The good and the bad

[Froggie]

The Good
I live in what is said to be the most historical county in the country
http://www.arthart.com/visithistoric.htm

The Bad
I can't find any places to hunt

 

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[Hoosier Kingfisher]

Sure you can. Ask. See a private residence that looks good. Mail them a courteous letter explaining your wants, offer them a cut. Enclose a stamped self addressed envelope. With mail you dont disturb them at a bad time. Good luck,Ron

 

[W6PEA]

Sure you can. Ask. See a private residence that looks good. Mail them a courteous letter explaining your wants, offer them a cut. Enclose a stamped self addressed envelope. With mail you dont disturb them at a bad time. Good luck,Ron

That is a great idea.....

I have my eye on an arena where they have horse shows in a local city park. Around the snack bar and the bleachers and a couple of other areas and it's soft sand around the area.

 

[Stacylee926]

I used to live in No Va - for many, many years! Stafford is an amazing county - still with wide open spaces. Consider this - schools are always a good place to start, there is alot of land and some even backup to wooded areas. Here is an amazing opportunity. History might even suggest that old one room school houses were located on the same property as modern schools.

As you begin to metal detect, you will get more confident in asking permission. I have stopped 2 times now to ask people in fields - didnt get permission (one land owner MD's too, the other one had recently sold the property) - but I stopped!

 

[Froggie]

I used to live in No Va - for many, many years! Stafford is an amazing county - still with wide open spaces. Consider this - schools are always a good place to start, there is alot of land and some even backup to wooded areas. Here is an amazing opportunity. History might even suggest that old one room school houses were located on the same property as modern schools.

As you begin to metal detect, you will get more confident in asking permission. I have stopped 2 times now to ask people in fields - didnt get permission (one land owner MD's too, the other one had recently sold the property) - but I stopped!

I have been researching lost places in Stafford and there are a few, but the directions given are pretty poor.
I have a few area's I'm going to try.
Thanks

 

[TheSleeper]

Froogy, you are smack dab in the middle of the best civil war sites in va, BUT u got to research for them.
Old maps look for areas off the state and fed lands they camped or trails they used, jefferson davis hwy got its name for a reason.
School playground areas
public swimming holes (Rappahannock)
public beaches (potomac)
Public parks(ask park superentendant for permission first)
Old home sites (old plat maps from your local gov)
Go to mapquest.com put it in aerial view(tab on right side of map screen) and scout around your area for old home sites, its not the best but its free and is a good way to start getting familar with map searches.

Any metal detecting groups close to you?
check in richmond or washington

Look up any metal detector stores in your area(rich-wash) there are a few, call or stop by and talk to them, perhaps you could be included in some of there hunts, or perhaps they can steer you to an open area.

The keyword to treasure hunting is research, research, research

 

[Froggie]

Froogy, you are smack dab in the middle of the best civil war sites in va, BUT u got to research for them.
Old maps look for areas off the state and fed lands they camped or trails they used, jefferson davis hwy got its name for a reason.
School playground areas
public swimming holes (Rappahannock)
public beaches (potomac)
Public parks(ask park superentendant for permission first)
Old home sites (old plat maps from your local gov)
Go to mapquest.com put it in aerial view(tab on right side of map screen) and scout around your area for old home sites, its not the best but its free and is a good way to start getting familar with map searches.

Any metal detecting groups close to you?
check in richmond or washington

Look up any metal detector stores in your area(rich-wash) there are a few, call or stop by and talk to them, perhaps you could be included in some of there hunts, or perhaps they can steer you to an open area.

The keyword to treasure hunting is research, research, research

There is a MD group in Reston but it's just a little farther than I want to drive to attend the weekly meetings. Maybe I'll join and go monthy.
You mentioned the Rappahannock, that is a great idea. I will have to be careful because VA law prohibits anything being removed from water
I just checked our county website and Stafford is still 67% forrested so there is lots of room to roam. But much of it is military owned.

 

[Froggie]

it is a class 1 misdemeanor to detect and/or dig on ANY state, county, or federal property (park AND non-park land) in the state of Virginia. Class 2 for the second offense with fines for vandalism, destruction of property, and removal of "artifacts".

Well that pretty much just leave private property then.

 

[TheSleeper]

http://www.dcr.state.va.us/parks/



§1.13 Metal Detectors

No person shall use a metal detector or similar device within a park without the express written permission of the Park Authority.

Now that just applies to state parks, fed naturally they want it all for themselves. County or city parks talk to the park superintendent. Some state park superintendants are not aware of this ruling, they rely on hearsay passed onto them by others.

Look for the swim areas on the rapp they will have beach areas, and as such being public beach areas they are legal to hunt. Yes the water brings in another area of the law but the beach area is open.

Contact the metal detector stores in fredricksburg and richmond there are a few.