How Do You Feel About Hunting A Registered Historic Landmark?

maxxkatt · Feb 17, 2020

KOB said:
Tom would go....

I don't think Tom would go. A registered histrorical land mark is like a no tresspassing sign in terms of metal detecting. I am guessing Tom would not hunt on any land posted no tresspassing or a national park. He is mostly talking about hunting without permission on regular parks with no specific rules against metal detecting or other government property that is just there with no signs against metal detecting.

But of course we will have to hear what Tom has to say about this, I cannot really speak for him, I am just guessing.

Tom_in_CA · Feb 17, 2020

maxxkatt said:
...... A registered histrorical land mark is like a no tresspassing sign in terms of metal detecting.....

Huh ? I disagree with this statement. A historical plaque does not automatically mean "no md'ing ". Where/how do you figure that it means that ? :shrug:

maxxkatt · Feb 17, 2020

Tom_in_CA said:
Huh ? I disagree with this statement. A historical plaque does not automatically mean "no md'ing ". Where/how do you figure that it means that ?

Here in Metro Atlanta with a population of 5.9 million we probably have a larger number of actual historic preservation groups who tend to be very liberal and very active and very protective of their pet projects. Like a mama bear protecting their cubs.

Once hunting an old school (from 1930) within about five minutes 3 nearby home owners came up to me and told me it was an historic landmark and they would call the police if I did not leave. And those city police were known to be quite the active bunch not more laid back like the county police.

So I just treat historic markers on old homes in north Atlanta like "No trespassing signs".

On another occasion I ask permission to hunt an old 1800's home and they said I would have be a member of our county historical society before they would even consider it.

One of the main reasons I switched to hunting civil war relic hunting it is a little easier to find those area that are on semi-public county land or commercial land waiting to be developed that is not being used and has no signs preventing metal detecting or trespassing.

GKL · Feb 17, 2020

maxxkatt said:
Here in Metro Atlanta with a population of 5.9 million we probably have a larger number of actual historic preservation groups who tend to be very liberal and very active and very protective of their pet projects. Like a mama bear protecting their cubs.

Once hunting an old school (from 1930) within about five minutes 3 nearby home owners came up to me and told me it was an historic landmark and they would call the police if I did not leave. And those city police were known to be quite the active bunch not more laid back like the county police.

So I just treat historic markers on old homes in north Atlanta like "No trespassing signs".

On another occasion I ask permission to hunt an old 1800's home and they said I would have be a member of our county historical society before they would even consider it.

One of the main reasons I switched to hunting civil war relic hunting it is a little easier to find those area that are on semi-public county land or commercial land waiting to be developed that is not being used and has no signs preventing metal detecting or trespassing.

Hey, maybe being able to show a membership card can open up some permissions ? ……..only $55 a year ! :lol:

https://georgiahistory.com/membership-giving/become-a-member/

ToySoldier · Feb 17, 2020

Tom_in_CA said:
Huh ? I disagree with this statement. A historical plaque does not automatically mean "no md'ing ". Where/how do you figure that it means that ?

I think he meant public places with signs. I think the initial approach should be to treat it as "sensitive" and detect on a case-by-case basis. I have permission, along with another forum member, to hunt a publicly owned home that's on the federal registry of historic homes and has a marker sign. We give finds related to the house to the historical society. They're thrilled because there was little left inside the home when it was acquired.

As far as privately owned homes on the registry, what you posted already is spot on. The private owner can do whatever they want with their property. The ONLY concern would be if the application/status on the registry was based on what's in the ground. That's rarely, if ever, the case. Anybody can look up the application for any home/place on the federal registry and read the application. The status is typically based on the architecture, what happened there (above ground), and/or who lived there. Removing some common old coins from the dirt doesn't undermine that status/history at all.

I will say, in my OPINION, anything clearly associated with the home or previous occupants should be given to the owners to keep with the home. A locket with a photo in it, a ring with initials, etc. I'd rather that stuff stay in context with the home than to eventually sit in a box in my house and be tossed out one day when I'm gone.

kweis · Feb 17, 2020

My first two cents worth post here. In Maryland a landmark status designation just means it meets certain qualifications to be considered historic by Maryland Historic Trust. But if it's private property the state has no legal means to keep the landowner from doing what he wants to do with the property (allowing metal detecting on the property by the owner). Will they be happy about it, probably not. All state property is off limits save for some public beaches and then you can only keep what's under 50 years old. For county and local town property it's up to them. I got permission from a nearby town to go wherever I want on town property but then again helps to know the mayor:

diggin4clad · Feb 17, 2020

You probably should first find out the law in Texas regarding "Historical Landmarks". If it says nothing about detecting, then go for it. About 20 years or so ago, a town in Connecticut (Norwich) put a city wide ban on metal detecting because someone was detecting on a town green that was "considered" a historical area even though no signs existed.

GKL · Feb 17, 2020

diggin4clad said:
You probably should first find out the law in Texas regarding "Historical Landmarks". If it says nothing about detecting, then go for it. About 20 years or so ago, a town in Connecticut (Norwich) put a city wide ban on metal detecting because someone was detecting on a town green that was "considered" a historical area even though no signs existed.

......just get the mayor interested in metal detecting and maybe the laws will change :lol:

kweis said:
My first two cents worth post here. In Maryland a landmark status designation just means it meets certain qualifications to be considered historic by Maryland Historic Trust. But if it's private property the state has no legal means to keep the landowner from doing what he wants to do with the property (allowing metal detecting on the property by the owner). Will they be happy about it, probably not. All state property is off limits save for some public beaches and then you can only keep what's under 50 years old. For county and local town property it's up to them.

I got permission from a nearby town to go wherever I want on town property but then again helps to know the mayor:

Congrats on a great permission ! :thumbsup:

…..and yep, knowing the mayor should definitely help ! :lol:

That's the key, if you don't know the mayor then maybe get them interested in metal detecting themselves :lol:

, might be easier to do in smaller towns though.

Cfmct · Feb 17, 2020

diggin4clad said:
You probably should first find out the law in Texas regarding "Historical Landmarks". If it says nothing about detecting, then go for it. About 20 years or so ago, a town in Connecticut (Norwich) put a city wide ban on metal detecting because someone was detecting on a town green that was "considered" a historical area even though no signs existed.

Why did you hunt it :lol:

diggin4clad · Feb 17, 2020

Cfmct said:
Why did you hunt it

It was actually one of the town's coin dealers. I did all my hunting in that town long BEFORE the ban.

jwp1964 · Feb 17, 2020

Hunted several private properties with historical markers. With owner permission of course. I'll hunt anyplace that I can get permission, cemeteries included...

Cfmct · Feb 17, 2020

jwp1964 said:
Hunted several private properties with historical markers. With owner permission of course. I'll hunt anyplace that I can get permission, cemeteries included...

When you are hunting a cemetery... I hope one of those spirits goes home with you

kidlester · Feb 17, 2020

TexHunter said:
The title says it all. A hunting friend asked me if I wanted to go and hunt a site that has a Texas Historical Landmark sign on the property. No permission had been asked for or received. I said I didn't feel comfortable doing that, and he said "Markers in the front won't slow me down."

I've been involved in this hobby for 48 years, and I've never hunted private property without permission from the owner, and I've never hunted any sites with a Historical Landmark plaque. Am I being a chump because someone else may have hunted it without permission? Would you go and hunt it without permission?

Hello,
I've looked into this before and this is how i understand the law.
First in Texas:
Many, if not the vast majority of the historical makers indicate property that is privately held. IF the property is state property you ARE NOT allowed to disturb it without a permit from the state of Texas.
Secondly:
IF the property is privately owned, you can hunt IF you have the permission of the owner and ONLY if you have permission.
IF you are on the property WITHOUT permission, you can be prosecuted for trespassing if you are lucky and the land owner doesnt catch you there. Private property is private whether or not there is a marker designated it as historical.
HH!
Tom

Tom_in_CA · Feb 17, 2020

kweis, a couple of questions:

kweis said:
.... All state property is off limits save for some public beaches and then you can only keep what's under 50 years old....

So too does the state-of-CA have boiler-plate cultural heritage wording in their state-park's dept's minutia. And if you follow the wording enough (eg.: define "artifact", blah blah), a person could come up with the same conclusion: That they could detect the state park beaches, as long as it's only for modern change.

Yet no one here has EVER been carded (ie.: someone coming along to check dates on coins). In fact, I don't think anyone here has ever even been aware of it. You can detect state beaches till you're blue in the face. And ... yes .... gasp ... people find 51+ yr. old coins.

However, as said, I'm sure that if someone went armed-with-the-minutia, asking enough questions of bored pencil-pushers in Sacramento, that yes, something like what you're citing from Maryland, would be the obligatory answer.

So: Does anyone in Maryland , on those state beaches, really "card" people ? For the dates on coins ? I mean .... seriously. NOT SAYING IT WOULDN'T BE THE OBLIGATORY ANSWER/OBLIGATION given to you by purist archies there. I'm just asking what the *real* skinny is. Not what the "obligatory" answer is.

kweis said:
..... I got permission from a nearby town to go wherever I want on town property but then again helps to know the mayor:

Curious: Was there a town rule or law that said "No metal detecting", such that a mayor's "permission", was even needed , in the first place ? :?:

Tom_in_CA · Feb 17, 2020

diggin4clad said:
.... About 20 years or so ago, a town in Connecticut (Norwich) put a city wide ban on metal detecting because someone was detecting on a town green that was "considered" a historical area even though no signs existed.

I'm willing to bet that there's a *bit* more to that story, than just that.

And even if that's the bare facts, this type-story still doesn't indicate that "we should all grovel and avoid historic areas". Just means avoid those individual singular lookie lous that get their panties in a wad over such things.

I mean, sheeesk, think of it, if this type story were to somehow mean "Therefore, we should all avoid md'ing old areas that we *might* find old coins at", then ....... Gee, let's all stop looking for old coins. Let's all take up clad-hunting, eh ? Heaven-forbid you find an old coin and heaven forbid someone doesn't like it ?

To me, a story like that does NOT indicate that "Therefore all historical areas should be avoided". I mean, sure, avoid obvious historic sensitive monuments. Granted. But on the other hand, we ALL choose parks that are "old". Don't we ? Heck, clad is boring, right ?

diggin4clad · Feb 17, 2020

Tom_in_CA said:
I'm willing to bet that there's a *bit* more to that story, than just that.

And even if that's the bare facts, this type-story still doesn't indicate that "we should all grovel and avoid historic areas". Just means avoid those individual singular lookie lous that get their panties in a wad over such things.

I mean, sheeesk, think of it, if this type story were to somehow mean "Therefore, we should all avoid md'ing old areas that we *might* find old coins at", then ....... Gee, let's all stop looking for old coins. Let's all take up clad-hunting, eh ? Heaven-forbid you find an old coin and heaven forbid someone doesn't like it ?

To me, a story like that does NOT indicate that "Therefore all historical areas should be avoided". I mean, sure, avoid obvious historic sensitive monuments. Granted. But on the other hand, we ALL choose parks that are "old". Don't we ? Heck, clad is boring, right ?

It's not about groveling. My statement was that Norwich, Conn. has a city wide ban on the books forbidding detecting ANYWHERE in town, not just historical areas.
Doesn't mean we can't hunt historical area in OTHER towns BUT in this town you run the risk of being hassled or worse. I know for a fact that another person had his detector confiscated by the police for detecting near a cemetery after the ordinance was passed. And I know that because he told me so.

Wom 27 · Feb 17, 2020

That posted sign guarantees that it’s been hunted. You’d be lucky to find anything !

KOB · Feb 18, 2020

This all reminds me of my days when I sold door 2 door. We were taught when we saw a "no solicitors" sign that was a door we should knock on ! Following that advice , I would say a good 30% of my total sales were from posted signs that said this. Of course I had " can't you read ?", guns pointed at me ,etc. But I never let that discourage me.

Scooterjim · Feb 18, 2020

At least half of my parks have a historical marker. We have them for the first church of every Christian denomination you have ever heard of. First school, first firehouse, first stage coach stop, last stage coach stop, there is even one for the first barber shop. My favorite is the marker commemorating the spot where Wild Bill Hickok killed his first man. They just added a bunch following the Trail of Tears, that one makes me think a little bit about being on Hallowed ground, but even though the powers that be claim to have followed the Trail as accurately as possible for the walking trail across town and eventually the county, I'm not convinced they know where the Trail was accurately enough for me to consider whether the area around a sign meets my definition of Sacred Ground. The only historical marker that has stopped me was a Confederate Burial Ground that was used for a couple of years before being moved to the National Cemetery. Legal to hunt and I'm sure it's been hit hard and I find no fault with anyone that hunts it, but soldiers laid to rest, even for a short time, meets my definition of Hallowed Ground. A Wild Bill marker won't stop me. I'm looking for the bullet.

Tom_in_CA · Feb 18, 2020

Scooterjim said:
At least half of my parks have a historical marker. ...

Good post. And if you think of it, this whole "historical" moniker is very ambiguous in the first place. Because I can think of a lot of places that might not have a "plaque" (or "designation" or whatever), yet .... sure .... we might find (gasp) old coins at.

If they day came that we were ever to "fret ourselves" that this is somehow problematic, is the day we might all just as well become clad hunters, or take up needlepoint.

Just avoid obvious historic monuments, & avoid singular busy-body lookie-lous.

How Do You Feel About Hunting A Registered Historic Landmark?

maxxkatt

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