ARTICLES
Detectors Unlimited Code of Ethics:
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1. Always check Federal, State, County and local laws before searching. It is your responsibility to "know the law."
2. Abide by all laws, ordinances or regulations that may govern your search, and the area you may be in.
3. Never trespass. Always obtain permission prior to entering private property, mineral claims, or underwater salvage leases.
4. Do not damage, deface, destroy, or vandalize any property, including ghost towns and deserted structures, and never tamper with any equipment at the site.
5. Never litter. Always pack out what you take in, and remove all trash dug in your search.
6. Fill all holes regardless of how remote the location; never dig in a way with will damage, be damaging to, or kill any vegetation.
7. Do not build fires, camp at or park in non-designated or restricted areas.
8. Leave all gates and other access to land as found.
9. Never contaminate wells, creeks, or any other water supplies.
10. Be courteous, considerate, and thoughtful at all times.
11. Report the discovery of any items of historic significance to the local historical society or proper authorities.
12. Uphold all finders, search, and salvage agreements.
13. Promote responsible historical research and artifact recovery and sharing of knowledge with others. |
Dealing with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service
Forest Service lands have some restrictions and are controlled by Department of Agriculture regulations...see Title 36 - Parks, Forests, and Public Property, Part 228 - Minerals.
In recent months employees of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest have gotten more aggressive when they encounter individuals metal detecting on Forest Service land. It has been reported that some Forest Service employees imply that these individuals can only metal detect on a claim owned by the individual or a club to which the individual belongs. Additionally, these employees have been reported to imply a requirement for the individual to have a "Notice or Statement of Intent" on file with the local U.S. DA Forest Service office.
While it is true that metal detecting on any legally claimed Forest Service Land requires the permission of the claim owner, which would automatically occur if the individual were a member of a club that has ownership of the claim, most unclaimed Forest Service Land may be freely metal detected under existing regulations. Care MUST be taken to ensure that you are authorized to be on the claim. Some Forest Service land, for example a Wilderness area, may be protected. Always check with the local Forest Service management office to determine if metal detecting on Wilderness area or other specially designated land is allowed.
Whenever you are confronted by a Forest Service employee, make sure to get and record his/her name and office location and phone number - ask them for their business card. Do not get into an argument with the employee. Politely ask them to cite the specific line of 36 CFR, Chapter II, Part 228 for which they believe you are not in compliance.
Always use the terms "authorized," "searching," "searching and sampling," "not in the process of marking and monumenting a mining claim," "limiting all search and sample operations to ensure they do not cause significant surface resource disturbance." The very fact that you can talk to them in the language of the regulation will indicate that you cannot be bluffed or deceived by some obscure talk of "Federal Regulations."
Review 36 Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter II, Part 228 - Locatable Minerals, and specifically Part 228.4(a)(1). Note that the regulation does NOT require the submission of any Notice of Intent (NOI) to operate and/or a Plan of Operations (POO) if an individual is:
 | Authorized to be on the claim, and/or |
| Searching for and occasionally removing small mineral samples or specimens, and/or |
| Searching and sampling in such a manner as to NOT cause significant surface resource disturbance which will not involve the removal of more than a reasonable amount of mineral deposit for analysis and study, and/or |
| Is not, at this time, in the process of marking and monumenting a mining claim, and/or |
| The individual claims to limit all search and sample operations to ensure that they will not cause significant surface resource disturbance.. |
The following link is provided to a printable document that you can carry with you to provide to any individual that identifies themselves as an agent of the Forest Service and wants to know what you are doing. This document, Metal Detecting on Federal Lands,will help establish that you are in compliance with all applicable regulations. Simply print several copies and whenever needed add your name at the top, sign and date the document at the bottom.
Past Desert Tails Newsletters:
Honing Pinpointing Skills - Expanded from a July 20, 2005 Newsletter
Practice pinpointing! Have a friend tape a dime on one large piece of cardboard and a nugget or small piece of lead on another. Then have that individual lay the cardboard coin/nugget/lead side down in an area free of metal objects. Attempt to pinpoint each object through the cardboard. When you feel you have the object pinpointed, stick a pin through the cardboard and see how close you came. If you are right-on, visualize that spot on your coil that got you pinpointed. If you are off, stick another pin from the object side and now visualize the more accurate pinpoint spot on your coil.
Practice this technique with different size objects until your pinpointing skills are honed...you will save yourself time and effort and be ready for the next outing or Treasure Hunt.
Members Writings & Other Authors:
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