No more hiding in the bushes, Get out there!!

[Mackoutback]

I've been aware that many of you on the forum have felt a bit like me when we first started out detecting in public places like parks and beaches etc.
I once read on a forum, I can't remember where, to help overcome that initial fear or embarisment of getting out there. The answer was to "look official" so off I went to Bunnings and bought a thin bright orange Safety Vest with the luminous tape and a Bunnings straw hat.

Just before Anzac Day I was doing some detecting at my local Memorial hall wearing the above, when a van pulled up to sweep out and clean the loo's. The lady waved and said 'how ya going' so I just waved and kept on detecting, looking very official with a big grin on my face. It felt GREAT, but she didn't know it was my first time out pretending.

Then a few days later I was visiting the grand kids and when I opened the boot of the car my 5yr old grandson said " that looks like the Council Par " then I looked at him with another big grin and said "Yep, you got it". Hope you get out there, and look as if you're supposed to be there caring for the environment.

 

[Smoky bandit]

After a while you don't even think about it .You just do it

 

[Deepseeker]

I don't feel quite so bad now while detecting near Joe public. I'd still feel self conscious though I think if I was with a bunch of guys from on here.

My first ever time I turned on the 5000 was down at the park near the footy oval. I went down there when it was dead quiet and tried to get it going. First screw-up was turning it on while it was laying across the bonnet of the ford (very noisy things these detectors :8 )

 

[Jaros]

I am not that happy about anyone just approaching a park without permission and detecting as per my post the other day reporting a guy detecting a heritage listed park where detecting is a no no.
You will get a big fine. Is it worth it--go bush.

 

[Smoky bandit]

Common sence is what's needed Jaros.
There's no law in QLD stating we can't detect in parks .Even some heritage listed ones are still ok..Obviously you wouldn't dig a hole if the grounds were manicured and looked after by the council..

 

[Feral]

I use a bread and butter knife when I'm in a Council zone. Nearly had kittens at Christmas time when I was packing up from an early morning session. The crowds where starting to show up and here comes a bloke with his young son swinging a GPZ. Now the detector was no drama but the 3 foot prospectors pick his son was hanging onto. He told me he had been down the beach with no luck but had dug a few trash targets in the park :8. These are very well maintained Council parks by the sea. His kid saved him from hearing what I was thinking

 

[DetectingSA]

I am not that happy about anyone just approaching a park without permission and detecting as per my post the other day reporting a guy detecting a heritage listed park where detecting is a no no.
You will get a big fine. Is it worth it--go bush.

Nothing wrong with detecting non heritage listed parks, dont discourage any newbies who might read this...

Its public land and we are the public... no permission required. if youre not causing damage, not effecting anyone elses use of the land, and can dig a nice neat plug... then I say go for it!

God knows I do

(Stay away from nicely manicured parks, stay away from playing fields)

 

[silver]

How to confuse a detextorist...
point out a coupla parks
and tell him not to take his pick
:cloudy: :cloudy: :cloudy: :cloudy:
:fire:
ickshovel:

 

[nucopia]

Been in parks detaching when the council have turned up, nothing has been said just a wave and they like me get on with what we are there for.
I always stay off the playing area but will work the periphery of the fields where spectators might gather..
One time had one come over and ask If I could help them find a lock they had lost in the long grass..even had the cops pull up and ask what I was doing one evening a few years ago ..told him treasure hunting for old coins and he just said oh ok have you found any ... Do as little harm as possible is probably a good way to go about it

 

[Goldpick]

Every time I see the result of idiots doing donuts on the parklands around here, I like to remind myself on how little impact my detecting activities have in the scheme of things. In fact I doubt anyone could even tell I had been detecting there, and that comes with perfecting recovery methods and choosing appropriate sites to detect (ie. knowing when ground is too dry to make recoveries, avoiding reticulated surfaces, using the correct tools and avoiding listed heritage areas).

There are some areas I avoid due to others leaving a mess (unattached plugs, dead plugs, soil spread all over the place), you do not want to be the one blamed for the misdeeds of others.

Leave shovels and picks in the car, they belong in rural areas, private permissions and for prospecting, not in plain view at public parks.

As Smokey mentioned, you become less self conscious after a while. Afterall, it is meant to be just a hobby, not a crime - though some members of the public don't seem to be able to differentiate between the two, regardless of where you detect.

 

[LONEWOLF]

It depends on Council Regulations... Most don't have a Law banning it. but some are quite specific and have banned Detecting...

In Heritage listed parks it should be a no no.. And it is in the Gold Coast Council area....

You won't be asked to leave by a council employee/Worker, If they do it's usually a breach of their OH&S Policy as most Council Employees have been told to avoid confrontation with the Public, but they will inform a Council Ranger and he will tell you to leave if it is in their Regs or He/She thinks damage is being done.....

This info is directly from a Gold Coast City Council Ranger that I know...

LW....

 

[Jaros]

The one beside us Mowbray Park is a heritage listed park with the oldest war memorial in place in Bris for WW1.
A definite no no. :argh:

 

[Feral]

To me, detecting around a War Memorial is disrespectful. It would be the same as walking into a cemetery and detecting over grave sites. My own personal feelings

 

[Guest]

im a council gardener by trade and worked for council 32 yrs, it all about minimal footprint, a park is to used by anyone in the public to do what ever they want to do (within reason), and leave the the way u found it for the next person to use , i use screw driver thing to locate targets and a use pinpointer, then prise it up, i shake my head at detectist that use them shovel looking things and dig out a hole (plug ) if its more than a few inches i leave it ,as jaros said it all about respect have a look around access the situation ,and if in doubt ask permission , the boys are usually not to far away , i don't know what it is, but as a gardener it the best feeling to see some one use using the puplic assets to the full potential and i love seeing them wearing them out ( mums and dads, kids and animals) COMMON SENSE AND RESPECT so enjoy this hobby

 

[Feral]

That's why I use a bread and butter knife. Less threatening than a screw driver and sits better in the pocket. Had to buy replacements the other day as I had lost a few. Had to find $15 to pay for them