Do you get used to it? MDing in public.

Azwip, everything becomes easier with practice.   As for digging in the park, keeping the holes small can be a challenge especially as hard as our soil in Arizona usually is, so practice, practice, practice at home or out in the desert until you're really comfortable with your hole making ability.  Then you can take pride in making holes that even the head groundskeeper won't notice.

BA

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By nature I am not an outgoing person.   I do prefer alone time, especially when I am metal detecting.   First let me say I try to never do it in front of an audience, but sometimes it can't be helped.   Generally when someone approaches me and starts yaking I initially ignore them.    After a minute or so I look up with a "oh are you there?" expression.   When they speak I give them a puzzled look as if they were speaking Latin or ancient Greek.    Then I slowly shake my head and point at my headphones to signify "I can't hear you with these things on," and go back to my detecting.   I always give them a little smile and sometimes a little wave in acknowledgment.   They give it up pretty quick, they really do.   I perfected that maneuver over 30 years ago and it works nearly every time.

I never dig a target with anyone close by.    I have my 100 foot rule.   People will hang on you if they can watch you dig up a target.    Kids get excited and may step on your detector in their excitement to see what you dig up..    I know.  It happened it me once.   If I get a target hit and folks are around I just grind my heel on the spot to mark it and move on.   After the folks move on or get at least 100 feet away I can come back and recover the target.

Remember this, people get bored easy and if they don't see you recover a target and they can't even carry on a conversation with you, they walk away.  Just remember to act friendly, smile, wave but don't talk because you can't hear with those darn headphones on and you aren't having any luck at all.   Not finding a single thing.

These methods have never left me down.   It's my SOP when detecting in public places.

Good luck.  HH

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Azwip, you may be a little too worried about what others think about your newfound hobby...I've even had a few smart mouthed folks say something to their friends or to me so they could get attention and look like the "Big Man" around their friends at my expense...Don't let these smart A's bother you...and don't worry about what anyone thinks...when they get smart with me, I've usually been able to put them down to size by saying something back that lets them know ol' treasuremomo ain't just a pushover that'll take any crap off wise-cracking smart A's. Don't worry about anyone but the park employees who may object...get permission from them and always emphasize the idea that you'll properly cover the holes you dig. AND DO SO. Never leave excavations uncovered. That is a bad thing, because those holes you leave may just be the reason that park officials close off the park or other area to detecting. I even go so far as trying to cover up someone elses excavations I find uncovered. It makes me angry to see some nice sight full of holes like a battlefield...that is why some sites get put offlimits to metal detecting. And justifiably so! Be a good steward of the hobby and we may just be able to use our detectors for many years to come. Good luck with your detecting.

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At first I felt the same way but now it doesn't bother me. I tune them out. Usually I go during the week when the parks are empty. It is my alone time and I don't need kids chasing me around asking quetions and trying to get at the target that I am digging. One time a kid tried to pull out a coin I was digging up and he almost got poked by the digger.
 I usually tell them to stay a distance away from the coil because it will burn them. It works. I never let them use the detector since I tell them that it is not a toy and it's expensive. I just tell them where to get one.
 I have been called an idiot and been told a remark like,"Get a Job." I respond by saying that the idiots are the ones that lost the coins and jewelry. As far as getting a job, I tell them that I am retired and where do they find the time to be just cruising around they are so young. I tell them to get a job and they won't have time to bother me.
 Don't worry about what people say. I just go out to do what I like to do and I don't care what anyone thinks .
 HH Arturo

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MD'ing in public doesn't bug me a bit. Especially when the kids show up. THEN THE FUN BEGINS! LOL To see em dig up their 1st coin is a treasure by itself. Plus knowing I'm helping to plant the MD'ing seed is also cool. Actually, I look forward to folks interest.

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