researched sites

[Captain J]

Hi everyone. First post here! From northern IL.

Anyways, I've done research on the area I live, and have found several sites worth checking out.
3 homesites long gone (burned down between 1950-1970)
1 location of a log cabin (pre 1870 ish)
1 residence/town post office. (1870 ish) foundation still visible.


on arial maps from 1937, I think I have located what may be a dumpsite. I can clearly make out a driveway, but no obvious home or barn rooftop.

Also on the arial maps, what appears to be a trail that dead ends into a small grove of trees.

The problem is that all sights are on forest preserve property. Except the log cabin site, which appears to be on a utility company owned piece of land.

My question is, has anyone ever had luck getting permission to search land like this? The forest preserve is very against MDing on their property.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

Upgraded Night Vision Monocular Digital Infrared Monocular Telescope for 100% Darkness with 8X Zoom - Grab it through Amazon!

[twistidd]

I'm not sure where exactly you are located, but over here in the city, the rangers don't usually give anyone trouble. That is, unless you're distracting the natural balance enough to cause a stir. Most of the time, the FP cops have more important things to look out for, like rapists or even the infamous mushroom-hunter-gone-coo-coo. Having said that, there was an area guy ticketed for detecting in the preserves a few years ago or so but it got thrown out in court. The rules are extremely ambiguous, and absolutely nothing is posted anywhere.

Keep in mind the initial purpose of forest preserves- to preserve pockets of wildnerness for all life. That does include humans, and detecting responsibly there does not cause damage to the environment. Maybe barbequeing or hunting should be outlawed because nearly everything I find in the woods is foil, pulltabs, and shotgun shells...lol. In reality, it's all up to you, sounds like you've got some great spots lined up (though they've most likely been hunted before...trust me). If it were me, yes, I would go there. Just be clean and respectful.

Joe

 

[Lowbatts]

You cannot metal detect in forest preserves in Dupage, Kane, Lake and Boone Counties. Hope that helps. Apparently the feeling there is you will be more destructive to the environment than nature is. Of course those people seting up those rules know little to nothing about nature, unbridled undergrowth, fire hazards and loss of habitat due to all of the above.

Add to that some historical nay bobs who think that items rotting in the ground are somehow preserved for the public good and welcome aboard!

Lots of people here may know the areas you're looking at so feel free to get a little more localized and you may find out if the places are already hunted or off limits.

 

[dirtyJohn]

I've detected county forest preserves before and have never been hassled. If a FP cop asks you what you're doing, tell him, and 9 out of 10 times they won't care. They might even get interested in the hobby themselves. State parks are a different matter. You can get a permit to detect there in areas they designate OK. I also live in northern IL (Lake county). If you're interested in hunting sometime I know some areas. PM me if your want to hunt sometime.

 

[kad27]

Lowbatts,

How do you find out where you can detect and not detect? Especially for these for counties you've listed.

 

[Lowbatts]

State Parks, some are posted no MD'ing, most are at the discretion of the site super. All are under the discretion of the State Archeologist so those with archeological signifigance are off limits. Those that are available may require you to check in at the office and let them know you wish to detect, always do this first anyway. Some folks there are quite helpful, as is the case at Rock Cut State Park, where some of the staff spend their own time detecting.

Boone County, it says so on their web site : http://www.boonecountyconservationdistrict.org/bccdrules.htm

DuPage County administers Tri-County State Park so when I went in to the office there to inquire about detecting an old ghost town on the site I was verbally assaulted and insulted by the nattering nay bob of a wench attending the desk who stated that this state park is under the administration DuPage County, and they will arrest me if I attempt to metal detect there. There's a good case for revolution in the way this witch talked to me to begin with over a simple question. My usually uninterested wife actually volunteered to go over the desk and take out the beast with the DuPage County patch on her arm due the tone of her rant, but I told her it was to be expected from her type and we left as peaceably as we came.

Lake County, the GLHR club can fill you in on this as they can on the Winnebago permit sytem, as they are experienced in both matters as well as Kane County. I used to hunt the nearby Kane County preserves regularly myself until the local site ranger, who also liked to detect, told me he had been informed of the new rules. I called the county office and was insulted by some filthy old witch who told me I could not bring my metal detector on "their" property.

I cannot begin to think of enough bad things to say about the ignorant, self-important bureaucrats who we've let loose on ourselves and our lifestyles. You know Shakespeare, Franklin and Twain could not insult these people, because they'd never realize they're the ones being warned against in all past works of real free.,. err, arghhh

Don't get me going!

where's my aspirin?

 

[Lowbatts]

For crying out loud I just want to go dig up some dirty old pennies!

 

[Captain J]

Thanks for the input everyone. I'll just have to wait till fall, when theres less traffic. I doubt I'll get any hassle, there's hardly any rangers around these parts anyhow.

 

[kad27]

I've been to a couple of forest preserves in Kane County. Either I've been lucky or no one has cared. I hit one in South Elgin about three times so far. Someone in the county truck was watching and never said anything. Thanks for all the information. Hope that headache goes away.