[meteorite-list] Cold hunting question

From: David Freeman <dfreeman_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:29:54 2004
Message-ID: <3F6281A6.4050907_at_fascination.com>

Dear Bill, Marcia, List;
I would like to add to the thread a bit more. I found my meteorite on
public land. It was on a checkerboard mixed with Anadarko (company that
owns the land that the Union Pacific Railroad was granted to them in
1865 to encourage RR development), there are also private land parcels
very near by, and a great big old interstate system which the federal
government owns but the state of Wyoming maintains the surface of the
ground on. All of this is with in 1/2 mile of my find. My GPS and map
skills led me to believe it was located on one property, the maps were
in error by a hundred yards, it was truly on BLM lands, and the long
story made short is that the integrity of the finder is truly the big
question. I could have SAID that I found it about anywhere, including
my own back yard 10 miles away from the real location and no one would
know the difference. I have integrity, and would "do the right thing"
right down to inniating contact four years ago with all of the major
land owners asking advance permission to hunt. One very major private
land owner asked for 10% of any profits from my searching, and I have
unlimited access to about a million acres, sealed with a good old
fashioned hand shake. The second private land owner says hunt his lands
for free, keep all that I find, and remember him if I find a Mars, or
Moon rock. Other parties have eluded to hunt all that I want and
contact them if I find a million dollar rock but not to bother them with
"ordinary meteorites"; the paperwork would cost the company a number of
thousand of dollars to get started.
I can not stress enough the importance of contacting the land owner
early, in a very polite and honest way, share information, offer your
wisdom, honesty, sincerity, and the road to hunting meteorites is very
rewarding, especially knowing that you are genuinely welcomed to
trespass because you were honest and on the front end...instead of the
wrong end of a boot due to not contacting the land owner. Law
enforcement frowns out here when they have to come out and arrest
trespassers. Fines for trespass locally can be a few hundred dollars
and forfeiture of any finds, or future ability to hunt those properties
or friends of the property owners that hear about that "no good low down
scoundrel trespasser". Such is the West.
Hope I have offered some "western" insight.
Best,
Dave Freeman
Successful meteorite hunter, and honest story teller.


joseph_town_at_att.net wrote:

>Hi Marcia,
>
>Property varies so much from one juristiction to another. Public domain has
>been outlined by the Supreme Court in cases of lost or discarded artifacts.
>The FBI felt the need to set these precidents so they could dig through trash
>on parkways for evidence in court. I read an old thread that said if I find
>it, it's going in my pocket and that's all the validation I need. I think
>that's the general rule although it may not sound appropriate.
>
>Bill Kieskowski
>
>>Hello Warren and List,
>>Warren your question about property locale ownership, brought to mind a
>>question of my own that I would appreciate an answer to, on or off-list,
>>by yourself or other list members.
>>I understand that when hunting on private property, you are supposed to
>>get (written?) permission. I know that different Countries have
>>different rules on whether or not a meteorite is property of finder or
>>confiscated by government, or percentage of it taken for identification
>>and record and display at museum, ect.
>>My questions are regarding meteorites found in USA. What EXACTLY are
>>the rules to guarentee that if you find one, say on public land ( State
>>Park, lakeshore, river-bed, dry-lake, abandoned gravil pit, ect.) you
>>can claim it without fear of confiscation, by State or Local
>>authorities? I know this was an issue with the F.P. that supposedly
>>"bounced" off the public sidewalk before hitting a home and was
>>confiscated by local authorities ( Sorry to bring that unfortunate issue
>>
>
>>up), and there have been other instances. Is it the amount of money (
>>it's worth) that determimes whether or not a counter-claim is laid on it
>>by local, state, or is it the classification of the fall or find that
>>again,makes it confiscatable? To be classed, especially if it were
>>something really significant, you do have to say where it was found
>>right ?
>>How does this work? When something is found on private property, after
>>having been given permission to look, what is the obligation of the
>>collector in regards to payment to land- owner, should a possible
>>meteorite, or a meteorite be found, or land owners right to
>>counterclaim pwnership rights? I would truly appreciate guideline
>>answers on some of these questions please, or reference reading
>>material? Thank-you and Best Regards, Marcie
>>
>
>
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Received on Fri 12 Sep 2003 10:32:06 PM PDT