New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

With recent complaints surfacing about detectorists damaging parks, I thought we might revisit and firm up some stronger rules regarding our hunting within public parks.

This was the result of "dinner plate" damage reported at Sheldon Park in Belfast and there were previous complaints about "dinner plate" sized holes near the band rotunda in Hagley Park.

Some "good citizen" rules I think we should instigate fairly rapidly to prevent our hobby from getting a bad rap:

1. No digging on playing surfaces during times when the grass will have trouble recovering before being used again for sports.

2. At times when there is a possibility that dryness might cause recovery problems, a water bottle should be used to wet the area after the plug is reinserted to help the grass along.

3. DO NOT dig large diameter holes. If you're digging holes that are wider than about 4 inches, you're doing something wrong. Do the rest of us a favour and go and get yourself a pinpointer and also a detector with pinpoint mode so you can locate the coin position accurately BEFORE digging. If you're using a detector more suited to gold detecting out in the sticks that doesn't have pinpoint mode, stop using it for park hunting and get yourself a detector designed for the job - before we all get banned.

4. When digging plugs make them 3 inches or more in depth, and if the coin is IN the plug, extract it from the bottom rather than the top, and dig "U" shaped plugs (or folds) so the grass roots remain connected on one side. Don't dig plugs that are only an inch thick, with all the roots exposed when you pull it up.

usual story minority ruin it for the rest
same thing will happen to this sport as happened with the freedom camping
legislation will be passed by council

HOBBY GONE NO WHERE TO GO
wake up you stuiped people

Edited by user Wednesday, 19 December 2012 7:12:12 PM(UTC)  | Reason: spelling

Beware that too small a plug can also kill off the grass. The more intact root area the better the plug will survive, I did some experiments in my old back yard and found that the small plugs died off easier then the larger ones. By small I mean 3" or less, 5" is ideal in my opinion. Of course in dry conditions any hole will show and I do not believe a water from a bottle will be enough unless you go back and do it every day for a week - it needs heavy rain to revive. Best to leave that area until the wetter seasons.

In good turf an alternative to a plug is a slot. Pinpoint the target then cut a single 10" line (slot) through the roots directly over it with the target in the middle. Using your hands pull the edges of the slot apart until its this shape () and remove the soil under the turf until target is retrieved. Put back the soil then push the edges of the turf back together. This will not show at all afterwards and it will not die off since 3 sides of the roots are still attached. Again this is no good in dry conditions as the turf will break up when pulled apart.

Another hint is to use a cloth to put the loose soil on. When tipped back into the hole there is no soil laying around on the grass to show up where you have dug.

Hi all let not ruin our hobby lets make sure that we help the newbies and do fill in all your holes and make sure that even you cant tell where you have been

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Edited by user Sunday, 11 August 2013 11:18:25 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

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Edited by user Sunday, 11 August 2013 11:19:56 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

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Edited by user Sunday, 11 August 2013 11:20:34 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

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Edited by user Sunday, 11 August 2013 11:21:07 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Yeah public ive encountered have been great,even at the gala street reserve,had couple of mums and kids very interested in what I was finding.I must have found about 3-4 steel tent pegs which cant be good for the mower blades if they ever found a way back to the top.This area used to hold the A&P Shows along the gala st edge of the reserve although haven't covered that area yet.Could be some gold sovereigns hiding along there.Its all about the research.I don't bother with parks and reserves anymore.

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Edited by user Sunday, 11 August 2013 11:22:18 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified