Trisha
Full Member
After reading all about the folks here asking permission to hunt older homes etc, I finally got the nerve to do it myself. I drove through some rural areas of western Michigan looking for my target. In my head, I knew exactly where I've wanted to go for a long time. It is a centennial farm about a mile from my house. I drive by it a lot but never see anyone there. Well today there was actually a vehicle parked in the driveway!
Of course I did the slow drive by like a weirdo a few times. Trying to pump myself up and convince myself that people get more yes answers than no's. On about the third drive by I pulled in. There was a new car there now. A male and female maybe in their 50's were standing outside talking. I slowly approached and tried to start up a conversation. I asked if this was their farm. The female answered that it belonged to her family. I complimented it and said I always admire it when I drive by. I told her my name and said I like to do metal detecting as a hobby. I look for older places such as hers. I said 'would it be ok if I detected your yard?'. I said I wouldn't leave any holes or do any damage.
She didn't come right out and say no. But she said 'welllll, I'll have to ask my brother-in-law'. I said ok. Then the man asked what I find. I told him I look for old coins or trinkets. I complimented her again on the farm and told her I would look for her truck again to stop back by. She said it was nice to meet me.
Overall I felt like it wasn't a hard 'no'. And she seemed really nice. I'm hoping that I can catch her again and get permission.
I have to be honest and say when I got back in my car I was shaking like a leaf. I think it was because I was so nervous about approaching a stranger. But now that I've done it once, I feel like I can do it again. I think it would be a great place to start my first farm hunt...
Of course I did the slow drive by like a weirdo a few times. Trying to pump myself up and convince myself that people get more yes answers than no's. On about the third drive by I pulled in. There was a new car there now. A male and female maybe in their 50's were standing outside talking. I slowly approached and tried to start up a conversation. I asked if this was their farm. The female answered that it belonged to her family. I complimented it and said I always admire it when I drive by. I told her my name and said I like to do metal detecting as a hobby. I look for older places such as hers. I said 'would it be ok if I detected your yard?'. I said I wouldn't leave any holes or do any damage.
She didn't come right out and say no. But she said 'welllll, I'll have to ask my brother-in-law'. I said ok. Then the man asked what I find. I told him I look for old coins or trinkets. I complimented her again on the farm and told her I would look for her truck again to stop back by. She said it was nice to meet me.
Overall I felt like it wasn't a hard 'no'. And she seemed really nice. I'm hoping that I can catch her again and get permission.
I have to be honest and say when I got back in my car I was shaking like a leaf. I think it was because I was so nervous about approaching a stranger. But now that I've done it once, I feel like I can do it again. I think it would be a great place to start my first farm hunt...
Ok, old lady factor if I'm honest about it) and minimize the size of the machine. Some of them ask if I have to dig things up and I tell them I use a small tool, not a shovel, and I'll be very careful not to cause any damage. 
