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New Hampshire

Metal Detecting at Fort Stark State Historic Site in New Hampshire

Prohibited — current Ncr 731.19(c) bars metal detectors at state historic sites, natural areas, and Odiorne Point State ParkGrade A · 98/100 · Verified

This identity falls within an explicit detector-prohibited DNCR category rather than the shoreline exception.

Answer first

Can you metal detect at Fort Stark State Historic Site?

Prohibited — current Ncr 731.19(c) bars metal detectors at state historic sites, natural areas, and Odiorne Point State Park. This identity falls within an explicit detector-prohibited DNCR category rather than the shoreline exception.

Permit/authorization: No ordinary recreational detector pathway; only narrow official/special-use authorization where legally applicable — Ncr 731.19(c) expressly prohibits metal detectors at state historic sites and natural areas and at Odiorne Point State Park. Ncr 731.20 separately restricts ground disturbance.

Evidence freshness: verified , Grade A, confidence 98/100. Recheck the official source before travel.

Managing agencyNew Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources — Division of Parks and Recreation
PermitNo ordinary recreational detector pathway; only narrow official/special-use authorization where legally applicable
JurisdictionState
Location typeNew Hampshire State Park System Property
Rule basisVerified controlling rule

Current verified decision

What the current evidence actually allows

Decision resolved
Detector useProhibited
Ground disturbanceSeparate digging rule applies
Recovery feasibilityRecreational detecting/recovery not available under current controlling rule
Permission inferenceNo permission inferred
Legal precisionExpress detector-use prohibition or equivalent no-detecting rule
Permission ceilingNone — recreational detector use is prohibited under the current controlling rule
Trip block / prerequisiteCurrent controlling rule expressly blocks recreational detector use
Planning stateChoose Legal Alternative
Jurisdiction scopeControlling Rule Scope Stored
Proof required before tripNo
Water jurisdictionSeparate water rule applies
Historic / recoveryProtected-resource restrictions apply
Scope guardrail: Do not treat public access, passes, recreation listings or open hours as an exception to the express detector prohibition.
Jurisdiction scope note: Apply the stored controlling rule only within its stated jurisdiction/property scope and honor any narrower site-specific overlay.
Scope gate: Confirm the property is within the scope of the express prohibition; do not infer exceptions from public access.
Authorization pathway: No recreational detector-use pathway is established under the controlling prohibition unless the authoritative rule itself provides a specific exception.
Proof before travel: Do not travel to detect based on general access. Use a verified legal alternative.
Next action: Do not recreationally metal detect on the managed property. Use a verified legal alternative rather than treating public access as permission.

Evidence: Grade A · 98/100 · verified 2026-08-30 · freshness Current · revalidation due 2026-12-28 · source conflict none identified.

Map and public access reference

This record has a safe map query. Resolve it on demand to display a temporary provider search match without altering the verified dataset.

Map coverage modeNamed public place map search
Navigation queryFort Stark State Historic Site, New Hampshire
Map verificationQuery navigation — no invented coordinate

The map always renders with state/local context. Use Resolve this place on map to place a temporary provider search match on the map, or use the provider buttons directly. The temporary match is not written into the verified-coordinate dataset.

Legal status and controlling rule

This identity falls within an explicit detector-prohibited DNCR category rather than the shoreline exception.

Where detecting is allowed

No recreational detector zone is represented for the protected property/designation.

Restricted or prohibited areas

The state historic site, natural area, or Odiorne Point State Park; archaeological and historic-resource disturbance/removal is independently protected.

Permit and digging rules

Permit: No ordinary recreational detector pathway; only narrow official/special-use authorization where legally applicable

Ncr 731.19(c) expressly prohibits metal detectors at state historic sites and natural areas and at Odiorne Point State Park. Ncr 731.20 separately restricts ground disturbance.

Digging: Do not excavate, probe, disturb soil, damage vegetation/facilities, or recover objects unless the controlling land-manager rule expressly allows it. Archaeological, historic, burial and protected natural resources remain off limits.

Water and artifact rules

Water detecting: Beach, shoreline, lake, river and submerged-land ownership can differ from adjacent public access. Swimming, fishing, boating or beach access never by itself establishes detector or recovery permission.

Historic/artifact rule: Do not disturb or remove archaeological, historic, burial or culturally protected resources. Any archaeological investigation or recovery requires the permits/authorizations applicable to the controlling jurisdiction.

Verification record

This page is published only after its legal and access evidence passes the project verification checks. Its current legal/access record is Grade A with a confidence score of 98/100 and was last checked on .

Map policy: every record has an in-page map plus external map-provider navigation. Verified pins remain canonical; query-only records can create a temporary provider search marker on demand, which is never promoted to verified geometry automatically. No map mode proves permission.

Official legal and place sources

Fort Stark State Historic Site metal detecting FAQ

Can you metal detect at Fort Stark State Historic Site?

This identity falls within an explicit detector-prohibited DNCR category rather than the shoreline exception.

Is a permit or authorization required at Fort Stark State Historic Site?

No ordinary recreational detector pathway; only narrow official/special-use authorization where legally applicable Ncr 731.19(c) expressly prohibits metal detectors at state historic sites and natural areas and at Odiorne Point State Park. Ncr 731.20 separately restricts ground disturbance.

Does the map show where detecting is legally allowed?

Yes. The page provides map context and address/name-based navigation even when an independently verified coordinate pin has not yet been published. Query navigation does not establish detecting permission.

How current is this Fort Stark State Historic Site record?

The legal/access record was last verified on 2026-08-30 with verification grade A and confidence score 98/100. Recheck the cited official source before travel because rules and closures can change.

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