Silver City Treasure Seekers - Taunton, MA

Metal Detecting Code of Ethics

Do not Kill the hobby.

These are Good Rules to Follow When Detecting.

- Never trespass. Always get permission to traverse private or restricted lands.

- Always respect private property and do no metal detecting without the owner's permission.

- Before searching public sites, always check laws, ordinances or regulations that may govern your hunt.

- Always leave gates as they are found whether open or closed.

- Never do anything that might contaminate wells, creeks or other water supplies.

- Never tamper with signs, maintenance facilities or equipment.

- Never damage or destroy property, buildings or what is left of ghost towns or deserted structures.

- Never spook, taunt, provoke or otherwise disturb wild or domestic animals.

- Never leave litter. Pack out any and all trash or debris you create or find.

- If necessary, clean up after a previous detectorist. Acting in spite of him or even just ignoring his trangressions will only hurt us all in the end.

- Always use the correct digging or probing equipment to make the least intrusion or marks.

- Never throw trash finds back in the hole.

- Leave as little sign of your passing as possible.

- Always fill in your holes, including plowed fields, sand pits, beaches and in water.

- Study, learn, appreciate and protect our heritage of natural resources, wildlife, and private property.

- Be thoughtful, considerate, courteous and respectful of others at all times.

- Protect the metal detecting hobby by being a good will ambassador at all times.

- Report the discovery of any items of possible significant historical value to a local historian or museum in accordance with the latest legislation of your area.

- Report any live ammunition or other potentially lethal or toxic objects you may find to authorities after carefully noting or marking the location.

- Report any criminal activities you see to proper authorities immediately. You are not a "snitch" or a "tattletale". You are a citizen with both rights, privileges AND duties. Respect them as they were hard-earned by many who came before you.

We did not make up these rules, just trying to save the hobby for newbie's to come.