NW of Dallas

[pspr]

I'm looking for a detecting buddy(s) in the Flower Mound or NW Dallas metroplex to hunt in this area. I know State parks and even the FM city parks are off limits so I'm not sure how to locate some good places to hunt. It seems private property is about the only thing not illegal for hunting in Texas.

If anyone has some ideas and places to go for a joint hunt around this area, please post or PM me.

Thanks.
Wally

 

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[Baggins]

Are you certain that city parks are off limits? You can hunt them in Dallas...or at least, I have never had a problem doing so...
Baggins

 

[dustytrails123]

Look for small towns with small parks that might have been over looked most small cities dont have laws on detecting there parks ...atleast in my state that is

 

[pspr]

Are you certain that city parks are off limits? You can hunt them in Dallas...or at least, I have never had a problem doing so...
Baggins

I emailed the city parks dept. and they quoted me the law and said there is no law against using a metal detector but I can't disturb the ground or anything. While a rediculous statement, I'm not at the point where I want to try to spend the time trying convince them otherwise. I might try to contact the person mentioned below and see what they say about getting written permission. Here is part of their email after citing and copying the city ordinance:

"So while you could take your metal detector to the park, you are not allowed to dig holes, or disturb in any way, shape or form any Town Property without the written consent of the Executive Director of Community Services. I am sure you can understand the liability issues that could arise from permitting the digging of holes to retrieve items found by a metal detector."

Prohibited Acts
Sec. 54-72 (P) Damage/defacement. It shall be unlawful to damage or deface any trees, plants, turf, structure, fence, bench, table, apparatus, or paved surface or other area, without written permission from the director of parks and recreation or his designee; provided, however, that the prohibition contained in this subsection shall not apply to town officials, employees or agents performing maintenance or other authorized activities.

 

[baylorhall]

I have hunted Flower Mound parks and have never had any issues at all. I talked with a policeman while digging at a school and had no problem. I had no idea, but have been doing this for about 3 years. Sometimes it is better to not even ask!

Have you ever thought of visiting a detecting club in the area? That's a great way to learn and to meet people to hunt with. I would suggest the Lone Star Treasure Club in Irving which meets on the last Friday night of every month. There is usually a fun hunt for the group the next morning.

 

[pspr]

Thanks. Maybe I'm too quick to ask when the law isn't specific about detectors.

I have hunted Flower Mound parks and have never had any issues at all. I talked with a policeman while digging at a school and had no problem. I had no idea, but have been doing this for about 3 years. Sometimes it is better to not even ask!

Have you ever thought of visiting a detecting club in the area? That's a great way to learn and to meet people to hunt with. I would suggest the Lone Star Treasure Club in Irving which meets on the last Friday night of every month. There is usually a fun hunt for the group the next morning.

 

[jeremyelkins]

Good luck finding anything in Flower Mound. I have cleared out all of the parks! Well.... maybe I haven't but I have hit most of them pretty hard. Let me know if you want to meet up and do some hunting. I have been hitting many parks and schools in Flower Mound with many city workers and police men passing by and I have had not issue. Of course I wouldn't say that I was defaceing or damageing anything! I don't do any more damage than the squirrels that are digging up nuts.

 

[baylorhall]

I agree. They are fairly clean. I wish I could find some old property to hunt. The guys in Dallas find some great tear downs but they tend to be in questionable areas. Maybe we could find some old places up in Denton or one of those little towns north of here. I would love to hunt with a small group if you don't mind having a mom of teenagers with you! Jeremy, do you hunt at the lakes? Baylorhall

 

[Baggins]

The more, the merrier....we should get a group together and hit some spots..
Baggins

 

[baylorhall]

Sounds great, Baggins!

 

[jeremyelkins]

I hit Lake Grapevine once but there was so much trash on the surface that I pretty much just gave up. The way I understand the permit is that I can pretty much just hit the shorelines so I assume the trails and camp sites are off limits.

There are old homes in Lewisville also. In fact I will be hitting a couple tomorrow. I also know where some torn down ones are here in Flower Mound but I haven't found much at them so far. Lets meet up and I can share my info with you. I have my eye on a spot here in Flower Mound but haven't worked up the courage to ask for permission yet.

 

[pspr]

I guess my concerns about hunting in the Flower Mound parks have been allayed. I'm up for a group hunt. We should pick a park or fair ground or some place and a date/time that works for us and get together.

baylorhall I replied to your PM but not sure I sent it right. Did you get the PM I sent?

 

[jeremyelkins]

Send me a PM and I can suggest some places to meet up. If you guys have some leads that would be great also.

 

[Baggins]

I may be heading out to a park out in Oak Cliff that I hunt at tomorrow...we shall see...
Baggins

 

[baylorhall]

Hopefully last night's rain softened things up a bit! HH

 

[pspr]

It's supposed to be cooler Thur - Sat. I might try a beach on Grapevine Thursday afternoon. I've got to go get the permit first.

 

[baylorhall]

I went for a bit this morning and found a little clad. Amazing amount of trash after the holiday.

 

[pspr]

Baggins, how did your hunt go in Oak Cliff?

It turns out the rest of us live in the same neighborhood in Flower Mound so we are trying to hunt closer to home. I think the parks downtown will have older coins but the weekday traffic to get there and back home from Flower Mound is a killer - for me anyway.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

reply

I emailed the city parks dept. and they quoted me the law and said there is no law against using a metal detector but I can't disturb the ground or anything.

Then later, you acknowlege that you shouldn't have asked. You are right, don't ask. Look it up for yourself, anywhere you come to, from now on (city laws/rules are usually on their website). If it doesn't specifically say "no metal detecting", then presto, it must not be dis-allowed, RIGHT?

Those things about "alterations" and "defacement" and "vandalism" type clauses are EVERYWHERE, in EVERY park in the USA, no matter whose jurisdiction or type. But think about it pspr: Every single such phrase or wording CLEARLY implies the END result, do they not? Eg.: if you leave the area exactly as you found it, then technically you have not altered, defaced or vandalized anything, now have you?

You were simply a victim of the old "no one cares, till you ask" psychology. Just steer clear of busy-bodies (go at off-traffic times, don't be in the middle of retrievals when lookie-lous are watching, etc....) and odds are, no one cares. The trouble with asking, is you risk a "no", when there's no real rules, (nor would anyone have given the matter a passing thought, till you put your "pressing question" in front of the desbound bureaucrat). The risk then too, is ........ guess what's going to happen the next time that bureuacrat is driving by the park, and sees an md'r ? (whom he'd maybe have never noticed or given thought to before)? He'll remember the earlier inquiry, and start booting others! So let this be a lesson, to look things up for yourself from now on.

 

[Ed-D]

I've hunted a lot in Flower Mound and would recommend anyone who wants to, to continue hunting. I've only been hunting since this past fall and have found a good amount of silver jewelry and even a 1935 Walking Liberty half dollar. Not to mention a ton of clad. Ok the half dollar was technically in Lewisville, but you get the point. Keep hunting I say!