Digging

Repairing the Bad Rap

  • February 26, 2015

Let’s face it, metal detecting gets a bad rap. The more I pursue the hobby, the more I recognize this perception that people have of metal detecting.

Yesterday, I took a trip to the historical society–more on that later. As I was speaking with one of the woman who volunteers there, I really got the impression that metal detecting was a sore subject. She had this vision of someone leaving open craters in the ground and stealing historically significant objects from public view. We talked at length and I really hope that I was able to change her perception of metal detecting.

Everyone has their reason for metal detecting. Some search for riches. Some search for history. Some just like to dig holes. I like to think of myself as someone in search of history. I seek the thrill of holding an object that has been untouched since the day it was lost. The respect that I feel for the past translates to the present–which is why I always fill my plugs and leave every property the way I found it. Respect.

As metal detectorists, we must be respectful and we work together to change the perception that people have of the hobby that we hold so dear. If we can shape the perception and change the way average people think of us, we can open doors and we can pursue properties that we have only ever dreamed about.

I’ve shared it before and I will share it again:

Be a good ambassador for other detectorists by following this code of ethics for respecting nature, history, and property owners.

  1. I will respect private property and will not metal detect without the property owner’s permission.
  2. I will not destroy property, buildings, or what is left of ghost towns and deserted structures.
  3. I will never litter, always pack out what I take in, and remove all trash found.
  4. I will leave all gates and other accesses to land as found.
  5. I will not damage natural resources, wildlife habitats, or any private property.
  6. I will use thoughtfulness, consideration, and courtesy at all times.
  7. I will abide by all laws, ordinances, or regulations that may govern my search or the area I will be in.
  8. I will fill all plugs, regardless of how remote the location, and never dig in a way that will damage, be damaging to, or kill any vegetation.
  9. I will report the discovery of items of significant historical value to a local historian or museum in accordance with the latest legislation.
  10. I will be an ambassador for the metal detecting hobby.

Be polite and informative to those who inquire about your hobby — you are the ambassador of a pastime we want to preserve, and other detectorists will be judged by how you act and respond.

Remember that telling property owners that you follow the Metal Detecting Code of Ethics is great and good, but they have no idea what that means.

I wrote a post a while back that I did not publicize as much as I do my other posts, but the subject matter was about leaving a good impression. I would suggest creating a handout–or a one-pager as those of us in marketing would call it–to give people that includes a paragraph or two about who you are, photos of object you have found in the past that mean something to you, and a copy of the code of ethics.

Please help me to redefine metal detecting.

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