Treasure Hunting laws

[DomAdd]

I realize that rules and regs change state by state but.... Would anyone out there know from an experience or have asked an authority if.....you are at a park that does not permit metal detecting, arrowhead collecting, or basically taking ANYTHING from the park. You park your car at said park and access a river or creek that runs through the park and walk IN the river or IN the creek until you are out of the park property to metal detect, arrowhead hunt in and around the banks of the river/creek. Then obviously you would have to go back into the park to get your car. Does anyone know if this is ok to do? I thought I would ask on here and then drive to a couple parks and ask the rangers. I'm from Missouri.... Thanks all.

 

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[DDancer]

Well met DomAdd and welcome to the forum,

Your question pretty much boils down to : Can you detect/hunt on property adjacent to a, lets say State Park (where detecting and hunting are not allowed), and use the park for access to the area your going to hunt?
Your also wondering who you can talk to that would be able to clarify your activities.

For the first part of that think about it this way.
The area you want to hunt is on the other side of the restricted area, is it private property? and do you have permission to hunt there? If its yes and no answers then it does not matter where you park or how you access the hunt site. Its a no go idea. Now lets say you have a yes's, or maybe the land is public and falls outside the restricted area. Now the authorities catch you traversing the restricted area with your tools, detector/digger or what not, or catch you returning with goodies in your pockets~ They were not there to watch you go into, hunt or come out of the public area off their reservation. They wont care because they will assume you got your goodies in their reservation and act accordingly. Confiscation of gear, goodies and probably a few tickets and their associated fines~ Of which you will be convicted most likely or even if you get off you might not get your gear back and the goodies are gone forever.

Advice: Find another way to access the hunting ground. By rights you should be able to access the area but because your entering and exiting a restricted area guilt is presumed.

Who to ask about permission would be the local park authority or the ranger for the area if you can contact them or run into them. If its just one or two rangers you maybe able to work out an agreement with them to traverse the restricted area~ however that is something you'll have to work out with them. Keep in mind they may agree~ however if others see you with your tools or goodies and start activities in the restricted area, well good bye permissions and hello restrictions.

A thought.

 

[Tedyoh]

I pack my detector in a backpack when entering state land to get to a legal hunting area........absolutely no law I know of saying you can't walk around with a detector broke down in a backpack.......if they harass you politely ask for proof you were detecting / hunting in the park (picture), if they still harass you, do and or give them what they want and contact a lawyer.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

I agree with tedyoh. What's the big deal ? Heck I'd. walk right through with the detector in full view probably

 

[CincinnatiKid]

Is the water, creek/river/stream, public? Ifso, you should be fine.
I once detected a swimming hole that was bounded by private property on both sides of river. The game official showed up and was surprisingly interested in my machine and hobby. Also said I was fine to carry on.
On a side note, he also viewed the bag of trash I pulled outta the water.
Peace

 

[MrMikeJackie]

I agree with tedyoh. What's the big deal ? Heck I'd. walk right through with the detector in full view probably

After our last conversation I surely wouldn't doubt it, lol.