Seeded Hunts
The club furnishes all the coins for the hunts and is repaid by the entry fees. For those
members who are unsure as to how to conduct a hunt, contact the club's "Hunt Advisor / Coordinator"
to help with the logistics of putting on a hunt, help with how to put together your flyer, your
budget, how many coins are needed, etc.
Hints on Running a seeded hunt -- by Dave Clark, Somewhere in Time
We as a club seek out sites for our seeded hunts where we have rest room facilities and a pavillion of some kind in case of inclement weather.
The coins are mostly silver bought in bulk at various coin shows. It is usually planted only an inch or so deep so recovery is quicker.
We also may have brass tokens planted that are numbered and matched to prizes donated by club members.
The planting usually is done early on the day of the hunt so it won't get picked by others.
We usually have two areas marked out for two separate hunts with a potluck lunch in between. It makes for a great day!
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Search and Salvage Agreement
This Search and Salvage Agreement is only one example.
Remember, you cannot sign a binding and enforceable contract with anyone who does
not have the legal capacity to enter into such an agreement. Make sure you are
signing any contract with the person/s who is/are the land owner or who has a
Power of Attorney to enter into such an agreement.
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Asking Permission
Always ask official permission to gain access to a property owner's property.
Listed below are some examples, including carrying your own 'Detectorist'
card, and what to say. Of course, the responsible thing to do is to GET
PERMISSION! Eureka! Treasure Hunters Club, Inc. provides business cards to its
members that they can bring along and distribute to property owner's to show
that they belong to a responsible club and includes the code of ethics on it
that all of our club members should be following.
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Permission Letter
Permission Letter -- by Tony van Roon,Royal City Metal Detecting Club
I have used a Permission Letter many times to successfully attain access
to detect property for coins. I make no mention of "sharing" my finds, and
don't do so unless the circumstances are unusual. Let your conscience be
your guide. Edit the sample letter to fit your style and remember, always
be neat, courteous, and thankful. It has worked well for me! Be sure to
follow up with a phone call if you do not get a response in a week.
Sometimes, the letter acts as an "ice breaker" to refer to when you call.
When I call, I say I am the one who wrote the letter and would like to
answer any questions or concerns they might have. I try to emphasize my
respect for their time and their property. You also may want to have the
person sign a Search and Salvage Agreement. Be respectful and courteous and you WILL be successful. Best of luck!
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What to say
Trespassing fines and a bad name don't suite any responsible treasure hunter. In
addition to the fine and bad name, you risk confiscation of your metal detector,
your finds, and even your vehicle. So the responsible thing to do is GET
PERMISSION!
It would be a good thing to try to find out the name of the property
owner first as it makes you look more 'prepared'. Think about what you're going
to ask the landowner. Here are a couple of examples:
"Hello, Mr. <Landowner's Name>. My
name is <Name> and I was wondering if you would
give me permission to metal detect on your property."
"Hello Mrs. <Landowner's Name>, my name is
<Name> and I've been looking at your property
every day driving back-and-forth to work and was wondering if you would give me
permission to metal detect on your property. I don't leave holes in your lawn
and I don't damage any other property. I also take full responsibility for my
being on your property. In return for permission I will also remove any trash I
find or dig up."
After this initial introduction, answer any questions or concerns the
property owner may have and, most important, do not lie! Lies will catch up
sooner or later but most likely sooner.
If the property owner asks to share the finds, you of course agree,
but also suggest that you might find any lost jewelry for them. In short, you
want to make new friends and that way secure possible future hunts on their
property or their friends' properties referred to you by your new friends. They
might become interested enough to join you for a treasure hunt. That could lead
to another family joining the club. Possibilities are infinite!
If the property owner says yes, you should do try to search
immediately, if possible. Property owners sometimes change their minds.
If the property owners say no, thank them for their time, hand them
your detectorist card, and suggest that if they need help locating a septic
cover, pipes, property markers, lost tools, lost jewelry, or anything else, to
give you a call. NEVER start arguing as to why they wouldn't allow you to
detect.
At other times, property owners my follow you around to check for
themselves what and how you're doing. That's fine. As a matter of fact, the
property owner's curiosity may make a new detectorist friend! If you have an
extra detector, bring it along just for moments like this and let the property
owner check it out. After you gain the landowners' trust, they may give you the
names and addresses of their friends or neighbors for you to do some detecting.
A couple more suggestions: First impressions are very important, so
make sure you are clean, wear clean clothes, and NO SUNGLASSES! Direct eye
contact is the best method to gain the property owner's attention. If your
appearance is that of a 'Most Wanted' person or someone working the yard all
day, they may keep the door shut, or tell you to leave immediately, or that
you're tresspassing, or whatever. Happy Hunting!
by Tony van Roon, Royal City Metal Detecting Club
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