Old Prospector
Full Member
Hey all-
Curious if the idea of paying for permission to metal detect a private property has been discussed on the forum before, and what the consensus was?
One of the biggest concerns that comes up on here is "what's in it for the landowner" when we knock on the door or send a letter. I wonder if offering someone $20 to detect their property, after the initial denial, would help the success rate?
At the end of the day, metal detecting is a hobby, same as golfing, going to the movies (pre-Covid), shooting at the range, etc, and people pay for those. And last time I checked, I'm not in this to get rich - I just like the thrill of the hunt and rescuing items that have been long forgotten. Desirable items at hard-hit public parks are a finite, non-renewable resource - paying for access to a potentially "virgin" spot could be worth every penny.
Anyways, curious if anyone has experimented with this. Obviously if someone just doesn't want you around, citing liability or whichever the case may be, a $20 bill won't change their mind.
Curious if the idea of paying for permission to metal detect a private property has been discussed on the forum before, and what the consensus was?
One of the biggest concerns that comes up on here is "what's in it for the landowner" when we knock on the door or send a letter. I wonder if offering someone $20 to detect their property, after the initial denial, would help the success rate?
At the end of the day, metal detecting is a hobby, same as golfing, going to the movies (pre-Covid), shooting at the range, etc, and people pay for those. And last time I checked, I'm not in this to get rich - I just like the thrill of the hunt and rescuing items that have been long forgotten. Desirable items at hard-hit public parks are a finite, non-renewable resource - paying for access to a potentially "virgin" spot could be worth every penny.
Anyways, curious if anyone has experimented with this. Obviously if someone just doesn't want you around, citing liability or whichever the case may be, a $20 bill won't change their mind.