Code of Ethics

[mwaynebennett]

Many MD enthusiasts say that found trash should be removed and placed in a trash can. How far does this go? What constitutes "found?" Does that only apply to objects that were invisible until the detector unearthed them? Does it apply to pull tabs, gum wrappers and other metallic objects found on the surface? How about non-metallic objects found on the surface? Are we to become litter picker-uppers as the price we pay for MDing in public areas? If we leave in place gum wrappers and pull tabs on the surface, shortly they too will become buried. It was my understanding that the reason for eliminating non-valuable targets is so that future MDing folks will not have to contend with them. Does this not also apply to objects on the surface today? Won't they become underground targets next year?

What is your take on this subject?

Mark
Elite 2200
Pioneer 505
WA St.

 

[dave5710]

You can spent more time picking up trash than metal detecting if you want to. If I dig it, I dispose of it. I also pick up trash laying around the trash can when I dump my trash and sometimes pick up cups and wrappers as I walk towards the can or dumpster. Park workers do notice. I won't take the first two hours of my hunt to spruce up the area before I start, but if it is visible and easy to drop into the pouch, I often pick up stuff. If some family leaves all the trash and half the food and drinks they just got at Mickey D's behind and it would take two or three trips to the trash can to get rid of it all , then no.

 

[KeizerBill]

I pick up all the trash I walk pass, but I do not hunt in very trashy places. I think it does good for our cause and may win over support to letting us metal detect in more places. I especially pick up any metal because I return to the same places a lot and that helps me. I have even picked up a condom in a school tot lot. I always wear disposable gloves when I hunt.

 

[salmonriverhotrock]

I think it a judgement call. This Metal Detecting Ethics has been around for a great many years and I believe the best was intended by it but in reality, it has never stood a chance of keeping up with all the trash left behind by people but maybe at Parks and School grounds. I would see it being much more effective in Parks and School grounds but out here in the sticks where I detect, you would need two life times and a shaker screen with many able bodies and shovels in hand to clean up all the melted aluminum scattered all over the place. There have been about 5 decades of fire pits filled with aluminum foil and cans that were burned and melted. It would not be bad if the stuff had never found it's way out of these pits but it has and is horribly all over the place in some locations.

Yesterday I detected a location that melted aluminum was minimal so I picked along with coins all the lead and some other things I found like a large fish hook. Today I detected another location that had very minimal melted aluminum outside of old fire pits and though I ran with less discrimination so not to miss small gold rings, I picked along with coins all the pop and pull tabs, some lead and other items like large nails and a tent stake that I dug. These two places I think for now are still worth picking dug trash from but most places that have visible or buried fire pits are far gone beyond help. The sad part in many developed camp grounds is the contents of fire pits were scooped up and tossed around the outer areas of camp sites instead of being hauled away. I've detected some locations that were so bad even around the tables that I quit and moved on to other locations. People who burn aluminum foil and cans in fire pits are an MD'ers worst nightmare.

Back in the early days of Detecting Ethics, I think the worst they were looking at was pull tabs, gum, cigerette, and cooking foils, and those bottle caps.

 

[crgator]

Back when I was geocaching I used to do what they do, called CITO, which stands for Cache In Trash Out. I took a trash bag with me, and would haul as much trash out as I could. I'm trying to do the same with MD. The good thing is, most of my MD so far has been at the beach, and fortunately, there's not been that much trash (too much, though). I'll definitely take out anything I dig up, but will also try to take out surface trash.

 

[nugget]

If I dig it I dispose of it, I used to pick it all up when I first started. However with thousands on the beach I gave it up as a bad joke. The council gets paid to do it so I let them. Nugget.

 

[mwaynebennett]

Ok, so as I dig and finally encounter the target and I see it is trash, how much effort should I exert to extricate it? I have encountered several large rusty chunks of iron that I just leave in the ground. Is that wrong?

Mark

 

[darrenb]

I usually leave the larger pieces in the ground as well... my thinking is that I'll do more damage to the grass getting it out, and its better to just leave it there.

 

[Aces High 333]

I'll pick up the obvious pieces on the surface and what I dig up that is trash. Yea, I won't expand a hole just to get a can out.

 

[darrenb]

Mark, one thing you might want to try is using a probe to check the target before you dig. I have gotten in the habit of doing that, and you can get an idea of the size of the item by pressing the probe into the ground until you hit the item. Move over a little and try it again. If you are hitting it 2 inches away, it's probably trash. Now if you are hunting anything other than coins, this may not be of any help. I use a piece of 1/4" brass rod that I picked up at the local hardware store. I cut it to about 16", and folded one end into a T-handle and tapered the other end just a bit. I'm good down to about 8" with it, which is about as far as my machines will pick up.
HH!
darren