Myers Depot Metal Detectors

Permission Revoked!

I have only ask three times and was turned down at all three from people I did not know. I do ask and get permission from friends and relatives. Like others I find it awkward to knock on a door and ask a total stranger if I can detect in their yard which does involve digging even though it's pretty benign. Lately I have been detecting some on empty lots, and at recent house tear downs. I scope it out first weighing the chances of whether I think someone will hassle me about it or not. To be honest while I am getting better at finding places to detect it's still a big problem coming up with decent spots with the potential of finding silver coins.
 
This is supposed to be an enjoyable hobby, seems like knocking on a strangers door would not be enjoyable to me, especially when MOST won't even answer the door... Ill stick to my public parks and ballfields :yes:
 
longbow62 said:
I have only ask three times and was turned down at all three from people I did not know. I do ask and get permission from friends and relatives. Like others I find it awkward to knock on a door and ask a total stranger if I can detect in their yard which does involve digging even though it's pretty benign. Lately I have been detecting some on empty lots, and at recent house tear downs. I scope it out first weighing the chances of whether I think someone will hassle me about it or not. To be honest while I am getting better at finding places to detect it's still a big problem coming up with decent spots with the potential of finding silver coins.
Click to expand...

cellrdwellr said:
This is supposed to be an enjoyable hobby, seems like knocking on a strangers door would not be enjoyable to me, especially when MOST won't even answer the door... Ill stick to my public parks and ballfields :yes:
Click to expand...

I usually get turned down 1 out of about 7 or 8 tries and find that if you pick the right homes, the owners of the old properties usually like to talk and share about them. Rarely do I actually knock on the door though. You want to catch them outside, relaxing on the porch or talking to a neighbor. Cold knocking works, but catching them when they have no expectation of privacy is optimal. I always pick up sticks as I go and throw them in the truck and whatnot so all the neighbors see how well I'm taking care of the lawn that has so graciously been turned over for my pillaging...;) I've on a couple occasions spent a good bit of time talking to the owners and having great conversations that sometimes force me to come back and detect another day. It really helps to stay toward the "history" side of things. Mentioning silver, digging, jewelry, anything that seems piratey is a NO NO. Doesn't hurt to be a natural salesman with a baby face either...:lol:
 
Silversmith45 said:
I think that most of it comes from people watching those shows on television. They dig up items (Planted?) and sell them for huge amounts of money. They figure that you are going to do the same thing. When you end up finding some clad and a bunch of pulltabs they don't believe you.
Click to expand...

The shows on TV that really hurt us, are shows like "Dateline". There are a lot of housewives thriving on these shows, that are just plain scared of seemingly innocent people; thinking you could be the next Craigslist Killer, or part of some opioid epidemic sweeping the nation. It's not about the holes. It's about an insecure person's "safe space". If a stranger is on their lawn, its like the moat is being breeched, and the danger is imminent.
Sounds nutty, but this mentality is becoming more common.
On the other hand, some folks are downright pleasant, and happy to do something for ya. So keep at it. Set a good example too.
 
Foragist said:
The shows on TV that really hurt us, are shows like "Dateline". There are a lot of housewives thriving on these shows, that are just plain scared of seemingly innocent people; thinking you could be the next Craigslist Killer, or part of some opioid epidemic sweeping the nation. It's not about the holes. It's about an insecure person's "safe space". If a stranger is on their lawn, its like the moat is being breeched, and the danger is imminent.
Sounds nutty, but this mentality is becoming more common.
On the other hand, some folks are downright pleasant, and happy to do something for ya. So keep at it. Set a good example too.
Click to expand...

Very true! Insecurity is in style and spreading like crazy and it's the "men" too. Seems like everyone I talk to under 35 is scared of something irrational. A scared populace is easier to control. More reason to get out there and talk to others and help them out if you can. There's nothing to be scared of folks.
 
Thanks for the fun comments to read through everyone. I’ll try to look at them more closely tomorrow (been busy fishing!). I do A LOT of cold door knocking and for the most part I get a lot of yeses. I actually have met some great people doing this and shared many great conversations. Some towns are easier than others too. I mostly hit the properties that are old and not well-maintained. Perfect yards are most likely a NO for most so I tend to ignore those.
 
Who knows if it was him or his wife, bottom line is something got them to get cold about it. I had the same experience at a house from the 1860's, approached the owner he was nice enough, his wife seemed excited and actually showed me a large cent they found tilling their garden, so it seemed go. After a few hours he came out and asked me what I was doing digging holes - I explained that in order to retrieve the coin I had to dig a small divit, but you could clearly see that I was careful - to this he said "I had no idea you would be digging holes, I don't want any of that here"...duh, how did you think I was going to get the coin you dork?

Of course I was polite and left, fast forward 1 year and there is someone else swinging in his yard again, what gives???
 
I’ve had more hunts revoked by wives than anything else combined. Dudes are always more open to our hobby in my 42 years of experience.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Opinion

You should have asked him to tell his wife, if you find any jewelry it's her's, :lol: 50 /50 chance he would have came back out , and said ok , she said yes :lol: the catch 22 , that can work. Try that next time, some times you have to give a little to hunt, 1 property owner gave me the ok to hunt his yard, but 50/50 split, i lost in that one, i gave him all the finds no silver's and some wheat's, left it all on his table, couldn't wait to get out of their as i think he never cleaned up the dog mess from his dogs :roll::dingding::jawdrop: , now keep in mind also that some men like beer, so keep a couple of 6 packs in your car , they will let you hunt, very important to leave no trace, step on the plug after your done to re- plant the root's, if not it die's, than they will be looking for you , also ask the female's if they ever lost jewelry in their yard , this also help's them say yes , i will turn it over to you if i find any, i am just looking for silver coin's , a lot of property owner's do not want you to dig up their yard, so you half to make it sound like your giving them something back, last liability issue, there is a web site you can find and print release of liability forms sign them , because some owner's don't want to let you hunt figuring you could get hurt and sew them, so signing the form and getting the second copy back , with the signed by him- owner's permission, could lead to hunting more than once if you ask, or have that clause in there , from this date to this date, happy hunting, Earl
 
Had a lady ask me if I would like to detect the one acre lot that their home was on. According to her they had information that Confederate Soldiers camped in that area. I was ecstatic until her husband cleared his throat.

He said "I have seen that show. No one who acts like that is welcome on my property". I could not convince him that everyone who detected was not an idiot like those two on television.

So permission was gained and lost in about two minutes.
 
Foragist said:
The shows on TV that really hurt us, are shows like "Dateline". There are a lot of housewives thriving on these shows, that are just plain scared of seemingly innocent people; thinking you could be the next Craigslist Killer, or part of some opioid epidemic sweeping the nation. It's not about the holes. It's about an insecure person's "safe space". If a stranger is on their lawn, its like the moat is being breeched, and the danger is imminent.
Sounds nutty, but this mentality is becoming more common.
On the other hand, some folks are downright pleasant, and happy to do something for ya. So keep at it. Set a good example too.
Click to expand...

Well said. It's the sad reality we live in. People are paranoid and the doom porn on TV 24/7 doesn't help.
 
Oldsjunkie said:
Very true! Insecurity is in style and spreading like crazy and it's the "men" too. Seems like everyone I talk to under 35 is scared of something irrational. A scared populace is easier to control. More reason to get out there and talk to others and help them out if you can. There's nothing to be scared of folks.
Click to expand...

Another great point.
 
odds are,,,,the wife who says "no" to someone detecting her yard due to "holes being dug" is the same gal who lets her dog poop in the nieghbors yard..lol:yes:
 
longbow62 said:
I have only ask three times and was turned down at all three from people I did not know. I do ask and get permission from friends and relatives. Like others I find it awkward to knock on a door and ask a total stranger if I can detect in their yard which does involve digging even though it's pretty benign. Lately I have been detecting some on empty lots, and at recent house tear downs. I scope it out first weighing the chances of whether I think someone will hassle me about it or not. To be honest while I am getting better at finding places to detect it's still a big problem coming up with decent spots with the potential of finding silver coins.
Click to expand...
Put on a hardhat, a reflexive vest, clipboard and a few traffic cones and nobody will trouble you.

Sent from my LGLS775 using Tapatalk
 
Social Media May Help...

This is a place where you can benefit from social media. First, join a facebook group for the community in question... every town has one. Second, shoot some cell phone video of a wrap up from a hunt in a local park or on local property. It's especially good if you find something really cool/old.

In these videos you can show how you dig plugs nice and neat, and include wrap up photos.

Post it to the local facebook group and in the post mention that you are more likely to find interesting historical items on private property.

Answer all comments and questions kindly and earnestly.

These groups tend to be heavily populated with housewives.

Doing this has landed me a 1900, 1870, 1850, 1826, and 1771 property in this season alone. This is a great way to reach interested people. And if you keep posting after each hunt with interesting finds, it will translate into more hunts.

I've had homeowners show up on these posts and comment about what a great guy I am, encouraging others to let me hunt on their property. Some of these folks put me in touch with folks in other communities (friends, relatives) and it often translates into great permissions.

Why doorknock when you can draw people in to how cool this hobby is and present it to them as an opportunity?
 
PlasteredDragon said:
This is a place where you can benefit from social media. First, join a facebook group for the community in question... every town has one. Second, shoot some cell phone video of a wrap up from a hunt in a local park or on local property. It's especially good if you find something really cool/old.

In these videos you can show how you dig plugs nice and neat, and include wrap up photos.

Post it to the local facebook group and in the post mention that you are more likely to find interesting historical items on private property.

Answer all comments and questions kindly and earnestly.

These groups tend to be heavily populated with housewives.

Doing this has landed me a 1900, 1870, 1850, 1826, and 1771 property in this season alone. This is a great way to reach interested people. And if you keep posting after each hunt with interesting finds, it will translate into more hunts.

I've had homeowners show up on these posts and comment about what a great guy I am, encouraging others to let me hunt on their property. Some of these folks put me in touch with folks in other communities (friends, relatives) and it often translates into great permissions.

Why doorknock when you can draw people in to how cool this hobby is and present it to them as an opportunity?
Click to expand...

I have done a few posts but only received a single permission out of it. I do think it’s a great method though! Good luck out there!!
 
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