HighFlyer
Elite Member
I usually have great luck getting permission to hunt. Heck, I've even had people walk up to me while detecting at one place and offer for me to detect their place on the other side of town.
Well, today I got my 2nd "No" ever.
The first was through a realtor for an old home site where the home had just been demolished and the land was for sale. At least that realtor claimed to have contacted the owner and she told me the owner was the one who said 'no'.
This one was odd... it's a big plot of 126 acres of mostly tilled farm land with two houses up front, some barns, and grain silos. One of the houses is very old with an outhouse in back. Tax records say 1800 for the older house and 1920 for the other. (I see 1800 a lot though, I think it's the standard for anything earlier than a certain date). Anyway, this place has been sitting vacant for quite a while. No realty signs or anything.
So I did my research and find out the owner is Monsanto Fund in St. Louis. Grrreaaattt... I went to their website and just used the "contact" form, and low and behold someone actually e-mailed me back. I was hopeful! I replied with more information as to what I was looking for. A few days went by and I was starting to think I wasn't going to get an answer. Today it came:
" thank you for your inquiry regarding the property.... We appreciate your interest and efforts in contacting us to seek permission to explore the property. However, due to safety and legal reasons, we are unable to grant you permission. We wish you well."
Bummer. My research tells me that Monsanto is very adept at suing the pants off of unsuspecting farmers, so I'd think their skills would be sharp enough to defend against a metal detectorist in the event of a trip-and-fall scheme. I replied and told them if a release form would change anything, I'd gladly forward one. They weren't interested.
Oh well.. win some, lose some I guess. It just stinks because I've seen people doing photography of the old buildings and doing some good old fashioned not-gonna-hurt-anything trespassing there. Everyone has to worry about a lawsuit nowadays... makes me sick.
Well, today I got my 2nd "No" ever.
The first was through a realtor for an old home site where the home had just been demolished and the land was for sale. At least that realtor claimed to have contacted the owner and she told me the owner was the one who said 'no'. This one was odd... it's a big plot of 126 acres of mostly tilled farm land with two houses up front, some barns, and grain silos. One of the houses is very old with an outhouse in back. Tax records say 1800 for the older house and 1920 for the other. (I see 1800 a lot though, I think it's the standard for anything earlier than a certain date). Anyway, this place has been sitting vacant for quite a while. No realty signs or anything.
So I did my research and find out the owner is Monsanto Fund in St. Louis. Grrreaaattt... I went to their website and just used the "contact" form, and low and behold someone actually e-mailed me back. I was hopeful! I replied with more information as to what I was looking for. A few days went by and I was starting to think I wasn't going to get an answer. Today it came:
" thank you for your inquiry regarding the property.... We appreciate your interest and efforts in contacting us to seek permission to explore the property. However, due to safety and legal reasons, we are unable to grant you permission. We wish you well."
Bummer. My research tells me that Monsanto is very adept at suing the pants off of unsuspecting farmers, so I'd think their skills would be sharp enough to defend against a metal detectorist in the event of a trip-and-fall scheme. I replied and told them if a release form would change anything, I'd gladly forward one. They weren't interested.
Oh well.. win some, lose some I guess. It just stinks because I've seen people doing photography of the old buildings and doing some good old fashioned not-gonna-hurt-anything trespassing there. Everyone has to worry about a lawsuit nowadays... makes me sick.
