Remember the song "Signs, Signs, Everywhere a Sign" by Arlo Guthrie?

[Pete in MI]

Here are a couple signs that reminded me why I am not too keen on our Department of Natural Resources. This is posted at Higgins Lake State Park. Boycott that park if you are going to go detecting, camping or other. They say you have to pay to get in but then limit what fun you can have.

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I can't say today was a good detecting day. All I got at the ghost town was rusty items even though I had good solid signals in the top right area of the display. The double digits showed some nice coins or rings but either rusty trash or a bullet. I did a good deed and policed up the cemetary bringing back a garbage bag full of trash and...the side door on the van fell off the track into my hands. Finally got it to close so I could drive home and stopped at the state park to use the facilities and say these signs. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

I guess I can say I didn't get skunked since I did find a quarter in the parking lot as I exited the van...eyeball find.

Took me about an hour of struggling with the sliding side door at home before I got it to stay on the track long enough to close the door...and if it is opened again...the problem starts again. Need to find a replacement channel or a weld job.

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

Grinds my gears bad! GRRRRR!!!! I think I will spread the word!

 

[Joe G]

Seeing the signs showing that metal detecting isn't allowed or, in my case, NO signs in areas where metal detecting isn't allowed. No signs, nothing on the internet. How the heck are you supposed to know? I had to go into the Park Police headquarters to ask about hunting in local parks. I figured they were the best people to ask since no one else could

I don't see what the problem is. I think the archaeologist's / historians must really have some influence in Mich.

 

[Pete in MI]

and certainly won't pay for the priveledge to be 'discriminated' against.

 

[Pete in MI]

He controls all the land - dirt - of Michigan whether it is public or even privately owned. He tell Department of Natural Resources where people can detect and DNR is responsible for all the state lands (forests, state parks, etc.). Never used to be this bad Joe. The DNR people are being brainwashed into thinking we detectorists are stealing state priceless artifacts.

We both know anything we find we think would be an archeological find of historic value we would notify the State Archeologist or State Museum. Nope. He'd rather have the stuff sit in the dirt and rust or rot away than to have us help him discover valuable historical treasures. Besides the State can't afford to do archeological digs so if we found something I guess he would have to go to work and find money to recover anything else. Hey at least the college level archeologists would have something to dig.

So if he doesn't allow us to use dectors then we won't find something that he would have to do anything about and can sit back and keep collecting his 'money for nothing'.

DNR changed the park rules illegally a few years ago. They are supposed to get people who would be affected to come to their meeting to discuss the proposal. They never did. Detecting clubs in Michigan protested to eht head of DNR both on phone and by fax/email. Didn't change a thing except they put someone else in as head of DNR to keep the 'riff raff' (us) from getting anywhere. Kinda reminds me of 'taxation without representation'.

So that's the short of it Joe. In his own eyes, the State Archeologist is a god (even has more say than the Governor). May God have mercy on his soul.

 

[warthog]

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[warthog]

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[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

Hey Steve you didn't have to change your name for me! I was just picking on ya! I like Wart Hog best though!

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

but go to my club website and you can get all that info plus ways to fight it! I also had the webmaster put up Pete's pics!

http://swmss.org/

 

[Jim West Pa]

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[Pete in MI]

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[warthog]

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