how not to look guilty while metal detecting

[scrounger d detector collector]

was wondering about how others handle park personell.as the worlds worst poker player im the type of person who tends to have my emotions very apparent in pressure situations.i also am not a people person so i tend to shy away from contact w anybody while detecting.

no matter how hard u try u cannot avoid people at the park.after all thats how the coins got there.thankfully,most people know what metal detecting is by now and pretty much leave u alone. but them pesky personell.they seem to be everywhere. the bigger city i live next to has not only park employees but also a special park police rangers.2 of em in a less then 4 city blocks park.what pork and waste.

i have only once been approached by park keepers.where i had to talk to them.it turned out ok .but i cant help trying tobe facing away from them if they come by which is almost constsnt.usually i will just keep hunting then circle back. i know what im doing isnt wrong.and i scupulously fill my holes.but i still feel sheepish when they come near.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Cry Of The Eagle: History And Legends Of The Cherokee Indians And Their Buried Treasure - Grab it through Amazon!

[Miningtown]

I would shoot the breeze with them a bit..show them the trash that you pick up, let them get to know you, once they get to know you they'll probably leave you alone, and probably even watch out for you...I just wouldn't advertise any good finds.

 

[Goodyguy]

I would shoot the breeze with them a bit..show them the trash that you pick up, let them get to know you, once they get to know you they'll probably leave you alone, and probably even watch out for you...I just wouldn't advertise any good finds.

Good advice
If I go to a park I go early morning and never at peak times.

GG~

 

[Noodle]

Scrounger, I know you. This doesn't sound like you, unless you're hunting in places you don't know that they're legal grounds or not. Is that the case?

That's a basic, honey. Check out the grounds ahead of time. Go to the police station, if you have to.

If you're hunting in legal areas, don't let them intimidate you. And stay out of the snakey camping areas!!!

 

[camperlee]

I go at an off time for people but sometimes park workers are there and always try to talk with them kind of puts everyone at ease and often they tell me where the best places to look are at.

 

[cheese]

When you see one, nod their way, or give 'em a quick wave and smile. That will cut the tension across the way long before they get to you. Right then they'll know you aren't trying to hide anything and if they decide to come over to speak to you, they won't be so likely to have an attitude like you are the invader/wrongdoer. I don't like being confronted by the police, but they come check on me a lot because I do a lot of evening/night hunting due to lack of time during the day. My experiences are always good though, because I park my vehicle in a conspicuous place, like under a streetlight, so that it doesn't look like I'm trying to hide (like if I parked it behind some bushes). Then, when I see a police car, I give a little wave. If I see a police car acting like it's looking for me, (as in someone saw me and called in because they think I'm suspicious)..I go ahead and walk to the road so he can tell what I have in my hand, what I'm doing, and that I'm not hiding anything. By the time they get to me and roll down the window, they know I'm probably on the up and up. A lot of the time they will have a nice little chat about what you find, etc..., and then they remember me from then on and drive on by next time, or wave back at me. I imagine the same would apply to park police or any authority figure. I'm more the quiet type who shies away from attention too, but when it comes to these circumstances, shy comes across as guilty or shady.

 

[ivan salis]

get a el cheapo type blaze orange work safety vest and a jumpsuit type work uniform from a workclothes joint -wear it folks that see you think your working and leave you be --busy bodies think your a city employee on the clock thus they do not bother you --- cities employees type think your a power or utilites person -- of course your not "claiming" to be either and if asked just say I'm a metal detector guy ---your just wearing the vest for safety reasons and the jumpsuit is a old junk outfit you don't care if it gets muddy --- now if other folks "think" your a whatever who's fault is that? --- so wear a jump siut and a safety vest and "hide in full view"-of the world ---

 

[Seamuss]

I would not feel guilty about doing something unless I'm doing something illigal, like doing one mile an hour over the speed limit.

If I'm parinoid enough to feel guilty then I would not leave the house. Being watched is a fact of life. Being cool enough to respond to to other people in a positive way is also a fact of life.

People tend to leave me alone if they talk to me and find out that I'm detecting and doing a public service by picking up trash alone the way.

 

[CrazyBones]

Great topic!

I recently bought my first MD and went out on my first hunt to a large park.

When i got out there I got a little self conscious about digging holes. I know I'm okay legally but I have to admit I was a little hesistant. I really didn't feel like getting ambushed by an eco-nut weilding an old birkenstock.

I was approached by only one person and he just seemed interested in the hobby and knowing if i found anything of interest. Sadly, my handful of pull tabs and bottle caps weren't worth braggin about. ....