State of the Metal Detecting/Treasure Hunting Hobby
(Information on problems facing our hobby provided by Keith Wills)

Fund Raiser Information for  Bob and Tom Case. PLEASE READ and TAKE ACTION!

Register Now... So that we can contact you with any late breaking news. Want to help out here? Are you important to our hobby? We think so. 

PRESS this link to help! 5-14-2004

Appeal for Bobby Sullivan and Ed Brown Case

More on helping Bobby and Ed Brown with their appeal!
5/10/2004
Press here to view a letter from Keith Wills!

********************************************************
Implementation of the "The Protect the Hobby Now Alert Network"...

Thanks to Steve Pearsall of NH and Shane of Utah. Both worked and are working on banners for use here.  Please copy and paste the code below where you want the banner to appear on your website. We will update the banner to one with flashing emergency lights as events call for. 

<p align="center"><a href="http://www.protecthehobbynow.com" TARGET=”NEW”><img border="0" src="http://www.protecthehobbynow.com/images/pth_alert.gif" width="256" height="45"></a> </p>

Here's the "Emergency Alert" banner we're using right now and the one below was done by Shane to supply us with our non-flashing banner when nothing requires the emergency alert status.

_____________________________________________________

Another detectorist called me for help.... Originally posted on: Thursday, 9 May 2002, at 11:26 p.m.      Last year I received a phone call from a couple that said they needed my help. They were referred to me by someone, so I told them I would try.  In Short Form, the story is this: The couple was riding their 4 wheelers in a national forest in the northwest, when they were stopped by a ranger. The ranger spotted the metal detector and shovel type digger on the back of each 4 wheeler. The ranger stated he had no problem with the metal detectors, but he didn't like the shovels on the 4 wheelers. The couple explain they are up in age and use the 4 wheelers to treasure hunt on, they had forgotten the detectors and shovels were on the 4 wheelers to be truthful. So the ranger left telling the couple to get those shovels off the 4 wheelers. The couple was just out for a ride from the RV camp on the 4 wheelers, they weren't detecting. A week goes by and the couple are now camped 3 states over at another national forest. Again they are riding for pleasure on their 4 wheelers. As unbelievable as it may seem, they were stopped by the very same ranger again and he sited them for the shovels strapped down on the back of their 4 wheelers. They were now scheduled to be in count on the citation in two weeks and had heard all the horror stories of what the court was going to do to them. That's when I got the call for help. My first suggestion was that the court would throw out the citation since the couple was never caught in the "act of" digging with the shovels. Later the couple called me and said that was exactly what happen and the ranger got a good chewing from the judge too. My next suggestion to the couple was to buy a cheap $8.00 gold pan for each 4 wheeler and keep it on the bikes. For national forest service regulations do state excavating is permitted if mineral prospecting, the gold pans show the couples intent of prospecting and the shovels would be permitted to be on their bikes in that case. Again, the couple had checked with a national forest office and they confirmed what I told them and was handed a brochure called "Recreational Use of Forest Service Lands", explaining recreational prospecting. I was happy to help and the couple sure was happy they called. I guess it was too much trouble to remove the shovels from the 4 wheelers, I think I would of!  Keith

Secondary Links Michigan Detecting Laws Mansfield Battle Park Needs Our Help! U.S. Code For All Our Children How Can We Help Our Hobby? Notes On Texas Parks Appreciation is Lacking Water Hunting State Parks on Corp of Engineers Corp of Engineers Statement Sabine River Info National Parks Title 36 Printout More Title 36 Search & Salvage Agreement You Should Use Jpg of Forest Service Regulations Michigan Talking Points Clubs and Their Importance Handicapped Kids Detecting Volunteering to Help Archeologists Belgium Detecting Problems Gun Proponent Bill