seanprodanas
Elite Member
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2012
- Messages
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what would you do?
- Thread starter donaldmyduck
- Start date
Sweeps
Full Member
I found this posted on another forum I've browsed while trying to learn about the do's and don'ts for my new MD hobby. That forum's member, "Tom_in_CA", posted this on 6/02/09: "...[It's] like picking your nose: just do it discreetly, and no one cares. Ask someone "can I pick my nose?" and they will tell you "no" and start to watch you..."
(This was not referring to private property, of course).
Anyways, I think that Tom_in_CA's assessment is pretty accurate. Just my opinion.
Sweeps
donaldmyduck
Senior Member
well....today I went and hunted the public park that I was curious about. no problems at all. a couple of people asked how I was doing. I showed them all the glass, pieces of beer cans, pull tabs and bottle caps that I removed. they asked why I was keeping it and I told them so kids don't get cut while playing. they didn't care either way. btw. that's all I found today. trash.
DMD
DMD
bumperjack
New Member
Some people spend days researching a new site to detect, that's good. During your research, if in an unfamiliar area, it only takes a few minutes to check the regulations. If I find no specific regulations, I go for it. No trouble so far and I have been doing this for a long time. Just my two cents.
Mottz
Forum Supporter
That's the thing with parks. Most people don't care about what you are doing. So just be prepared for those few that may cause a little grief. Keep some of that trash in the pouch for when they show up and never show them the goodies that you will end up getting in the future.
hillbillydigger
Elite Member
That's a good idea to carry some trash from another time in case someone stops you before you've dug any pulltabs yet. Several times I've had someone literally demand I show them my finds. One guy tried to demand I actually hand over my treasure pouch. I held up my Lesche in his face and said "like I told you I've not found anything but a few pennies, pulltabs and bottle caps" which was actually the truth but I didn't want him grabbing my handful of coins. He kept saying I know you found something good just now I was watching you, hand it over. I had just dug an old bottle cap and spent some time using my Lesche to scrape the dirt out of the inside. Guess he thought it was a diamond ring. Idiot!
Mntnclmbr
Forum Supporter
Perfect response, it's what we do!
louie41
Senior Member
who the hell was he that he felt he had the right to demand to see your finds? a public official or regular joe? finding something good is like scratch lotto tickets, go through many trash before a winner.
hillbillydigger
Elite Member
Some young punk looked like 19-25 yr old with his girlfriend not far behind. I'm sure he would have been proud to take back my dirty pulltab to put around her finger.
Oh you'll probably like this one- some kid all of 10 years old came up to me at a high school on Sunday demanding to know what I was doing there. I kept asking him did his parents not teach him to not talk to strangers and he kept saying "I'm just asking you a question. What are you doing? Did the city hire you to look for something?" Never would answer him because don't want locals getting the idea they should get a detector because that school is a goldmine. I always hunt schools on weekends but lately the ball team keeps showing up to practice.
T-Man
Elite Member
Hypothetical question. If the government is shut down now except the essentials, does that mean national parks are now fair game for MDing? Who would be working to arrest you or tell you to leave? Before anyone jumps on me I'm just putting it out there and not intending or promoting the idea. Just asking the question.
hillbillydigger
Elite Member
I live near a National Park and it's my understanding that the entrances are now barricaded at least where I live. So if one goes past the barricade they are considered trespassing or breaking and entering. Regardless of whether the govt is shut down it is still against the law to dig or detect in the national parks. I think there are still going to be a few employees patrolling around the bigger or more important parks & not every single person is furloughed at every park. The local police will do some drive-bys to keep the riff-raff from going in and vandalizing places so in other words you still stand a good chance of getting arrested. It's not like the laws in this country were suddenly nullified.
PS: Not to forget some parks have a head ranger or manager who lives in a house within the national park. Those people would still be there during a temporary govt shut down since they would not be forced to move their family in this situation. In other words... somebody probably still lives on site and may very well take it upon themselves to keep a look out for trespassers whether they are being paid or not.
DSandman
Full Member
Internet, internet, internet. All laws are public knowledge. If the law doesn't state no mding, go ahead. Just don't be totally ignorant in your methods or treatment of officials questioning you. 
RyanChappell
Elite Member
That is out of line. What if you did find something good? Was he going to confiscate it? You earned it!
Again the people think we are getting rich. You should threaten him with assault and (theft) charges, and screamed at him. Carry mace too, you never know when someone will rob you. It would come in handy if a dog or other animal attacked you too.
RyanChappell
Elite Member
The rangers at Shiloh National Battlefield told me that the had 2 or 3 cannon stolen last time the park was closed.
hillbillydigger
Elite Member
I carry a 3 in one mace, tear gar, pepper sprayer, but a friend happen to point out once to me not to be too reliant on it because if you spray it when wind is blowing it can blow back in your face instead.
RyanChappell
Elite Member
I carry it too, but don't tell too many people, because it isn't that manly. Something about the speech a police officer gave our work group, stuck with me, and I see carrying it, while detecting, as being worth it. I really do not think anyone would expect a metal detectorist to have any. I do think that people assume I am packing a gun a lot of times, and possibly even think I am with the police, utility company, or some other authority.
Yeah, I guess in the heat of the moment, I could forget not to spit in the wind or something and mace myself.
RyanChappell
Elite Member
It would have been pretty funny if the guy took things too far, and you maced him. "Officer, he was trying to take my bag. I was afraid he would hurt me or something as well."
hillbillydigger
Elite Member
He would have more likely gotten a jab in the ribs with a Lesche and hit in the head with my F2. I'm a small female, but got a pretty bad temper. Black belt in taekwondo, judo and hapkido from my younger years and still remember how to kick to the groin.
hillbillydigger
Elite Member
The stupid thing is there were other people nearby and his girlfriend was standing several feet away waiting on him. I really don't know what he truly had in mind as it was such a strange encounter, but pretty sure he was a bonafide dork.
RyanChappell
Elite Member
He would have more likely gotten a jab in the ribs with a Lesche and hit in the head with my F2. I'm a small female, but got a pretty bad temper. Black belt in taekwondo, judo and hapkido from my younger years and still remember how to kick to the groin.
Now that would have been funny!
ROF LOL!
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