Turned away from metal detecting

phxmark123

phxmark123

Jr. Member
Apr 9, 2005
90
0
Sherman Texas
Detector(s) used
Garrett ACE 250
I took my ACE 250 to a park close by and they told me I wasnt allowed to metal dectect there. Eisenhower Park on Lake Texoma in north Texas is owned by the Army Corp of Engineers. I wrote them an email and would encourage all to do the same. Their email address is [email protected] and this is what I wrote them

To whom it may concern,
I think it is a shame to limit recreation at your park. I think of the children that dig on the beach at Lake Texoma and build sand castles and small rivers with damns but you wont let a dad and his son dig buried treasure in the sand with a metal detector. What is the reasoning behind that? Most people that use metal detectors dig holes to find coins and jewlery and then bury their holes back up again. Most times we find junk and pick it up and dispose of it in the trash because we dont want to dig up the same stuff next time we try. Lots of historic artifacts have been found by the use of a metal detectors. If you are a worried about the holes or trash why dont you just make it mandatory to file a permit or take info from the person so if they are destructive you can fine them. I would love to enjoy the recreation at Eisenhower Park. Maybe the people that made these rules have never metal detected or gold panned. They should try it. There are lots of clubs that are being unfairly restricted to such recreation.
Sincerly,
Mark McCune
 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

How to Research for Treasure Hunting and Metal Detecting From Lead Generation to Vetting - Grab it through Amazon!
Upvote 0
Mark,

I just moved to Ocala Florida in April 16th i moved here from Coriscana Texas and before that i was in Gilmer Texas for 23 years I have hunted Lake Texoma park/lake and no one has ever said anything to me??? NEW Rule??... i have also been in lake Dallas,Gladewater,lake-o-pines,Big sandy,Hawkins,tyler lake ect ect ect and i have NEVER been told i cant do that... :o


Morris
Ocala,Fl 8)
 

phxmark, that was a bum deal for sure . . . . sometimes things just do not make good sense. However . . . . on the other side of that coin :) . . . .

Early this week I went to a near by State Park in hopes of doing a little MDing. Before I even started I went straight to the ranger office in the park. In the office was a ranger and I asked him what the rules were regarding MDing in the park. Did I need a permit?

He said I could detect in the park okay but I could not use a shovel to dig with. I could use a knife, screwdriver or small garden trowel and I would be expected to fill my holes and not destroy any wildflowers or disturb the wildlife. He said they had a permit form (no charge) with the basic rules outlined on it but they had so few people detecting in the park (maybe three in the last year) he wasn't sure where the forms were.

As we talked his supervisor came in and was asked if he knew where the forms were. The supervisor said "No, but as long as you have checked in with us and we know you now, go ahead and enjoy yourself. We may check with you time to time but since our budgets been cut so severely we are shorthanded. Have a nice day."

We talked for a few minutes and as usual I was asked what I had been finding at various places I had MDed. I told them "Not much, a few pennies here, a few dimes there. Just trying to make a few bucks towards my next, higher level metal detector." THEN the supervisor just blew me away!!

He said, "Well, when you're ready to sell the one you have, let me know. I'd like to get one myself, now that I know I can get a good one at a reasonable price (I have an ACE 250)." Now tell me, did I score or what!! lol Now to top that . . . .

The first ranger popped up and said "Yeah, I'd like to get one sometime also. I live in an area where the last big outlaw gang in Illinois http://www.lib.niu.edu/ipo/ihy010236.html
operated back in the 1800's and I?d like to look around my place a bit.? I said ?Hey, do you live out there near where they supposedly caught those outlaws back in the 1800's?? He replied, ?Yep, the historical marker is on my property!? I said, ?Well maybe, until you get a MD of your own, I can come out there sometime and we can both look around and that way you can also see how a detector works.? He replied ?Sure thing, come on out. I?m there most every afternoon.?

What a day! These guys were super, so friendly and cooperative. And then to get an invite to a spot I had been thinking about for awhile . . . . Boy I sure was glad I had stopped in their office and asked a few questions rather than just assuming and digging away.

I suspect each case can be different, depending on who you talk to and how you approach them and even sometimes on their mood and past experience with other people. I think there?s a bit of flex in many of the rules and a bit of luck can get you in where others may fail.

Good luck on your letter and I think you have asked the right questions. Now let?s just hope you get the right answers. It sounds like a promising area and beaches are always an easy dig.

Good Hunting . . .

Hobo
 

PHXMARK I have a letter concerning the use of metal detectors on property under the control of the Corp of engineers and it clearly states that detecting is allowed by the corp. Another member here sent it to me and I will try to locate it tonght. HH
 

Floater: I would really like to see/have a copy of that letter. I pulled up to the ranger station at the park and the guy there didnt know and got on the radio and asked a lady at the other end and her response was just "NO". I just said "FINE" and left the park. When I was looking looking for info on the park I thought I saw info saying that the army corp had control from the time the lake was built until 2004. Maybe the Corp doesnt make the rules anymore but just the same I received a response to my email saying:

Dear Mr. McCune,

Thank you for your concerns regarding metal detecting in the parks. Your concerns have been received and will sent to the State Park Division for review.

Thank You,

Teresa
Park Information
Her email address is: [email protected]
Now we are getting somewhere....hopefully not a dead letter pile
 

They'll? Probably just make it illegal for kids to build Sand castles, Etc.

"Liabilities" now that they realize what is in the sand ;D
 

There is a Corps of Eng Regional Headquarters located here in Tulsa, OK. I checked in with them and asked if I could metal detect on Corps operated beaches. They said yes, but if I found anything of value I would have to turn it in at the Project office so they could try to find the owner. How they do that the lady didn't know. If no one claims it after 90 days I can come in and fill out the forms to get it back. I asked about coins and she didn't know that either. It didn't seem like it would be worth screwing with at the time so I never went. I live 10 minutes from the 3rd largest lake in the state, Lake Keystone that has thousands of acres of water front beaches. ( I may just go up there one of these days and of course I won't find anything! ;) JIM
 

Thanks all for the info. But I am thinking now this a state park that the Army Corp turned over to the state this year. This is the research I found

Eisenhower State Park, with 423.1 acres, is located in Grayson County, northwest of Denison on the shores of Lake Texoma. It was acquired in 1954 by a Department of Army lease, which extends until 2004, and was opened to the public in 1958.

Now I guess I have to research State Park rules....I think I know where this is leading.... >:(
 

Thanks, that letter sounds encouraging but it is four and a half years old. I'll keep searching also.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

prizm 1 by whites ???

⬅️ Previous Thread

Formulia for trouble.

Next Thread ➡️

Top Member Reactions

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 2 (members: 0, guests: 2)
We Dig Metal Detectors

Latest Discussions

Back
Top