private landowner offer?

[melnatcat]

I've been doing some research on the net about about different places to search here in Minnesota. One place (there is more research to do) may be privately owned now. What % of your find do you offer a landowner? 50? Their land/your labor?

 

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[swizzle]

Percentages can be tough when your dealing with an array of different items. Talk it over with the owner before you even start. It may determine wether or not that you come back. If the owner says I want all the gold and silver items you find, be it jewelry or coin, then you might want to hunt elsewhere. What happens if you find a wheat penny and a gold coin and the owner wants the gold coin and refuses to sell it. Then you lucked out with a whole wheat penny and wasted a day. Never get a landowners hopes up by saying you always read about big money finds. Greed makes people think twice about how fair they're gonna be with you. Always be friendly and curtious. Act like you are looking at different area's to hunt and if you gain access you might come back. Always have several different prospects going at once. That way if an owner is insist on being greedy then you can tell him you'll get back to him and get his phone number. In a week or so call mr. greedy back and let him know you found greener pastures elsewhere and with work and your busy life you have limited time and must be selective about the properties you hunt. Hope this helps. Jason

 

[stoney56]

You could tell him you'l split any single item that's face value is over a $1. That way if you find a 1916D merc or an 1877 I.H. or for that matter even a silver $1 of any form you're covered. But why make any agreement unless he asks, just try for written permission 1st. Then if he asks for a split then say 50/50 on the permission slip.

 

[stoney56]

Also look in Metal Detecting forum for Letter Requesting Permission To Hunt.

 

[jeff of pa]

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, make an offer. just ask for permission. IF he suggests, then consider, or if all else fails, maby then. BUT, Never , Bring it up on a first meeting.

 

[stoney56]

Jeff's right. Don't offer any split unless landowner requests it specifically as a requirement to hunt. Your 1st objective is to ask for permission, 2nd get it in writing.

 

[lonewolfe]

I like swizzles approach!

He's right when saying that "Greed" makes people less inclined to accept and or allow you to hunt their property. If they think you might find something worth a lot of money (or gold items) they tend to get $$ in their eyes, say no almost 100% of the time, and or tell you some story about how they are buying a detector to do the property themselves!

I like the "casual" approach where you just walk up and ask if it may be possible to one day come by and do an hr or 2 of scouting around the property for whatever may be buried a few inches in the ground. Act like you've been around the neighborhood off and on for the last few yrs doing various places on a sat or sun here and there, and even though you've not found anything worth any money, you just like to do it as a hobby. Never take your equipment to the door with you as, people tend to be defensive towards strangers, and if they see you standing there with some contraption they've never seen before, and a shovel, and like you're all geared up to start digging holes all over their yard, you're not going to get very far!

Also, talk to them about more than just detecting, and tell them you're really more interested in the history of the area as you've been a part time history buff for most of your life, and like to meet new people & friends to share this passion with as you obtain new places to scout! Never say "I'll split everything with you"! ?If they ask for some of the finds you make, tell them you're happy to offer anything you find, and you'll stop up to the door at the end of your hunt and offer whatever they want of your finds! Usually- this method will detour them from even asking for/taking anything, and they'll likely say "just go ahead and hunt, but don't leave any holes, etc. and if you find a pot of gold, I want 50%!

It's your approach, demeanor, attitude, how you come off to a land owner, and whether or not you seem sincere in what you're telling him/her as to if or if not they'll let you hunt, and or if they'll want to see everything you find! If you seem nervous, tense, insincere and like you're there just to dig up the yard like a pirate looking for loot, they'll sense it and give you the boot! On the other hand, if you genuinely take interest in them, their history of the town, area, show you're interested in more than just plundering their land, and like to make/meet new people and friends, they'll be a lot more receptive of you and your adventure!

 

[melnatcat]

Most Minnesotans are friendly, personable people, but you are right about the $$ greed. It pays to be friendly and courteous. A smile is worth a million words! There's never any harm in trying and giving it your best shot! What have you got to lose? All they could do is say no. Or maybe shoot you in butt as you walk away...lol

 

[JARMAN]

I never bring up coin finds or any thing of value to the land owner.I let thim know that i'm just a history buff and like diggin old relics like horse shoes farm relics,ect and it just seems like i'm someone who needs a life to thim becouse if your not into MD,ING I dont think it even comes into mind that you may find something of value.I ask if they have ever lost anything that if found i would be happy to return if found.And I did with a ring one time.But most would never have a clue of whats in the ground just ready to be found.Just my take on it.After all we are not in it for the greed,it, the hunt.

 

[Lowbatts]

Well DiginD I don't like that way of thinking but you are right, fair is fair and turnabout is fair play and all that. Haven't had anyone tell or ask me for my finds from their yards yet but I've given some up for goodwill sake and made a few folk mighty happy doing so.

 

[Monty]

Since I don't necessarily intend to make a profit off of anything I find I don't offer anything. I would keep coins for my personal collection with no thought to selling them. Any artifacts, I plan to photograph and perhaps handle them and show them off a bit and then dontate them to a museum if they will take them. Any jewelry I find I will photograph it and if there's any way to identify it, try to get it to the original owner if possible, making sure the "owner" can describe the item to my satisfaction.. For me it's not the potential for profit, it's the detecting and the discovery that intrigues me. I realize some of you are into metal detecting for different reasons and that's perfectly OK by me. I wouldn't blame anyone who wanted to make a few bucks for his/her efforts. I guess the reason I feel this way is because I realize that if you don't find and claim the items, they will just sit there in the ground forever and never be of use to anyone.