The Golden age of Metal Detecting is over

[Tom_in_CA]

jhen999, As for your recollection of not having issues at inland parks back in the 1980s:

I saw this, for example, happen at a state park near me. The campground dated to the 1920s, and we used to get silver from there. Till one day back in the mid 1980s, an md'r (bless his little heart) took it upon himself to ask at the kiosk "can I metal detect?". The confused clerk looked too and fro through their rule-books, and couldn't find anything addressing this question. So they got on the phone and make calls to various superiors, headquarters , etc... They return to the kiosk window and tell the person "no". Well guess what started happening right after that? Other md'rs who had never had a problem before ..... started getting booted. Moral of the story ?

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

How to Research for Treasure Hunting and Metal Detecting From Lead Generation to Vetting - Grab it through Amazon!

[Tom_in_CA]

..... Basically, figure out where you want to go and call them (that specific park, not the general line) ahead of time.....

No. Wrong. You look up any potential rules for yourself (if you are skittish or worried). If you see no rule that says "no metal detecting", then .... presto, it's not prohibited. I do not risk asking ANY bored desk-bound bureaucrat . There is no law or rule that is "secret". All muni codes, laws, rules, etc... are available .... somewhere .... for public viewing. Look it up for oneself , so as not to risk arbitrary capricious "no's" from someone who thinks you might harm earthworms, or other such nonsense.

 

[jhen999]

Tom...your right, the Ranger did say that state beach's where ok to hunt on because disturbing the sand was ok , because it would feel back in with the wave action..its all pretty much a gray area and I guess it should stay that way..

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Tom...your right, the Ranger did say that state beach's where ok to hunt on because disturbing the sand was ok , because it would feel back in with the wave action..its all pretty much a gray area and I guess it should stay that way..

Well, perhaps the rules of "disturbance" wouldn't logically apply to beach sand. Afterall, how ELSE can kids dig sand castles, right?

However, if you showed that ranger verbage in their own codes about "cultural heritage", and "collecting/removing", he would need to change his tune and tell you that you can't detect at beaches either. Fortunately, as you have seen, none of them are "connecting the dots" in this way. Moral of the story? : We leave good enough alone, and dots un-connected. And the best way to keep it that way, is to ask as little questions as possible. Because if no one cares, then no one cares. It's too late to save the inland parks with that method (because way too many people went and asked "can I?" of bored archies way-back-when). But it's not too late to keep beaches here open, by just keeping things the way they are

 

[bigfoot1]

I might add that if an official asks what you are looking for be careful with your response.
You are looking for modern coins and someday maybe jewelry.Mostly you enjoy cleaning up trash.

 

[Hot zone]

I would love to be confronted and say:"I am sorry , here I will put these back!" and simply dump all my trash right in front of him!Then reach in my pocket "and here" adding 37cents to the pile!

 

[bigfoot1]

I would love to be confronted and say:"I am sorry , here I will put these back!" and simply dump all my trash right in front of him!Then reach in my pocket and add 37cents to the pile!

lmao

 

[Lifes A Garden...Dig IT]

Are beaches allowed in Cali state parks? Just wondering cause beaches are the only areas allowed in Ohio, Indiana and Ky state parks? And even sand volleyball courts are ob. Crazy!
Keep at it though...
Peace

Is that the deal? I called a local state park which includes a large popular lake with a beach, and he told me I was not allowed to metal detect period including the beach area or water because it was still part of the state park . CincinnattiKid, if that's the deal then you have made me a happy camper!!! I even asked him if I could go to a guard shack or park office and obtain a permit and he said there wasn't one because state parks as a whole are a no fly zone. Im in KY by the way.

 

[Lifes A Garden...Dig IT]

Some of the newer parks near me have signs posted saying metal detecting allowed but no digging.

That's about the worst tease I have ever heard of. I can see it now......BEEP BEEP BEEP......crazy VDI, and just stand there salivating. Brutal and sadistic is all I can say.

 

[Dave Rishar]

Some of the newer parks near me have signs posted saying metal detecting allowed but no digging.

That sounds like a job for a probe.

The definition of the word "dig" can imply moving soil to uncover something, even if no dirt is actually being removed. That having been said, I know what most people mean when they say not to dig - they mean not to dig holes. I also know that if it's a law of some sort, "dig" should be defined at the beginning, at least here in Washington. If their definition of "dig" doesn't preclude "popping" targets when reasonably interpreted, I'd say that it's game on.

Unfortunately they're a bit more precise here. When they don't want you metal detecting, they just say, "No metal detecting." That one's harder to wriggle out of.

 

[Hot zone]

That sounds like a job for a probe.

The definition of the word "dig" can imply moving soil to uncover something, even if no dirt is actually being removed. That having been said, I know what most people mean when they say not to dig - they mean not to dig holes. I also know that if it's a law of some sort, "dig" should be defined at the beginning, at least here in Washington. If their definition of "dig" doesn't preclude "popping" targets when reasonably interpreted, I'd say that it's game on.

Unfortunately they're a bit more precise here. When they don't want you metal detecting, they just say, "No metal detecting." That one's harder to wriggle out of.

also from Washington, frustrated with all the laws for all outdoor persuits... The flat rule no Metal Detecting would make it illegal for a utility worker to search buried cables... Just like putting up a no hunting sign makes it illegal to hunt your own property... Not a lot of wriggle room, but it does make the law rather bogus!

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Is that the deal? I called a local state park which includes a large popular lake with a beach, and he told me I was not allowed to metal detect period including the beach area or water because it was still part of the state park . .....

Such would also probably be the answer here in CA too. If enough md'rs picked up the phone like you did, and called enough bureaucrats and state archies with this "pressing question". We too might be told "no" . And then .... I guess that would mean they are now "off-limits" ? So to me that means we shouldn't ask any silly questions. Since things are just fine the way they are.

So too might you have just been the latest victim of: "Sometimes no one cares .... TILL you ask".

 

[Hot zone]

Such would also probably be the answer here in CA too. If enough md'rs picked up the phone like you did, and called enough bureaucrats and state archies with this "pressing question". We too might be told "no" . And then .... I guess that would mean they are now "off-limits" ? So to me that means we shouldn't ask any silly questions. Since things are just fine the way they are.

So too might you have just been the latest victim of: "Sometimes no one cares .... TILL you ask".

you are right Tom...but it will happen... The Kellyco comercial airing during the ball game about finding treasure everytime you go out and it being profitable comes to mind... When you learned about the hobbie from a friend who took you out, teaching you to recover the target responsibly, there was no problem... Now the ignorant masses can grab one up at wall mart and have at it!
Some states will figure out how to profit by it and others, under the presumption of protecting the environment, will ban it all together...

 

[Tom_in_CA]

you are right Tom...but it will happen... The Kellyco comercial airing during the ball game about finding treasure everytime you go out and it being profitable comes to mind... When you learned about the hobbie from a friend who took you out, teaching you to recover the target responsibly, there was no problem... Now the ignorant masses can grab one up at wall mart and have at it!
Some states will figure out how to profit by it and others, under the presumption of protecting the environment, will ban it all together...

Hot-zone, all of us agree that newbies are "sore-thumbs" that don't know how to conduct themselves, be discreet, leave no marks, etc.... Yup "ignorant masses".

But .... what does this have to do with this post though ? If all those newbies "rushed to their city hall, state archies, rangers, etc... " asking permission, or asking "can I?" and so forth, it's certainly not going to help matters any. It will just make things worse, as more "red-x-bullseyes" in need of princely "no's". Unless, of course, that's what you meant by this new flock of folk ?

 

[Frankn]

I have to agree with you Tom. The new to the hunt just don't understand the present situation and them asking the officials is just stirring the pot.The ones that ask permission on 'public' land are just asking for trouble. Frank...-

 

[JunkShopFiddler]

Anyone else do this? I cut a straight line in the ground with the shovel over the pinpointed spot going away from myself maybe 7 or 8 inches. Then put the shovel in at the close end of the cut and pry up. This will usually cause the ground to split up along the cut line and into two plugs that are still connected by grass or roots, which I lay to the opposite sides of the hole. I can usually find the object with the pinpointer then push both sides of plugs back into the hole...It's not really digging in my book, just "splitting", easy to fix up afterwards this way too.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

I have to agree with you Tom. The new to the hunt just don't understand the present situation ......

Frankn, I've given it some more thought, and figure it's a split bag of perils with the newcomers: Yes, some can cause damage by NOT asking. Yet others can cause damage (attention we don't want at places with no prohibitions) by asking.

Because, sure, if that newbie waltzed out to a sensitive historic monument, where he shouldn't be poking around, then sure: He is a black-eye to the hobby. He'll "bring awareness" from those that are going to boot him, and so forth. So in that sense, I suppose you could argue that newbie "should have asked" first, right? Because they'd have been told "no", and have avoided that bad scene, right?

On the other hand, the same information could have been attained by that newbie if he'd a) avoid obvious historic monuments in the first place, and b) look it up for himself if in doubt, and c) ask long-time local md'rs. Any one of those 3 methods would give him the answer, yet don't involve having to ask powers-that-be.

 

[Hot zone]

Frankn, I've given it some more thought, and figure it's a split bag of perils with the newcomers: Yes, some can cause damage by NOT asking. Yet others can cause damage (attention we don't want at places with no prohibitions) by asking.

Because, sure, if that newbie waltzed out to a sensitive historic monument, where he shouldn't be poking around, then sure: He is a black-eye to the hobby. He'll "bring awareness" from those that are going to boot him, and so forth. So in that sense, I suppose you could argue that newbie "should have asked" first, right? Because they'd have been told "no", and have avoided that bad scene, right?

On the other hand, the same information could have been attained by that newbie if he'd a) avoid obvious historic monuments in the first place, and b) look it up for himself if in doubt, and c) ask long-time local md'rs. Any one of those 3 methods would give him the answer, yet don't involve having to ask powers-that-be.

I think that is what I was driving at, reguarding how one learns about detecting... Being taken under a wing so to speak and shown the ropes... Using a metal probe and a screwdriver and a basic dos and donts of metal detecting... Verses here. Is a detector, there is treasure out there! Here is the 10 commandments have at it! ... So the guy waltzes up with his new detector in one hand and shovel in the other to ask permission... Those of us who have been doing it for a while know to keep a low profile, while looking like you are doing nothing wrong! A skill if you will! We are doing the right thing by discussions like this one! But I fear people constantly asking permission to hunt areas that have no restrictions can not end well!

 

[Lifes A Garden...Dig IT]

Tom and Frankn, I am actually not a newbie and have a great deal of respect and enthusiasm for our hobby. I simply try and abide by state laws so we don't seem to be a nuisance or sneaky law breakers to the watching eye of the community or media. I live in the state of Kentucky and they say all state parks are banned from metal detecting, yet another member here on TNet and even others have stated they thought it was just fine and dandy to hunt such locations as mentioned in my earlier post. I guess maybe I should just load up my gear and go to this park that I am speaking of and just go at it. Be open minded and expect the best such as a delightful hunt but, be prepared for the worst such as being publicly reprimanded, have my equipment confiscated, or possibly fined or ticketed.

 

[Frankn]

I think the situation is like an overgrazed field. As the number of hunters increases in the parks, the returns diminish. So what's the answer? Shift gears maybe. That is try a different type of target area. The beach will always be good, but old back yards will produce valuable surprises. Small cache hunting is something anybody who is willing to put in some research time can do. Most libraries have a local history room. it is filled with leads to small caches. That old section of town where the rich use to live, where the old annual fair use to be held. The annual picnic areas. The old swimming holes. They are all there waiting for you and i would guess that they aren't crowded. Think about the alternatives! Frank...-