"KARENS"

I had one person do a drive by "Quit Digging Holes!" at me one time. It was pretty funny. I kept on Digging. Another time I was digging on a public median in front of million dollar houses. A guy asks from his yard "Aren't you ruining the grass?" I said "No I've done this tens of thousands of times, I'm not hurting anything." He just looked at me funny and went inside. Mostly people are curious in my experience, and just ask if your finding anything. Never had any problems with police either. They are equally curious.
 

No Tim, I do not live my life in fear, I'm 71, I live my life with experience and common sense.

You call it common sense, but I call it fear. But my opinion may change when I'm 71 (ten years down the road). Take care.
 

I am always willing to educate. But if that occasional anger addict decides to attack, I simply tell them that their brain is poopy and I move on.
 

I have a roadrunner that follows me quite a bit when I'm working on my property, some times he comes into my shop and sits on a bench.
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Love (the idea of) roadrunners—need pics!
 

I read so many comments about the bears, Bobcats, Coyotes, wild animals stalking us humans.

I sit and wonder is it from watching too many movies, watching too many YT videos with the scary sound effects.
Could it be the urban dweller going out to the rural and not having the experience.
It's like the rural going to the jungles of the urban, feeling really nervous.
( I've had drive-by stalking in FL. I simply booted it and picked a better area to play in)

Hell I'll say the 4 legged creatures have a hard wired sense, smell us humans, and they rather just avoid us all together.
Now I grew up in the rural, roamed the bush from being allowed (preschool) to now.(nearly 66)
Interactions with wild animals (discounting rodents/turtles/snakes/squirrels/birds) can be counted on one hand.

We don't have hogs (yet) so I can understand that one when there are hogs.

Only time that I really had a "Oh crap" moment was detecting in the ravines off a conservatory/conservation area in Hamilton Ontario.

I heard something (wearing Grey Ghosts full cup headphones) I looked up and there this big buck looking at me.
Then I saw 3 or 4 Does behind him, eating grass, and the Buck has its nose raised, sniffing,.

First thought is where is the biggest tree that I could put between myself and that big rack.
Useless thought I realized, so I slowly took of the headphones, and chatted him up.
I asked him how he was doing, complimented him on his herd, all in a very calm soft voice.
He kept looking, then a short snort, turned and calmly walked away with the gals.

I put the headphones back on, smiled as it was an awesome experience, and kept on swinging.
 

I think the Kevin's are worse especially the ones on the net...
Wait a minute,......I'm one of the Kevin's, from Georgia. I feel as though our area where we live has been invaded by Karen's. They don't get close enough usually to give you looks, they just call Barney Fife out to run us off. Public properties, either school playgrounds or parks.
 

Bears will stalk humans, so will coyotes, wild hogs, wild dogs, bobcats, and idiots!

Most black bear encounters are due to surprising the bear, or it's a mama with cubs. Never heard of a black bear stalking a human, but brown, grizzly and polar bears most definitely will.

A lone coyote or bobcat is not going to stalk a human except in the most rare of cases. I fear neither.

I've no experience with wild hogs, but I would think if you make enough noise they would clear out of the area before you arrive.

Idiots and custodians of modern chemistry, on the other hand, are completely random, and ya never know what they're going to do.
 

I read so many comments about the bears, Bobcats, Coyotes, wild animals stalking us humans.

I sit and wonder is it from watching too many movies, watching too many YT videos with the scary sound effects.
Could it be the urban dweller going out to the rural and not having the experience.
It's like the rural going to the jungles of the urban, feeling really nervous.
( I've had drive-by stalking in FL. I simply booted it and picked a better area to play in)

Hell I'll say the 4 legged creatures have a hard wired sense, smell us humans, and they rather just avoid us all together.
Now I grew up in the rural, roamed the bush from being allowed (preschool) to now.(nearly 66)
Interactions with wild animals (discounting rodents/turtles/snakes/squirrels/birds) can be counted on one hand.

We don't have hogs (yet) so I can understand that one when there are hogs.

Only time that I really had a "Oh crap" moment was detecting in the ravines off a conservatory/conservation area in Hamilton Ontario.

I heard something (wearing Grey Ghosts full cup headphones) I looked up and there this big buck looking at me.
Then I saw 3 or 4 Does behind him, eating grass, and the Buck has its nose raised, sniffing,.

First thought is where is the biggest tree that I could put between myself and that big rack.
Useless thought I realized, so I slowly took of the headphones, and chatted him up.
I asked him how he was doing, complimented him on his herd, all in a very calm soft voice.
He kept looking, then a short snort, turned and calmly walked away with the gals.

I put the headphones back on, smiled as it was an awesome experience, and kept on swinging.
I wasn't detecting when this happened but want to share it with you. I'm 77 now and was a teenager when this happened. I was out trapping muskrats and mink, with a pack on my back and wearing hip boots walking down the path next to the creek. I suddenly heard something running toward me making noises. I turned around and saw two horses coming straight at me. I quickly jumped and climbed the nearest tree and hoped they would continue running down the path but they stopped and looked up at me in the tree. They stayed there several minutes then left. Come to find out they were interested in the apples in my pack and not me. I used the apples as bait for the muskrats and had baited several in the area. Moral of the story, everyone on 2 legs or 4 are not always out to get you but always be observant and cautious of your surroundings! Be safe out there!
 

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You call it common sense, but I call it fear. But my opinion may change when I'm 71 (ten years down the road). Take care.
I see being armed as just another form of insurance, no different than auto, life, homeowners, or health insurance. I have all, not out of fear, but just incase they are ever needed.

I have already pull my firearm once when I was attacked waiting for train to pass because I refuse to give someone a ride, I could tell he was high and not on pot. He became angry and attacked me through my window, my .45 in his face ended the assault.

I asked police what would have happen if I fired and was told nothing, I was being assaulted, had witnesses and under Florida low deadly force is allowed if you are assaulted in your vehicle. I was pinned in between the train and cars in front, behind me, and to the right of me, and on left was a raised medium my Miata would not go over. This was broad daylight, on an afternoon and not what I would call a bad area either.
 

I read so many comments about the bears, Bobcats, Coyotes, wild animals stalking us humans.

I sit and wonder is it from watching too many movies, watching too many YT videos with the scary sound effects.
Could it be the urban dweller going out to the rural and not having the experience.
It's like the rural going to the jungles of the urban, feeling really nervous.
( I've had drive-by stalking in FL. I simply booted it and picked a better area to play in)

Hell I'll say the 4 legged creatures have a hard wired sense, smell us humans, and they rather just avoid us all together.
Now I grew up in the rural, roamed the bush from being allowed (preschool) to now.(nearly 66)
Interactions with wild animals (discounting rodents/turtles/snakes/squirrels/birds) can be counted on one hand.

We don't have hogs (yet) so I can understand that one when there are hogs.

Only time that I really had a "Oh crap" moment was detecting in the ravines off a conservatory/conservation area in Hamilton Ontario.

I heard something (wearing Grey Ghosts full cup headphones) I looked up and there this big buck looking at me.
Then I saw 3 or 4 Does behind him, eating grass, and the Buck has its nose raised, sniffing,.

First thought is where is the biggest tree that I could put between myself and that big rack.
Useless thought I realized, so I slowly took of the headphones, and chatted him up.
I asked him how he was doing, complimented him on his herd, all in a very calm soft voice.
He kept looking, then a short snort, turned and calmly walked away with the gals.

I put the headphones back on, smiled as it was an awesome experience, and kept on swinging.
The only critter on that list that we have around here is the odd coyote. While not strictly nocturnal, I've never seen one (or even signs of one) during daylight, but they've put on more than their share of midnight "operas".

I had a similar experience with a buck (sans does) the first year we lived here. Back then, I used to like to go out in my woods and just sit on a stump and commune/cogitate. 😔 I'd sit there with dark sunglasses on and just watch whatever ambled along. 🙂 Big 12 point buck, cones of steam issuing from his pulsating nostrils... Fortunately, being the woods, there was no dearth of trees to interpose... 😌 Ended the same as your encounter.

I agree... awesome.

And then there was the incident of Pavlov's red fox.... 😉
 

When I first started in the late 70s (before I learned better), I would go in the field where there used to be a church without finding out who the landowner was. I couldn't imagine that anyone would care if I dug where the dirt was continually being plowed.

I was hunting one such rural street corner cornfield when a county Sheriff pulled up and got out of his car. I thought I was in for it and that maybe the landowner had called him. He said, "What are you doing?"

I said, "Pursuing my hobby of looking for things that people drop."

He shocked me by responding, "I love that hobby! Out here in the middle of nowhere? I would never have thought to look here."

"There used to be a church on this corner," I retorted.

"How do you know that?" He asked.

"You haven't been doing your homework," I told him. "I found it on an old plat map,"

"Are you finding anything?" He queried.

"I got a couple of Indian Head pennies. I'm pretty much done here. I was just about to leave anyway. But if you live close by, this spot would be worth hitting every year after they plow it," I told him.

He then told me about finding a flying eagle cent in a park in nearby Kalamazoo, thanked me for the information, wished me luck and left.

You can't imagine how relieved and surprised I was at that encounter.
 

When I was digging at a park and they told me they didn't want me digging in a particular area cause there would be a baseball game there next weekend. Luckily I had popped out the small 10k bracelet before they approached me.
Another person bothered me at a different park, but this one was a no nonsense kind of groundkeeper, and didn't want me digging holes even though I was putting the plugs back in. They told me: "You're killing the grass" in a fairly angry tone, so I just left.
 

I had one person do a drive by "Quit Digging Holes!" at me one time. It was pretty funny. I kept on Digging. Another time I was digging on a public median in front of million dollar houses. A guy asks from his yard "Aren't you ruining the grass?" I said "No I've done this tens of thousands of times, I'm not hurting anything." He just looked at me funny and went inside. Mostly people are curious in my experience, and just ask if your finding anything. Never had any problems with police either. They are equally curious.
Totally understand the question. I’m on edge on park hunts even though I’ve obtained permission. That’s why I like old, decrepit lots that nobody cares about.
 

I've only had one Karen yelling at me from across the street in town one time. I had permission so I just acted like I couldnt hear her with my headphones on. Maybe it was the MAGA hat? :dontknow:
I also carry when I'm out detecting in the woods by myself. We have wild hogs and I'm not too fond of Copperheads either. Better safe than sorry. In today's world I carry a lot more. Just don't feel safe in certain environments.
MM
 

Out of sight - out of mind.
Correct... timing is everything.
I detect very early mornings only... which totally limits interactions with others.
I have long ago realized that it truly is the best time to avoid BS.
I see people... i go the other way.
Many times if someone is trying to get my attention... i ignore them.
Headphones are a must... for it helps to diffuse the interactions before they begin if someone is determined.
I act like i am engrossed and cannot hear them and move away from them.

My head is always on swivel... so i see the goofies coming and i start my diffusing tactics immediately by turning back towards them and walking (still detecting) away until distance is gained.
Works great... been doing it this way for decades.

Words of advice.... STAY AWAY from people when detecting... you may be a "social butterfly" or crave some attention... but drop that crap and stay away from others as much as possible... pay attention to what you are doing and how and where you are doing it... and out of others personal space and you will have less problems overall.
 

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My country is a country of wast forests, for other places right timing and weather works miracles, it doesn't have to rain cats and dogs, slightly grimm weather is ok.
 

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