[meteorite-list] Meteorite Hunting (ANYWHERE)

[Meteorites USA]

Meteorite Hunting "Anywhere"

I've been promoting meteorite hunting with a ferver and passion which I 
cannot express the importance and feeling of in words. People need to 
realize that most hunters are respectful of and follow a certain code of 
ethics and etiquette when hunting meteorites. Here is a list of "Metal 
Detecting Code of Ethics" that have been in use in the metal detecting 
world for some time. I found this list here: 
http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=639

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.

SOURCE: http://metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?t=639

As meteorite hunters and researchers it's vitally important that we 
adopt these rules as a community (which I'm sure most hunters already 
follow). Most people I know already do this, but don't really promote 
it. It's kind of an "unwritten" common knowledge rule.

Well, I say we should adopt it, write it out. Put this into practice, 
and stop wasting time talking about it. If you as a hunter/researcher 
want to effect a positive change, protect our rights as hunters, 
preserve the lands we hunt on, and advance the science, then stand 
together with other hunters which have adopted this code.

Hence my purpose and proposal for the MHA. (Meteorite Hunting 
Association) It's to be an association which does all of the above. 
Promotes responsible meteorite hunting and data collection, while at the 
same time providing this data and meteorite material to both science and 
the private sector collectors, museums, and researchers. I can't express 
to people how important planetary science is to us, and as a layman to 
be able to participate at such a direct level with advancing this 
science to me is the most exciting and rewarding thing in the world! 
(next to being a new dad of course)

Step up and speak out!

Join the MHA.
(Send me an email privately and I will put you on the "growing" 
tentative list of members for when we launch publicly)

Regards,
Eric Wichman
Meteorite Hunting & Collecting Magazine
Meteorites USA


On 10/11/2010 8:29 PM, Adam Hupe wrote:
> Yep, there are parts of Nevada that I believe have never been explored, at least
> by modern man.  It is nice to drive 100 miles down dirt trails and not see a
> single sign of recent human inhabitants.  No trash, no fences, no noise
> pollution, no light pollution and no cell phone connections. You can actually
> see the Milky Way, something I have not witnessed on a regular basis since I was
> a kid.
>
>
> I remember four wheeling it with some friends last Spring who pointed out wild
> life running in herds. I realized that it could easily pass for a safari in
> Africa but here we were in Nevada.  This state has barely been touched as far as
> meteorite hunters go and I would like to see it remain open to meteorite hunters
> for generations to come. It would be a shame if a few lazy gold hunters leaving
> gaping holes behind make it off limits for other purposes or too much talk of
> monetary value starts an unwanted amateur meteorite hunting rush out here.  If
> you see one of these idiots, remind them to fill their holes and pick up their
> trash.  I think if we all respect the landowners and their land that this area
> will be open to meteorite hunters for at a least a couple of more years.
>
> Happy Hunting,
>
> Adam
>
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