Going To Knock On The Door Wednesday. 1897 Home

Wow! I wonder what lurks buried on either side of that walkway? I sure hope you get permission!
Gotta love that mailbox post!

Maybe you should wait for Halloween.
Go as a super hot pepper with a vine.

I have not tried knocking on doors asking for permission.

Does it work often?

Any tricks of the trade to share with others?

Good luck V -

I have knocked on about 50 doors the last couple years.
I keep a short and sweet intro that lasts less than 15 seconds, and I never mention the word digging. I have about an 80% success rate.

Release of liability forms, never use 'em, stuff like that just scares the property owner.

Even the 1800's sites I hit are a bust 50% of the time, due to previous hunters, fill dirt, or back in the day crops were planted up to the side of the house.

I always start up front in the yard near the road and mailbox, along the ditch. I've found dozens of Indian Head cents this way. Silver halves, quarters and dimes from the front porch to the mailbox.

My door knocking intro goes like this:

'Hello, my name is ---- and my hobby is metal detecting. I like to collect wheat pennies and old military buttons. Would you mind if I spent a little time scanning your yard with my detector?'

Sounds a little nerdy, yet straight to the point. Gets the foot in the door, so to say...

Notice I did not mention the word 'dig'.

I carry a Lesche digging tool, my buddies use medium-handled small shovels, even in the parks. Hard to tell where they dig, they are good. I dig a small horseshoe-shaped plug, and I steer clear of well manicured yards.

Hopefully this helps. I still sometimes get butterflies when asking permission, but the more you try, easier it gets. Don't worry about the "no's" you may get those also from time to time.

fistful have you ever been booted after digging? I have been confronted about it and just tell em to look back over the area I have dug. No holes and after a rain they wont know you were there. Than they watch as you cut your horse shoe, find your penny (hopefully not a quarter) and say another ruined penny. They think you are crazy and leave.