Newbie from SF Valley Calif

[Happa54]

Hello everyone!!! After reading some of these rules, regs, where to, where not to, MD illegal here, illegal there....I"m kinda reluctance now in getting my starter MD. I was so excited about this hobby up to now. Am I reading into too much here?

 

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[vpnavy]

Welcome Aboard! Take a look at Sub-Forums: California for information (i.e., clubs, etc.) directly related to your state. You will be just fine after you get through the learning curve when it comes to places not to MD - common sense rules for the most part. You might consider joining a club nearby to help...

 

[rac7658]

hello and welcome

 

[TommyB]

I think you'll be fine here in SoCal. I have never had a problem at any beach or the few parks I've hunted.
The best time for parks is when nobody is around. Always cut good plugs at the parks and Fill your holes.
Even fill your holes at the beach. If private property, ask for permission

 

[digging440yrs]

Welcome aboard

 

[Happa54]

Thanks for the feedback everyone!!!

I grew up in the San Gabriel Valley and explored the Southland (60's - 80's) without any worries of where to go or potential violations, trespassing, etc. Now into my early 60's, so many freedoms have been taken away. Being an avid fisherman/hunter/outdoorsman, this has been a harsh reality for me and my buddies to say the least. We grew up with the freedoms that the newer generation can only imagine. One of the reasons I've considered MD'ing is due to the lack of local saltwater fishing and hunting spots that are no longer accessible. Signs posted everywhere and fences in places where they never used to be. From watching all the youtube videos, It gave me a feeling of excitement and freedom about MD'ing, not to mention that my young daughters are thrilled about getting into this hobby. Now that I've read into some of these rules/regs, it kinda reminds me of the government policies that I'm running from in my other outdoor activities. Oh well..... I'll dive into this for awhile and see how it works out.

 

[Enginefitter]

Welcome from NE Ohio.

Engine

 

[Texas Ed]

Welcome form S/E Texas and wish you many great finds.

 

[smalltowngirl13]

Hello and welcome to the forum...

 

[bootybandit]

Welcome to TNET!

 

[CladiatorMax]

I think you'll be fine here in SoCal. I have never had a problem at any beach or the few parks I've hunted.
The best time for parks is when nobody is around. Always cut good plugs at the parks and Fill your holes.
Even fill your holes at the beach. If private property, ask for permission

Hey Happa, Tommy is right and provides sound advice, you won't have issues in SoCal. Don't get bummed out, this is an amazing hobby with a great big fan base. Welcome to TNet.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

..... After reading some of these rules, regs, where to, where not to, MD illegal here, illegal there....I"m kinda reluctance now....

Ah, welcome to the psychology of it. You pinned exactly your own musing's origins.

It's sort of like shark attack stories: No matter how isolated, no matter how much of a fluke, no matter how many people swim w/o getting attacked. Yet guess what you'll fear if you go swimming ? IMMINENT SHARK ATTACK. Same thing for a newbie who looks at the "scary stories" of laws. Or someone who got hassled somewhere, etc... What will be their instinct fear ? It will be "oh my gosh, laws everywhere, and everyone hates md'ing, and I might get busted".

Then, as if in a self-fulfilling loop, guess what they often do ? Watltz into city hall wherever they're at, asking "Hi, can I metal detect in the parks here?". And they find some bored pencil pusher (who perhaps had images of geeks with shovels), to give this "pressing question" an arbitrary "no" answer. Ie.: the old "no one cared UNTIL you asked" phenomenon.

Thus it's as Cladiator -max and TommyB say: Just go. I mean, sure: Avoid obvious historic sensitive monuments. And don't be in the middle of deep turf retrievals when busy-body gripers are watching, etc....

There is one rule though that is strictly enforced here in CA though: I get 30% of all your finds. I accept paypal. Now get busy and find some good stuff !

 

[Happa54]

Thanks guys!!!! I got it!!!!

Now to select my MD....whew!!!!