. Then he asked me if i have permission ,i replied i don't think so. He then called an affiliate of the church at 1:00 a.m. and asked if they knew me. Of course they said no. Anyway to make a long story short...I YOU HAVE TO BE CONFIDENT WHEN YOU TALK TO A COP IN THAT SITUATION. As long as it is not posted and you are not 'banned" from a premises, and not on government property after dark and not making a lot of racket more than likely you will be fine. i could tell by the way he was talking to me and his back up police buddy they really were caught off guard...a guy with a headlamp, shovel, and a gear pouch at a church in the night....they really suspected me as a grave robber i think. I ended the conversation with them and said i think i am just going to go ahead and leave for now and you officers have a great night...i put all my plugs back perfect...i noticed they went right for the grave yard (which i make sure i stay far far away from those) looking all around in the graveyard with a flashlight...........i did manage to pull a very nice VMI institute cap badge out of the ground that night...hahaha

anyone have thier input or facts that they would like to add that would be helpful? did i just get lucky to not get arrested or does a church have to first ban you before a cop can arrest you. Either way i am not banned from that church to this day and assume i could go back at night again, the cops might just get annoyed but what then?

 

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[bevo]

I think you said it,"not posted not banned"course if the church gets a burr under their saddle they might ask you not to
come back.

 

[thrillathahunt]

A church is private property. On ALL private properties you need to get permission. Just ask...what harm can that do. Either you will get a yes or a no. However if it is public property ie. parks or schools, go to their website (most public entities have a web site now) and see if there is any wording that specifically prohibits metal detecting. If it doesn't, your good to go.

Of course I am not a lawyer, but if there are no signsthat prohibit it or any mention on the website against metal detecting it is logical to assume it is allowable, just like any other recreational activity.

On private property you need to get permission to MD. Period.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

thrillathahunt is right: No need to "ask permission" of public places, like your routine city or county parks, schools, etc.... (unless there were specific verbage that actually said "no metal detectors", that is). Look up rules for yourself, instead of asking a desk-bound person (lest they construe it as you asking "can I?", as if you needed their "permission" type thing). Just stay clear of obvious historical monuments, be discreet (as our hobby has obvious connotations), go at low traffic times, etc...

And as he also said: Churches are dis-cluded in this advice, since obviously churches are private property, and thus a separate discussion from the "parks" issue/question.

Oddly, as you noted: Churches ..... although private property, are more akin to a shopping center, let's say. Where .... yes it's "private property", but along the lines of "permission to pass revokable by owner" type thing. In other words, if you walk on the property, and go inside, even as a stranger, on Sunday AM (or any other time they're open) for Sunday services, etc... no, you are not "trespassing", unless someone tells you to leave. So it is in sort of a different class than ........ say ...... "hopping fences" or "someone's front yard", etc.... Not sure all the legal ramifications, etc..... but still not in the same class as parks and school yards, let's say.

Oh, and in the future, when hunting at 1am anywhere, the trick is you do NOT park your vehicle where (close to) where you are going to hunt at. You park, and walk a block to wherever you're going to hunt. The reason is, as you discovered, cops at that hour routinely check out-of-place cars, (just a routine part of their job, etc...). I learned this long ago, as I live in a rural area with lots of row crops, orchards, cow pastures, hills, etc....: Whenever I have something to hunt out in the boonies (or on deserted streets, etc...) I learned to park a fair distance away. That way, if a passing sherrif or cop did want to run the plates (to make sure not stolen or whatever), you're not a sitting duck, right there close to where he/you are at

 

[Sever]

I live in Russia. Also I wanted to ask this question as the international exchange of experience. I looked recently the program on the Discovery channel - Hunters of treasure of America. Before to start digging on the private earth - it is necessary to get permission of the owner it, it is natural. In us in Russia also so. At us also is the laws limiting places to look for and dig. These are national parks and stocks, places of archaeological monuments (kurgans, cemeteries, the territory of church and others), But there are many places where for a long time nobody lives - there I prefer to dig. There is still a secret law, it is obligatory to dig in poles. Unfortunately people happen different and sometimes it don't execute.

 

[Wes-N-VA]

Patrick,

LOL! Man you are lucky. The cops in Hanover and Henrico County have very limited pateince with relic hunters. Even tho the head sheriff in Hanover is a big relic hunter, they still deal with a lot of trespassers every day and especially at night. I have hunted a few times at night in the summer due to it being cooler on land I have permission to hunt with the landowners knowing I am out there, but never have i just pulled over and started hunting. Plus, at night you just look guilty to police officers who are just doing thier job. I would say you got lucky on this one. Best bet, get permision and then you have nothing to worry about.

 

[Wes-N-VA]

Also, forget any park in Hanover. They are all posted "NO METAL DETECTORS ALLOWED, WE HATE ALL RELIC HUNTERS BECAUSE YOU GUYS ARE BAD PEOPLE WHO PRESERVE HISTORY AND WE WOULD RATHER BUILD A WAL-MART OR NEIGHBORHOOD ON TOP OF A BATTLEFIELD!" You get my point. Schools may or may not be posted, I just stay away because with all the trouble with schools in the media right now someone may think you are out to hurt kids or planting something in the ground. Not worth the hassle from the general public or the heat.

 

[perry2]

Question ?? Has anyone got a good copyable Permission slip to use for land owners ?? Perry

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Question ?? Has anyone got a good copyable Permission slip to use for land owners ?? Perry

Perry, there's lots of templates on-line, and perhaps someone here can link you with some examples. But be aware: ONLY use such contracts, permission slips, etc... WHEN THE PROPERTY OWNER asks for such a thing. Otherwise, just a simple smile, chit-chat, hand-shake, etc... will do.

Because think of it Perry: what would YOU do if a total stranger shows up at your door, and holds out a contract for you to sign? It merely conjurs up something legal or difficult or whatever. And it conjurs up that SURELY you're about to find some buried treasure there (lest why would you be going through such hoops?). And then you certainly look like a doofas if you come back to their door with a few grubby pennies, some pulltabs, etc.... Thus the best way is to keep it casual. If someone wanted something in writing, then fine. But if not, no need.