Several deep holes were found at Wagga's Duke of Kent Oval late last week, posing a danger to cricketers and other oval users.

Wagga City Council's commercial operations director Caroline Angel believed the holes were likely the result of people using metal detectors in the hopes of finding buried objects.

Mayor Greg Conkey said the council spent a lot of time and money maintaining public areas like Duke of Kent Oval and it was disappointing to see people treat them in such a way.

"I was very disappointed when I found out that these holes were dug up and left," Cr Conkey said.

"The extent council had to go to, to fill these holes, is disappointing and it's probably illegal to do this on public fields ... and quite disgraceful.

"There are plenty of other places - certainly not in the middle of an oval used by soccer and cricket; it's very disrespectful [to] the general public."

Wagga resident David McCalman, who has been detecting on and off for 39 years, also aired his frustration. "It is very disrespectful to dig grassed lawns and gardens," Mr McCalman said.

"To me, [the culprits] are amateurs and don't know the code of conduct, which is respect.

"If I want to go somewhere I will ask for permission and if I don't get it, then I won't go."

Mr McCalman was given his first metal detector at the age of 15 and said he would go out and search during holidays or when he had some spare time.

"I haven't found my fortune, yet," he joked.

"[People should first] think about where they're digging and what they are looking for. Don't dig holes in public areas ... and get permission."

Ms Angel warned that digging for metal objects on sporting ovals or grounds across the region was strictly forbidden.