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Discussion: Words of Caution
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washatonian |
Words of Caution
May 20 2009, 4:46 AM EDT
A recently published article in the June AFMS newsletter should make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up..........................This could possible happen to YOU.www.amfed.org/news/n2009_06.pdf Do you find this valuable?
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Public Land Management Issues
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aubreyreynolds9@gmai |
1. RE: Words of Caution
May 20 2009, 8:13 AM EDT
"A recently published article in the June AFMS newsletter should make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up..........................This could possible happen to YOU.Andy thanks for the warning. Always check with the local Forest Service office before you collect. There is no consistency between different National Forests, When collecting in a new area I call or visit the office, In South Dakota there is an office one mile from the turn off to Tee Pee Canyon. I always stop to obtain the regulations.The same is true about road cuts. The rules vary from state to state. Some states require that a call be made to the road district to ask permission to collect a road cut. Be careful out there. Big brother is watching. Bill Do you find this valuable? |
AZrhound |
2. RE: Words of Caution
May 20 2009, 10:24 AM EDT
Thanks Andy,I will definity check again with the BLM here in AZ. I know that their web site says 25lbs per day. It sound like officer Tipton was having a bad day. Or maybe we need to hear his side of the story.?.? Tom Do you find this valuable? |
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Petronut |
3. RE: Words of Caution
May 20 2009, 2:20 PM EDT
Thank you, Andy. This is something that has been of concern to me, even before reading this article. I must confess, that while reading the article a certain amount of rage was starting well-up in me, much like the magma of a stratovolcano getting ready to blow! I'm not real happy with our Federal government and the ever pervasive corruption of its representatives right now, and this only fuels the fire even more! I will be extra cautious from now on when it comes to National Park Services regulations.Eric Do you find this valuable? |
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aubreyreynolds9@gmai |
4. RE: Words of Caution
May 20 2009, 9:42 PM EDT
| Post edited: May 20 2009, 9:55 PM EDT
The regulations in the Nation Forests of Arkansas are as follows. If the following simple rules are being followed, those interested in rockhounding and collecting quartz crystal from Ouachita National Forest lands do not need to make further contact with nor obtain additional permission from the District Rangers. This applies to the general Forest area and to developed quartz collecting areas on the Ouachita National Forest: 1 Only small amounts of crystal, less than 25 pounds, is to be removed by hand. 2 Tools, if needed, is limited to small screwdriver sized hand prying tool. 3 Digging is not allowed under this condition unless written permission is granted by the local District Ranger. 4 Collecting is not authorized on quartz contracts unless the permission has been granted by the contract holder. The material is for personal use only and is not to be sold (otherwise the activity could be considered a commercial venture, and one that would come under other permitting procedures and regulatory authorities Each forest has their own rules. If the Georgia party was digging 6 inches down, they would be fined in the Arkansas National Forest. It is rather unfair. Commercial operations remove thousands of pounds of crystals in the forest but they have a mining claim. Bill Do you find this valuable? |
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Petronut |
5. RE: Words of Caution
May 21 2009, 11:50 PM EDT
The regulations in the National Forests of Indiana are as follows:There are several unique rocks on the Hoosier National Forest. Geodes are especially unusual and popular for visitors to collect. Small quantities of rocks for personal use may be collected on the Forest. Geodes are generally found only in the northern part of the forest in streambeds. These rocks may not be resold and there should be no earth disturbed in the process of collecting Precious minerals including gold and gems such as garnet are found in limited quantities on the Forest. Recreational gold panning or panning for sapphires and garnets is allowed so long as no commercial equipment such as dredges or sluices are used and no earth is disturbed. Panning is not likely to yield more than very small amounts of any precious mineral however it has long been a fun activities for families. No panning is allowed in the Charles C. Deam Wilderness area. Much of the Hoosier National Forest was once settled, and old house sites are common on the Forest. Bottles, old equipment, and other household utensils often remain at these sites. These items are protected and may not be removed. As historians and archaeologists examine the sites, many of these items allow for them to date occupancy of the site and from these traces of the past, they can learn more about our heritage. Use of a metal detector to search for coins or other antiques and historic artifacts is prohibited. These objects are part of the cultural history of the area and are protected under federal antiquities acts. However, an exception to this rule is that coins may be collected and metal detectors used on beach areas in developed recreation sites. (continued below) Do you find this valuable? |
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Petronut |
6. RE: Words of Caution
May 21 2009, 11:51 PM EDT
| Post edited: May 21 2009, 11:53 PM EDT
The regulations in the National Forests of Indiana Just as much of the Forest was once settled by pioneers, in prehistory times, the area was used by Native Americans and there are still many reminders of their life here. Any artifacts such as arrowheads, spear points, pottery, and grinding stones are protected by law and collection of these items is absolutely prohibited. Any earth disturbing activities in rock shelters or other sites of prehistoric occupation or possession of these artifacts on national forest lands is punishable by fines and imprisonment. This was copy and pasted verbatim! Eric Do you find this valuable? |
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Petronut |
7. RE: Words of Caution
May 22 2009, 12:03 AM EDT
Maybe we should create a page with the regulations of every state in which our members go rock-hounding. For example, I didn't know that collecting Native artifacts such as arrowheads, spear points, pottery and grinding stones was strictly proscribed by law. Not that I would intentional disturb a potentially archaeological valuable site. But my wife as a little girl would find arrowheads all of the time on her grandfathers land and would collect. Of course that was private property and the regulations are not applicable in that case. But who new you could go to prison for picking up an arrowhead? I certainly didn't. I'm glad I checked the regulations before going out into the field, which probably will be over this holiday weekend.Eric Do you find this valuable? |
gamaliel114 |
8. RE: Words of Caution
May 22 2009, 12:48 AM EDT
I wonder if they'd prosecute if all you found was junkite? As a jade hunter that would be my defense!
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pvjjh |
9. RE: Words of Caution
May 22 2009, 10:33 AM EDT
Thanks for the info Andy. You are sometimes full of great news and then, well there are times like this. lol We just have to watch the regs closer. I am on the state game department email list and they are always sending out rule changes. I wonder if the DNR and USDA (forest service) has such lists. Man this is almost going by the way hunting, whereas most will be on private lands and at a high price. Paul Do you find this valuable? |
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washatonian |
10. RE: Words of Caution
May 22 2009, 11:37 AM EDT
Paul,I'm just skaking my head. It's a headscatcher, not enough descriptive words in the english language to explain the lunacy. What ever happen to say what you mean an mean what you say. "PERIOD" Well anyway whats that saying an ounce of preventure is worth a pound of cure. Aman Do you find this valuable? |
jakesrocks |
11. RE: Words of Caution
May 22 2009, 11:40 PM EDT
| Post edited: May 22 2009, 11:49 PM EDT
"Paul,I fear that it's only going to get worse. This current administration has gotten out of control. The new environment policy just signed into law is only the beginning. Our great folks in Washington passed it without even reading it. The rocks we hunt for and collect are part of our environment, as are the mountains, deserts and streams where we collect. Watch your state reps. Remember how they vote. And when they come up for a new term, vote accordingly. We can take our rights back. Don Oh, and PS, if the feds are monitoring this site, I for one am not happy with what I see coming out of D.C. Do you find this valuable? |
ModerndayEdison |
12. RE: Words of Caution
May 26 2009, 5:37 AM EDT
The Artical errored out when I tried to read it.Probably need to update my reader. It seems to me that various buroucreaps have become previ to all the Treasure Hunting going on, and want to curb the capital gains walking off of state property in the hands of all "the Little People". I have heard of instances where in California on the Clammoth River, dredge miners who work all day to gather nuggets smaller than pennies find themselves greeted by a State Police Officer with his hand out on the way back to their vehicle. Even though they work under a permit or own a claim.....they often find themselves facing forfeture of their goods or a night in jail, and sometimes both. I don't plan to go prospecting in that area. I have my own ideas of where the larger nuggets of Gold might be found, but I feel it's best to keep some things to myself. Don't want it all dug up before I get a chance to investigate the area myself That would be a pretty big bummer. Do you find this valuable? |
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jakesrocks |
13. RE: Words of Caution
May 26 2009, 7:53 AM EDT
While living in California in the 90's, I saw many miles of desert closed to hounding, and even to foot traffic. This was done in the name of " a desert study area" by the state. What was once prime agate and jasper hunting, is now closed to us hounds, and even to people just wanting to hike in the desert and take pictures. Don Do you find this valuable? |
DiamondProspector |
14. RE: Words of Caution
May 26 2009, 5:16 PM EDT
SO much for a 'Government by the people and FOR the people'. Should be rewritten to say 'FOR the government'. I have lots of horror stories about the BLM and USFS. This one happened at South Pass where prospector from Ft. Collins, CO was using a metal detector to hunt nuggets on private land (and had permission). All of a sudden, it was like the Little Big Horn. BLM agents swarmed the hillside and started watching him with binoculars. They wanted to arrest him so they called the local sheriff. The sheriff told them to take a hike since he had every right to be there. They called the State Game and Fish agents, they told them to drop dead. This wasn't enough - so the raiding party attacked and demanded he turn over his metal detector - he told them to bug off. They then demanded his truck keys. He pointed out to this group of 8 BLM agents that he was the only one packing and if any one of them wanted to try to take his truck or detector, he would defend himself. They finally gave up. As a result, we had the governor's office (this was the previous governor - one who could write) contact the BLM and demand an explanation and apology. They apologized and claim that they thought he was using the metal detector to search for arrowheads (I kid you not). It is unfortunate, but it is these kind of people who are in positions of authority in government. Do you find this valuable? |
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pvjjh |
15. RE: Words of Caution
May 26 2009, 11:30 PM EDT
SO much for a 'Government by the people and FOR the people'. Should be rewritten to say 'FOR the government'."and for SOME of the people". There is no ALL or FOR anymore in our government. Hunting arrowheads with a metal detector. Man metal arrowheads. I guess they were from the bronze age. lol Anyway, unless there are some new laws, I thought that it was legal to hunt for artifacts on private lands with permission. Those BLM guys should have been arrested for trespassing. It is a sad time in our lands now. It has been building for many years and I feel, unfortunately, just going to get worse. Paul Do you find this valuable? |
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jakesrocks |
16. RE: Words of Caution
May 26 2009, 11:46 PM EDT
Paul, like I said earlier, watch how your state reps vote. Remember how they vote, and the next time they're up for re election, vote accordingly.There are two from my state who have lost my vote. Our only congresswoman is in such close step with Pelosi that if Pelosi made a sudden turn, our congresswoman would get a broken nose. I'll let you guess where her nose is, in relation to Pelosi. Don Do you find this valuable? |
