county fair grounds?

[RelicHound]

Its always been my understanding that county fair grounds are public property but maybe im wrong?
yesterday we tried to hunt the local fair grounds and wasnt there maybe 20min and a guy pulled up in his car and asked if we lost somthing...i get that question alot so i simply said "nope just lookin" and he went on to say "man dont dig the ground up" as if he felt sorry for the dirt or somthing, i stood there confused for a minute and said we where filling in our holes then he said "it dont matter,i dont want my ground tore up,then he basically ran us off. I found there web site and it advertises as being a family friendly facility with plenty of outdoor activities such as camping,fishing and has plenty of play grounds and sports fields,there is a set of rules posted on there site and nowhere does it say detecting is prohibited,the only thing it says is prohibited is skate boarding. what would you do in a situation like this? I found a link to email the place and told them what happened and said if metal detecting is prohibited it needs to be clearly posted. the guy acted as if i was some punk kid out there using a back hoe and tearing up the ground. he gave no indication that he was affiliated with the grounds what so ever.

[hoser]

Sounds like he was having a bad day to me. Contacting the fair commitee should shed some light on the subject. Hope you get the permission you need for this.

[Detector]

if metal detecting is prohibited it needs to be clearly posted.

Be careful what you ask for!

The guy sounds like a jerk, but never the less, he probably has friends in high places. Like the city. I live in a city where there are no "No Metal Detectors" signs. I can pretty much hunt where ever I want on public property, but I understand I am lucky, and it could change at the blink of an eye.

Pee off the wrong person and you might find detecting baned on all city maintained property. I know its not right but thats the way it works.

[RelicHound]

im just trying to figure out why its such a big deal..i can see people being upset if the grass was all torn up and what not but it seems to me alot of people dislike detectorist...is there a PETS out there?{people for the ethical treatment of sod}

[1/27 Inf. Wolfhound]

That guy sounds like a jerk, metal detecting is a great activity for the family. It can be done so that there is a minimal amount of damage to the ground and most people would not even know that someone had been there. Some sports cause more damage to the sod than a person metal detecting.

[RelicHound]

i told my dad about that and he said its possible that guy detected the property and didnt like us being there,he said he has hunted the fair grounds in this county and the county he lives in with out ever having a problem,has even had grounds keepers interested and never once did they try and run him off. still waiting for a reply from the email i sent yesterday,,,doubt i hear anything

[beerdoodle]

Originally Posted by 1/27 Inf. Wolfhound

That guy sounds like a jerk, metal detecting is a great activity for the family. It can be done so that there is a minimal amount of damage to the ground and most people would not even know that someone had been there. Some sports cause more damage to the sod than a person metal detecting.

golf comes to mind. My divots are huge.

[hobbes_lives]

Originally Posted by beerdoodle

golf comes to mind. My divots are huge.

Yeah, but if you want to get run off real quick, just walk onto a golf course with your detector and digger in hand!

[1/27 Inf. Wolfhound]

i can only imagine what the golfers would say if i did that hehehehe

[tvic25]

Hi!
It occurred to me some time ago that whenever I am in an "iffy" area, I always tell them I or a friend of mine lost something...They usually ask what the item is, etc, and then wish me luck....I hunt in all areas, but even with the parks and schools, there is always some busybody looking to "control" the situation.
I had an older gentleman approach me recently in a public park with that "look" on his face. The park was in a very nice upper-class neighborhood, and I knew he was looking for any excuse he could find to run me off. I knew this because someone else had been in the tot lots and left open holes...( I did manage to dig clad out of these, the other guy must be new or have a lousy machine..LOL!)
Anyway, I explained to him that a "friend" had lost her wedding band, and asked me to look for it. I also told him I had filled in the holes the other person left, and that he should watch for that guy and yell at him.....LOL!!!
He was more than happy to "help" me, and I finished my hunt.

Sometimes ya gotta baffle 'em with bull----!, and dazzle 'em with brilliance another time...

Tvic25
Tesoro Cortes
Ace250
Lesche Digger

[jbow]

Were you carrying a spade or shovel? I never carry anything other than a Lesche hand digger at a place like that. You can asos just carry a knife and a popper. Then you can tell them that you are not digging, you just cut a slit and pop the coin up with a screwdriver or popper.

I'd get written (or verbal) permission from the head of Parks and Recreation and go back. They can hardly tell you that you can't hunt if it isn't illegal.

You can't let someone make up the rules as they go.

Julien

[RelicHound]

nope no shovel{only use a shovel when relic hunting in the woods or farm fields} i was using a small diving type knife. still havnt heard anything so tomorrow im going there when the office is open to find out if its allowed and if it is ill get written permission so i can show it if anyone decides to say something.