Las Vegas Nugget Shooting

[BrandonR]

I will be visiting las vegas in about a week and just bought a mxt. I was hoping to try it out and find some gold. Was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction. I will be staying east of vegas backed up to the mountains and was going to try there as I see a lot of runoff / dry creek beds coming off the mountain on google maps.

 

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[brianc053]

Hey Brandon, good luck next week! I was in a similar situation back in 2015, and I even have a White's MXT. I posted a similar question here (http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/gold-prospecting/475593-extra-day-las-vegas.html) and got a lot of good advice.
I ended up visiting a GPAA claim down in Gold Basin - you may want to check that area out, though I found zero gold during my day trip. That said, it was still a good experience.
What I took away from the research and from the day-trip was that desert prospecting is really hard, very different from wet prospecting with a pan/sluice/dredge back East, and the odds of finding gold seem to be similar to gambling or the lottery: someone wins, but you lose much more often.

FYI with the White's MXT I found stuff, but it was mostly bullets and a lot of hot rocks. I hoped the hot rocks were meteors...but they were just hot rocks.

With all that said, I hope you enjoy the experience!

- Brian

 

[Lanny in AB]

Hi there, and welcome!

Lots of good advice on the link you've been given in the prior post. I'd also add that there was a post on here somewhere by a nugget shooter that spent some time around Pahrump that found some nuggets. The advice given in the link to check with a local club is great advice as well as it will save you a lot of time, plus if you pay their fee to join, you'll be on some ground where you know they're finding nuggets, or you may just get some great advice on where to go on public lands.

All the best,

Lanny

 

[Terry Soloman]

Unfortunately, the MXT is not a good machine for gold nugget hunting. You'll have more of a chance finding gold in a casino. Don't waste your time or money in the surrounding desert.

I am probably going to be pounded by folks for telling you the truth, but so be it. If you want to go nuggetshooting get the right machine, go where gold nuggets have been found in the past, and be prepared to not find a nugget nine out of ten times you go hunting. Any land that is open (not claimed) has a 95% chance of NOT bearing gold.

Best of luck!

 

[brianc053]

I hope people won't blast you Terry for speaking the truth. "Not a good machine..." is probably a fair statement related to the MXT and nugget hunting, especially when compared to dedicated nugget detectors. (I will defend my MXT however as a general purpose, multi-mode detector and I'm happy with its performance relic and beach hunting. But it struggles to find even test nuggets in my backyard).

It's sad that finding land to hunt for nuggets on is nearly impossible for casual/hobbyist/recreational prospectors like me, but I accept that fact and have eliminated nugget shooting from my list of prospecting desires. I'm happy dredging, sluicing and panning. I'd like to try sniping but I bet it'll be hit-and-miss like nugget shooting; land might be easier to come by though.

Terry thank you for speaking the truth. Please keep it up.
- Brian

 

[Hoser John]

About 8-10 miles or so from the dam there were some Colorado River placers and hardrock mines. I have 4 silver mercury plates I found detecting there many years ago and a few tiny nuggets , pickers anyhow. Lots of luck-John

 

[Richard P]

Hi Lanny

It was your story that lead me to this website and hooked me up with a few clubs.

 

[Lanny in AB]

Hi Lanny

It was your story that lead me to this website and hooked me up with a few clubs.

I wish you all the best of luck, and if you find some gold, let us know! Moreover, if you don't, I hope you'll enjoy the outing. The desert has a specific, rare beauty.

All the best,

Lanny

 

[49er4ever44]

I am going out today near Dolan Springs. I have a garrett ace 350 and I know it's not good for nugget shooting. But guess what? I enjoy the outdoors and I've never been here before so I'm gonna try!!!

 

[49er4ever44]

Joined the mohave prospectors association for 35$ and they have over 300 acres of claims. Probably the cheaper club for a reason but at least I'll get to talk to locals.

 

[49er4ever44]

Man I'm sore! The little ace 350 doesn't seem heavy till you swing it all day lol. Found some hot rocks, bullets and pull tabs but no nuggets! Did a little test panning though and found a few little pieces 1 more day to try!

 

[Lanny in AB]

Man I'm sore! The little ace 350 doesn't seem heavy till you swing it all day lol. Found some hot rocks, bullets and pull tabs but no nuggets! Did a little test panning though and found a few little pieces 1 more day to try!

Glad you got out. The experience is about so much more than just finding the gold, but I'm glad you had a little taste nonetheless.

All the best, and I hope you find a bit more,

Lanny

 

[bc5391]

turn west just south of the restaurant on HWY 93 (Arizona) not far from the Dolan Springs exit. exit at White hill Rd . Its been 30+ years since I have been there but plenty of nuggets to be found, I was using a fisher 441 at the time 1983.

 

[fmrUSMC_0844]

Ill be headed down there in April for the gold show. Ill be bringing the TDI. I wouldnt mind finding my first nugget!