You really don't need to go hopping around between maps.
Land Matters shows the PLSS, Mining Claims, Land Status, Aerial Photos, Topo Map and anything else you might need right on any State
Mining Claims Map.
We've even made a
video tutorial on how to use those features. You can also link to that tutorial right from the Mining Claims main page.
You can't know everything about the mining claims from that or any other map. You will need to check the County Recorder's office for the area you are researching in before you can get a real idea on where those claims may be. Lucky for you Land Matters has already thought of that and you will find a map layer marked "County Recorders" right along with the rest of the mining claim map layers. Turn that on and when you click the "
i" button you will be given a direct link to that County Recorder office. Some of them even let you look up the Location Notices online.
I caution you about using the BLM to get copies of the Location Notices. They may be less expensive but they aren't official records. There are some "big club" claims that have never been recorded at the county and are invalid for lack of meeting that requirement. Check with the recorder's office to be sure - you already know the BLM has an informational filing so check to see if the locator met their legal responsibility to record the claim at the county.
In one of the counties Hoser John has claims the county assessor does keep some location notices for tax purposes. Near as I can tell there are only three counties in the U.S. where that is the case. Check the County Recorder's office and not the Tax Assessor - the legal requirement for a valid claim is recording at the County Recorder's - the Tax assessor copy doesn't meet that requirement.
None of this will get you any more current than about 100 days. The locator has 90 days after staking to make a record at the county and file a notice with the BLM. The BLM is notoriously slow to update their files but most County Recorders will have their recordings updated within a week. That still leaves you more than three months behind. When you put boots on the ground you must LOOK for new monuments. It's your legal obligation to discover the status of the land before you prospect.
This seems difficult now but it will eventually all become second nature. Researching before entering the land is just one of the many skills the successful prospector must master. There is a lot more to this than panning but the reward is worth it if you succeed.
Heavy Pans
