Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
|
Post by Fossilman on Nov 19, 2019 10:47:29 GMT -5
Research, questions, google, listening to other rockhounders and just getting out and doing the ground work... There are books out for each state on hounding material, Amazon has them.. As for the Trespassing, rules and etc, just ask... Wildlife, I guess it all depends were you were raised.. I was raised in Montana, been around bears, rattlesnakes and wild cats all my life, it doesn't bother me to hound with them out there, just know your surroundings and areas... Around my area, most people carry for protection, not just for the four legged creatures either, but the two legged creatures too! It's all good after awhile, things fall into place and its a cake walk! I would rather walk the deep forests with wild animals, than walk any city block at night in any city! I have a distrust with most people anymore.... A handful of friends and rockhounders, that's enough for this old goat...
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
|
Post by Fossilman on Nov 19, 2019 10:48:27 GMT -5
Spent my younger years in an outdoor setting in Michigan. 4 or more nights a week our supper consisted of something I drug home from the swamps near home or the lake in front of the house ! I felt at home wandering thru this area as a 10 year old hunting and fishing ! I moved to a city area in Iowa later on. Nowadays I spend a good deal of time metal detecting curb areas and other public areas of town. Late afternoon I start working my way back to my vehicle because when the sun starts going down, an old fart like me has a Bullseye painted right on his A$$ ! Reptiles and Animals are fairly well predictable but, Humans, not so much ! BINGO!
|
|
|
Post by miket on Nov 19, 2019 16:18:21 GMT -5
I'm lucky enough to live in a pretty great area for rocks, NW Nebraska. Also, not far from South Dakota. The Oglala National Grassland where I go is about 95,000 acres and it adjoins the Buffalo Gap National Grassland in SD which is nearly 600,000 acres. I've come across rattlesnakes and coyotes and there are mountain lions in the area but I haven't come across one yet. I just try to pay attention and keep myself and those with me safe. And I agree with agatemaggot , people are far less predictable than animals- but most people out here are good. Sounds like you might have to plan some vacations to some places to rockhound. There are plenty of people on this site that could suggest some fantastic destinations, I'm sure.
|
|
|
Post by RocksInNJ on Nov 20, 2019 0:19:01 GMT -5
Yea I’m not a people person at all and I especially hate cities. I was almost held up two or three times, but saw it coming and was fortunate to get to a safe area and avoid the confrontation. Then I was finally held up once at gun point and have never been back to a city again. It was like a near death experience with all the thoughts going through your head and like seeing your life flash by in seconds. I think all cities should be leveled and have tree planted.
I’ll take animals over people any day, but question that when I think about dangerous animals, as I’ve never been around them or had to deal with them and just thought of it is scary and foreign to me, I really appreciate everyone sharing their thoughts and experiences with me.
|
|
whyofquartz
spending too much on rocks
So, Africa is smaller than I expected...
Member since December 2019
Posts: 316
|
Post by whyofquartz on Dec 11, 2019 23:19:40 GMT -5
2- Ok so yea I’m going to sound like a wimp with this one, but have to ask. Aren’t you afraid of bears, mountain lions and poisonous snakes or scorpions when hunting for rocks? I’ve watched so many videos and all I can think is, Omg there could be a deadly snake under all those rocks they’re flipping or there’s gotta be bears or mountain lions in those hills. I couldn’t even imagine coming across a bear or mountain lion. Omg I’d die on the spot and he’d have a free meal. What do you do to protect yourselves and do you ever worry about these things? I love the outdoors and here I can trample around in the woods without a fear, so it’s really hard for me to picture all of the above worry’s and still being able to enjoy myself. Its so weird and hard for me to understand. I mean I’ll go outside at 3am and cook on my grill with the wood line to my back and not have a worry. If I lived where there were bears and mountain lions I’d have to put my grill in a cage and lock myself in to cook lmao. 'So, Ther' i wuz...' Last weekend when i was at my Inlaws(they live on 40 acres) and i was rummaging around for rocks, following the paths that i assumed the dogs and cattle made. Suddenly i detect a scent, a strong familiar musky ammonia like scent that anyone with a Tomcat will recognize. Despite being armed I still decided it was getting too dark to rockhound anyway and i didn't want to wrassle no puma. So in short, yeah there can be critters but if you know your area you can avoid them and many of them are more scared of you anyway.
|
|
|
Post by RocksInNJ on Dec 12, 2019 1:40:45 GMT -5
2- Ok so yea I’m going to sound like a wimp with this one, but have to ask. Aren’t you afraid of bears, mountain lions and poisonous snakes or scorpions when hunting for rocks? I’ve watched so many videos and all I can think is, Omg there could be a deadly snake under all those rocks they’re flipping or there’s gotta be bears or mountain lions in those hills. I couldn’t even imagine coming across a bear or mountain lion. Omg I’d die on the spot and he’d have a free meal. What do you do to protect yourselves and do you ever worry about these things? I love the outdoors and here I can trample around in the woods without a fear, so it’s really hard for me to picture all of the above worry’s and still being able to enjoy myself. Its so weird and hard for me to understand. I mean I’ll go outside at 3am and cook on my grill with the wood line to my back and not have a worry. If I lived where there were bears and mountain lions I’d have to put my grill in a cage and lock myself in to cook lmao. 'So, Ther' i wuz...' Last weekend when i was at my Inlaws(they live on 40 acres) and i was rummaging around for rocks, following the paths that i assumed the dogs and cattle made. Suddenly i detect a scent, a strong familiar musky ammonia like scent that anyone with a Tomcat will recognize. Despite being armed I still decided it was getting too dark to rockhound anyway and i didn't want to wrassle no puma. So in short, yeah there can be critters but if you know your area you can avoid them and many of them are more scared of you anyway. Shaking my head. Yea, but with my luck, and you really wouldn’t believe how bad it is, unless you got to know me, I’d be the one in a million causality. I’d need a little mini tank to get through all the rough brush, with some Go Go Gadgets arms to retrieve the rocks for me.
|
|
Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,685
|
Post by Fossilman on Dec 12, 2019 9:53:00 GMT -5
PS: Animals hate noise, make noise as much as you can..... They will leave the area.. 80% of hounding areas, you probably will never see anything wild (Critter wise)… Hahahaha
|
|
|
Post by RocksInNJ on Dec 12, 2019 10:00:54 GMT -5
PS: Animals hate noise, make noise as much as you can..... They will leave the area.. 80% of hounding areas, you probably will never see anything wild (Critter wise)… Hahahaha Great, now I gotta carry a guitar too.
|
|