New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

I'm really surprised no one has got in the shit for digging up fields/parks already. no matter how tidy the hole is made out to be a hole is still being dug and the ground disturbed, in the grounds where people spend time making it usable for all to enjoy the green open spaces for whatever use. It's all good to say it's just the one person or whatever but in reality there's probably a whole bunch of people doing the same. Publicly spreading the word on sites like this brings the same repercussions as on the gold side of things when people are digging where they should not be. soon someone will be made an example of i reckon. in this case whoever dug up next to the wicket would have obviously known they should not have, no doubt about it. i'm surprised the groundsman said it was ok to dig among the trees too, as this can damage the roots of trees if they have shallow roots, and also let in fungus/disease to the trees i believe.

i know try hunt somewere else lol hagley has been getting drilled since everyone posting awesome finds and saying were from, ive even seen people from overseas talking on here about coming over for a holiday and detecting hagley park, maybe abit more hush hush on were your digging might stop so many amatuers and randoms from digging whopping holes, just a thought :)

Don't do that #8, keep posting.
What if everybody kept all the rubbish and crap they dig up and posted pics of that occasionally?. As with the TV shows it all looks quite glamorous from the sidelines. You never see KG or the Ringmaster dig up any pull tabs, or rubbish. Just the good stuff, which makes it quite appealing to newcomers.

Ahhhh yes.....I know exactly what you mean. We all post the good stuff but sometimes we need to remind others that it's not all blue skies and rainbows. Here's a few pics of the junk I have collected over the past few months. It's a good reminder of the ratio between trash and treasure.....and ultimately keeps a good head space check on the realities of the hobby!

I never dig any trash but that is purely because one mans Trash is anothers Treasure. *8^P

A bit of petrol money to be made from the scrap.

Think the time may be nearing that we let Hagley R.I.P

Well said Guardian, I usually just post my finds & don't get to involved in the politics of detecting so I suppose its my feeble attempt to distance myself (& everyone else on here) from all the bad things happening out there but yeah I imagine its all in vain. One day it will hit the news & that will be it.....we'll be the new lepers.

First concept - It may also detract people from not cleaning up after there pooch. *8^)

Seriously though.

From the other side of the coin (geeze just can't seem to stop tonight). It's a little like being caught doing nothing wrong and then having to pleade the case that you aren't the bad guy and that infact there is a large proportion of good detectorists that are appauled by these "others". I'm guessing much like NB8W.

When it does come to the crunch it will be another freedom taken away because it is easier to blanket the problem rather than tackal the few who ruin it.

This seems to be a hot topic, so I thought I might add a couple of suggestions from a 'newbies' point of view (which is me).

First suggestion.
Partly continuing from early post. What if every new member were to be sent via PM, email, or other means, an 'official important notice'. Which would include all the do's and don'ts in DETAIL including retrieval tips, cheap make do tools, (a lot of people start off with just the detector and nothing else, except maybe the garden shovel). Tips on where to go and where definately not to go. Stress the importance of 'permissions'. Include some links to extra good sites regarding digging techniques etc. etc. And stress that they revisit there sites to check up on the state of the ground on a regular basis. I believe when starting out people tend to move around a fair bit looking for new spots to hunt, and are probably unaware of any damage that they may be doing unless you revisit. I realise most of this info is out there on the net, and other areas of this forum, but you do have to find it. Obviously there will be the ones that don't give a *^*, and some that buy a detector from Trade Me for example and just start hooking into it!

Second suggestion.
Some members living nearby to a newbie may like to offer a little time (which I know is very limited). To provide some hands on tips pretty much covering the above, or even an invitation to communicate via PM with a few questions now and again.

I am quite sure most new people into this great hobby would be more than keen to travel an hour or two to meet up for a few pointers and watch an expert dig a few holes and give a little advice. Not suggesting you give away your secrete spots or too much info or time. One thing to keep in mind also is, you just don't know what or who this Newbie knows, you may come out of the situation with a pointer for yourself, couple of new permissions, new contact or hunting location and maybe a new friend, who knows.

I have just recently met up with a local member which was great, and even in a short time have learnt quite a bit. One thing I did notice was the size of his..............

Ground sheet! about as big as a face cloth. Mine, the size of a table cloth!
That says something in it self.

Just a thought Iggy

Edited by user Thursday, 13 February 2014 6:17:24 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

I walk my dogs regularly in Hagley and you don't have to look to hard to see the numerous round shallow plugs that are cut out all over North and South Hagley, this kills the grass roots, they dry out die and get thrown out by the mowers. Many holes show no effort what so ever at being filled and many more even have the metallic rubbish left beside them. The best plugs are the ones dug on three sides only and flipped out on the 4th side like a hinge, this leaves the grass roots intact. If you cant see where you have just recovered your target, you've done your job properly.

The worst offenders are those advertising there finds on line creating this mini rush to the park and organising group hunts.

Good point Hatter, why doesn't anyone go "Ape Shit" after a Rugby game?? Because the reality is after a couple of rains and mows most ground recovers pretty well. Maybe public/park hunting should be confined to the wetter months??

Edited by user Friday, 14 February 2014 9:30:53 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified