Metal Detecting Banned in Cook County's Forest Preserves

Cook County Forest Preserve District

The concerning language from Section 3-3-14 reads as follows:

 "Section 3-3-14: INJURY OR DESTRUCTION TO FOREST PRESERVE PROPERTY. No unauthorized person shall in any Forest Preserve:

 I. Use, possess or offer for use a mineral or metal detector, magnetometer, side scan sonar, other metal detecting device, or subbottom profiler on Forest Preserve District property nor shall any unauthorized person be allowed to excavate, remove, damage, alter or deface, or attempt to excavate, remove, damage, or otherwise alter or deface Forest Preserve District property in connection with or for the purpose of engaging in metal detecting activities. Any person violating any of the provisions of this Subsection shall be fined not less than seventy-five dollars ($75) or more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each offense."


I can't believe these commissioners made a drastic decision based on a ludricous claim. That we destroy plants and the ecosystem make me think these people do not understand the hobby or have not done any research. I can take pictures of picnic areas left with tons of trash. These areas are visited by wildlife at night looking for food. If a deer or racoon steps on a broken beer bottle, that causes a lot more harm than a 4 inches hole left uncovered, which doesn't happen often. Professional treasure hunters may dig huge holes in search for buried fortunes, we only catch a few old coins with litte or no collectible value. I mean, the great majority of us are not in this for profit, but as a pasttime. Most of us do this for fun and the thrill of recovering some stuff like lost jewelry. I myself, have never sold anything I've found. My finds are like trophies and conversation pieces to me. My interest is also purely historical. I learn a great deal with my finds and pass down my knowledge to children and adults and other enthusiasts alike. We are also trash collectors and disposers. Who else does this? People go fishing and left behind weights, hooks, and of course trash. Picnickers do the same. I have hunted woods, I know what I'm talking about. I may like to go back with my camera and take hundreds of pictures showing the real damagers of the environment: trash left behind by people.  




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		Quote:			Posted by homefire
	Take those photo's and submit them. Submit them to the local Media as well. Some day they will offer a Fly Over Tour. You will not be able to step foot on the Processus Dirt.

You know what? I'll do just that. I have this summer off and will take pictures of the tons and tons of trash that is the real damage to the environment. I have also dug out fishing hooks that might have hurt a visitor, a child, pet, or wildlife. Maybe forest preserves should be closed to the public altogether to put an end to the real problem. If they want to protect flora and fauna, then close the woods to the public. 

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		Quote:			Posted by homefire
	Selective Prejudice is not the way.

Very well put! This is how we should see it as picking on a few for ludricous reasons but not dealing with the real issue. Of course, they can't deal with the issue of trash and the other wrong doing people engage on in the woods because the problem is too big to handle. Easier to ignore it and instead use others as scapegoats for their inability to make their work well. Hey, by the way, is this the way I waste my tax dollars? I must keep this in mind on election time. 

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The main owners of the land are the people of Illinois, administered by the commissioners of the Cook county. My suggestion along with the pictures will be to adopt Winnebago County Forest Preserve District's regulations to detectorists as seen below:

WINNEBAGO COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT
METAL DETECTING REGULATIONS

1. Useless detected items must be disposed of properly. Use the
available waste cans if possible.
2. Carry a small plastic sheet as one of your tools. Lay any earth
removed from the hole on this sheet for easy return to the hole.
3. Metal detecting cannot interfere with any other forest preserve
activity, planned or unplanned.
4. Metal detector users must cooperate fully with all forest preserve
personnel and all law enforcement officers.
5. No shrub, tree or flower may be destroyed when detecting for
metal objects.
6. Metal detector users must have their permit on their person when
metal hunting. The permit must be shown to forest preserve
personnel or law enforcement officers upon request.
7. Metal detector users must observe all other Winnebago County
Forest Preserve District regulations when using any forest
preserve grounds.
8. Metal detecting permits are issued for a period of one calendar
year only. (and it is only $10.00  )
9. Permits may be revoked by the Winnebago County Forest
Preserve District and must be surrendered upon request.
10. Golf courses and Macktown Forest Preserve may not be used as
metal detecting areas.

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My first question is, Where were all the Cook Count treasure hunters/metal detectorists when this was bing discussed and passed.  Where are they now? Are the organizing to get this silly ridiculousness rescinded?  Cyber's suggestiono of following the Winnebago County rules sounds much more reasonable to me.  Go Chicago area detectorists!  Set a wrong right!  right now!           

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ArfieBoy