Going out west to prospect.

[RedBaron]

Living in Florida and trying to plan a gold prospecting, both panning and metal detecting trip out west. Not sure what states to research and what areas. Any ideas/info would be helpful. Maybe a club, meet with an individual, or store with info in a area would helpful. I have no time restrictions and willing to drive anywhere. I lived in New Hampshire and did some stream and river panning in NH & VT. Wish I could just really ask "Ask Jeff Williams" for advice on where to start. Yea, I watch YouTube gold prospecting videos, along with the TV's Bearing Sea gold ( both) and Gold Rush. So some help on where to start would be great. Thanks, Bill

 

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[Terry Soloman]

California, Arizona. Join the GPAA for a year. You'll get their claims guide. Joining a club is the way to go for a greenhorn. Good Luck!

 

[KevinInColorado]

If you decide to stop in Utah, grab Alan Chenworth’s book Gold Panning in Utah (be sure to get the second edition NOT the first). For Colorado, go on Amazon and search “gold prospecting Colorado” and buy the best rated book there [emoji6][emoji41]
...you might say I know the guy who wrote it haha!

 

[RedBaron]

Thanks for the reminder. I looked into the GPAA many years back. Looks like a great idea to join. Bill

 

[RedBaron]

Thanks, I'll look for the book. Bill

 

[blackchipjim]

Well Red I can tell you if you are going it solo and out west do a lot of research and planning. Research areas that have the deposits you are looking for. Planning your prospecting vacation as I call it takes a lot of motivation too. I'm fired up for my vacation this year after thanksgiving with a few areas that have got my gold rush going. I'm a member of the gpaa and might try to get to one of the easier claims. Good luck in your endeavors.⛏

 

[treshuntintom]

Morning.Wickenburg Az.D&T mining store.Dave is super person and his son in law has a prospecting club.he has really good claims plus
will take day trips with people.I also own a claim at Stanton/Rich Hill with the famous Antelope Creek that passes thru it.They have my
permission to work the claim.Good luck.Tom

 

[brianc053]

Hey RedBaron. There was a thread from last year started by a gentleman from Germany, where he asked for advice in advance of a prospecting trip to Northern California.
You might benefit from reading that post: http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/gold-prospecting/539201-going-n-california-sep-2017-need-help.html

I described the Bear River Campground area near Colfax, CA in that post. What made me think about it is that you mentioned you've done some panning in NH/VT. I have also, and if you can find gold in NH/VT then you'll find the panning super easy in the Bear River. Every shovel will have a little gold. If that makes you happy, then plan on stopping by Colfax.

Good luck!

 

[Golden_Crab]

Living in Florida and trying to plan a gold prospecting, both panning and metal detecting trip out west. Not sure what states to research and what areas. Any ideas/info would be helpful. Maybe a club, meet with an individual, or store with info in a area would helpful. I have no time restrictions and willing to drive anywhere. I lived in New Hampshire and did some stream and river panning in NH & VT. Wish I could just really ask "Ask Jeff Williams" for advice on where to start. Yea, I watch YouTube gold prospecting videos, along with the TV's Bearing Sea gold ( both) and Gold Rush. So some help on where to start would be great. Thanks, Bill

Depends mostly on the climate and amenities you want. Gold all over the place, that ain't the issue.

Colorado / Washington / Alaska at the top of my list for a plethora of reasons beyond just gold. Especially Alaska... however also the hardest climate on the body. Colorado / Washington more mild, less gold, more civilization, all biomes available to you except perhaps rainforest.

No matter what... they will all have way more gold than NH and VT combined (I've panned there too)

I think you'll find more like minded individuals in the lower 48's if you are looking for company while abroad.

 

[RedBaron]

Yep as to NH & VT gold. Hours of moving rocks ( NH grows rocks!) sluicing, just for a few colors. At least I can hear the noise shaking the vile. I sure would like to go to Dawson and pan some of the ground the Gold Rush guys have. They do one test pan that had more gold than I got in NH&VT, then just throw it out! Dawson would be the place I'd like best, but that looks hard to arrange. I don't like the looks of gold prospecting tours. Looks like they prospect the same ground. But I might be wrong about that.

 

[63bkpkr]

Hi RedBaron,
Lots of pertinent information about "where too" has already been given so I will chime in on what to look out for. In Alaska one needs to look out for moose, black bears and grizzly bears and wolves and Bugs and getting sunburned in August and maybe a couple other animals. A bug head net (while wearing a wide brimmed hat) and net jacket. Put the bug repellent on the head net and on the jacket and stuff both of them into a large zip lock bag, this way one does not put the repellent directly on the skin as it drys the skin out. Come to think of it the bugs are common to most states BUT Alaska bugs are Thick requiring one to wear a heavy shirt over a heavy shirt IF one does not have a head net and a net jacket.

Arizona has scorpions, Gila Monsters, rattle snakes (likely a couple kinds) oh, and its really hot due to Lots of shunshine, bring plenty of water!

California (in the mountains like Gold Rush Country) has rattle snakes, a few mountain scorpions(this is outside Auburn CA), black bears and in places the mosquito's can be heavy, yup head net and net jacket a possible call here.

In California I would also suggest a diving goggle and a snorkel with a 6" to 8" narrow pair of fish removal pliers (hemostats)to 'Snipe' for gold with. You will likely also have some small pry bars in your gear and they will be handy for sniping. The sun shines pretty hot in Cali whether your are in NorCal or SoCal so a wide brimmed hat is a good call.

not a friend coming into camp

more than gold in the water

And of course amazing country but bring along your Man Muscles for any state in the out back! But especially in California, Be Safe With Fire as otherwise you may burn up along with the Forest!!!!!

Hope you have a fun trip!.................63bkpkr

 

[RedBaron]

Thanks for the warnings. I have some experience in some of the areas you addressed. I spend a couple years in Alaska while in the Coast Guard. Some of the wildlife, mostly the bugs, I know very well!! Proper attire was worn ( why if I know think of gold panning 40 years ago? but I detected back then in the lower 48.) As for Bears and Moose, living in my part of New Hampshire, I've had both often through the yard. ( I lived in a log home on a wooded lot on a hill) The Moose just travel through, the Bears visit quite often, mostly when the bird feeders were out. Couple of times putting the feeders out there was a bear sitting waiting to get feed. ( once held a black bear cub between my knees, but that's another story) Not to mention coyotes howling at night. As for bugs, between Mother's Day and Father's Day, Black fly's are so bad, head nets and bug spray is a must. As for California, I cannot speak to that outside being stationed in L.A. Dealt with Rattlesnakes in Virginia though. In all fun, everything you say is quite true. Thank you for the advice. Yes, I have much to learn from those with experience.

 

[et1955]

I have to deal with, Cougars, bears, bobcats, city hunters, mushroom hunters and the occasional peacock, par for the course

 

[tahomatom]

GPAA would be an option but the Yuba river @ Goodyears bar is open to the public. I was up there 10 years ago and a guy showed me a 2 oz vile stuffed with flat nuggets the size of your little finger nail. He did have a claim but did not offer me the opportunity to go on it. People get real fussy finding people working their claims.
With the streams at a yearly low now is a good time to dig out the cracks in the bedrock.
Good luck!

 

[IMAUDIGGER]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=9+places+to+gold+panning+in+Oregon+without+a+mining+claim

Not being a smart aleck.
Didn’t want to break any rules about posting links.

It’s very important to know you are not mining on someone else’s claim.
If you are watch your back!

 

[Golden_Crab]

Yep as to NH & VT gold. Hours of moving rocks ( NH grows rocks!) sluicing, just for a few colors. At least I can hear the noise shaking the vile. I sure would like to go to Dawson and pan some of the ground the Gold Rush guys have. They do one test pan that had more gold than I got in NH&VT, then just throw it out! Dawson would be the place I'd like best, but that looks hard to arrange. I don't like the looks of gold prospecting tours. Looks like they prospect the same ground. But I might be wrong about that.

There's only like 3 spots in the entire state (NH) containing high grade deposits and they are all intermixed with 100+feet of cobblestone to house sized boulders in a steep walled riverbed. However, the gold is quite nice when you do find it. Then there's the clough quartzite which has free milling throughout the entire formation... actually runs the length of new england basically. The aresenopyrite deposits in the state had amazing results with refractory to the tune of ~$17500/ton floattank @70-80% retention 1900s... although these were embedded in a totally different slate formation.

Trailblazing will give you the best gold wherever you end up. Remember less oxygen at altitude, might be something to consider.

 

[Hoser John]

FIRE here there and everywhere. BAD year to head here as all fires banned,chainsaws, etc etc etc. John

 

[49erjohn]

TAHOMATOM I was under the understanding that the goodyears bar area is all private claims. Would you tell me how you know it is all public and is it public. How about indian rock, is that public? Thanks JOHN

 

[49erjohn]

HOSER JOHN, Is the goodyears bar area on fire? JOHN

 

[arizau]

HOSER JOHN, Is the goodyears bar area on fire? JOHN

I certainly hope not! A cousin owns an old riverfront cabin on a feeder creek across the Yuba bridge there.