Re: Permission to metal detect in Parks
treasure-hunter, I like your stance. One comment though: you say:
"...
. Only state parks I ask at are state parks that are on the ocean ..."
I'll just use CA, as an example, to comment on this. But it is applicable to other states too, I'm sure: Here in CA, I suppose if you asked enough state park rangers, at the inland parks, then sure, you'd probably fetch some "no's", and sure, they'd cite cultural heritage stuff, blah blah blah. (not that some state parks aren't detected anyhow, and no one cares, but that's another issue).
And the *SAME* state park's dept that oversees the inland parks, is the exact same park's dept that also oversees their state beaches. So you would *THINK* that ....... thus ...... the rules would be the same. Ie.: if you aren't supposed to hunt in-land parks, then why, pray-tell, would their state beaches be any different? huh? But get this: you can hunt state of CA beaches here till you're blue in the face! Yup, right in front of rangers, etc... and no one cares. They've just been detected since the dawn of detectors (as long as anyone remembers) and ....... you're just ignored.
However, it would NOT be a wise idea for someone to go asking. Because they could just open a can of worms, and find themselves a "no". And ........ sheesk, then what do you thinks going to happen when that same ranger sees other md'rs down on the beach later on? He'll remember the earlier inquiry, and start booting others.
So just to put your quote in perspective, consider the above example. Sometimes even state beaches are ........ well .... put it this way: "leave good enough alone".
