AB 636

This bill prohibits the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from

preventing a person from using a metal detector in areas of lakes that are less than

six feet deep (shallow water), on most land under DNR's jurisdiction, and on land

acquired with funding from the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000

Program or its predecessor program and that is open to public access. It also

prohibits DNR from requiring a person who uses a metal detector on that land or in

shallow water to hold a license, permit, or other approval authorizing the use of a

metal detector on the land or in the shallow water. The bill provides an exception to

these prohibitions so that the prohibitions do not apply to land that is historically

significant or to state campgrounds. The bill defines historically significant land to

include land that the State Historical Society determines is historic property, land

that is included on a map of archaeological resources prepared by the State Historical

Society, and land that is listed on the state register of historic places. The bill also

allows DNR to prohibit the use of metal detectors on land when that land is open to

deer hunting.

This bill also authorizes a person who is allowed to use a metal detector under

the bill to use a tool to dig for and remove found items. The bill provides that a tool

used for digging may not be more than eight inches wide, any soil that is disturbed

or removed by digging must be replaced, and the digging may not occur on a lake bed

unless the lake bed is beneath shallow water.