Winterize your claim?

[Steel Pan]

You bet cha!
Everybody prepares, or tries, to get everything together for each mining season.
Ever give thought to preparations for off season?
Like a lot of other prospectors, I leave some equuipment on site during the entire year.

Store all equipment in a place where it won't get washed down stream. ( that's above the high water mark on the banks. )
I use camo tarps to cover/hide equipment and it keep out of the weather.

Clean your claim of debris/trash left by you or others.
( do this all the time )

Remove foot bridges if there is a possibility of a wash out.
It's easier to put it back next spring than having to build another one and put it in place.

I constantly check my claim stakes.
Make sure they are standing and maybe give 'em a fresh coat of paint.

Winter on my claim comes about mid Oct., so I'm planning now.

[dakotajoe1]

Hi, I am new to this site and to gold prospecting. I have done some minor amateur panning in the Dakotas where I am from. Most of my experience is with metal detecting with 22 years of experience and my dad to thank for taking me to some great places I have accumulated a very nice treasure box.

I recently purchased a claim in Idaho near lolo creek and would like any help on "What the annual assessments on the claim Is". I plan on working the claim from July-Aug 31 and I am still a little confused on exactly what the assessment work is. I guess if I plan on spending the money to get there I should complete the assessment work while I am there.

Also any knowledge on the camping rules on a claim as I would like to camp out for the entirety of my journey. Info on dredging in Idaho with a small engine and pump and small hose end.

I hoping to have a blast this is something I have dreamed of since I was a kid and honestly whether I find just a little gold or a bunch for me the fun is in the hunt but a bunch would be better.

I saw those gold guys on discovery built a wood wall tent and as I don't have a camper I thought that might work out nice. Also leaving my equipment on the claim would be great as I plan on picking up our old jeep in SD on the way back to KY.

Obviously I have a lot of questions and a bit of the bug. Any advice would be the most appreciated.

[Steel Pan]

Here is a link to my best source of info relating to all aspects of prospecting/mining.

law.justia.com/us/cfr/title43/43-2.1.1.3.73.html

Here's another good site.

www.federalregister.gov/articles/2008/12/04/E8-28741/mining-claims-under-the-general-mining-laws


There is a whole lot of info on these sites. I refer to them often to keep me on trac.

[wyomucker]

I am not familiar with Idaho, but usually if you do 100 dollars of improvements or work on your claim, you can fill out the form and send it to the BLM and you won't have to pay the annual filings. You have to have 10 claims or less to qualify under the small miners exemption.