Fairground Friday

[Blackjack77]

I'm trying this post again-- last night as I was reviewing My rather long post My ISP dropped and I lost it!!
Here goes again!!
Monday I stopped at a local Fairgrounds and asked permission to MD. The manager said fine and thanked Me for asking. She said I was the first to ask permission- most just started MDing. The Carnys were still packing up so I couldn't detect till Thursday or Friday. Took a vacation Day for Friday.
Friday started with rain so I waited till noon and just a lite mist ,packed up headed out. Stopped for gas (2.90/gal) and before I left noticed a penny on the ground and picked it up-- maybe a lucky one??
I arrived at the fairgrounds and thought I'd check in again. The lady I'd talked to wasn't there, so I mentioned conversation from Monday and right away the answer was NO. I asked why and was told the new owners took over and the Manager I talked to retired!
These people said they would check with the Board and to check next year about detecting. This particular Fairgrounds is owned by an Association ,not the County!! I left bummed to say the least. Bright spot was spending the rest of the day with MY family
So much for lucky pennies!!
Junk date anyway -cheap clad.
LOL

 

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[stud564]

that sucks. Im glad you had time with your family. Hope you can get to the grounds and hunt it hard.

 

[garrettfan2]

sounds like the new owners might have a detector themselves. wonder if thats why most MDers just start hunting. keep looking for spots to hunt and keep asking permission first. if any people should have a golden rule, it should be THers. as for the lucky/unlucky penny-- do what i do--treat it like money! HH G2 in tx

 

[Blackjack77]

Thanks for the replies. I borrowed My Discovery 3300 to a friend and he had some luck. He also recieved permission to hunt a community club this weekend. I'm included ,so maybe We'll have some finds to post!!
HH

 

[Wayne in Iowa]

I had the same thing here were i live,
the Fair Grounds are owned by an Association and have always had "NO Digging On Grounds" signs posted,so i knew they were off limits.
I found out this year that the top man in charge made the no detecting rule and is no longer on the board.
I got lucky and found out that my boss at work knows the new guy in charge now and is a customer were i work.
Got to talk to him and got myself the OK to hunt it.
Its Been there for about 50 years and not sure if it's been hunted much in the past but i know there's a bunch of coins there.
Gone there 6 times so far and have found a silver Merc and Rosv dime,3 silver rings and $39.74 clad so far.
Found over $17.00 Sat in 7 hours.
Lucky it's only about 1/2 mile from the house.
Will keep me going for along time as there's a-lot of ground.
Seems funny to be detecting next to a NO Digging sign.
It's nice as there's nothing going on there now and i'm always the only one there,Nice and peaceful

 

[TreasureTales]

I've heard "no detecting" from fairgrounds managers before. Sometimes they mean it and sometimes it's just easier for them to say "no" to a stranger. A couple of times I've sent emails to these managers and explained a little about myself and that I fill-in all holes, that the holes are small, and that I throw trash I recover into a trash can when I return home. I then list a couple similar places I'd previously detected and that I'm more than willing to abide by their decision, no matter what it is. I also tell them which days I'd like to detect, but will leave the final dates up to them. I also offer to return to their office any item that might be identified (such as an engraved wedding ring) and ask if there has been anything reported lost that I could return if I found it. I try to keep the letter as brief and direct as possible, while maintaining a sense of respect to the manager.

I've had about a 50/50 success rate with this technique. It takes away the spontaneity of metal detecting, but it shows them that you are a responsible and serious metal detectorist. I think this more or less "professional" approach to places that have said "no" gives our hobby a better reputation. Such an email or letter will be answered most often if I ask a direct question. Something like "May I have your permission to metal detect the fairgrounds on Saturday, September 2, 2006 starting at 9am?" Asking a question with a specific time period usually draws a response from someone in a timely manner.

My 2 cents, take em or leave em as you will.

 

[Blackjack77]

Interesting- last two posts show what I experienced with change in management. Haven't given up hope on this particular fairgrounds. Time is getting short for this year- -Weekends are now at a premium.
Maybe next year!!
Thanks to everyone for the Replies and advice
HH