For those of you detecting in Indiana

[pjduff]

I work at Clifty Falls State Park in Southern Indiana and recently within the past couple of months or so we have been finding many unfilled dig holes and dug trash such as old cans, bottlecaps, pull tabs etc all over the grounds. Just for general knowledge, metal detecting on DNR properties in Indiana is illegal except on a sand or swimming beach with a permit obtained from the property manager, or during authorized hunts such as Treasure Fest in designated areas only. I have worked at this park for a number of years, and I have never seen it this bad before. The state parks here in IN are starting to crack down on our hobby, mainly because of people coming in at night and not filling their holes properly and leaving the trash they dig up laying around. C'mon people I've been detecting for over 20 yrs and doing things like this is how our hobby keeps getting banned from more and more places.

From the in.gov website:
312 IAC 8-2-10 Preservation of habitat and natural and cultural resources
Authority: IC 14-10-2-4; IC 14-11-2-1
Affected: IC 14
Sec. 10. Except as authorized by a license, a person must not do any of the following within a DNR property:
(7) Use a metal detector, except on a sand, swimming beach as approved by an authorized representative.

 

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[spartacus53]

I don't give often, but in your case you have 3 posts, with 3 a perfect batting average

You made some very valid points, and I hope people take heed of your warning for everyone's sake.

 

[MickeyMaguire]

I second the motion. Well said.

 

[sonofadigger]

yeah me to the only place i have to hunt around here is a park

 

[Jeremy S]

This just sucks!

I am in southern Indiana as well, about 40 miles west from Madison in Floyd County. The same thing is happening out here. I was recently talking to the grounds keeper of the local fairgrounds (privately owned), who said people had been doing the exact same thing. Digging holes and leaving them, throwing the trash they dig back onto the ground, and making a mess in general. He actually caught the guys doing it, approached them and told them to clean up their mess, and the guy was real mouthy with him, resulting in the police being called. A black eye to our hobby for sure, and pretty much ruined the chances of me or anyone else ever detecting at the grounds.

Per the Dnr regulations: "Sec. 10. Except as authorized by a license, a person must not do any of the following within a DNR property:
(7) Use a metal detector, except on a sand, swimming beach as approved by an authorized representative."

What is this license that this regulation is referring to?

I have plenty of private property to keep me busy for a while, but eventually that will run out. Most of the other places around me are DNR owned or off limit parks. Sadly enough, it may be time to find a new hobby in the near future, when there are no more good places left to hunt.

 

[ticm]

I don't see buying another detector any time soon. Why buy if we get banned from every where.

 

[pjduff]

This just sucks!

I am in southern Indiana as well, about 40 miles west from Madison in Floyd County. The same thing is happening out here. I was recently talking to the grounds keeper of the local fairgrounds (privately owned), who said people had been doing the exact same thing. Digging holes and leaving them, throwing the trash they dig back onto the ground, and making a mess in general. He actually caught the guys doing it, approached them and told them to clean up their mess, and the guy was real mouthy with him, resulting in the police being called. A black eye to our hobby for sure, and pretty much ruined the chances of me or anyone else ever detecting at the grounds.

Per the Dnr regulations: "Sec. 10. Except as authorized by a license, a person must not do any of the following within a DNR property:
(7) Use a metal detector, except on a sand, swimming beach as approved by an authorized representative."

What is this license that this regulation is referring to?

I have plenty of private property to keep me busy for a while, but eventually that will run out. Most of the other places around me are DNR owned or off limit parks. Sadly enough, it may be time to find a new hobby in the near future, when there are no more good places left to hunt.

From what I have been told, you can metal detect at the DNR properties in Indiana that have sand beaches or swimming beaches. The required permit for doing so can be obtained from the property managers of those properties. At Clifty Falls, we would usually overlook it when we saw someone metal detecting, as long as they were doing it in a common use area such as the campground or picnic areas, and as long as they were being neat about it. Since the latest incident, we have been told to tell people to move on if we catch them metal detecting, and if they don't want to leave to call the local police or conservation officer.

 

[dweaver02]

PJDuff I live in Hanover message me if you would like to go out hunting sometime. Nice to see someone close.

 

[airscapes]

Ban those freaking NITWIT MD TV shows.. just encourages the brainless dim wits in TV land to buy a MD and dig holes looking for all that fake planted treasure they see on TV..

 

[Helix]

Interesting, I Pmed you a few years ago Duff about this and never heard back. Will say though after talking with Madison police they told me all city parks are ok to detect. This was a about two years ago so suff might of changed. Pulled a silver Washington from J.P. Park in my 1 1/2 hour hunt, so there is still cool finds out there.. Lots of good rich history in Madison. Just wanted to add that police told me Ohio river beach is off limits because technically Kentucky owns the river and Madison beaches. That's what I was told just want to share so others don't have police telling them.

 

[Helix]

PJDuff I live in Hanover message me if you would like to go out hunting sometime. Nice to see someone close.

Hay dweaver02 of duff doesn't get back with you, I would have no problem meeting up for a hunt around Hanover or Madison area. Thing is I live in Northern Illinois and only in area half dozen times a year. Let me know and good luck don't get disappointed if your not meeting your goals , like you might of first anticipated. It takes time and the AT is a good machine.

 

[pjduff]

PJDuff I live in Hanover message me if you would like to go out hunting sometime. Nice to see someone close.

Yeah, nice to see a digger so close by!! Sorry I haven't replied sooner, I don't get on here that much recently. I actually haven't been metal detecting in probably about a year now, I just can't seem to find the time. I have been working a lot of overtime recently, and my wife is currently in Afghanistan, so I have been really busy lately!! If I do get a chance to get out, I will definitely let you know!!

 

[pjduff]

Interesting, I Pmed you a few years ago Duff about this and never heard back. Will say though after talking with Madison police they told me all city parks are ok to detect. This was a about two years ago so suff might of changed. Pulled a silver Washington from J.P. Park in my 1 1/2 hour hunt, so there is still cool finds out there.. Lots of good rich history in Madison. Just wanted to add that police told me Ohio river beach is off limits because technically Kentucky owns the river and Madison beaches. That's what I was told just want to share so others don't have police telling them.

Yeah, I just looked through my messages and saw yours, I don't know what happened and why I didn't reply, sorry about that!! As far as I know, yes all city parks are ok to detect. I was referring to Clifty Falls State Park in my original post, which falls under state jurisdiction and is therefore off limits.