Sidewalks??

[jimzz977]

I wondering if sidewalks the part between street and sidewalk would be ok to detect or or is it private property?? . I was driving around a historical part of my city with old house were and our train station was. Thanks

 

[Tenspeed]

I was not a curb hunter until a club hunt on a local college campus in late 2011. In two 100 foot curbs on a local college campus four of us found 2 Walking liberty halves, 2 silver washington quarters, 8 Mercury dimes, one war nickel, silver hair beret and 30+ wheat pennies. We later discovered that this was a hangout in the 40's for guys coming to visit the girls (was a girls college until the 80's).

I started hunting curbs in my area in January 2012 with great success (60+ silver coins last year from curbs). Not every curb has coins in it. Look for the side people park on the most.

I have only had one homeowner show concern and I showed him how I didn't leave a mark. Many times it gave me an opportunity to meet the owner and obtain permission to hunt their yard.

Two such permissions for 1815 and 1910 homes have led to continuing friendships along with many neat finds (WWI 371st Regiment Medallion, SC Civil war button, first Barber quarter, first buffalo nickel, 8 silver dimes, V nickels, IH pennies, wheaties, other neat artifacts).

Other meetings have led to owners allowing access to their multiple rental homes in the older parts of town, which also led to great success.

You have to be polite, careful to not leave a mark (especially in a well taken care of strip), sure of yourself, and ready to move on if asked since they do count the strip as in their yard.

Several of my friends will hunt curbs, but others won't. It is a personal decision. In our area there aren't many old areas to hunt, that is why we gravitated to curbs.

 

[Old Dude]

Don't you love it when there is no clear answer? I would say "let your conscience be your guide" in this matter. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. If you have to sneak and do something it looks like you're doing something wrong. When we are responsible and above board, it promotes our hobby in a way that does NOT create suspicion. Good luck in your decision.

 

[reednc]

I have had good success hunting curb strips. My rule of thumb is that if it looks to be well maintained and has additional vegetation planted, I move on.

 

[cudamark]

That's been my experience too. If the parking strip is real nice, it's probably been dug up and replanted so there is nothing to find. I'll run a loop over it anyway but 99% of the time there isn't any good targets.