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What If We Weren't Allowed To Hunt? Concerns Of Restrictions.......


Salty

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Hello everyone! I felt the need to post this topic because I have only been hunting for fossils a short time and have already become aware of something I see VERY frequently that really angers me and makes me worry that this hobby may end up with severe limitations.

I have noticed that in several places I have scouted or hunted has been greatly changed by unscrupulous hunters. Granted, I am sure the majority of fossil/ tooth hunters are a great bunch of people and I have had the privilege to meet several.

However, I have also seen where those who are not environmentally conscious have sifted the gravel out of several sites and thrown the gravel all over the banks, in brush, etc. That does not make me happy because there are creatures that live in the gravel and dirt and it looks like someone was digging/ sifting without care or thought about what the general public may think . Fresh water mussels, and other creatures are left to die in the dry heat. These little guys and the other creatures provide food, and balance the eco system of the sites for animals and other critters.

Also, if you throw all the gravel out there will be none left to catch the next group of teeth that gets washed down in the rain! The gravel/ rocks also provides the ditches and streams with the ability to maintain it's course and not let the water go charging helter skelter washing out the banks and sanding in the site. So please everyone, be gentle, put your dirt and gravel back in the ditch or stream, don't make people hate us by digging and leaving messes or killing critters! I have taken this opportunity to voice my opinion on this worrisome matter---there are laws in the city limits of Summerville that you are NOT allowed to dig, or have any tools on you due to those who have dug the gravel out ditches and banks of creeks. There are other sites that we have lost the ability to hunt in as well. I have seen this happen in my other hobby of metal detecting--people digging and not filling in the holes, replacing the grass, etc., and sites were lost. I would hate to lose our privileges everywhere! :(

The not so thoughtful hunters are making me not so happy with some of their techniques. Please put your gravel/dirt back in.....Thank you for letting me express my opinion and concern. I hope I have not offended anyone as that was not my intent, I just worry that another hobby I have come to love will be ruined! :shake head:

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This is one of the main reasons so many sites are off limits to collecting. When ever I see these rude people destroying the area I always confront them and let them know this behavior is unacceptable. Typically after explaining the situation they understand the issue, but sometimes I see they're just not going to change. When this happens, I get creative and ruin their outing forcing them to either leave or move. This might be a phallus move, but inconsiderate people need a taste of what they dish out. However, some parts of the country I would not recommend this step as people carry guns and well...I'm sure you can figure out the rest.

I agree that we need to show respect to our hunting site so that we may enjoy their spoils for many years to come.

Best regards,

Paul

...I'm back.

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It makes sense what you said that in order to protect our sites, our rights, and ourselves we must clean up after ourselves and unfortunately clean up after others.I have always gone out of my way to pick up nails and plow pieces while metal detecting which and am sure to show the landowner of the hazards that awaited their tires had I not been there. This makes the relationship mutually beneficial and improves their attitude towards people like us that have this type of hobby. The one time I got to do some river hunting with some forum members, everyone whom I was with went out of their way to remove glass from the river to prevent injury to us and others. I was told to wear shoes or the like before my trip, I soon realized why. I was very surprised at the amount of broken glass in the Peace River.

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Never cease to be surprised at how folks interested in nature can still be such butt heads when out in nature. And then there are those who only see $$$$ where we see wonder.

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There are those, too, who do not realize that a waterway's gravel is occupied habitat. They are unaware, not heedlessly arrogant.

Show them, and those who care will spread the word. :)

"There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant

“Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley

>Paleontology is an evolving science.

>May your wonders never cease!

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There will always be some people who simply do not care and ruin it for everyone else and its not just fossil hunting but just about everything we do as a society.

RB

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It's simple, respect other people's property and the inherent special value of historical sites. Reality, too few collectors are going to do both of those things. Consequently "the bad apple soils the barrel" as the wise old saying goes.

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It makes sense what you said that in order to protect our sites, our rights, and ourselves we must clean up after ourselves and unfortunately clean up after others.I have always gone out of my way to pick up nails and plow pieces while metal detecting which and am sure to show the landowner of the hazards that awaited their tires had I not been there. This makes the relationship mutually beneficial and improves their attitude towards people like us that have this type of hobby. The one time I got to do some river hunting with some forum members, everyone whom I was with went out of their way to remove glass from the river to prevent injury to us and others. I was told to wear shoes or the like before my trip, I soon realized why. I was very surprised at the amount of broken glass in the Peace River.

Some good advice there. Got that right about glass, at first I thought the deeper I'd dig, the older the rocks. Nope. Several times I've found "deeply" buried broken glass. Should be careful with both footwear & while running you hand through the sifter (thankfully haven't cut my hand like that). Also doesn't hurt to carry an extra plastic bag or 2 for collecting and disposing broken glass or other trash
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I have noted a relatively very few instances of destruction over my years of fossil hunting. Usually, it is destroying river banks in hot pursuit of a rich vein. I try to discourage this as much as possible, but as others have implied, there are a huge number of licensed guns in my state.

The larger problem I see in closing off fossil hunting sites is the increase in litigation awards over the last 50 years. Quarries, pits, mines, construction sites etc are all closing down access in deference to their Insurance company.

The other issue is that fossil hunters do not now and never will have the political pull of State Archaeology/Paleontology departments OR native American tribes.

In the meantime, we all need to practice respect for our hunting environments and rules.

The White Queen  ".... in her youth she could believe "six impossible things before breakfast"

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