I went north of where I live about an hour drive a month back going to an Amish store I heard about. While up there I saw a old school so I stopped and asked some people that lived near there about it and they told me that there had been people search there in the past but it had been a while since they have seen anyone metal detecting. I asked them all if they knew if the property belonged to anyone and no one knew and there is no signs posted. Yesterday on my day off since it was a warmer day I drove back up there with my detector in hand and proceeded to search the schoolyard after an hour of me being there there was a truck pulled up and asked what I was doing and I told him I was metal detecting he told me that it was private property and that I should have asked first. Well long story short I told him where I was from and told him that I asked the locals about the property and they knew nothing about it and the fact there is no signage that the property belong to anyone and he agreed there is nothing stating the property was off limits. I talked to him for a while and I told him that if I came across anything of significant value that I would contact him immediately and he must have believed me because he said I was welcome there anytime and I could come search his and his fathers property anytime I want as long as I called in advance. I keep a satchel of everything I find interesting and I let him go through it just so he could see. I wish every property owner could be like this one but some are hardcore and will not let you do anything on the property they own. Best bet while metal detecting on property your not sure about is tell the truth about everything and let them see everything you have found, be willing to leave at the moment they tell you too, and most importantly be friendly. A 1901 IHC was the only thing worth interest for the short time I was there but it's worth more than gold to me cause now I have a few new places to search
That's awesome if you get a chance watch the Metal detecting videos on YouTube there are some awesome finds on there I have seen a few find some Morgan Dollars good luck keep searching
One practice that gives metal detectorists a black eye, and makes property owners hostile is detecting without permission. All land is owned by somebody and it is easy enough to find out who owns it.
Metal detecting adventures can be fun or boring depending when and where you look. My favorite places to search is around lakes, beaches, old farms, and parks, mostly around 8 AM to noon. I once found a 1900 O Barber quarter in good condition at Moore lake here in Minnesota.
yeah that's a definant no no. If you leave gopher holes it gives diggers a bad reputation. I have searched a place before and seen previous digs that the person didn't fill and filled them myself
true but not all land is not easy to find who the owner is especially around here there are times property fall into loopholes like if someone dies and it wasn't willed to anyone court records aren't the best here. I tend to ask neighbors and the law enforcement if I can't find the owner of a property then I look for signs for no tresspassing and it doesn't have to be an actual sign some states have different laws and ways to say no tresspassing.
Been there, done that. In fact one time it took me about 1/2 hour or more to fill a bunch of holes in a soccer field, and the idiot threw the bottle cap or pull tab next to the hole.
that always bothered me I mean how hard is it to have a satchel or a bag to keep everything in, not only to respect the property owner but other detectorist in the future. But metal detecting is a fly by hobby for alot of people someone gets them a detector for Christmas they use it for a year never learn anything and make it harder for people that have done it for years.
All you have to do is check the courthouse, no permission, no detecting. The land belongs to somebody. It can be more than trespassing, if you make a find on someone's property and take it without permission you are stealing plain and simple. If the object is valuable enough, you could even be looking at a felony.
That is why when I retire in 18 years I'm going to a public beach during the winter that is swamped with people during the summer, I know I will find only clad change but there is rings and other stuff (It want be the only place I search)
