Hi,
I was wondering if there are any laws or regulations regarding metal detecting and hunting? Especially if you want to go abroad.
Also, are you required to tell authorities if you find something valuable?
(05-25-2013 12:11 PM)James Wrote: [ -> ]When I was doing some research earlier I came across this site:
http://www.ehow.com/list_6800239_laws-me...cting.html
Don't know if that's correct or not, as sometimes content on those ehow sites isn't so great/factually correct?
Every State, City & local municipality within the US has different rules regarding metal detecting. The rules differ depending on the type of site; beach, park, etc.
Best bet is to always play it safe BEFORE you hunt the site in question; look for signs posted with any rules/regulations, go to the site's web page (if available) and look for anything regarding MD'ing, etc. After doing this, if you find nothing obvious referencing detecting, you should be fine. However...
If you ARE approached while hunting & asked to leave, best to do so without causing a scene. Respect the law. There's MANY places to hunt, making a few finds isn't worth getting hassled by the authorities.
Always make sure to fill in your holes when digging & be neat & tidy. You don't want to get thrown out of a huntable site because of bad detectorist etiquette
I believe in common sense...don't detect the obvious off limits like Gettysburg or Coloma. Respect private property. But its my oponion, if my tax dollars pay for it, and its not obviuos like the historical example, or a nice garden, I say its fair game. I do like to keep a low profile though. Ray
(06-03-2013 11:39 PM)deathray Wrote: [ -> ]I believe in common sense...don't detect the obvious off limits like Gettysburg or Coloma. Respect private property. But its my oponion, if my tax dollars pay for it, and its not obviuos like the historical example, or a nice garden, I say its fair game. I do like to keep a low profile though. Ray
I'm in the same boat as you, D.R.
Easier to ask forgiveness, than it is to ask permission on site you're unsure of. I usually tell the less experienced hunters to play it a bit safer though, as the last thing I'd want is them hitting a questionable & leaving open holes, junk lying around, etc. If one has been in the game for a while, IMO, it's open season to hunt anywhere...as long as its not private property, a historical site, etc. Anywhere else, I'm breaking out my lesche & digging! If I'm asked to leave, so be it, but, until then, I always ASSUME a site is huntable, as we're doing nothing wrong
Never had a serious problem in all my years hunting doing it this way. In all honesty, most of the park maintenance guys, cops, etc. get a kick out of watching me. They're either thinking; 'look at this kook searching for buried treasure', or, some have watched me detect & told me they always thought about trying metal detecting. Point is: most folks don't give a rats ass about what we do in the field, as long as we're respectful & neat
