Permission to hunt

[EQ8]

I copied a form for requesting permission from people to MD their property.
The FIRST one I gave to an acquaintance, who asked..
"what if you find something valuable?"
Fair enough question.
What would be a good answer?
I can imagine that a lot of people would not want you to do this because they may miss out or something.
Being somewhat new at doing this seriously, I thought I'd ask you folks for your opinions.
Thanks!

 

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[tokameel]

Good post, EQ8. I say "Please show me my boundaries and you can stay with me as I detect. I will give you one third of the value of what I find." This time of year they don't last long.

 

[releventchair]

I copied a form for requesting permission from people to MD their property.
The FIRST one I gave to an acquaintance, who asked..
"what if you find something valuable?"
Fair enough question.
What would be a good answer?
I can imagine that a lot of people would not want you to do this because they may miss out or something.
Being somewhat new at doing this seriously, I thought I'd ask you folks for your opinions.
Thanks!

I look at permissions as if some one was asking me for permission.
I know what is buried where on my property.
IF I suspected something of value (with a serious reason besides some one wanting to detect it) Would I let some one hunt it? Probably not if I knew something valuable was on it.

One permission told me he would get half if I found a jar of gold coins.
I told him o.k. , but I get to keep the jar.
We both laughed.
Never mind them treasure shows on T.V. folks/ nervous landowner with visions of great wealth and backhoes.. Them's not my detecting experience.

Really , it's up to you and the permission as to who keeps what. I'm not going to do all the work for nothing for most strangers.
With an exciting coin being worth a few to several dollars around my area , that hardly buys my gas for the truck. And I need battery money! L.o.l.

Some are just curious. Others are greedy.
When asked what I'm after I usually say , a coin ,or anything older than I am , but that's not something I expect to find either. It takes looking at various sites usually. It's not a money thing , it's a metal detecting hobby thing. Old homes. Old homesites. History in layers , ect..

 

[EQ8]

Thanks for the replies.
1/3 sounds fair, and I did tell her that a lot of what we find is junk.

I like releventchair's answer as well.

 

[fistfulladirt]

Throw away the forms, they scare people away. Design a verbal introduction that takes maybe 30 seconds. Don’t mention digging, tell them you like to look for old wheat pennies, that’s all they need to know. I get a yes better than 4 out of 5 times. Been doing it for decades.

 

[Tnmountains]

I say just be polite and get verbal permission and tell them you will be happy to show them what you found. If they start wanting to bargain the finds just take into consideration the history in that area and if its even worth it. I have had people want everything and cherry pick my finds before. So I do not offer anything but am more than happy to share if the finds are many. I try to make it cordial and fun.Most people do not want anything until you start offering it to them. I do like to show them how I dig a plug and put it back. That makes them happy! lol
Good luck!

 

[Trezurehunter]

When people ask me about finding something valuable, I tell them that I split all of my finds 50 / 50. Then I tell them to have a bag ready for their 50 % of the garbage !! That gets a laugh, and I'm on my way detecting !

 

[EQ8]

All great suggestions.
Glad I asked!
of course, that's what forums are for, right?
Thanks for all the input!

 

[djackson7348]

My 2 cents;
Always get permission. Ask in person first. Never offer a written agreement unless requested by the property owner.

 

[A2coins]

No one will want to sign a form just my opinion people dont like to sign things I would say no right out of the gate

 

[eyemustdigtreasure]

Right, and the verbal permission can be supplemented with the show of Finds, (and garbage) after the hunt,
and communication of some personal kind, every time you are on THEIR property...!
Our club has a list of Code of Ethics on the back of card, too....

 

[Bum Luck]

................. I have had people want everything and cherry pick my finds before.

I don't even deal with those people. Not worth it.

One of my friends said there's supposed to be some gold coins buried in her yard, but we went over it and nothing.

I said why would they bury it outside when they could stick it in the laid stone basement wall where it couldn't have been stolen by someone spying?

Afterwards we had a beer.

 

[Toecutter]

Im not signing anything that gives permission to dig on my property and would not allow them to dig I would also be very skeptical as to why they "think" they need a document.

If I was asked I'd gladly say yes...