Permission to Detect

[DukeOBass]

What kind of luck do you guys have when requesting permission to dig in a town park. I've been passing this nice old park lately and decided to call the police department in that town. They referred me over to the Borough and they stated that they would not permit digging. They said that they realize that we would put the dirt and grass plug back in but they would rather we didn't dig at all.

This is why I don't dig many old coins around here. It's tough to get in anywhere to hunt even though we're in a very rural area.

 

[DirtFlipper]

If you're going to ask a person for permission, might try private property instead. For public property, like parks, I suggest starting with their website and try to look up their City Code or Ordinances. Most towns (even small ones) have this online these days it seems. In the City Code or the Ordinances, there will typically be a section for Parks and the various usage. Sometimes you'll find they are very restrictive, and while they may not come right out and ban detecting specifically, they may have clauses about not harming or tampering anything, no digging, etc. Sometimes they will ban recovery of items, or just ban detecting. Then there are other places where nothing remotely like that is mentioned, and there are no restrictions. Look for those. You can even print out a copy and keep it handy in case anyone asks. When you call and ask, a lot of folks aren't familiar with the actual City Code, and will just give you their own opinion on what you can/cannot do. This can be good or bad. Always check with the actual code.

Other properties, like Churches, fall into the private property category. Gotta find the owner and ask. Lots of old churches that are no longer used were sold too, and now are owned by individuals. For these, land records are the way to go. Even if it looks abandoned, somebody owns it, and permission is needed first (same for houses, vacant lots, etc). I cringe when I read about people driving around, finding an old place, and just hopping out and hunting without first getting permission. But that's just me.

Hope you find a good spot to hunt!

DirtFlipper

 

[DukeOBass]

n/t

 

[raweppler]

I agree with DirtFlipper. I prefer to hunt private ground to find virgin territory. When I ask permission to hunt an old home I reassure the home owner that I will remove all trash and fill in all holes and they should not know I was even there. I also tell them I will share all gold (and grin with them). I also ask them if they know if anything was lost in the yard such as rings and I offer to try to locate and return to them. I always carry a piece of plastic (a Frisbee works well also) to place all the dirt onto so I can replace all dirt back into hole and not leave any tell-tale signs of loose dirt in the yard.

I usually try to go back and thank the owner if they are still there for allowing me to detect. At this time I ask them if it is OK for me to come back later if I did not complete or if I feel there may be some goodies left. Unless they ask I do not reveal what I have found. I may say "darn no gold found".

 

[Hotcz70]

SAGE ADVICE....especially about hunting churches...whether they are abandoned or not.

And as for EVERY other bit of advice he gave in his response.....

In fact...this thread might get pinned at the top of the page to make sure everyone gets a look.

 

[Bell]

As far as active churches go I have several old ones here in Houston I hunt. Its easy to get in touch with the Parish Priest/Pastor and never not once have they told me no when I asked.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

The problem with your question, is in the way it's worded. For starters, it assumes that permission is needed, to begin with. I believe that unless detecting is specifically (by name) dis-allowed, then "permission" is not needed, to begin with. For example, would you have "asked permission" to fly a frisbee? Drink from the fountain? Stand on your head there? etc.... If it is not specifically dis-allowed, then I consider it "implied permission" until told otherwise.

And no, I do not consider defacement, or disturbance of vegetation, or any other such clauses to apply to us. Because if YOU know you'll leave no trace of your presence, then why would those clauses apply to you? To think otherwise, is to already have lost the battle. Because those clauses exist everywhere, on all public land. I mean, think of it: if you walk into ANY park (even parks where it's always been considered open-game), and ask some desk-bound clerk "Hi. Can I dig and destroy the park please?" What do you think the answer will be?

I have seen time and again where there's been parks where no one's ever had a problem (yup, in full view of gardeners, passing police, etc....) It's just ignored, and no one thinks anything of it (unless you're being some sort of nuisance, or leaving a mess, or something). Then PRESTO: someone goes to city hall and "asks permission". They get a "no". Why is that? Because the mere fact that you felt you needed to ask, simply pre-assumes or infers that you are somehow doing something that will be illegal, or damage something etc... (lest ......... why would you have asked, if it didn't need permission, and didn't cause any damage?). Do you see how the question itself simply dictates the answer? And then presto: they'll find something to morph to your "pressing question"

Unfortunately we're in a hobby that's sort of like nose-picking: No one really cares if you just do it discreetly. But if you start asking people "can I pick my nose?" they're going to tell you "no".

I never ask permission at any public park I go to, and rarely ever have a problem. Obviously go at low traffic times, be discreet, don't do obvious historical monuments, etc...... As an old saying goes: "sometimes no one cares ....... UNTIL you ask"

 

[DirtFlipper]

Oh yeah, if you do find a place to ask, I'd highly recommend only asking for permission to 'metal detect' and not for permission 'to dig'. I never, ever use the term 'dig'; I always speak in terms of 'recovering targets' (if needed). A subtle, but important distinction, particularly when you start reading various ordinances. The word 'dig' triggers way too much misconception. Best to just drop it from the vocabulary....

 

[DukeOBass]

I actually did say "Metal Detecting" when I asked and they brought up the word "Digging". I never mentioned digging. They've either been asked before or stopped someone in the past because they stated, "I realize you will be replacing the 'divet'...."

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Duke and Dirt-flipper, yes, you might increase your odds at getting a "yes", if you avoid trigger words like "dig", and "liability" and "treasure" and such. I've even heard of people who think they can avoid a "no" by specifically wording it this way: "Is there anything that prohibits metal detecting in the park?". Notice that this way of wording it SEEMS to put the burden of proof on them, to produce an actual written rule, that specifically says ".... metal detectors". It is not, for example, "asking permission", but instead, seems to be saying "are there any [existing] rules about metal detectors?"

But I have heard stories about how even that backfires. For example: Let's say you carefully word it that way, so it's not like you're asking their permission or opinion. The following could very well be an answer you receive "We would prefer that you didn't" Notice that the desk-bound clerk interprets your question as an asking of permission. So what do you do then? You can say "why?" but guess who's going to loose that debate??

Yes it increases your odds, by carefully avoiding the "mother may I?" wimpering approach, but you still run the odds of getting a "no", where ........ perhaps no one would ever have cared, or even noticed.

Thus if it's not specifically dis-allowed, then consider yourself ok, till told otherwise. The rules of each city or county's parks, schools, etc... are usually written on the wooden sign at the park entrance. Or the city code/laws are usually on the city website, and in the code-book that's out for public viewing at city hall on the counter. Do a keyword search with various terms like "metal detector", etc... If it is silent on the issue ......... then so be it.