Is there a secret to getting Permissions ?

Brucem

Full Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2010
Messages
195
Location
MA
I've gotten a few but mostly I just get ignored. I've asked in person, written emails and asked and mostly I'm told, I'll get back to you. Which now I'm learning means ain't gonna happen!
I'm using the Driftless Diggers guidelines to go by.
For the ones I've already asked, is it worth it to ask again, or does that make things worse? Theres a lot of doubt that starts to creep in. Or do you just keep asking different people and take what you get basically ?
Advice would be greatly appreciated.
 
Always ask again if you don't get a definite answer.
Two of my best permissions ended up being rebounds.
Me: "Hey, I don't wanna bug you again, but would you mind if I scan around your property?"
Them: "Oh man, I forgot all about you. Go ahead, and if anyone asks just tell them you talked to me."

Also, people are conditioned and quick to say "No" to strangers by nature.
Phrase your question similar to above. Let them say "No" and give you permission at the same time.
"Would you mind if I scan?" = "No, go ahead".
 
Join historical societies and volunteer your time to be a docent. That usually gives you a name badge on a lanyard. Then when you talk to persons to try to angle for permission, you can flash-your-credentials as a "historian" :)

Also : Don't knock on doors or make cold call phone calls. Because then you'll be seen as a pesky door to door salesman or a phone solicitor . Instead, you want to try to "catch them on their front porch" so-to-speak.
 
Join historical societies and volunteer your time to be a docent. That usually gives you a name badge on a lanyard. Then when you talk to persons to try to angle for permission, you can flash-your-credentials as a "historian" :)

Also : Don't knock on doors or make cold call phone calls. Because then you'll be seen as a pesky door to door salesman or a phone solicitor . Instead, you want to try to "catch them on their front porch" so-to-speak.
In the 1990s, while living in CA, I was heavily involved in doing Civil War reenacting. It was amazing how many doors opened-up as a result of that. Unfortunately, I wasn't doing metal detecting at the time, but I was invited to many private / behind the scenes tours of museums and historic places. So if you are sincerely interested in being a docent, or genuinely interested in becoming part of something larger than yourself (like a historical society), that could open some doors to some good hunting.

Tom's last point is what has been my concern. I've tried three or four times to meet with some neighbors (a couple of streets over) to ask permission to hunt their field. Cars are in the driveway, I've knocked and set-off their pack of dogs - only to not get an answer. While I have not seen or heard a door or property camera, I get the feeling they think I am trying to sell something, or convert them to a different religion. So I've turned to stalking my potential properties (good thing I didn't say victims😆) to try and catch them gardening, mowing, etc.
 
Out every week hustling permissions. Best results are in this order; I'm detecting the house next door, run over ask the neighbor when they come out; stop and ask when owners are out in the yard (they seem more at ease if others in the neighborhood have given permission); door knocking and male owners answer have better luck; finally those on the fence, I answer their questions, willing to show/share finds if they ask. Worst results were; women with young kids (get the stranger-danger look and have to ask the husband-dead in the water on these), obnoxious dogs (don't even stop if I see these). Having a card helps. Did a permission yesterday where the owner was on the fence wanted me there when he was there so set a date, he was interested in history so researched his property on old maps and texted him some links showing original settlers, when I was done, and asked if I could come back to do the farm field behind the house he says " sure, we know you now, just text me when you come over". Work with the owners as to their interest (if any), be helpful and willing to show/share.
 
What would you say if some random guy asked, hey, can I come over and dig holes in your yard ??
 
I don't have the pleasure of private yards, or fields to look for stuff. We just don't have any "virgin " ground left around here, and most is been picked over many times, by the time I get to hunt it. !
too_
 
What would you say if some random guy asked, hey, can I come over and dig holes in your yard ??
But that is the end result, don't think it will help anyones chances by being coy
I doubt many seeking permission even mention digging holes.

C'mon you guys, why are you "mincing words" ? Why are you being "less than forthcoming" ? Why are you getting permission under "false pretenses" ? :nono:

Tsk tsk. Shame on you . Yes you say "holes" and "dig" during your request.

And shucks, also mention "liability" and "treasure" and "Indian bones/cultural heritage" issues.

Be sure to hand the total stranger a contract for them to sign (search and salvage, etc...). Shucks, you "Can't be too safe", right ? Lest they not grasp the full implications of your question. Ok, go make us proud now ! Do the "right thing" ! :cool3:
 
What would you say if some random guy asked, hey, can I come over and dig holes in your yard ??
well I'm batting about .500 this year surprisingly, some days are better than others and some days I strike out completely, but most folks are pretty good about permission, many though don't know what we do, so some 'splaining' is needed. I just let them guide the conversation.
 
Honesty is always the best policy. And to me if they ask questions about digging then I tell them the truth. The holes a squirrel makes in a yard are more than what I leave behind, if they can even see it. Yep, worked on my hole digging form a long time and proud of it. Hinge plugs and ALWAYS a garden trowel looking tool. I'm very weird about holes and take great care to not dig more than is necessary. So let them ask away about holes, that is not a question I'm worried about.
I'm more worried about the people that always want to be right over your shoulder while you try to detect. Either that or they ride by over and over again as you are trying to find targets. Makes "getting in the zone" a lot harder. Or the multitude of questions while you are trying to focus on the hunt. Dunno about ya'll but I use metal detecting as stress relief, and when somebody is standing around blabbering to me while I'm trying to enjoy time away from work, it becomes less fun real quick.
Forget a place like that. I may as well go to a park and detect.
 
........ I may as well go to a park and detect.

But then, shucks, it's your duty to alert the city to your intention to "dig", right ? After all, you don't want to "mince words", eh ? You don't want to be less than forthcoming , eh ?

So let them know "holes" and "dig" and "take/remove" and "Indian bone". Lest they not understand the full implications of your intentions and potential ramifications . :aok:

And then as soon as the city then says "no" to your ability to detect there, you can sit back comfortably in your new-found answer and tell yourself : " Gee it's a good thing I asked. Because now I know that it wasn't allowed". Tsk tsk :cool3:
 
I always wonder at the "No Metal Detecting" postings. Why should they care? Metal detection is not destructive. It is a scan and harms nothing. It is the digging that is destructive of landscaping, plant root systems and may eventuate irresponsible removal consequences (such as poor turf bounce-back and unfilled holes) as well as re-digging by critters for food burials, easy worm digging and easy pooping grounds, among other outrages to the metal detection community.
Theoretically, simple metal detection could be beneficial to the archie community by alerting them to significant metal accumulations in the soil, and in fact, they use metal detection themselves for clues.
 
well I'm batting about .500 this year surprisingly, some days are better than others and some days I strike out completely, but most folks are pretty good about permission, many though don't know what we do, so some 'splaining' is needed. I just let them guide the conversation.

Use all options available, much of whats left to find is locked up on private property. Not something I will ever get into, I'd feel like a door to door vacuum salesman even trying, I concentrate on beaches, tot lots and street tearouts ,, But permissions sound great for those inclined.
 
......... Theoretically, simple metal detection could be beneficial to the archie community by alerting them to significant metal accumulations in the soil, and in fact, they use metal detection themselves for clues.

the key word there ^ ^ Is : "Theoretically". But it will never be "Realistically". Ie.: They will never see it that way. And any attempt, by us, to extend an "olive branch" to purist archies (and hint that we can "help them") will only end in ruin. It will only do us harm. Because the more we put ourselves on-their-radar (to "make them think of us"), the more it will only come back to bite us.

So my philosophy is : The LESS they think of us, the better.
 
I cold call. Door to door. Have success rate of about 95%. Appearance, presentation, friendliness, willing to engage homeowner about the history of their home. Mentioning names of adjacent neighbors that have let me detect their front yard helps. Mentioning respect for property and lawn, not leaving holes, dirt visible or making any sort of mess in the yard helps. NO large "shovel type" tools, lesche only. Towel to keep dirt off grass. Gallon jug of water in summer to pour some in hole to insure no brown spots on lawn.
 
How about some random thoughts? Why not?

Around here, "door to door" (called "solicitation", as in "no solicitation without a permit") is against the law in almost every township. I guess file that under the ever popular park sign -- "thou shall not disturb the vegetation or turf", among other crimes against humanity. When you read those 30 bullet point parks signs in that 2 point font, they would save time and taxpayer money simply posting "thou shall not have fun here".

Me, I focus more on institutions (e.g. churches, private schools) than private yards; we have plenty of them around here, and they tend be be large and old. While technically "private property", there is no real "owner", just a responsible person, who likely, on average, will care less about the lawn and give you a yes.

Yeah, if someone knocks on my door and asks to dig holes in my yard, I'd likely say "no". Of course, I've already dug the holes myself duh (interesting side story here -- I once got permission on a small yard in an old town, and the elderly owner, who was a widow, told me her husband had a metal detector after I got the permission. Lovely. I detected it anyway, and managed to find 4 silver coins including a walker, and some silver jewelry, so you never know). I would google that one or use an AI chatbot to look for different wording. How about "there is rumored to be valuable treasure on your property, can I look for it in an extremely non-invasive manner?". Carry a dowsing rod, or some other bizarre looking wooden device, and claim not only can you locate their valuable treasure, you can teleport it into your pack without disturbing the turf. Other people seem to be claiming this.

Me, I won't allow them to sell Fuller brushes, vacuum cleaners, encyclopedias, religions, Ginzu knives (what is a Ginzu knife anyway?), or whatever else they are selling these days. What do they sell these days? Who knows, but they certainly don't have a permit, as far as I can see. Last guy who came around was selling wasp nest remediation services. I told him the wasps have a permit, and you don't. I also always tell them the wasps have COVID. That gets rid of them quite quick (the salesman, not the wasps -- they are my friends and have as much right to be here as I do, so long as we don't sting each other).

Of course, I make exceptions for neighborhood kids selling whatever it is they sell, if I recognize them. Why not give them the impression that the real world is easier than it really is, but I don't have the heart to turn little kids away, who feel they are working really hard and building self-esteem, when in fact, like many of the rest of us, they are blindly working for "the man", even at 5 years old.

Now, to use a basketball analogy, "the shot not taken never scores", so unless the cops come around because you don't have a permit, or you get stung by wasps, what is the downside? We have a cool example of this from the real world, from the world of theoritical physics -- back in the day, Richard Feynman, a famous physicist, would simply walk up to girls in a bar and say, [well, you know, lets keep this site family rated]. I know some folks who would take a 1% success rate on this, tho I'm told "think of it like baseball batting averages", .300 is your goal but refine your technique; don't just mention holes. (I've actually tried this myself, because I am a huge Feynman geek (even scientists have their fan club; scientists like Brian May of Queen get to double dip; how cool is that?), and because I am naturally curious. You learn quickly why maybe it is not such a good idea after all). Me, I'd take a 30% success rate on pretty much anything, including door knocking, as I think that varies by culture and locale.

So, as was already pointed out, style yourself appropriately, and to quote the best line, from one of the best movies of all time "Roadhouse", "be nice". As someone who has literally and truthfully been to over 2/3s of the counties in this country, this varies by location, but I guarantee you, at least around here, if you knock on doors all inked up, in cammos, or like you just walked off the set of "Duck Dynasty", you won't play here. I have nothing agaist people who style themselves thusly, or pretty much in any manner, just the reality of what won't play around here. As an aside, I was just in a town where the dude working the hotel desk styled himself with a huge swastika tat on his forearm. I didn't feel like playing there.

So, just like in almost all situations, just try to relate to the person a bit first, before asking about holes.

Well, more random than thought, I suppose, what what else are you supposed to do to break the Monday morning blues (geez, its a sobering thought to realise that 14% of our lives are Mondays). So, to actually provide something useful (maybe), people are always asking "where can I find silver". Well, I'll tell you. There is a town in NW Minnesota called "Kennedy". If you go there, you will find an old, abandoned school, I think from the 40s or 50s. If you bring an E-Trac, you will find shiny coins (at least I did). It seems to be part of a park, so no permission needed (at least I didn't seem to need any).

YMMV and good luck out there.
 
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