Minnesota State Land

[Preston]

As you can see I'm new here and I'm hoping for a little advice on State land in Minnesota. I know it is illegal to metal detect on State Park land in Minnesota but I can't find anything related to just State land. There is an area I hunt deer at near Willow River, MN that is State land but is not a park or labeled as a State Park. I noticed an old foundation on the property about three years ago and I am dying to see what might turn up there. Does anyone know the law in Minnesota regarding State public land that might be able to help me out? I know Minnesota isn't exactly premium metal detecting country but I have reason to believe that this foundation could date back to before the 1900 and is certainly worth a look.

 

[copperpenny]

Welcome from So Cal, HH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Milhaus]

The state keeps those rules purposefully murky. I emailed the DNR and was told it is legal to MD on State Trails and State Forests, just not State Parks as you said.
Even if I lived close enough to a State Forest to do detecting there I would still get the nod from the local rangers.

Personally, unless there were specific rules prohibiting something on state land that is public access then I would go ahead, using my own judgement.

 

[Preston]

I keep hearing conflicting reports about whether or not a State forest is legal to MD or not. I looked up the MN statute (6100 series) and everything seems to be written for State parks not forests. Under the State forest section of the statute it mentions nothing about MD'ing or digging. I have sent off an email directly to the DNR for clarification but as far as I can tell State forests are a go.

 

[usaftrevor87]

Its my understanding that State forests are okay, BUT like everyone else said i would clear it with a local ranger if possible. My experience with the MN DNR is that if you ask they will say no on the basis of "because i said so" without quoting valid statutes. What i do is i bring proof with me i was cleared to hunt or print out county/state regs. That way if I'm confronted (which happened once on county land) i give them the regs and email conversations and ask to point out what reg i'm violating. Worked that time... Where are you located? Im in the South suburbs of the TC.
Oh one more thing, MN has TONS of French, British, & fur trade relics & coins depending on where you're living. Do the hard research and goodies will come. I just located a site where Joseph Nicollet camped on a certain river by reading his journal and translating rivers on french maps and figuring out what they are called today. Took some time, but i cant wait for the thaw!

 

[Preston]

I live in Watertown, MN which is about 50 minutes straight west of MPLS. The forest area I would like to take a shot at is in the Hinckley area.

 

[AlinMN]

Welcome from Willmar, MN! You said the area is by Hinkley, there was a big forest fire that totally burned the area back in the day, maybe this foundation was all that was left from the fire:

"A great fire swept northern Minnesota in the 1880s, completely destroying towns such as Pitt. Some of these towns have not had a metal detector near them. The only evidence of a town is the overgrown basement depressions. Another forest fire in north-central Minnesota killed hundreds of people and totally devastated the town of Hinkley. Stories of the unrecovered gold payroll of the local lumber company have been heard ever since."

 

[Preston]

Great News! The DNR responded to my inquiry about the State Forest lands. They said that the laws against metal detecting only apply to State Parks and State Forests do not fall under the law so MD'ing is perfectly legal.

 

[usaftrevor87]

Great News! The DNR responded to my inquiry about the State Forest lands. They said that the laws against metal detecting only apply to State Parks and State Forests do not fall under the law so MD'ing is perfectly legal.

Can you do me a favor? Can you forward me a copy of that email? I always like to be armed with evidence when i go out haha i PM'd you my email address
Thanks

Trevor

 

[RedWingMason]

Can you forward me a copy of the email, I do Geocaching also and have found that an email from the DNR always makes encounters with the rangers go much better.

Thanks

Shawn

 

[skeletor507]

Welcome from faribault, mn. I have e-mailed the dnr before, and didnt get a reply. Could you forward me a copy as well? I will pm you my e-mail.

 

[Milhaus]

Our rangers conjure images of this insane old lady in my hometown who hadn't left her house in 30+ years, she screamed at anyone who walked by on the sidewalk.
They need to just back up off ya'll.

 

[InboundFox]

Bringing this thread back to life! Does anyone know if you can MD on county land? Specifically in MN?

 

[stetam]

Ask the county

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Ask the county

Or : If someone is skittish, why not simply look up "county laws/rules" for oneself ?

Surely in this wonderful digital age that-we-live in, any law or rule is available on-line. Eg.: Dogs on leash, no fireworks, limit 10 trout per fisherman, and so forth . Right ? And if there's nothing there saying "no metal detecting", then presto : Not prohibited. Right ?

Because the problem with asking a pencil pusher, is that you might become the latest victim of : "No one cared ... UNTIL you asked" routine.

 

[FliesOnly]

Pretty much what Tom said.

 

[Lt.Dan]

I've been hitting my local city parks as there is no regulation against it specifically. I have not been questioned yet except for "What did you find" or "Find anything good?" And some of the people asking are city employees for the Parks and Recreation Department.

 

[bottlecap4u]

From Michigan, I regularly detect state and county land. I don’t ask, but have checked the state and various county websites. No prohibition was found, except historical sites. Even detected 2 ranger station sites where 1800s homesteads used to be. One of these had staff inside, so I entered, introduced myself, showed them the map indicating where the homestead once stood and a brief talk on how I detect to ensure no damage to property, take away trash, etc. They were interested in the history, gave them a card and I was out the door detecting starting just off the porch (found a merc right off). My point is do your own research on public websites, if no prohibition, move ahead. If you see employees Don’t Ask…..you’ve done the research, be courteous, confident, if they go Karen on you, (not happened yet to me), leave. Asking means you do not know and you should. Also the person you ask almost always will not know the answer so the default to a no should be expected or a call to a supervisor, who probably also doesn’t know and the answer will probably be a no or check back later, but no for today. So, do your own research and let that be your guide and move forward from there, use your people skills but never, never ask…..learned that from experience. good luck.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

From Michigan, I regularly .......

Good post. Yes : Do not become the latest victim of : "no one cared UNTIL you asked" routine.