ollievon
Elite Member
Hit a few farmers fields on Veteran's Day out near me and was lucky to nail a large cent, date unreadable, but regardless a nice hit. On a map I had from 1857 there was a property with an old school no longer there and I decided to drive down to the farmers house to ask permission (I always ask permission, poaching is never a wise decision in Upstate New York).
So, after driving down a desolate dirt road bordered by old stone walls on either side for about a 1/4 mile I came across the farmer on his tractor. He stared at me and I parked my car off the side and got out with my hand extended, he looked very weary and eventually put his hand out to shake, but it was already awkward I felt.
I started the conversation by telling him that one of the local well known farmers suggested that I come over and introduce myself to ask permission to MD (since I MD on their land already); before I got another word out he shot me down right then and there "Nope, don't want none of that on my land", it was awkward already just driving to a desolate place to ask permission from (clearly) someone who doesn't get out much, ugh.
He then told me that he and his brother planned on MD'ing when they retire; so having nothing else to lose I offered him my phone number and said "well, ok, if you and your brother do decide to do it, let me know and I will give you some pointers", apparently this seemed to change the climate of the conversation and he opened up about the property and started pointing in all directions where old houses were located on his land and about a community that existed in the 1700's that's not on any maps. I thanked him for his time and he went back to his tractor.
Although it was a rejection it just shows how you can get your foot (possibly) in the door, although I doubt my phone will be ringing anytime in the near future.
Still, no matter how bad you want to bang out a long forgotten site, always ask. This was one farmer I would not want to run into just digging on his land at random without permission.
So, after driving down a desolate dirt road bordered by old stone walls on either side for about a 1/4 mile I came across the farmer on his tractor. He stared at me and I parked my car off the side and got out with my hand extended, he looked very weary and eventually put his hand out to shake, but it was already awkward I felt.
I started the conversation by telling him that one of the local well known farmers suggested that I come over and introduce myself to ask permission to MD (since I MD on their land already); before I got another word out he shot me down right then and there "Nope, don't want none of that on my land", it was awkward already just driving to a desolate place to ask permission from (clearly) someone who doesn't get out much, ugh.
He then told me that he and his brother planned on MD'ing when they retire; so having nothing else to lose I offered him my phone number and said "well, ok, if you and your brother do decide to do it, let me know and I will give you some pointers", apparently this seemed to change the climate of the conversation and he opened up about the property and started pointing in all directions where old houses were located on his land and about a community that existed in the 1700's that's not on any maps. I thanked him for his time and he went back to his tractor.
Although it was a rejection it just shows how you can get your foot (possibly) in the door, although I doubt my phone will be ringing anytime in the near future.
Still, no matter how bad you want to bang out a long forgotten site, always ask. This was one farmer I would not want to run into just digging on his land at random without permission.
