Child Of God from Wise county VA

[SWV Coin Hunter]

First off, Christian Metal Detecting Forum..I like that!
Hello everyone. My name is Duane and I am from South West VA here in Wise county. Just returning to the Hobie after about a 7 years and picked up my Garrett 350 ACE Yesterday. Went out and hit a few places this morning and so far I have found .71 cents,LOL. But hey,it's all about the hunt right. Anyway. I live in Coeburn VA which started out as Guest Station in the pioneering days but was later renamed Coeburn. Done a lot of research on this area and I have a very good idea as to where a lot of the old town is located,the original school,the old coil mine company stores in Toms Creek and also Cranes Nest. Even found what used to be man street in bond town VA back in the early 1900's so I have plenty of places to hit and as far as I know,they are virgin sites. The only question I have,that I am hoping some can help me with,is the metal detecting laws here in this area. I have talked to folks at the Wise county Court house and they dont have a clue,Goggled for the info but I cant find anything regarding the laws here.

The only thing I did find stated that unless there is some kind of city law against it,city parks and schools are good to go and down town locations are good with owners permission. But that's All I know. I was hoping that someone here would know for sure what the laws are so that I dont end up in jail...LOL. Anyway,I appreciate any help I can get.
May God bless you and keep you.

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

I have been to VA many times to relic hunt. It is one of my favorite states to hunt with all of the Civil War history there. Here is some info I found per city in VA. I had heard at one time that many public places are off limits because of the relics. Be sure to check first. We have been fortunate to get permission on construction sites, and private property.
Hope you like the forum and visit us more.
God bless.
Mike
City of Alexandria

Sec. 13-1-40 Metal detecting and digging on city property.
(a) Except as provided in subsections (b), (c) and (d), it shall be unlawful for any person, while located on city property, to:
(1) possess or use a mineral or metal detector or any other device or probe to search for objects in, on or below the surface of the soil;
(2) dig, excavate or in any other way disturb the surface of the soil;
(3) remove any object found in, on or below the surface of the soil.
(b) Notwithstanding the prohibitions in subsections (a)(1) and (a)(3), permission may be obtained from the director of the department of recreation, parks and cultural activities, or his designee, to use a metal detector on city property to locate and recover a specific item of personal property which has been lost by the person requesting such permission.
(c) Notwithstanding the prohibitions in subsection (a)(2), permission to dig on or excavate specific city property may be granted by the city manager, after review of and favorable recommendation on the request by the city archaeologist. Any objects found as a result of such permitted digging or excavation shall remain the property of the city. Any person receiving permission under this subsection shall, at the completion of the work, restore the city property to its previous condition.
(d) This section shall not apply to activities conducted by city employees during the course of their duties.
(e) Any person violating this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a class three misdemeanor. Each day that a violation continues or occurs shall constitute a separate offense. (Ord. No. 3355, 1/14/89, Sec. 1)

City of Fredericksburg

Except as may be contained on a permit issued under this section, no person shall possess or use a mineral or metal detector, magnetometer, side scan sonar or other metal detecting device or sub-bottom profiler on city property within the boundaries of the city or on property owned by the city located outside the city boundaries. This section shall not apply to a device broken down and stored or packed to prevent its use while on city property or to electronic equipment used for the navigation and safe operation of boats.
(f) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.

Glouchester County

Chapter 13.5 PUBLIC PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES
Public parks and recreation facilities means any and all buildings, lands and waters, including roadways, recreation equipment, structures and the flora and fauna therein, owned, leased or operated under the jurisdiction of the county as a park or recreation area and open to the general public for park or recreation purposes. This definition includes, but is not limited to, Abingdon Park, Ark Park, Beaverdam Park, Tyndall's Point Park, Woodville Plantation Park, Gloucester Point Beach and Cedar Bush Creek Public Landing.
Sec. 13.5-23. Use of electronic metal-detecting devices.
No person shall utilize any type of electronic metal-detecting device prohibited in any recreational facility.
City of Hopewell

Sec. 25-61. Preservation of natural, cultural and archaeological resources.
(a) Prohibited. The following is prohibited on public streets, roads, sidewalk areas, alleys, parks, rights-of-way, and other municipally owned lands;
(1) Possessing, destroying, injuring, defacing, removing, digging or disturbing paleontological specimens, cultural, historical or archaeological resources, or parts thereof, residing on said public or municipally owned lands.
(2) Using a mineral or metal detector, magnetometer, side scan sonar, other metal detecting device, or subbottom profiler, unless such a device is utilized by city personnel, or by a utility company to locate underground pipes, lines, cables or other conduit.
(b) Penalty. Any person who violates subsection (a) of this section without permission of the city shall, upon conviction, be fined a sum of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or be imprisoned for a period of not more than ninety (90) days, or shall suffer both fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.

City of Manassas

Sec. 78-80. Hunting for relics on public property.
It shall be unlawful for any person, without authority of the city council, to hunt, search out for, attempt to find or seek relics, or to use or be in possession of a metal detector on public grounds or property.
(Code 1978,

 

[7centsworth]

Welcome to the forum. Hope you stick around and post your finds.

 

[SeniorSeeker]

Welcome neighbor! As far as I'm concerned, if you follow your local county & state law, you're in good shape. If the local folks don't know, then the only thing I'd be concerned about would be private land ownership. Get permission to hunt and your good to go. Good luck hunting and be sure to let family or someone know where you'll be digging.

 

[SWV Coin Hunter]

Thanks Mike, I did find the laws regarding areas with Civil War Battle sites in VA and of course,that goes with out saying. Although I'm sure many people sneak onto those sites,I'm not one of those. The only battle site ( The Battle of Cranes Nest) anywhere close to me,that I know about, is on hwy 72 between Coeburn and Clintwood VA...and it is highly unlikely that the land owners would allow any hunting in that area. Would be nice though!

Thanks for the welcome 7centsworth,When and IF I find anything i will post up some pics. Wanted to go today but with a dusting of snow and temps in the high 20's I may not be able to but if ground is not completely froze then I may try and hit the site of the original high school here in town. Kinda stink really. I have been researching the local history here for over a month and have gotten a good idea where everything is or was. Now that I have my detector,the weather turns cold!

SeniorSeeker, That's what I was thinking as well. If they dont know the laws then it must not be a big thing to them. Of course I'm not going to go the the Wise county Court house (site of the battle of Gladesville-now Wise) and start detecting because I'm sure they would frown upon that. But the schools and city parks in Wise and Coeburn,I should be fine.

Thanks for the reply guys. Happy hunting and God bless!

 

[TreasureDigger]

Glad you're here!

Lisa

 

[Ma Betty in MO]

Hi Duane...glad to have you with us and May God Bless you with good places to detect and with lots of finds of old coins and goodies! Listen to God's Holy Spirit and He will lead and guide you to where he wants you to be and safe from those who would harm and try to keep you out of public places that we, the citizens, pay for and should be allowed to use within reason! Instead of public parks and etc. they might as well say government parks because they don't allow everyone to use them and most who use detectors are careful in their digging and covering their holes...our gov't is unfair and greedy but that is the way it is, until more become Christians or Jesus' comes to rule in evil's place! God Bless and good luck! Amen! Ma

 

[dirtdigginlady]

I grew up in Coeburn, Sandy Ridge to be exact. I live in BSG now. I've been detecting on and off for a few years. I have a friend who also enjoys it and we are both retired. The shools are usually open to detecting as long as you don't go during school hours or when any activities are going on. You just have to decide if places are public or private property. Private you ALways have to have permission. If a place is posted, you have to have the permission in writing or they take you to jail - verbal is not good enough.

I've always wanted to detect the area going up Toms creek which used to be a booming mining area and in fact my dad lived and worked there for years. However, it belongs to one of the mining companies and they will run you off in a heart beat.

My friend and I did some detecting in bondtown once.

Well good luck with the hobby. It can be fun when you're finding something. kind of like golf - when the ball goes where it suppose to it's great fun lol but it doesnt always work out that way.

 

[Sgt. Silverman]

Welcome Coin Hunter! You will definitely enjoy this Christian family forum and that was a great questioned you asked. I learned a thing or two myself! God Bless and have a Peaceful Sunday!

Greg

 

[SWV Coin Hunter]

dirtdigginlady - Did you have any luck when you checked out Bondtown? I went over a little of the park across the creek from where the town used to stand but got only trash. Have not figured out who now owns the land where the town use to stand. There is one double wide across the tracks just above the one remaining building but I have not tried to get permission from the owner yet.

I to want badly to check out Toms creek. From talking to my wife's grandparents,I know pretty much where everything once stood,including the church on the hill but as you said,they would run you off in short order if they caught you on the property. There has to be someone to ask for permission and I would think that as long as one stayed away from the mining operations you would be fine but....still working on who to ask.

I have been hitting the location where the original school use to stand ( in Coeburn on schoolhouse hill) the last two days but so far,the oldest coin I have found is 1973. I'm beginning to think that where the high school now stands is where the original school once stood ( they have paved over much of the area around it) and where the tennis court is located behind the high school is where the second school stood. But as I said,so far only modern coins.

Still trying to sort out my ACE 350. It's kinda getting on my nerves because I have gotten some really good hits only to find that there is nothing there. I even dug a hole that I know was at least two feet deep - doubt very seriously that this thing is good for detecting things that deep- and even though the detector still showed something there. I did not find anything but some broken glass. Most of the coins I have found so far where in the 2 to 4 inch range but I would think that in a location that has been used for over 100 years,I would have gotten some deep targets by now. But,it's all good. I know there has to be some good stuff out there and I will find it,just got to be patient.

Thanks for all the welcomes and kind words. God is with me as He is with all of us and it's good to find a place where people of like mind can sit back and have a good conversation. In a world that is corrupted by evil,that is getting harder and harder to find. God bless you all and stay strong. His return is closer that you think!

 

[dirtdigginlady]

A friend of mine used to have permission to detect the battlefield. She found some bullets but the new owner won't let you hunt.

 

[Mike Chgo area]

have some good places to detect. Don't know if you have a metal detecting dealer close but that would be a good place to get info on the laws. Welcome to the forum and good luck..