Somebody always has to ruin it for everyone.

Speedglass · Jun 29, 2026

Today I received some disappointing news. Apparently someone got on Facebook because they thought it would be great to show off some treasures they found and announce the exact location where they found it. They seemed very proud of their discovery. This person will soon find out the hard way that they made a grave mistake. Now hundreds of people are going to go to this spot and dig it dry. This was not a super secret spot by any means. But up until now the people in the know tried to keep it to a minimum of who they shared this location with. This same type of behavior has closed down many mineral, fossil, fishing, and hunting spots. I wish people would think, before they act. I am really frustrated right now as this was a favorite spot of mine. I hate to see that it has been announced to the world. As the title says "Someone always has to ruin it for everyone!" I hope they got all the "Like" that they were dreaming off.

SD51 · Jun 29, 2026

Sorry to hear that Speedglass, I've seen this happen countless times too. Never a good ending...

ArfieBoy · Jun 29, 2026

Agree!

Speedglass · Jun 29, 2026

SD51 said:
Sorry to hear that Speedglass, I've seen this happen countless times too. Never a good ending...

ArfieBoy said:
Agree!

When I joined the Fossil Forum back in 2015 many people would post trip reports and show what they found and tell where they found it. Mainly it was places that were already well known. But after Covid the whole world suddenly was looking for outdoor adventures. There became a surge of budding Paleontologists, fishermen, campers, hikers, kayaking, etc... Which is all great, except all of these groups went out without any ethics. Fossil sites were stripped clean, sometimes on private property. Same thing with fishing spots. People get greedy go back over and over till everything is gone or they simply trash a spot. Property owners get fed up with trash left behind and the constant flow of people and suddenly the spot is now shut down. And then there is Facebook and YouTube where everyone wants to become famous so they post these spots and even more people find out. Now the Fossil forum asks that no one discuss locations directly on the open forum. We still get people constantly asking for locations to go their first post after joining. It really is sickening.

rginn · Jun 30, 2026

That's one reason in the artifacts forum, when we ask for where an arrowhead or other artifact was found, we don't want driving directions, just knowing the general area of the country where it was found helps the experts on there ID the thing.

k0bgalan · Jun 30, 2026

This hobby has had tattletales since Charles Garrett more or less started (expanded if nothing else) his business. These days, it is certainly more prevalent due to social media. Too bad.

mtdoramike · Jun 30, 2026

Speedglass said:
Today I received some disappointing news. Apparently someone got on Facebook because they thought it would be great to show off some treasures they found and announce the exact location where they found it. They seemed very proud of their discovery. This person will soon find out the hard way that they made a grave mistake. Now hundreds of people are going to go to this spot and dig it dry. This was not a super secret spot by any means. But up until now the people in the know tried to keep it to a minimum of who they shared this location with. This same type of behavior has closed down many mineral, fossil, fishing, and hunting spots. I wish people would think, before they act. I am really frustrated right now as this was a favorite spot of mine. I hate to see that it has been announced to the world. As the title says "Someone always has to ruin it for everyone!" I hope they got all the "Like" that they were dreaming off.

Ok, I can see where you would be a bit put off by this, but how did you find out about this place? Someone tell you?, you came across it by accident? someone post it some where? People get way to possessive with metal detecting spots. If you did all the research about a hunting spot and it was in the middle of no where and when you return to that spot days or weeks later and find 4 or 5 guys beating the bushes, I would be a bit put off to. That has happened to me a lot, but I just shrug it off and either find another spot or tell them to move over and remind them to fill in their holes.

Speedglass · Jul 1, 2026

mtdoramike said:
Ok, I can see where you would be a bit put off by this, but how did you find out about this place? Someone tell you?, you came across it by accident? someone post it some where? People get way to possessive with metal detecting spots. If you did all the research about a hunting spot and it was in the middle of no where and when you return to that spot days or weeks later and find 4 or 5 guys beating the bushes, I would be a bit put off to. That has happened to me a lot, but I just shrug it off and either find another spot or tell them to move over and remind them to fill in their holes.

I found this spot on my own. As I stated in the original post this was not a secret spot per se. Many people knew about it, because it is located near a popular fishing spot. But most of the people who go there do so to fish. Heck I have even told some of my family and friends about the spot, only because none of them have any interest in it. But I think blasting it on Facebook takes it to a whole new level. Just my opinion. But I do understand what you are saying as well. I know it is not the end of the world. I will survive.