Where can I hunt?

[drapnw01]

I live in North East Indiana and am just beginning to metal detect. I have called the Indiana dunes and my local state parks and they both said that it is illegal to use a metal detector in there parks. These were 2 main areas that I would have liked to have searched. Is there any other public places that it is legal to hunt. I have heard of people hunting at city parks. is that legal? do i need to check with the city? Im sure my back yard will run out of stuff to find fast as i have not recieved my detector yet. I would like to find where to hunt now so I am ready when it gets here.

[Wyatt Earp]

Most municipalities these days seem to have a disdain for the metal detector hobbiests, and many have indeed passed legislation forbidding searching publicly owned property. The more years pass the more property is denied...and the more important it is to try and find private property to hunt on (with permission)

The parks have been hunted hard, so while you're disappointed now, maybe it's not such a bad thing in the long run.
You will make better (and more) finds on less hunted (private) places anyway.

One odd thing that I've noticed over the years.....is that the best looking sites (houses of the rich and famous) often do not have enough finds to make it worth the gas money to get there, while the children of folks of lesser means....were more apt to lose stuff that we like to find. I've been to more than one victorian mansion that was a total bust.

Do some web searches for towns near you to try and find out some of the local history.....and talk to the elders of the community. Ask where they used to skate, swim....picnic...when they were young. They are your best source of information. Most of what they know will be more helpful than easier accessed internet documents and such. Not to dismiss the internet as a source of research material....but if you can access it, so can a hundred other people just like you.

I just met an old gentleman a few days ago, who lives in an 1859 Mansion (beautiful house) once owned by a local Ferry operator.....and didn't find anything in that yard....but I am going to take some hot biscuits and coffee over some morning and sit down and shoot the breeze with him. He knows the old places that he enjoyed as a child, and I'm sure will be more than willing to share what he knows. I'm pretty sure he doesn't get much company, and it will probably be fun for him to reminisce about the old days. I might just end up with some good leads....or maybe just another friend. I have room for either.

Wyatt Fawley

[Kenneth Huddleston]

I enjoy hunting sports fields mostly because on the SIDE LINES and even in front of the goal post "YOU WOULD BE SURPRIZED " at the finds you will make !!! Just take your time and detect small areas at one time and make sure to overlap them swings by at least 1/2 of the coil !! HAPPY HUNTING !!! KENNETH

[Metalman]

All of the advice that has been shared is Good !!!

Dont forget the area between road and sidewalk, vacant lots,bus stops, camp grounds, fair grounds, old carnival sites, boy scout camps .building demolition sites,tot lots at area schools,farmers market sites, be imaginative you will be surprised where you will find yourself.

I like the advice of making new friends with the older generation, its one of my favorite !!!

Rick