How To Gain Permission To Hunt Private Property

Ever wonder why so many detectorists are too shy to ask permission to hunt private property and take a chance on passing up some great finds. Private property is virtually the last untouched hunt sites remaining and the last source of old gold or silver coins. Are we not proud of our hobby or too ashamed and embarrassed to be TH’ers? Could this be what prevents us from knocking on doors? Isn’t it time we gained some positive feelings about our hobby. Are we any different than anyone else who enjoys a hobby and shouldn’t we be able to pursue it with enthusiasm and an element of pride?

One way to accomplish this is by the bold approach and working towards gaining permission to hunt the site we have drooled over for so long. You know the ones - the sites we have been putting off tackling. And we all know why we put it off - fear of rejection, being cut down to size with a firm no. But certainly we can muster up a modicum of nerve and shatter this barrier. In the next few paragraphs I will attempt to help you with this sticky situation and I don’t profess to be the answer man but can share with you some tricks that I have learned and that have helped me down through the years. Perhaps I can inject a dose of pride into you to stand up and be proud of your hobby. I know you enjoy it or you wouldn’t be in it or reading this.

First ( and this isn’t easy for shy folks ), if you have been fawning over a certain site and you haven’t yet drummed up enough courage to ask permission to hunt it, then stop drooling and do it. If you don’t it will be eating on you for years then someday you’ll hear of some other detectorist who wasn’t bashful and walked into this place and made a killing. Think about it, ""Why am I so afraid to ask permission and why am I constantly putting it off?" It will dawn on you that it’s the old fear of rejection back to haunt you. My reply to that is, " So what?" All that can happen is the owner will say no. It’s not life-threatening and he or she isn’t going to eat you. Just go on to your next favorite site and ask there. Look at it as gambling, where sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, or think of yourself as a door-to-door salesman. They don’t make a sale every time. In reality, very few people will turn you down if you approach them correctly and none of them resemble ogres. Most are basically very nice folks.

There are several ways to work this out and approach the owner, in person, by telephone, or by mail. Before attempting any of these ( don’t just waltz in cold ) prepare for your encounter by writing down on paper just exactly what you wish to say. What this boils down to is a selling job and you and the hobby are the product. In most instances the person you confront will know little or nothing about you or the hobby so have your spiel well prepared. The points you will need to present are:

(1) Exactly who you are, where you live, where you work, who you know, etc.

(2) That you are a dependable, reputable, honest, responsible, upstanding person.

(3) Explain carefully how long you have admired this property ( a little ego stroking doesn’t hurt to a prideful homeowner ) and why you want to hunt it.

(4) A brief explanation of what your hobby is all about and how long you have been at it and how experienced you are.