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Post by drocknut on May 19, 2021 17:11:58 GMT -5
Awesome trip pictures. Glad you found the right spot.
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Post by jasoninsd on May 19, 2021 21:40:11 GMT -5
Finding the big ones? From what I've read "Get a bigger hammer...!" Right! LOL I had an eight-pound sledge, a full sized crowbar, a hand-sledge, a chisel, and I found a nice smaller crowbar while I was out there. LOL - I was armed for bears! LOL (Well, I did have my pistol, but it would only be good for dispatching rattlesnakes...it would just piss off a bear! LOL) I thought it was illegal now??? Also I thought the original was on a cliff or something dangerous. Just sayin. Hmmmm... If you don't mind sharing, what exactly did you think was illegal? Digging for it or mining it? As far as I've found out, any mining with hand tools is okay. It's possible the original location is/was on a cliff...I haven't been out there enough to know the entire area...but I will be a LOT more familiar with the whole area before summer is over! LOL If you can find the right spots to dig you can get some nice ones. But it can be a whole lot of work! That is a four letter word. Probably heading your way in a couple of months. Well if you end up coming out again, give me a shout. I'd love to meet up again. I'm a little more confident with what I'm going this year! If you do come out, you'll have to show me the "right" spots to dig! Awesome trip pictures. Glad you found the right spot. Thanks Diane! It's a quick 90 minute drive from the house. I used to drive by this location constantly with my old job...but I wasn't into hounding back then. Had I been, I would have NEVER been home on time! LOL
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Post by orrum on May 20, 2021 5:37:14 GMT -5
The forest service or national forest or something took the claim back and you are not allowed there or something like that. Can't remember, covid brainfog.
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Post by RickB on May 20, 2021 5:42:57 GMT -5
Looks like rockhound paradise! I’d be thinking about bringing a generator and a small saw, or a weigh scale and bucket of water to specific gravity test each nodule. Hammer breaking a real prize would be a heart breaker. You can't unfortunately. It's designated "hand tools" only. Need to find a way to put some diamonds on this fine tooth saw.
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Post by jasoninsd on May 20, 2021 7:03:22 GMT -5
The forest service or national forest or something took the claim back and you are not allowed there or something like that. Can't remember, covid brainfog. Thanks for the info/heads up. It looks like I'm going to have to be making some calls later today... You can't unfortunately. It's designated "hand tools" only. Need to find a way to put some diamonds on this fine tooth saw. LOL - Kind of what I was thinking! I was picturing getting a blade for my battery powered skil-saw...but I figure each battery might last about 12 seconds trying to cut rock! LOL
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Post by miket on May 20, 2021 9:20:00 GMT -5
It isn't illegal to hunt for Teepees. I'm not 100% sure about Hell's Canyon, but jasoninsd if you hear anything differently please let me know.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,709
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Post by Fossilman on May 20, 2021 9:47:03 GMT -5
Totally AWESOME!!! SCORE!
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Post by jasoninsd on May 20, 2021 11:03:11 GMT -5
orrum miket fishnpinballOkay, so after an initial phone call to the Hell's Canyon office of the Black Hills National Forest and no one having any clue what I was talking about, I left a message on Jonathan Manning's voicemail. He called me back a little while later. He said he had just started back in September, so had to look up the information. Initially he said I would need a free use permit. However, after talking with him about the permit requirements, he realized that would only be required if someone was collecting shale or sandstone. He said since it's agates, then permit would not be required. So keep the name Jonathan Manning (Geologist I believe) handy...just saying. He did confirm the regulations that: - Vehicle use on existing roads only - Use of hand tools only - No storage of petroleum based products I hope this clears things up a bit...I was nervous after the thought of the legality crept up, but now I'm confident we're all doing the right thing.
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Post by jasoninsd on May 20, 2021 11:03:55 GMT -5
Totally AWESOME!!! SCORE! Thanks Mike! I'll be going back REAL soon! LOL
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Post by miket on May 20, 2021 11:12:21 GMT -5
orrum miket fishnpinball Okay, so after an initial phone call to the Hell's Canyon office of the Black Hills National Forest and no one having any clue what I was talking about, I left a message on Jonathan Manning's voicemail. He called me back a little while later. He said he had just started back in September, so had to look up the information. Initially he said I would need a free use permit. However, after talking with him about the permit requirements, he realized that would only be required if someone was collecting shale or sandstone. He said since it's agates, then permit would not be required. So keep the name Jonathan Manning (Geologist I believe) handy...just saying. He did confirm the regulations that: - Vehicle use on existing roads only - Use of hand tools only - No storage of petroleum based products I hope this clears things up a bit...I was nervous after the thought of the legality crept up, but now I'm confident we're all doing the right thing. Thanks Jason, that's what I understood to be the case as well. As I'm sure you know, there is plenty of room to roam around out there...and lots of Teepees!
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Post by orrum on May 21, 2021 6:30:06 GMT -5
Thanks Jason I boondock in the area and never went out so you done good going to the effort to clear it up!!! Thanks again pardner.
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Post by jasoninsd on May 21, 2021 8:15:17 GMT -5
orrum miket fishnpinball Okay, so after an initial phone call to the Hell's Canyon office of the Black Hills National Forest and no one having any clue what I was talking about, I left a message on Jonathan Manning's voicemail. He called me back a little while later. He said he had just started back in September, so had to look up the information. Initially he said I would need a free use permit. However, after talking with him about the permit requirements, he realized that would only be required if someone was collecting shale or sandstone. He said since it's agates, then permit would not be required. So keep the name Jonathan Manning (Geologist I believe) handy...just saying. He did confirm the regulations that: - Vehicle use on existing roads only - Use of hand tools only - No storage of petroleum based products I hope this clears things up a bit...I was nervous after the thought of the legality crept up, but now I'm confident we're all doing the right thing. Thanks Jason, that's what I understood to be the case as well. As I'm sure you know, there is plenty of room to roam around out there...and lots of Teepees!
I think the part that I'm excited about is there is SO much out there to explore. Realistically, I was only picking through ONE little 30' section of previously dug area. Going back is all I've been thinking about this week! LOL Thanks Jason I boondock in the area and never went out so you done good going to the effort to clear it up!!! Thanks again pardner. I'm actually glad you brought it up. It's one of those things that I'd rather be safe than sorry...and I really do prefer to do the "right" thing.
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