Jamflicker
Elite Member
If it's a park with no signs at the park specifically saying no metal detecting then just go ahead and detect. Fill your holes and make as small of a mess as possible.
I bought me and my buddies syringes at the local feed store. Kinda acts as camoflage! If somebody comes up to hassle ya all you have to do is pull that out of the bag and say "wow look what I found"!! Even lookie lou's will be impresssed with you doing your civic responsibility!!
So I have been reading up on the "laws" regarding parks, and even some beaches. Now maybe I am wrong but from what I have read I can't even move some dirt with the tip of my shoe! I was hoping to go to a few parks to try and find some coins but that looks like it's over. And beaches... S.C. law states that from the high water mark OUT TO 1 MILE SEAWARD is also state jurisdiction.... wth? We detectorist dig like 8 to 10 inches 98% of the time...this is ridiculous .. sure, I get there are lots of historical areas and they don't want any old jackass out there destroying stuff but I swear they think we are out there with backhoe's!
So now it looks like I am completely dependent on private property land owners giving permission... Which is really hard for me as I get stage freight with strangers .... Am I missing something?
Yes I think I read an article Tom wrote. I love the fishing rod holder reference! I honestly think most of these people think we use power equipment and dig down 3 or 4 feet... ridiculous. Kids can turn over rocks half buried looking for worms and its cute, we dig a 6" hole, usually remove trash or some other soil contaminate, cover it up as nice as we can and we are looked at as some kind of felon.
Jugger, You dont have to follow any laws if you dont want to! Take a look around...people get away with all sorts of things!
Mud
Yeah...I know right!....
Tom will tell a story about a guy who was hunting an "Off Limits No Detecting beach" for a year making amazing finds, he got away with it too! Old gold and silver up the wazoo! He was wondering why he had this place all to himself! hunting it daily right in front of the Rangers and everything! He was completely unaware he was breaking the "law"! He just never bothered to ask, and nobody told him to stop!
Mud
One way to make yourself VERY welcome in city parks is this: EVERY piece of broken glass, rusted old nails, jagged hunk of metal you FIND in a park... take to the people running it and say "This is what I pulled out of your grounds and your totlot! If you like, I will continue to do this, taking out trash and dangerous objects, as I detect."
You would be amazed at some of the nasties I found in the tanbark in the totlot! Jagged hunks of steel with razor sharp edges and points! Nails six inches long and wicked sharp. Broken glass, and even shredded cans! The park now WELCOMES me!
SageGrouse
One way to make yourself VERY welcome in city parks is this: EVERY piece of broken glass, rusted old nails, jagged hunk of metal you FIND in a park... take to the people running it and say "This is what I pulled out of your grounds and your totlot! If you like, I will continue to do this, taking out trash and dangerous objects, as I detect."
You would be amazed at some of the nasties I found in the tanbark in the totlot! Jagged hunks of steel with razor sharp edges and points! Nails six inches long and wicked sharp. Broken glass, and even shredded cans! The park now WELCOMES me!
SageGrouse
Greenville city has a rule of no soil disturbance in any city park, so I am assuming that Md'ing is a no go.
I hate to say it, but you need to learn to man up and ask for permissions. Agreed it can be a little awkward at times, heck, I've been doing it for 20+ years and every once and awhile I will get a no, or awkward response.
I would say that 95% of my door knocking results in a permission, and often a long term one that results in the property owner making a suggestion, or hooking me up with another permission or lead. Plus, just last year I got two leads from property owners who knew people that had lost a ring or some jewelry and passed my information on to the new leads...which in turn got me more!
So, don't be afraid of rejection since it will happen, but so what? I have found that 99% of farmers are totally cool with it and as long as you don't show up after they have planted or show up with gaggle of other mdr's, you will be ok...and there is nothing like having an ENTIRE farm field to yourself, especially one where you are killing it.
... Then one day the rangers pulled up and said no M.D.ing. ...
... This past year the City of Atlanta dropped its no digging policy in all City of Atlanta parks....
So I have been reading up on the "laws" regarding parks, and even some beaches. Now maybe I am wrong but from what I have read I can't even move some dirt with the tip of my shoe! I was hoping to go to a few parks to try and find some coins but that looks like it's over. And beaches... S.C. law states that from the high water mark OUT TO 1 MILE SEAWARD is also state jurisdiction.... wth? We detectorist dig like 8 to 10 inches 98% of the time...this is ridiculous .. sure, I get there are lots of historical areas and they don't want any old jackass out there destroying stuff but I swear they think we are out there with backhoe's!
So now it looks like I am completely dependent on private property land owners giving permission... Which is really hard for me as I get stage freight with strangers .... Am I missing something?
I am in Columbia SC and have asked about public parks and got the green light....
Asked "who" ? Fellow md'rs what their experience is ? Or the powers-that-be, in charge of those parks ?
If it was a "green light" from the powers-that-be, then at first blush, this would seem to be fodder to the "should ask" notion. After all, it's hard to argue with a "yes". Right ? Hence stories of "yes's" just push the next person to think "aha, great idea. It's a good thing to know I can !"
But ... this always struck me as an odd conclusion. Because what other answers could you have expected ?
1) If they had said "no", then the conclusion would have been same. Eg.: " Wow, It's a good thing I asked. Because now I know I can't detect" (never mind if a law or rule *really* exists that says such a thing) Vs
2) If they said "yes", you'd conclude the same thing: "Wow, It's a good thing I asked, because now I know I can detect".
But is there really any other answer ? Do you think this 3rd option is a possibility ?
3) Would they say: "Gee, that's a funny question. Why are you asking me? If there's no rule against it, you don't need a green light from me".
No. Of course not. Authority figures never answer with #3 option. They will grant you their princely powers of #1 or #2. After all, you asked. And that implies that their princely say-so opinion is needed. Right ? Otherwise, if it didn't need their say-so, why would you be asking them ?