This information was compiled during my search into laws and regulations specific to the Middle George area. The methods employed likely can be translated into other locales. The main goal is to find suitable and legal areas to go MDing. If readers have other tips, please add a post.
Laws and Restrictions.
A simple Google can open the door to the information you need. In my case I Googled "houston county ga metal detecting rules". Returned results identified specific restrictions such as historical sites, parks, beaches, etc. from searching and local ordinances as well as published tips from personal websites. When you locate these descriptions, save them so you can review later at your leisure.
Finding areas to search.
Know Area History. Wiki can sometimes provide a wealth of historical information that can help one to know what to expect in buried artifacts. So can local Historical Societies.
Contact your local historical society and have a conversation. Maybe they would engage your help is archeological searches. Sounds like fun!
Contact your county tax office and ask how to identify landowners and property boundaries. I did and got a short but nice email offer to call the individual who would walk me through the on-line process. Then I stumbled upon GIS.
Learn to use Graphical Information System (GIS) Maps GIS Maps Search (Data, Parcel & Tax Maps) (countyoffice.org). This link can help you get detailed parcel information for the state/county/city of interest. Here is an image for an area not too far from my subdivision. Different 'views' are available but this one is a zoomed in view, showing parcels, street names and roads in an aerial view. There are about 20 selectable options to control what you see.
Mouse clicking a parcel will display available information (most of it of no interest for MDing) such as physical address, owner name and address, acreage, last sale price and others. What it doesn't provide is owner contact information such as phone or email. With the physical address you can, of course, drive to the address for an in-person permission request.
Some areas to pursue (some may necessitate permits):
• Private property
• Farm land (after the harvest)
• Parks
• Home Construction sites (large subdivision started)
• Government land
• Abandoned properties
• River banks
• Privately owned recreation sites
How to proceed.
Some suggested etiquette.
1. Always try to get permission whether the location is private property, a local park or beach. Some suggest search first, apologize later if confronted. Do that on government land and you may regret it.
2. Always be respectful of property, personal space and refusals.
3. Develop your spiel ahead of time to quickly get to the point of your intrusion when approaching property owners. You may only have a few seconds before the door is closed.
4. If necessary to secure permission offer 50% of what you find.
5. Be realistic when discussing what may be buried in a parcel. Neither over nor under sell the potential.
6. When locating a historical artifact contact the necessary authorities about the find. Be sure to record in some fashion date, time and location of the find. (Turn on phone/camera location settings, then take a photo of the hole and artifact.)
Posted 12/17/2023 08:24 am
