Our responsibility, our future, our hobby.

[Paul Revere’s Ghost]

I’m noticing about half the times I go hunting since Labor Day, there’s somebody new detecting the beach. Usually in the dry sand. Usually exhibiting newbie characteristics. I don’t go out of my way to meet them, but if our paths cross I’ll say hello. Last week I met a family of some sort, 2 men 2 women. Clearly out for a walk and just dragged a detector along. As they passed I told the dad/grand dad, that somebody else had already detected the line they were walking, and then I did too. So they should move higher or lower. Later on I bumped into them and they had a crater dug, must have been a Buick down there. Using a Xtera pro with a massive coil. I think they were digging past the target. I asked politely if they were filling their holes. They were. But I’m finding unfilled holes and junk targets tossed back on the beach a LOT. Is it all the YouTube channels making the hobby so popular? Or the prices of metal now? I meet mostly nice people. And everyone deserves one chance to screw up by not filling holes. After that I’d have no problem shaming them. I even said something to a California YouTuber about leaving holes and his retort was “I’m a professional treasure hunter blah blah blah.” 🙄. I’m always filling in others holes, even if dug by children or dogs, because we know who will get the blame if somebody gets hurt. Wondering what’s the general consensus of the community ?

 

[robertk]

I don't understand why someone wouldn't fill a hole, especially on the beach. It takes less time to fill a hole than it does to dig it.

 

[guest]

I don't understand why someone wouldn't fill a hole, especially on the beach. It takes less time to fill a hole than it does to dig it.

Yap. But filling back in holes that others have dug? Oh, come on.
There are too many stupid people out there—you can’t help everyone.

 

[russau]

I stressed that point when I was in the GPAA club at any club function and it was done !

 

[k0bgalan]

Refilling someone else's hole is not a big deal. After all, most of us pick up trash left by miscreants, and think nothing of it.

 

[pepperj]

Yap. But filling back in holes that others have dug? Oh, come on.
There are too many stupid people out there—you can’t help everyone.

So you go to a park and there's holes, with trash beside the hole, and you just go about your business and dig your own?
Oh come on-Really?

What does it take actually to flip the plug in, give a stomp, pick up the trash.
Been there done it(fixing/stomping/picking) and seriously I was pissed about it.
Then there's the cases where I've dug a plug of apron dumps, when there's a trash container 50 ft away.

Though if everyone just turned a blind eye to the idiots that have done it then the list of private permissions better be long.

Granted it's hard to fix stupid.

 

[Paul Revere’s Ghost]

I’m noticing about half the times I go hunting since Labor Day, there’s somebody new detecting the beach. Usually in the dry sand. Usually exhibiting newbie characteristics. I don’t go out of my way to meet them, but if our paths cross I’ll say hello. Last week I met a family of some sort, 2 men 2 women. Clearly out for a walk and just dragged a detector along. As they passed I told the dad/grand dad, that somebody else had already detected the line they were walking, and then I did too. So they should move higher or lower. Later on I bumped into them and they had a crater dug, must have been a Buick down there. Using a Xtera pro with a massive coil. I think they were digging past the target. I asked politely if they were filling their holes. They were. But I’m finding unfilled holes and junk targets tossed back on the beach a LOT. Is it all the YouTube channels making the hobby so popular? Or the prices of metal now? I meet mostly nice people. And everyone deserves one chance to screw up by not filling holes. After that I’d have no problem shaming them. I even said something to a California YouTuber about leaving holes and his retort was “I’m a professional treasure hunter blah blah blah.” 🙄. I’m always filling in others holes, even if dug by children or dogs, because we know who will get the blame if somebody gets hurt. Wondering what’s the general consensus of the community ?

I suppose it applies everywhere but my keyword was “beach”. Yes for those mocking me for filling holes of others. I have my favorite beaches. If the town decides to ban hunting who suffers? Like I said I’d rather give them a tongue lashing the second time than keep filling their holes but I’ll do what’s necessary to keep the beach open. Especially considering I get free parking if I get up early. Otherwise it varies $15 to $40. I love my beach and I’d gladly fill 20 holes every day to keep it. 18 months and I have 74 rings. I mean everyone’s entitled to their own level of commitment, that’s why I’m asking.

 

[guest]

So you go to a park and there's holes, with trash beside the hole, and you just go about your business and dig your own?
Oh come on-Really?

What does it take actually to flip the plug in, give a stomp, pick up the trash.
Been there done it(fixing/stomping/picking) and seriously I was pissed about it.
Then there's the cases where I've dug a plug of apron dumps, when there's a trash container 50 ft away.

Though if everyone just turned a blind eye to the idiots that have done it then the list of private permissions better be long.

Granted it's hard to fix stupid.

As a general rule, I do not search in public parks; if I happen to see who is causing the littering, I address them about it directly.
And yes, I am well acquainted with the issue of digging up other people’s trash—whether on the beach or in a field—and I always dispose of whatever I unearth in a proper manner.
But no, I will not be picking up and disposing of other people’s litter that is left lying out in the open; that would be a full-time job.

 

[guest]

I suppose it applies everywhere but my keyword was “beach”. Yes for those mocking me for filling holes of others. I have my favorite beaches. If the town decides to ban hunting who suffers? Like I said I’d rather give them a tongue lashing the second time than keep filling their holes but I’ll do what’s necessary to keep the beach open. Especially considering I get free parking if I get up early. Otherwise it varies $15 to $40. I love my beach and I’d gladly fill 20 holes every day to keep it. 18 months and I have 74 rings. I mean everyone’s entitled to their own level of commitment, that’s why I’m asking.

From your perspective, all of this makes sense, and I respect that—truly.
It also shows how genuinely committed you are.
I didn’t mean to come across as disrespectful; I just wanted to share my own opinion.

 

[guest]

Refilling someone else's hole is not a big deal. After all, most of us pick up trash left by miscreants, and think nothing of it.

Well, if filling in other people’s holes is no big deal, why is everyone getting so worked up about it?
And if it really isn’t a big deal, then these idiots—or should I say, these clumsy treasure hunters—might as well just leave the holes they’ve dug wide open.
The next competent metal detectorist will be more than happy to fill them in for them.

 

[pepperj]

Well, if filling in other people’s holes is no big deal, why is everyone getting so worked up about it?
And if it really isn’t a big deal, then these idiots—or should I say, these clumsy treasure hunters—might as well just leave the holes they’ve dug wide open.
The next competent metal detectorist will be more than happy to fill them in for them.

I'm not sure if you have critters that dig up plugs. We have skunks, raccoons that can uncover every plug. I've returned to a permission in a field and spent a good amount of time filling in holes again.

 

[guest]

I'm not sure if you have critters that dig up plugs. We have skunks, raccoons that can uncover every plug. I've returned to a permission in a field and spent a good amount of time filling in holes again.

No, animals like that don’t exist in my area.
And I agree with you—in this case, I would also go over and close everything back up, if only to maintain the well-kept appearance of the property.

 

[xr7ator]

No, animals like that don’t exist in my area.
And I agree with you—in this case, I would also go over and close everything back up, if only to maintain the well-kept appearance of the property.

No birds in your area seems hard to believe.

 

[Terry Soloman]

Sooo.. slapping newbies and miscreant detectorists behind their heads and demanding they fill their holes, or you'll steal their wives and girlfriends and sell them to Mexican cartels is wrong? Geesh, wish I had known this earlier,,

 

[russau]

At our GPAA club outings I always asked our members to pickup trash and put it into a white plastic bag and after our police call ,to hang up the bag in a very obvious spot where you are doing your thing. And "if / when" some one comes along and asks you what your doing m you reply WE just got do picking up OTHER PEOPLES trash and that is why the white bag is in the obvious spot to show what WE did because of others ! And I hauled ALL the trash to MY waste container at my home ! The club members like the end result ! and the area was left cleaner ! Such a little thing to do had such a BIG results !

 

[ToddsPoint]

I’m glad I live in the country and only hunt old house sites in ag fields. No worries dealing with home owners but not much treasure.

 

[guest]

No birds in your area seems hard to believe.

Let’s go over this slowly, so you can read it again: I couldn’t care less if some animals happen to wreck the areas where I’m searching.
Or are you trying to tell me that you head into the woods every single day to clean up all the damage caused by wild boars?
And if a flock of wild geese fouls the lakeshores in the parks where you search—well, I can just imagine you cleaning that all up.
Five gold stars for you.
Honestly, there are plenty of other things far more worth getting worked up about.😜

 

[guest]

At our GPAA club outings I always asked our members to pickup trash and put it into a white plastic bag and after our police call ,to hang up the bag in a very obvious spot where you are doing your thing. And "if / when" some one comes along and asks you what your doing m you reply WE just got do picking up OTHER PEOPLES trash and that is why the white bag is in the obvious spot to show what WE did because of others ! And I hauled ALL the trash to MY waste container at my home ! The club members like the end result ! and the area was left cleaner ! Such a little thing to do had such a BIG results !

Well, I agree with you—and with these types of initiatives—to a certain extent.
On one hand, it gets rid of the trash left by civilization, which also attracts vermin; on the other, it makes you feel a bit better about yourself because you’re taking responsibility—not just for yourself, but for others, too.
But, in reality, this only emboldens those who act irresponsibly. They just think, "Whatever—the idiots will clean up after me anyway."
I’m in favor of increased surveillance via camera systems so that we can track down the people responsible and hold them accountable.
And now, this thread is starting to get a bit too "trashy" for my taste.
Over & Out 🤭

 

[pepperj]

Let’s go over this slowly, so you can read it again: I couldn’t care less if some animals happen to wreck the areas where I’m searching.
Or are you trying to tell me that you head into the woods every single day to clean up all the damage caused by wild boars?
And if a flock of wild geese fouls the lakeshores in the parks where you search—well, I can just imagine you cleaning that all up.
Five gold stars for you.
Honestly, there are plenty of other things far more worth getting worked up about.😜

During the pick up from a farm auction the other day, one of my permissions was sharing a conversation he had with me many years ago.

"Jim had asked me if it was ok to go hunt in the back field. I told him that I wish he had asked me a few days earlier as I had covered it in liquid manure. He just said no problem and off he went detecting"

A little shit never hurt anyone.

 

[russau]

During the pick up from a farm auction the other day, one of my permissions was sharing a conversation he had with me many years ago.

"Jim had asked me if it was ok to go hunt in the back field. I told him that I wish he had asked me a few days earlier as I had covered it in liquid manure. He just said no problem and off he went detecting"

A little shit never hurt anyone.

Yep it';; wash off !