Metal Detecting Forum

I'm seeing far too many people in this hobby use shovels, military shovels, or diggers with long handles. Primarily they do this because they are too lazy to bend/kneel down and dig a target with a regular digger. This is giving our hobby a black eye. Show up with one of these at a park or other public place and watch how fast that place is put off limits to detecting. It just looks bad in the public eye. You can rant and rave about how good you are at repairing the hole but that doesn't matter to the general public who only sees the ugly looking digging tool you are using to dig up a target. Many relic hunters on private land use shovels or long handled diggers to recover targets. They may argue that they can do what they want on private land but it doesn't look good to the general public. Too many people passing by or seeing videos where they are using these types of tools.

IMHO if you are too lazy to bend/kneel down and dig a target with a normal digger then you shouldn't be in this hobby. All you are doing is destroying it for the rest of us. A digger should be as small as possible and carried in a harness on your belt so it doesn't look so bad to people passing by or seeing these videos.

I also make an effort to keep my back to the public or nearby roads when digging a target. Again, regardless of how good you are at repairing a hole it's the initial act that sticks in the public's mind.

What are your thoughts about all this? I've read stories where public parks were put off limits due to some idiot using a shovel to dig holes there.

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I agree that it is not wise to bring any sort of digging tool to a park. More folks should learn to probe for coins with a screwdriver-type tool. I do own a long-handled digger called a Lesche Sampson, but it only gets used in the woods.

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2013 digs :
Mercury Dime - 3
Silver Roosevelt Dime - 1
Wheats - 31
Buffalo Nickel - 1
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When relic hunting a small shovel is a must. A digger isn't enough. But this is most always in woods, fields, and private property away from people. I would agree that a shovel has no place in a park.

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Whites VX3 w 950 and 10DD coils. Garret AT-Pro w 8.5X11 and 4in sniper coil. Garret Propointer. Lake Jackson TX.

While you make a good point, it's not fair to assume that all the folks who don't bend/kneel down are just lazy. A lot of older folks have a real hard time doing this. I hope you're not suggesting that these folks shouldn't be in the hobby.

Well, I don't know if Critterhunter is suggesting it or not but I AM!-----ANYONE (young OR old) that uses a shovel in a park (whether it comes from being lazy or trouble bending) shouldn't be in that park/any park using a shovel!-----The use of a shovel out in the woods (if used properly)---now that's a whole different story.-------You want to finish "killing" off this great hobby----just keep that sloppy recovery mentality going (and the negative public "perception") of the tools we use in recovering targets.------This statement is coming from a 73 yr. old guy (me) that's seen a LOT of changes (many of them negative) since the 1970's.------This is just too wonderful of a hobby for us to ad "fuel to the fire" with negative public perception.----------Del

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berryman
While you make a good point, it's not fair to assume that all the folks who don't bend/kneel down are just lazy. A lot of older folks have a real hard time doing this. I hope you're not suggesting that these folks shouldn't be in the hobby.

No, what's hurting this hobby is the lazy ones who dig their hole and don't use proper technique and care and don't fill it in properly, leave trash on the ground or in the hole, and hurry to the next target. No difference in a lesche or a lesche with a long handle except perception and then if you're careless it doesn't matter which one you're using. I asked why metal detecting was banned at some local parks even inquiring if it was because of shovel use. I was informed it was because of unfilled holes and trash left on the ground and it had nothing to do with what implement they used for digging, just their careless attitude. While I agree a regular type shovel shouldn't be used in public parks, I see nothing wrong with using a lesche type tool with a long handle over a standard lesche and I've hunted with those who used the Sampson type shovel and dug a better plug than some using lesche type diggers.

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Lebanon County, Pa.
XP Deus, M6, Garrett propointer
Please learn and follow the metal detecting code of ethics for all of us

Perception is everything! I agree the shovels should never be used in parks.

The first time I went public with my detector I had to have a beer buzz on. I know that sounds bad...but, I was so worried someone was going to call the cops or come yell at me. I am so into minimum impact. I keep my digger in my finds pouch until needed. I always dig and cover thinking someone is watching me. I'm always going thru the scenerio in my mind of the police or average citizen calling me out on what I'm doing. I know I shouldn't feel like a criminal...and thats what gives me the guts to be firm and friendly with interested people. HH. Matt

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Jason in Enid
Perception is everything! I agree the shovels should never be used in parks.

I PERSONALLY would agree that a person should be as discreet as possible and a shovel probably should be left in the truck, unless very small, however, look at it this way, if PERCEPTION is what we are fighting, then a small shovel, a big shovel, or a tablespoon isnt going to matter beans to the majority of passersby. If a person sees you in the park swinging a metal detector, and then frequently bent down for a couple of minutes, then surely he is not going to think you are looking for 4 leaf clovers or tying your shoe, he's gonna know just cuz you have a detector that you are diggin holes. So if he knows you are diggin holes, then what difference does it make what you are diggin them with......within reason (no dozers). Understand me, I'm not trying to be a smart azz, i'm just looking at it lodgically, a hole is a hole. If we are swinging a detector in a park in plain sight of people, who are we fooling? The concern as I see it is how you are leaving the area, not so much how you are diggin your holes. Here is something that happened to me my first trip to a park a couple of weeks ago....I'd been there about 20 min and there was an elderly guy and gal sitting on a bench at the duck pond. I knew they had been watching me from the moment I got there. Well, after a bit, here he comes over to me and I'm thinking, "Great, here we go, I'm gonna get the speech". So he asked what I was looking for, and I said pretty much anything thats metal, so we talked a bit and I showed him how it works by finding and diggin a target. I did this to show him that you cant even tell there was a hole dug. I was using a small hand held digger. He watched and said, "Hope you aint in a hurry" to which I asked why, "Cuz you'll be here all day with that little thing". Lol. I dont know, I think we get overly concerned sometimes. If the site of a guy in a park swinging a detector doesnt set them off, then why would a guy swinging a detector and carrying an Army shovel do it? They know what we're doing. Would I use a shovel in a park....no, would I encourage folks to use one.....no. My personal rule for park hunts is, if I cant reach it with my small digger, I dont want/need it, but not so much cuz of how it looks, but rather I'm not after large targets in a park and I dont want to tote a shovel. I appreciate that you are concerned for the hobby, but in a few weeks of park hunting a few days a week my only experience with "people watching" was a good one, and he thought I should be using a bigger digger.

I have to agree with Critter, a shovel has no place where the public can watch you hunt and dig. The general public is far less threatened when you have a garden trowel to recover targets than if you are carrying a shovel. I go so far as to carry my screwdriver in my left hand when near other people or I see one heading my way. I have averted trouble dozens of times when a grounds keeper approaches me ready to lecture me on digging holes and then sees the screwdriver in my hand, his attitude changes immediately.

So except for a sand scoop on the beach, please, no large diggers in view of the public eye.

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Bells and whistles are nice, but nothing will substitute for the basic understanding of the hobby.

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I think this post refers to my post on the modification forum, where I mounted a magnet to the end of my shovel, he jump all over it about using a shovel in a park. I AGREE a shovel should DEFINITELY NOT be used it a park or public area. I mostly RELIC hunt fields/ private land and did not think about the thought of a shovel in a park. I'm sorry he took it the wrong way, but he should find out all the facts before bashing someones post. How about starting a campaign to lower the gas prices!!! H/H

I agree with this too, but what about guys like me that do not do much coin hunting and do most relic hunting in corn/soybean fields?

i say do the best you can out there not to leave a mess fill your holes take your trash and smile at people educate them if you can and if its not fun anymore sell your gear.

BP

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Not in a park, schoolyard or any other public place. What the he** are some of these detectorists (only by virtue of owning one) thinking.

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Larry (IL)
I have to agree with Critter, a shovel has no place where the public can watch you hunt and dig. The general public is far less threatened when you have a garden trowel to recover targets than if you are carrying a shovel. I go so far as to carry my screwdriver in my left hand when near other people or I see one heading my way. I have averted trouble dozens of times when a grounds keeper approaches me ready to lecture me on digging holes and then sees the screwdriver in my hand, his attitude changes immediately.

So except for a sand scoop on the beach, please, no large diggers in view of the public eye.

You make an interesting point, and I guess that different states/cities have different rules and such as far as is it legal and whats allowed. I checked with my city to see if its permisable and they were very open to it. They just said to please leave it like you find it, so for me it may not be as much of an issue with park goers in my area. Had my kids out with me the other day, kinda showing them how this is done, (this was about 7 a.m., before the families started showing up) and our little trash bag got full so we were putting stuff on the picnic table top till we were done, and the grounds guy came by on his rounds and picked it up. I told him we werent going to leave that there and showed him that our bag was full and he said, Hey, you're saving me work, no problem at all" and thanked us.