Abandoned schools..

[John C.65]

There are a few abandoned elementary schools in my area and was curious if you have to have permisssion to detect on these? 2 of the schools have been vacant for 20 + years. Or do I just go there to detect and not worry about it?

 

[pointer80]

John, I hate to say this but, It is sometimes better to just go for it. If they are abandoned then nobody is probably going to care anyway. If they do all they are going to do is tell you to leave. Sometimes if you call to get permission the person will just say no because they do not want to take the time to find out from the right person if you can hunt or not. Good luck and HH.

 

[jbow]

The last abandoned school I hunted attracted a sherriff deputy but once he saw what I was doing he left me to it. What you need to be aware of is that squatters (illegal immigrants) often will use those empty classrooms, so keep an eye open.

J

 

[banditicey]

We usually do very well in old schools let alone an abandoned old school

Are the schools prior public schools?
What area are these schools in?

We have some schools in downtown Buffalo that are now in questionably safe areas and
have to decide on when and how to detect on the school grounds without getting too much attention.

 

[John C.65]

These schools were once public schools located in Knoxville Tenn.

 

[DirtyDeedsDugDirtDeep]

John,
I'd look all over for any trespass signs, new or old.
If the place isn't posted,the old rule of thumb is you can get on at least once.
If somebody comes along and questions you, point out the lack of signage ,then show them how you're cleaning up the grounds by removing all the trash.
I'd carry some old scrap along just in case you're not finding much.
You might change somebody's mind.
Good Luck

 

[hershey1]

John I live in Roane county which is not far from Knoxville. To my understanding all public parks are open to detectorist so if the schools are public property you should be fine. If they are in east Knoxville then you could have some problems with some crackheads, drug dealers and users and other less desirables ( in some areas ). There is a detecting club in Knoxville that meets out on Merchant's Road at the Great American Buffett once a month. I'm sure they could give you the information you need. Not sure what day they meet but I think they have a web-site. HH

 

[John C.65]

Thanks all for the info. Hershey,you're right about east Knoxville,I avoid that area altogether. I live in North Knoxville...am interested in the club you mentioned. I'll check into it.

 

[Pastor bob]

I hunt a bunch of those in Nebraska. My rule of thumb is if is not posted and there is not a gate set up to keep people out it is fair game.

 

[pasttom]

Another reason is bureaucrats say no is because they fear saying yes means they could be accepting liability if one is injured while on the property. So it seems to them that they have nothing to gain saying yes and possibly something to lose is they say yes.
Tom

 

[bentrac]

I know my old public school is owned privately by a man from my hometown the city sold it to him. So be careful what was once public may not be anymore. I have always hunted with permission and im far from a goody two shoes but no coin is worth getting in deep crap over. Unless I knew there was a barber half in their then I would go when its dark!

 

[Agseeker]

This past summer I hunted an area where a public school had been torn down about ten years ago. I assumed it was still owned by the city. It wasn't posted, but I learned from a neighbor that the property had been leased to the city and had since reverted back to the private owner who didn't want people digging on the property. Good news was I wasn't finding anything old. I never hunt posted property without permission.