eg,
Well ... here's my thoughts on some of the advice you've been given.
Best to check in at the ranger's station and ask. They really want to get to know you, up close and personal! Might want to go ahead and provide them a copy of your drivers license too. Well, it could be useful and make their job of locating you at your own home easy, right? Chance to introduce them to the wife & kids!
Always a good idea to let them know you are there, where you are going, what you plan on doing. After all, they don't have anything better to do...you know, they are Federal Government employees, right? And of course the reason we have government employees is to keep an eye on MDers that are enjoying their legal rights, right?
Something happens, they know where to start looking. Yep, and we know something is bound to happen to you doing all that sneaking around you do in their National Forest. Maybe cut yourself and need an ambulance or trip over your MDer and fall into the creek and need resuscitation. You know you're not very resourceful or self-sufficient. Accidents are always happening to you and that's why you chose MDing instead of naked rock climbing, right?
The ranger are usually pretty helpful, if metal detecting is allowed, they'd know where some good spots are, and how to get there quick and easy. If they're particularly intelligent and actually know the law, they may share with you their favorite National Forest MDing site! After all, they probably work their 8 hour shift, go home and change into their 'tecting pants' and head right back to the worksite to enjoy their MDing hobby and to suck down some suds, right? And what's with that word 'IF'? MDing is either legal or not legal in National Forests, right?
Save you a lot of time and trouble. Unless not, but they do look for troublemakers, don't they? But I thought you were there to MD and to avoid trouble by kinda' being alone with your expensive metal detector? Maybe those National Forest are not really there for all the taxpayers and citizens to enjoy like we've been told all our life by those in charge?
Don't really know what's going on in California, sneaking around seems to be the normal approach for most places. Oh, so no real Ca. knowledge ... really, and Los Padres is in California and who's sneaking around? Well, it really doesn't matter since it is a National Forest and all one really needs to know is the National Forest laws on MDing. You're normal approach is to sneak around isn't it?
A national forest isn't the best idea though But I don't understand why it wouldn't be a good idea to MD where it is totally legal to MD and immerse yourself in a legal hobby?
always best to let the rangers know you are out MDing is just like taking a 3 day hike in the backcountry. Especially if you spead Peanut Butter all over your bareness in bear country, right? Oh no, you don't really metal detect in the buff, do you? Well, if you do you'll want to do it in the National Forest where the rangers all have really good optics! Do you like Jelly with your PB?
Sure. And be sure to mention "dig", "holes", "take", "remove", "cultural heritage", and "indian bones". Then sit back and wait for the "yes's" to roll in. Is this guy for real? Oh wait, I can tell sarcasm when it's forced down my throat!
I'm in Salinas, CA. And we've gone south to various points in the Las Padres National forest, all through Arroyo Seco, west of Hunter Ligget, and all through the Big Sur area. Never had a problem. Real experience in Los Padres? Well, maybe if this is the truth.
NFS has no specific prohibition. Oh sure, there may be something about objects over 50 yrs, blah blah. But just stay clear of obvious sensitive historic monument, and archie conventions, and you'll be fine. Should I own it by doing some research or just rely on this forum? Dang, the guy did use 2 blah's in the same sentence. Might look up the actual laws on MDing in the National Forests to verify ... I'm pretty smart and 15 minutes of research would let me know if this guy is really blowin' smoke up ... oh never mind, I already know who's really blowing smoke!