Parks=clad

[fdl]

In the last week I've been to 5 different public parks in my area & all I find are clad quarters,dimes & pennies. Not a hint of silver,rings or relics just clad,pull tabs & other junk. I do prefer old overgrown homesteads but the weeds are high & I'll wait another month or so to hit them. Public beaches can't be detected in Wisconsin because of our laws so the only other places I can think of hunting are manicured lawns & homesteads. Am I missing out on any other places to detect?

 

[Old Longhair]

Public schools (when not in session)
Municipal buildings
Roadside right-of-way (curb strips, ditches, etc...)
Farm fields where houses once stood. Crops will be off soon and most farmers don't care as long as you're not breaking down fences, damaging crops, or littering. Still be sure to get permission, and be curtious to hunters that will soon be joining us in the field.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Just curious where you see that detecting beaches in Wisconsin, isn't allowed. Where do you see that written? Perhaps you might have read something about state park laws, but that would only apply to STATE parks. Not other types of beaches. Eg.: city, county, private, etc..... Certainly not all your lakes beaches in the entire state are state park beaches? I mean, aren't some city or county type parks ?

 

[fdl]

Tom....Regulations for MDing in Wisc. have been reinforced so know you need a permit to detect on any DNR land. That includes public beaches,rivers,creeks,state parks,federal parks,lakes or any land the Department of Natural Resources owns. Please see: medal detecting user permit-Wisconsin.gov for more info.

 

[mapper65]

I'm not seeing that as too much of an issue after reading that site Permit Site We have a few places here in PA like that and they have told us that it's simply just so that they know whom was detecting in case there is some apparent property damage. It also say that you can keep coins.

At the DNCR places here in PA you simply walk into the park office and fill out a very small form and you're off detecting. We have never had anyone stop and ask if we stopped at the park office. Simply a formality. Here is a quote from the WI site:

"All excavations shall be returned to their original condition. All identifiable items (not cash or coins) and historical items must be turned in to the office before leaving the property or at the end of the permit period. If unclaimed, and return is requested, the items are returned to the finder after 60 days. The state retains title to all objects of archaeological interest. If the permit is issued to find a specific item lost by a park visitor, that item does not have to be turned in. "

 

[tjhoosier]

Indiana law in State parks is pretty much the same except the only hunting allowed is in beach areas and not until after Labor Day and the beaches close to swimming. No detecting in the park itself beyond the beach area if the park has such an area.

 

[chuckciao]

tjhoosier,
Don't give up on those parks! I was having the same problem with only finding clad. It was very frustrating until I changed how I hunt. Now, i have really slowed down both my pace and swing speed and really concentrate on those deeper signals that are likely to be good targets. My silver and Indian finds have skyrocketed. I also pass up those shallow penny signals and only dig clad dimes and quarters. I also lowered my sensitivity to avoid the "headlights in the fog" problem that Randy Horton described in the xterra guide. It has really helped.
Hope this helps
Chuck

 

[fdl]

I'm not seeing that as too much of an issue after reading that site Permit Site We have a few places here in PA like that and they have told us that it's simply just so that they know whom was detecting in case there is some apparent property damage. It also say that you can keep coins.

At the DNCR places here in PA you simply walk into the park office and fill out a very small form and you're off detecting. We have never had anyone stop and ask if we stopped at the park office. Simply a formality. Here is a quote from the WI site:

"All excavations shall be returned to their original condition. All identifiable items (not cash or coins) and historical items must be turned in to the office before leaving the property or at the end of the permit period. If unclaimed, and return is requested, the items are returned to the finder after 60 days. The state retains title to all objects of archaeological interest. If the permit is issued to find a specific item lost by a park visitor, that item does not have to be turned in. "

Mapper,I haven't actually talked to a park ranger at a public beach about detecting so I'll do that & see what response I get. I'm just going by the regulations that I see posted on the interweb.

 

[fdl]

tjhoosier,
Don't give up on those parks! I was having the same problem with only finding clad. It was very frustrating until I changed how I hunt. Now, i have really slowed down both my pace and swing speed and really concentrate on those deeper signals that are likely to be good targets. My silver and Indian finds have skyrocketed. I also pass up those shallow penny signals and only dig clad dimes and quarters. I also lowered my sensitivity to avoid the "headlights in the fog" problem that Randy Horton described in the xterra guide. It has really helped.
Hope this helps
Chuck

Hi Chuck....your right about slowing down & checking those faint,deep signals. Now I just have to remind myself of that & put it into practice. I'll be hitting my own lawn once again where I don't mind digging lots of holes-practice,practice &more practice. I also have to start doing more research on old homestead sites so I'll be going to the local libraries for that.

 

[lerafe]

Do not stop hunting parks. Just try to hunt smarter. Try hunting with new techniques, like hunting slower or different coils. Try to hunt off the beaten path. Hunt along curbs, any new construction area in the park.

In hunted out parks I have found
1908 Barber Half,
1942 Walking half,
1926 Standing Liberty Quarter,
1896 barber quarter
1892, 1900 and 1903 IH's
1926, 1935, , 1942 Mercury Dimes
a 10 wheatie spill.
many wheaties
and a few rings

 

[Goodbaja]

Agree with above. Hit the areas that take you furthe to walk. A lot of people check just close areas.

 

[lerafe]

Agree with above. Hit the areas that take you furthe to walk. A lot of people check just close areas.

I also see guys walk half way across the park to some "desired" spot before they start swinging. Usually the spot that draws everyone else. And then stop at some "Ending" spot and walk 100 yrds to the car.
I start as son as I get out of the car, and after I have decided to quit swing all they way back even if only put half the effert into it.

 

[Old Longhair]

Agree with above. Hit the areas that take you furthe to walk. A lot of people check just close areas.

I also see guys walk half way across the park to some "desired" spot before they start swinging. Usually the spot that draws everyone else. And then stop at some "Ending" spot and walk 100 yrds to the car.
I start as son as I get out of the car, and after I have decided to quit swing all they way back even if only put half the effert into it.

Same here Lee. And it's amazing how often I find something within the first few swings going out.

Another thing that I see is people scouring the edges and corners while ignoring the most wide open areas. Shady areas may be good, but not all days that people go to the park are hot and/or sunny, and some of my oldest park finds have been in the middle of large open spaces.

 

[mapper65]

I agree with everyone about not quitting park hunting. I agree with this for a few reasons. I always tell people it's like when you see these people training for a marathon. Park hunting keeps your ears trained and helps keep you on your game for when you get a good old home site to detect. Also, I've had a really good, unexpected find or two while park hunting. From a coin standpoint I found my very first Barber dime (1910) a couple of years back in a park that really isn't extremely old and has definitely been well hunted by my family for the last 30 years.

You're also going to pull up a gold ring or two when you least expect it. That reminds me.......I'm way past due.

Have fun!

 

[fdl]

Thanks for all the great advice & I'll take everyone's ideas into account when I'm back in the local parks. Haven't been able to get out much lately but I'll be back in the swing this coming weekend.

 

[Rainyday101]

Okay fdl, which I assume stands for Fondulac. I am north of Green Bay and hunt beaches all the time. Our state archaeologist is an idiot/ahole. I have talked to the DNR and according to them the law applies to artifacts not coins and jewelery. The law is broad and not well defined. If you are asked reply that you are hunting for coins. NEVER say the word relic or artifact. The DNR told me he had better things to do than harass somebody detecting that was ethical and didn't leave the place dug up. I hunt city beaches if they allow metal detecting in the city. I hunt beaches on the Bay all the time. I hunt county lake beaches at county parks where I need a permit that I purchase at the county department. I have permits for two counties. I hunt swimming holes on the rivers. I have never had a problem. I have had many park employess stop by to talk to me. They have no problem with me detecting because my holes are so clean you can't tell where I dug. Learn to pinpoint extremely well, use a Garrett Pro Pointer, and keep the plugs you cut in the grass as small as possible. Most my plugs are 2-4 inches wide. If the pin pointer indicates shallow my slit in the ground is really small. This next part is really important and most the jacka**es on you tube never do it- PUT ANY REMOVED DIRT from the plug on a drop cloth. When you are done dump it back in, push down on the plug and nobody will be able to tell you were there. Digging activity is usually easy to spot becasue of the dirt left next to the plug. If a park employee approaches, take of your headphones, meet him (don't make him walk all the way to you) great him politely, be nice and shoot the breeze, show him how you can't find where you dug and all will be fine. It seems they expect you to argue with them elevate tension levels, don't do this be polite and gab for 15 minutes. Show him all the trash you picked up, they really like that and it makes them think of detectorist in a positive light. Most have told me I can detect there anytime I want. I also give them my number if they want and offer to fix any damage any other detectorist may have done for free and right away. Most of them ask me if I would be willing to locate a ring if somebody loses one and lets them know. I tell them no problem and no charge. I did this once, returned the ring to owner who was watching along with the park employee and flat out refused reward money. You shouldn't capitalize off of others misfortune.

If you are not sure about a particular park don't call and ask! They always assume somebody will be leaving holes and tear the place up. Look up park ordinances for that city. If you see nothing have at it and keep your holes clean. If they don't want there they will let you know. Tell them you looked it up and couldn't find any ordinances and you apologize if you did anything wrong. Be polite, shoot the breeze, and they will probably tell you can keep on hunting. They also always seem to recomend new places to hunt.

Most important- Don't go hunting on a beach or park during peak hours! Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Wear headphones so you don't attract attention. I do a lot of the parks when it is crappy and raining. Beaches in the afternoon on weekdays or anytime early in the morning.

Hope this helps.

 

[fdl]

Rainyday....I appreciate your well detailed response to my concerns. I do have a city of FDL permit for parks plus 2 other city permits in Dodge co. I am going by what I've read on the state website concerning metal detecting & your right that you can hunt for coins. I also read about the frustration other metal detectors have about detecting on beaches in Wisc. This is is my first year detecting so it's still a new hobby for me & your advice is well taken. I have been surface hunting plowed fields for Indian artifacts for over 30 years so I know how to interact when it comes to asking for permission or dealing with people that want to know what I'm doing. What I did not know is that you can acquire a permit to hunt county lake beaches & that is something that I will be looking into for various counties in my area.
I do the "dirt on the drop cloth" thing when I hunt manicured lawns because I do not want to leave a mess that will surly piss someone off. Being respectful/polite is second nature to me which is always a good thing. Thanks again.....Al from FDL.