A List of Places where metal detectors are not allowed

In the early days of metal detectors, most places allowed this activity and very few places prohibited them for the exception of major historical sites, national and state parks(many still allow water hunting and beach hunting) Now however, the acts of a few unscrupulous folks, many metropolitan areas are banning detector use altogether in their parks and other public areas. The following list is by no means all inclusive:

1. Firestone park in Columbiana, Ohio
2. All parks and city owned property in McDonald, Ohio
3. Bristolville Park in Bristolville Ohio
4. City Park in East Palestine, Ohio(prohibition specifically stated on a sign at the park entrance.)
5. All parks and public areas in the city of Lancaster Ohio (contact city hall for details on the regulations concerning this)

My question is why these areas don't implement a permit system. This would serve to control the problem of irresponsible hunters causing damage and at the same time, it would provide revenue for park maintenance and improvements as well.

Keep an eye on this blog for further developments on this topic (Hopefully, I will not have to add to the ab0ve list)

To all those who are guilty of doing damage to public and private property:

1. If you are just starting out in the hobby, please find someone who can teach you the proper way to recover a coin or other buried item without damage to the turf and/or item

2. If at all possible, get permission in writing from the right people. (the people who are working in the area are not the ones to ask. find the main person in charge and get a note from him/her)

More to come in future posts. Thanks for looking.

TO THOSE COMMUNITIES THAT PROHIBIT METAL DETECTING IN THEIR PARKS

Once upon a time, detector users could go into just about any park and look for coins and artifacts without any hassles from the authorities, so long as it wasn't designated a national monument or national park or an archeological site. Now, unfortuneately, all this has changed. Because of a few greedy unscrupulous people, laws are being passed that restrict or in some cases, totally closed down places that were once wide open for hunting. Even areas that are not archeologically sensitive are off limits to any detecting at all.

I Believe that a permit system would be the more practical way of handling the few bad apples that make even the most responsible hunters look bad. With this system, you could charge like $5 A year for it and assign each user a number. That way, when you see a person detecting in the park, you would simply go to them and ask to see their permit and check to see that they are not leaving open holes or leaving their junk lying around. If indeed they are breaking the rules, you could then ban them from hunting there. That way, those of us who are considerate hunters wouldn't have to suffer along with the careless hunters and our hobby would survive. POLL: If you were or are a member of city council or a township trustee, and I proposed this to you , how many of you would repond positively and if you already have such a system in place in your area, how is it working out? I await your response.