Where to look ..??? ...

[Willee]

Lets say a city fella had an urge to take a flier for a few weeks and do some gold prospecting and using metal detectors.

Where should he go?

What does he need to know?

Are there any guides that teach greenhorns how its done and where to do it?

Can you just drive out to a desert location, get out, and start detecting?

 

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[Lanny in AB]

Investigate the local prospecting clubs in the area you're thinking of visiting. Check out the local metal detector sales dealers: some of them offer excellent lessons. Read all you can on forums where desert nugget hunters post about their finds.

Good luck, and all the best,

Lanny

 

[goldenIrishman]

A lot of the answers to your questions would depend on just where you want to head out to. Here in Arid-zona there are several dealers that have outings for customers where they teach you how to operate a detector. If you don't own a detector and want to get one while on your adventure I'd be checking out dealers like these.

Now.... If you already have a detector that is set up for finding gold and want to go out on your own, you're going to have to do your due diligence and make sure that any areas you try your luck in are not already claimed. Sites like MyLandMatters (link in signature below) can be a huge help in planning on where to go and have a reasonable chance of finding something while avoiding accidentally becoming a highgrader. While there is still a lot of open ground to be had, much of the better areas have already been claimed.

What ever you do, DO NOT forget the 7 "Ps"!!!! Proper Prior Planning Prevents Pi$$ Poor Performance!

Be prepared for any emergency and never EVER go out alone if you're not well versed in working in the desert areas! Fortune favors the prepared Prospector....

 

[Terry Soloman]

Lets say a city fella had an urge to take a flier for a few weeks and do some gold prospecting and using metal detectors.

Where should he go?

What does he need to know?

Are there any guides that teach greenhorns how its done and where to do it?

Can you just drive out to a desert location, get out, and start detecting?

Where? A state that actually has nuggets that a metal detector can find - Arizona, Nevada, California, and Alaska, are the most likely suspects.

What do you need to know? Finding a gold nugget is rare. People have been pounding known placer locations with good metal detectors since the 1980s. I personally know several people that have been nuggetshooting for several YEARS with high end Minelab PI machines who have NOT found a gold nugget yet. Location is EVERYTHING.

Are there Instructors and Guides? Absolutely! Feel free to PM me for info on Arizona Instructors who are honest and know what they are doing.

Can you drive out in the desert and detect? Sure, as long as you are not on private property; State "Trust" land; desert under mineral claim; or endangered species reserves. Know where all these locations are? No? Then don't do it.

Detecting in the desert is not a good idea in the summer. 115-degree heat; black flies; rattlesnakes; scorpions - We detect from October through May in the desert.