Hunting on Private Property
huck7248:
Hi, I'm new to Thunting from CT and since open space is scarce around here, I had a question about approaching property owners. Is offering a split of what you find with the property owner common? If so, what is normally the percentage, 50-50? Thanks.
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Mudflap:
Hi Huck. CT here also. They have more places off limits anymore. I usually go for 25%. Usually you can get a feel how the conversation is going and maybe get permission without any deals. I've sometimes been able to just tell the owner I will pick up all nails and trash and clean up as I go along and that makes them happy. Good hunting///
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Homefire:
Just be Nice and a Human. See where it goes. Grovel if you have too. LOL!
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gambol1:
Some of the advice I have heard and tried is as follows.
1) don't get a reputation of hunting without permission. Once a farmer finds holes in his property he is on the lookout for trespassers.
2) don't walk up to the house with the metal detector in hand.
2) Know the property owner's name. Research this in the tax assessor files. Or if you are on a road trip ask the neighbors. Corporate owners forget about. Its not worth it.
3) be direct as possible and keep it simple. I identify myself as a "treasure hunter" this usually gets a smile out of them. "Hi I'm Chuck Smith and I'm a treasure hunter. I would like to have permission to go over (xxxxx) with a metal detector.
4) Be very specific about what you want to do and where. "I would like to go over the lot at (xxxx) and look for relics."
My success rate is better than 50% and the ones that refuse often have had a bad experience with detectorist or trespassers.
5) Don't mention digging but if it comes up tell them you dig no deeper than a possum and cover up all holes. (possums dig 10 inches). I carry a rake with me to make diggings less visible.
6) I never mention the split unless I am hunting in a known profitable location. Then I tell them I will give them every other coin found. The problem with splits is no two items are worth the same so there is no way to split evenly. I sometimes say that any single item over $1000 is property of the land owner. I have never found anything over $1000 but it is another inducement for the property owner.
7) Be prepared to put any splits in writing if the owner wants it. I have a pre printed form.
8) Be prepared to give a liability release as well. If the owner objects because of insurance, giving him a signed release exempting him from any liability is a last ditch effort.
9) After you are finished go back to the owner and show him what you found and ask if he knows of any old house sites, recreation places, swimming holes etc that may be profitable. A good thing is to have a map showing his and his neighbors properties when you do this.
When I first started doing this I dreaded going up to property owners and asking for permission. Now that I have worked out my technique, asking for permission is one of the best parts of it. You get to meet all sorts of interesting land owners and talk with them about the history of the region. It is suprising how much some of them know about the history and how much they like to talk about it. I had one refuse to let me on his land because he said there was nothing there but he made arrangements to hunt an old house site on a neighbor's property There I found two silver coins and a gold ring. Good luck. Gambol
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Karl:
Huck listen to Gambol he is right on the money , them are some great tips he pointed out to U.
I never mention a split with land owners , it's not as common here in the states as it is in england and europe where they have the possibilitie of finding huge hoards of gold coins worth millions of dollars,
as far as i know it has never happend here and if it does its so rare its not worth mentioning.
however i do show the land owners what i find to include all of the trash items, so they know i am not leaving anything behind. then if there is something in the finds they really want , thats when it's time
to negotiate your return trip etc...
good luck and happy hunting.
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Hobbyist:
The following is from my own experience.
I usually start off by offering 20% of any finds, and let the landowner haggle up to a max of 50%. If they're growing crops which I'm familiar with (and if the landowner appears a bit reluctant), I offer as a "deal sweetener" a free general "eyeball" evaluation of plant health including male/female inflorescence ratio, fertilizer recommendations, tips on handling pest and disease and suggestions on soil and water conservation terracing if needed. This usually gets me permission very easily. :) I also promise that no crops will be dug up without letting him see the exact dig spot first and obtaining his permission. Signals encountered on unplanted areas/ crop inter-rows will be dug without hesitation, and of course all holes will be filled up.
The vast majority of landowners are normal decent people who will keep their word. However one must be prepared to encounter the rare nasty chap who will renege on the deal once a target has been found. An agreement is only as good as how far one is willing/able to go in order to enforce it. I would rather just leave in peace than to be embroiled in a legal tussle, unless the found target is of substantial value.
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Ridge Runner:
Sounds good to me guys, allbases coverd
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huck7248:
Thanks everybody for the great advice. I will put it into practice. Huck
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Mad Mike:
This is great information, looking forward to getting permission to find those little treasures!
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gambol1:
Mad Mike, I hope you are finding those treasures. Yesterday I was on my way to one of my favorite sites and I passed a guy who was selling watermellons in front of his house. I stopped and looked at his mellons and then asked if he would let me metal detect on his property if I bought a mellon. He said yes and I got several hours hunting on a lot across which a wagon road ran in the 1800s. I talked with the man who had lived there since 1946. 3rd generation. He knew everything about the area. I didn't find anything on his property but He gave me the names of his neighbors who might let me detect. It was a great mellon too.
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