Sometimes it doesnt pay to ask to hunt

[swampmon]

Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

Well, I was hoping my first big post would be to tell you of the finds from a farm house I have been wanting to search but I can't and here is the reason. The property is owned by a church so respected not trespassing and sent a long letter asking to hunt which included permission and waivers forms and I also stated that anything of historical value would be turned over to the village. Well after awhile I finally got a response and they said we need to ask everyone in the church if they would like to hunt first, if no one does then I have permission. I thought that was fair since it is their property. Well, the last email I got said that they had 2 people that will hunt the property and that ALL findings go to help fund the church and they ended the email with a sorry. What?? No thank you for your great idea to metal detect the property? No would you care to help them in the hunt No you can hunt after the church people are done with their hunt I am very disappointed that they took my idea and I don't even get to help them. It's not about finding riches although that is a plus. It's about the thrill of the hunt that makes it fun whether or not it's for me. I would have loved to help them but I have lost even more respect for yet another religion. Very disappointed in them. If it wasn't for me bringing this up to them they would never even be doing it. Well I guess the search for another prime location is on.

 

[IronClad]

Re: Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

This is easy. They already gave 2 other persons permission to detect,,,,so,,,,,,,,,all you have to do is start going to that Church and then you will get to be the 3rd person with permission.

 

[jorge del norte]

Re: Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

I pushed my luck on a neighborhood church, when I was sure no one would be there, I was approached by the nice minister, asked what I was finding, and asked if I cared to join their service on Sunday. They were good people and saw I was picking up trash and not digging deep, I also said if I found any jewelry I would give it to him for a possible lost and found. If anything I cleaned up allot of riffraff's beer tabs, this of which he was thankful for. It is after all "Gods House" so I was cleaning it up a bit on the outside. I think it has to do with the age of the church also, history, established by date, etc.......and possible the community, the congregation mostly likely would have a few objectors if I went the correct route, most churches have a few difficult people in their congregation that can't agree on even the hymns to sing. I do not advise this approach.
I hunt these churches, with no problem from anyone. The finds are slim, so I don't expect much .If there is no Trespassing Signs then it is a no go. Like I said it is the location, and if It looks too good I wouldn't advise it. There are many times I check out a spot and know by a gut feeling I would be sticking out like a sore thumb.......I have only had problems with hunting city property, and a vacant lot.......I don't do these areas anymore with out permission. You don't want to be like that guy that was caught a few months back, "blocked in the driveway"
HH

 

[Natman]

Re: Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

Well after awhile I finally got a response and they said we need to ask everyone in the church if they would like to hunt first, if no one does then I have permission. I thought that was fair since it is their property. Well, the last email I got said that they had 2 people that will hunt the property and that ALL findings go to help fund the church and they ended the email with a sorry.

You never know, but sometimes people (even church people) bend the truth to an extent because they have trouble trusting anyone they don't know, and also because they're ignorant about detecting in general. They picture an "outsider" coming into the grounds, and wonder what your true intentions are, even though you were honest in telling them the reason you're there to begin with. They also sometimes think you're going to cause some kind of widespread damage to their grounds.

Giving the finds to fund the church doesn't make much sense to me, unless they somehow think there's hundreds of dollars located on their property, just waiting to be found.

As a stranger asking permission, I always run into 3 main problems:

1) I am someone they don't know;
2) My interest in their property somehow makes them think I know something they don't (like there may be hidden valuables on their property I'll take away);
3) The property owner is so unfamiliar with detecting they picture you digging up their lawn with pick and shovel

It never hurts to ask, but when you ask to hunt private property often, you'll get rejections and an occassional OK..blow off the rejections (even though it may be a missed opportunity) and continue asking until you meet the right people who are willing to give you a chance.

Best of luck and keep trying.

Nat

 

[swampmon]

Re: Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

My biggest disappointment was that this is a church and the way they shrugged me off wasn't the right way. What you don't know is I talked with the Pastor first but he said it's not his decision but the "committee's". All it is right now is a "future" site for their church which consists of an abandoned farm house and a ton of land just sitting there.

Please don't think my "title" means I would rather have not asked and searched without permission. I would never do that.

 

[teverly]

Re: Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

This is the best time of year to try and get out.
Yards are usually a little wetter and the grass is going dormant so by spring it comes up noce and pretty.
Im not sure where you are located but until it freezes i would be asking to hunt yards or any other spots you have picked out.
Good luck....

 

[CRUSADER]

Re: Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

My biggest disappointment was that this is a church and the way they shrugged me off wasn't the right way. What you don't know is I talked with the Pastor first but he said it's not his decision but the "committee's". All it is right now is a "future" site for their church which consists of an abandoned farm house and a ton of land just sitting there.

Please don't think my "title" means I would rather have not asked and searched without permission. I would never do that.

Yeah, nice to see you burst onto the scene. Your title was a little misleading but I saw past that. Welcome to the wonderful world of Tnet & we hope to see some of your finds soon. The Church is a cross section of society (& we know what that means) Keep at it & try different approaches, I think you may get there in the end. More than one way to skin a cat.

 

[brnn53]

Re: Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

Bide your time. If any of the members were serious detectors, then it would have been hunted before now. After they have been frustrated by trash and a few zincs they'll give it up and you can move in. You did the right thing.
Mike

 

[Kas]

Re: Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

You should have a bunch of other places to hunt, anyway.

As winter is coming on, if you're in the north, research is the treasure you should be looking for.

 

[jbow]

Re: Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

Contact them again in a couple of years and I guarantee you will find that no one ever got around to doing it. Then maybe you will get permission, follow up.

J

 

[Jack(IN)]

Re: Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

You did the right thing, and so what, you were turned down, go on to the next place and ask, its not your property and unfortunately they have the right to say no. YOU have the right to ask the next person and believe me, for every no you will get a yes. I have asked to hunt Courthouses around here and I'm 0-12, that means I've been turned down 12 straight times at 12 different Courthouses, but do you think I won't go to #13, bet your a$$ I will and this time I may get that yes. I've showered last month so maybe that might do the trick, but I won't stop asking because someone said no!! One more thing....it ALWAYS pays to ask permission!!

 

[imafishingnutt]

Re: Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

How tipical of a church...
its not your soul anymore they want but the money

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

Hunting private property where the agreement is you can pick what to keep usually will end up with you taking home a few zincs and the land owner keeping all the cool stuff. Doesn't always happen, but I hear about it a lot....

Ask to search period, otherwise you are giving away good ideas and finds to a lazy and usually greedy landowner...


Also don't promise any work to hunt scenario unless you are SURE that there is good stuff underground... Nothing is worse than having to do 4 hours of physical labor in trade for hunting permission and only finding a few clad coins...

You did right to ask, keep trying!

HH

JW

I'm not sure that I would call a land owner greedy...even if they took all of my finds. These finds are THEIRS! THEY own the land, and the rights to whatever is found on it. Just think of how many landowners have been swindled by folks that "forget" to show them that diamond solitaire ring they found, or that Capped Bust silver, or that C.S.A. buckle! Keep it in perspective here! I think that is part of the reason private landowners are cracking down on us. It's not just because of the dishonest detectorists that leave holes unfilled--folks realize that there are sometimes valuable items on their properties. And no matter how much work you put into finding the items--they weren't found on YOUR property. I also don't think they qualify as "lazy" either. Just because they didn't spend $800 on a metal detector and hours and hours of detecting time to learn how to use it and hours detecting their own property??!! I don't call that "lazy" LOL I call that "sane."

-Buckleboy

 

[adh247]

Re: Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

It might be their land etc. big deal I dont know.... If your the one out there, and you find something regardless...... I wouldnt say it is THEIRS

This would be my trick lol, and this is because.. once again.... Im crazy.....
If you agree on splitting the finds evenly. I would do so regardless of what it is.... But this is what i would do.... If i found something, and they wanted to be an asshole, and say it is theirs, then say ok... your right..... then tell them to look to their left..... .then as they do......throw it as far as you can to their right! and say "its all yours!" lol dammit i find that funny!

See... When it gets down to it like that.... Its not about the Metal Detecting. Its not about the passion. Its not about the land owners property... Its about the Principal
If they are nice folks etc. and you guys make a deal...then thats Wonderful. If they are gonna be a prick. Then just chalk it up as a bad day fishing, and THROW THE "FISH" BACK! :P

 

[cheese]

Re: Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

The way they did it seems a bit strange...I can see how you feel a tad slighted...but it's their property and their call. It sounds to me like maybe they don't know how to say "no", and would rather let you down gently...and in doing so, stepped on your toes a little anyway. Just because someone goes to church doesn't mean they are perfect, or will behave perfectly all the time. It's just regular people trying to do what they believe is right. Ask them again in person one day. If someone asked me to hunt my place on the phone or mail, I'd say no. I want to see the folks I am permitting on my place, talk with them, and get a feel for what kind of person they are.

 

[adh247]

Re: Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

good point.... and just because its a church, doesnt mean you have to be more "gentle" I would approach it just like you would any other thought process.
Like cheese said... do it in person

 

[CRUSADER]

Re: Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

good point.... and just because its a church, doesnt mean you have to be more "gentle" I would approach it just like you would any other thought process.
Like cheese said... do it in person

Yeah, as I said earlier, don't scare them with forms. Go meet them & wear a visible cross around your neck, don't need to buy one just use one you found.

 

[adh247]

Re: Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

lol good idea.

 

[Southern_Boy]

Re: Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

That bites! Sorry to hear that someone that owned the property decided to not let you enjoy the fun but it does belong to them. Still you did the right thing and I believe in Karma, something good will happpen to you. Keep asking for permission.

 

[syko]

Re: Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

They could have at least said, "thanks,that's a good idea,maybe you can join us and show us how to use a
metal detector,do you have any we can borrow?"

I mean,what were they gonna do?Spend $800 on a machine or 2,or buy a Mickey Mouse detector from Walmart
and go at it,swinging that coil like a golf club?

I think if they did find something,after they were done,the field would look like it was shelled by mortar fire.
At least you could have been there to show them the "correct way" of digging and swinging.

Go back in a few weeks and see if they left any craters

 

[BuckleBoy]

Re: Sometimes it doesn't pay to ask to hunt

They could have at least said, "thanks,that's a good idea,maybe you can join us and show us how to use a
metal detector,do you have any we can borrow?"

I mean,what were they gonna do?Spend $800 on a machine or 2,or buy a Mickey Mouse detector from Walmart
and go at it,swinging that coil like a golf club?

I think if they did find something,after they were done,the field would look like it was shelled by mortar fire.
At least you could have been there to show them the "correct way" of digging and swinging.

Go back in a few weeks and see if they left any craters

Yep. They were just clearin out the iron for ya. Ask again in a couple of weeks and go get all those coins they missed.