So now you have decided to give this great rock hounding hobby a try. Good for you! If you like to create eye catching beautiful pieces of art, I am sure you will be good at it. A rock hound mentality most certainly is habit forming. In no time at all, you will want to create bigger and better looking specimens. You may want to create some fabulous looking pieces, and with a little elbow grease on your part, you can. Don’t expect your first attempt to be flawless because it won’t. But then don’t let that first one discourage you either. Remember, practice makes perfect! Every attempt you try, will only make that next attempt better.

No equipment, that’s not a problem, not yet. You first need to accumulate some rock specimens to choose from. In between accumulating specimens, you can check out rummage sales, auctions and newspaper ads. Find out what rock equipment is available that you can afford. Some used equipment will work just as good as new, and at a much reduced price. Check for Rock Clubs in your area. Many members usually have some spare equipment they are not using and willing to sell very reasonable. They can also direct you towards good rock hunting areas. My suggestion is that you first look for a tumbler. You have to decide which kind, either a rotary or vibrating. A vibrating tumbler can do the job in half the time it will take a rotary tumbler, but I think a rotary tumbler does a better job in the long run. Fifty percent of the people you talk to think vice versa. But either one will put a good shine on your stones, providing you follow the rules. Those being which grit to start with, the 2nd grit, the 3rd, etc. etc. At least you can be turning out a product while waiting for other equipment. I would steer away from those small 3" rotary barrel tumblers that can be bought in a hardware store, and believe it or not, a grocery store. I just don't like them. The motors can burn up so fast. They are not quality. The second item I suggest is a grinder. Some combination units have both grinder wheels and a saw all in one. They are great! They are usually a 6" - 8" blade with a 6" or 8" grinding wheel. That is plenty big to start with. Get the hang and feel of tumbling and grinding before you spend money on say a 12" saw or larger unless you can get it at a bargain. You can always put a smaller blade on it if need be. It is really tought to cut a 1" rock with a 12" blade.

OK, let’s go rock hunting. Many states have what is called National Grasslands. They may be called by a different name in your area. These areas are open to the public. An individual is allowed to collect so many pounds, for personal use, without a permit. If you happen to notice an area in the country that seems to be littered with rocks, but is private, simply contact the owner and ask permission. Get used to asking for permission. It will open doors for you. All they can say is no! If they do say no, give them an “OK, thank you”, sorry I bothered you”. Quite often those kind words will immediately cause them to change their minds on the spot. A lot of the country folk do not know the term “rock hound”. They will get inquisitive and ask why do you want to hunt rocks. A good answer to this is “I just want to make my daughter/myself/son a pendant to wear”. I have found this statement softens them up and they usually respond with “sure go pick them all up if you want ‘em”! Another chance for you to say “Thank You”, which is very important.

Don't overlook road cuts. Some states frown on collectors in road cuts. Better check first rather than be sorry later. Creek beds are a bonanza, wet or dry as is the highly eroded areas. Eroded bank areas can be seen a mile off but again, you may be dealing with private property. You now know the remedy to this. Creek beds butting up against the roadway. In some states you can go into creek beds on the high water line, private or not. It the landowner finds a problem with this, apologize and leave. Don't have the last word. Last but certainly not least, Prairie Dog areas. Those little buggers have a habit of finding a good rock in their way, so they manage to get it top side and leave it laying on the mound of dirt. One of my biggest Fairburn Agates was found on top of a Prairie Dog mound.

A list of tools you will need on any rock hunting outing is: rock hammer; chisel; eye protection; bucket to carry them in and a water spray bottle. This list would be bigger, depending on what you are going after. I also carry a small military fold up shovel and a first aid kit. The water spray bottle is to “wet” down your finds. A wet rock will reveal any pattern that may be present. On private property, I would suggest you leave the hammer, chisel and shovel in the vehicle. The land owner sees the hammer and shovel and immediately has visions of holes covering his land. You do not want him to have that vision! I usually show him what I have collected and ask if he has a need for any of the specimens. They usually don’t but are appreciative that you asked. Another thing you do not want him to see is 4-5 five gallons buckets of rocks being carried off of his land. That is not a good practice anywhere, even on National Grasslands.

Use a little common sense on what you haul home. There are many rocks out there that are referred to as “leaverites”. The meaning of a leaverite is “leave er rite where you found it”! It is junk! Be selective. Take only what you need and what you will use. When I was young and just starting out, my pile of leaverites took up more room than my good stuff. I remember my Dad saying “quit hauling that junk rock home, the state is starting to tilt”! Like I said, use some common sense! Only bring home the good stuff that you can use.

Above all, be courteous to those you meet. A stranger will remember your previous manners, and you will be friends the next time you meet. One last and I think the most important tip is if the land owner offers you a cup of coffee or a soda, take him up on it and let him know you are appreciative of it. You will have a friend for life, and open hunting on his land. I hunt some pretty remote areas once in awhile. Miles from other living beings. Some of those land owners are lonely for conversation. If you give them that 15-30 minutes of your time, you will have a free ticket to hunt his land for years to come.


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