CRAPY CLAMES NO GOLD BUT ALLWAS GET THE BILL

Last Post 04 Jan 2022 02:26 AM by Lincoln Ritterhouse

108 Replies

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MICHAEL GOETTINA

Greenhorn
Posts:

26 Oct 2016 04:18 PM
BIN TO OVER 40 GPAA CLAMS IN THE CLAMS BOOK AND 8 LDMA OVER WORKED AND CRAPPY GOLD OK FOR CAMPING BUT AS FAR AS FOR GOLD YA RIGHT AND AS FOR THE MINING GUILD NEVER GOT A NEW ONE FOR MORE THAN 10 YEARS NOW BUT ALL-WAY GET THE BILL

Vince Emery

New Member
Posts:96

27 Oct 2016 05:40 AM
Have to agree with you. Worst $155 I've ever spent for a membership. At least here on the E. Wa. and N. Idaho areas. I think a person is better off to join a local prospecting club.

ARTHUR WAUGH

Advanced Member
Posts:967

27 Oct 2016 06:50 AM
Well, for starters I have been to several claims over the years, and have always found gold, even when just running a few sample pans. Granted you are not going to get an oz. from them when you hit them. Had you ever tried contacting the office on the guide issues? It almost sounds like you expect the gold to either be on the surface, or someone to hand it to you already processed and in a vial. The learning curve is steep, and anything you find is that much more valuable due to the effort required to find it and get it out. If you are so unhappy with GPAA and LDMA memberships then I might suggest that it is time to find another endevor, and put the memberships on the market and move on.

ADAM ANDREWS

Greenhorn
Posts:

27 Oct 2016 04:29 PM
I agree Art, "The learning curve is steep"...Really steep, like in my greenhorn days, we found nothing. Then the challenge became, don't get skunked. We did dumb stuff like hauling buckets of dirt up steep trails, then driving them 100 miles home just to get two pieces of fly poop Gold. After you're a Sourdough miner, the challenge is out smarting the Gold and getting it in the vial. If there's kids all standing around looking in your sluice box, toss your 1 oz. nugget in the sluice box. When they see the giant nugget, they'll all run to their parents for a camping plate then they'll all go pan for Gold with them. It drives them nuts, and gets them out of your sluice box.

ARTHUR WAUGH

Advanced Member
Posts:967

27 Oct 2016 05:05 PM
LMAO, if I had a 1 oz nugget, it would be triple locked in a safe, not in my pocket in the field. Late wife's first outing was with the neighbor, she had a pie tin and the collander from the kitchen. Dug behind a rock, panned it out found a nice picker, went to the neighbor and asked if that was what she was supposed to be looking for. He said yep. Went back to her rock, panned some more and went back to verify the second picker. He got up said I've been her 3 days and not a speck. Told his wife to throw everything in the trailer, they were going home. 20 minutes later they were gone..........

ADAM ANDREWS

Greenhorn
Posts:

27 Oct 2016 09:18 PM
I once saw a guy crash his radio controlled airplane into his other radio controlled airplane. The other airplane was about 25' behind him...Destroyed them both...Then he violently threw both of the airplane remains into the back of his Volvo station wagon. Smashing the rear door on a wing until it closed. He then peeled out, raced out of the flying area...Never to be seen again. It was the funniest thing I've ever seen...It would have been the $10,000 winner on Americas funniest home videos. Too bad I didn't film it.

Joseph Loyd
Buzzard

Buzzard
Posts:553

29 Oct 2016 09:07 PM
This is a game of wanting to learn as much as possible .I as one how has been doing this for many years .I was 5 or6 when I started panning wit my dad .There are still many days that nothing was found .I did it just today after running 4 5 gallons of dirt .It is the hunt that counts .And yes I am in gold country right now .There is no guarantee in mining .Thats the fun of it .

William Hall
Buzzard

Buzzard
Posts:650

31 Oct 2016 03:55 PM
I didnt think LDMA members got a GPAA mining guide. The OP was complaining in the members area "he never got a MG" Yes no maybe ? Bill

Ronald Peterson

New Member
Posts:97

31 Oct 2016 04:03 PM
Yes Bill, LDMA members get a mining guide just like GPAA members do. Ron

ARTHUR WAUGH

Advanced Member
Posts:967

31 Oct 2016 04:57 PM
LDMA includes lifetime GPAA membership.

WALTER EASON
Buzzard

Buzzard
Posts:581

01 Nov 2016 06:36 AM
If there was no guide sent to you, you can call the office and have them look into it. We have records as to if it was sent to a member, if not and you are up to date I am sure customer service will help you. If a guide is sent out and it shows that it was received you should have called so it could be traced. In some cases you may have to pay for a new one, you just have to call and see. By all accounts there should be something new soon but not sure when I know it is in the works for information through the web site. I guess you could also see what sill be coming out.

Robert Weiss

Greenhorn
Posts:1

30 Mar 2017 03:32 PM
I feel your frustration, when I was new at prospecting I would get so frustrated that I would spend days looking for gold and not finding it. It took me a year to finally figure out techniques which started showing results. As far as claims go, any club claim for all the different clubs out there are going to be mostly worked. I usually try to go to claims which are difficult for people to get to especially claims which require a very reliable and capable 4wd. I have been finding gold on these claims just not more than little micro flakes here and there. I just try to refine my techniques and adapt to these highly worked claims and my results are improving each time, in fact I always find gold every time I go out, but 90% of the time it's just really fine powder gold. Just be patient.

michael neely

Greenhorn
Posts:

31 Mar 2017 09:04 AM
Yeah gold prospecting is fun. And it gets me out of this damn city. I will happily take the few pickers and the few flakes I find. Got me a new Garrett metal detector. Mabey I can increase my finding. However I am just glad to be out of the city.

Tim Leibel
Buzzard

Buzzard
Posts:608

02 Apr 2017 06:59 PM
Ok, I am an LDMA member which means I am also a LIFETIME GPAA member. I get mining guides when they come out, the last was in July 2014. I have access to the online guide. I find gold on every claim LDMA or GPAA. I go too. Sometimes not much, 1/8 gram or so, sometimes, 2-3 grams. If you are not finding gold on these claims, I would appreciate you sharing where you are finding gold please. If you really are not happy I for one will be sorry to see you go, but do not renew if you don't feel it isworth it. We all work to hard to Pay for things we get no value from.

Eddie DiGirolamo

Greenhorn
Posts:12

27 Apr 2017 09:05 PM
I've been at it for awhile and never really get alot "YET", but I'm learning. I watch YouTube videos, especially Jeff Williams videos. He has alot on knowledge from working and collecting information from the "Old Timers" not to mention he also holds a degree in geology. Yes his videos can be crazy, but he's also after educating the younger generation. The most important thing I do when I work a claim is to SAMPLE, if I find gold and I've got limited time and stay and work the spot. I'll usually check the cons in half an hour or so, if they still good then I'll commit and bust my ass. My other secret weapon is my bucket vac, nothing like finding someones diggings and vacuuming the cracks in the bed rock that they didn't, that one always pays off. I also like to hard to reach locations, most people want to park setup and run the same spot. I realize that these secrets of mine are nothing to most of the seasoned prospectors on this site, but in time I should develop pretty consistent gold producing outings.

Tim Leibel
Buzzard

Buzzard
Posts:608

27 Apr 2017 09:58 PM
Unless you are running a large mining operation you are not going to get 10, 20 or 30 ounces a week anywhere. If your work hard, run 6 to 8 hours a day e dry day with a dredge,highbanker or dry washer you can get an 1/2 ounce it even a full ounce a week in a lot of the in the Muning Guide. There is a steep learning curve, it also requires work, but oh how sweet when you finish clean up and you gave that gold no one has seen since God put it there.

DAVID BRAND

Greenhorn
Posts:3

28 Apr 2017 09:06 PM
Well I haven't been at as many claims as Michael but I have been at a number of them, what I have found is they are about as well used as any club claim and no worse. I belong to 4 other clubs in two states and the results are about the same. Very tough going! This is not a get rich game, I figure it is another way to enjoy the outdoors and it is as expensive as your pocket book will allow or as economical as you want to work at making it. Honestly finding the gold is a bonus and to do it consistently you have to do a lot of research or go with someone that has. If you are in it for the gold and not the enjoyment best to get outfit not then invest in the research to learn how to read the land and your odds mock likely will improve. Good luck!

Jeremy Perkins

Greenhorn
Posts:

29 Apr 2017 12:07 PM
I am a new lifetime LDMA member and I never received a MG either, but never really gave it a thought.

Jennifer Braley

Greenhorn
Posts:23

29 Apr 2017 03:22 PM
Jeremy, If you have not received your mining guide, just give Ann or Jenn a call at the main office. All you have to do is give them your address and they will send out the 2014 mining guide to you.

GARY WATTS

Greenhorn
Posts:13

10 May 2017 06:35 AM
I used to get frustrated but after much trial and error I have been able to better determine where the higher concentrations of gold should settle in a river, I have also improved my recovery efforts and as such my results are beginning to improve. AS an example, I was out last week at a new location. We dug the first decent looking spot we came to with zero results after about an hours effort. We stopped , analyzed the location and the river, moves about 50 years and boom....first bucket produced gold! as far as the mining guide, its on line, no need to wait for a book..... Good luck

Clark Mossman

Greenhorn
Posts:5

12 May 2017 08:32 PM
If I had been to 40 "clams" and never found gold, 1st I'd start going to "claims". And then I would take a good hard look at myself and admit I wasn't a very good prospector.

Mike Finlay

Greenhorn
Posts:6

15 May 2017 04:03 PM
Clark hit the nail on the head,,,, I have Been doing the Gold thing for 50 years and heard most all "Newbie bitching" reasons you can hear about No gold I can stand But this wins the prize . 1st get you a panning bag or two and a Home depot tub,,,And a person that Realy knows how to pan then let him show you how to pan . Then wear that bag out over and over panning to you are tired of it . Then ask the person that showed you how to pan go to several caims where you did not find gold and show you how again . Some can find gold right off the bat,, some need help bad . Get some help quick . It's hard to jump right in and find gold each and every time but 40 claims,,,,, No way . Get the bags and tub with help to show you how to pan . Good Luck,,,Miner Mike .

William Hall
Buzzard

Buzzard
Posts:650

16 May 2017 05:26 PM
You mean the gold aint layin right on the ground ?!?!? I have to work for it ?!?!?

Tim Leibel
Buzzard

Buzzard
Posts:608

17 May 2017 06:07 AM
The old truth Gold mining starts at the pan and ends at the pan. Learn to pan and you will find gold.

james tribble

Greenhorn
Posts:

17 May 2017 01:45 PM
I have had good days and bad days,, some days i found gold,, other days i just moved alot of dirt. Thats life, if your never finding anything, then its time to try new tactics, or a new hobby. I was at gold and gem grubbing last week, after 60 buckets,,,, no gold, not even a spec,, but the gems were more than jumping. The folks next to us, didnt find any good gems but they did find some nice flakey gold. Its a crap shoot, you ether love doing this or you dont. Sorry to hear that your having a difficult time

Daniel Strantz

Greenhorn
Posts:1

18 May 2017 07:12 AM
I worked a small wash that had been vacuumed down to bedrock. I took my small hand sledgehammer and cracked the top layer of bedrock for about 50 ft and vacuumed and found just over 8 gram's. There were large flakes and several pickers. So if an area looks worked do a little work to check it and you might be surprised.

Brad Lamb

Basic Member
Posts:334

18 May 2017 09:02 AM
Posted By DANIEL STRANTZ on 18 May 2017 07:12 AM I worked a small wash that had been vacuumed down to bedrock. I took my small hand sledgehammer and cracked the top layer of bedrock for about 50 ft and vacuumed and found just over 8 gram's. There were large flakes and several pickers. So if an area looks worked do a little work to check it and you might be surprised. SHH, lol

Michael Brooks

Greenhorn
Posts:2

26 May 2017 09:25 PM
I like to see these kind of comments to remind people that it takes a lot of practice and research to make it work. I've been prospecting for a long time and telling people that it is a technique that just needs to be refined. I'm not a rich man but i love the outdoors, it feels good to see color in your pan or slouch. Its even a better feeling when you teach someone what you have learned and you get the opportunity to pass it on to someone else.

Michael Brooks

Greenhorn
Posts:2

26 May 2017 09:25 PM
I like to see these kind of comments to remind people that it takes a lot of practice and research to make it work. I've been prospecting for a long time and telling people that it is a technique that just needs to be refined. I'm not a rich man but i love the outdoors, it feels good to see color in your pan or slouch. Its even a better feeling when you teach someone what you have learned and you get the opportunity to pass it on to someone else.

Joseph Loyd
Buzzard

Buzzard
Posts:553

28 May 2017 07:15 PM
Micheal so well said as I do go to outing to try and help people learn what to do .I will be at Burnt river and Blue bucket doing just that .Any and all can come and join in .Just make an outing .Have worked at Stanton and Scot river outings.

Don Ferguson

Greenhorn
Posts:

29 May 2017 04:23 PM

Don Ferguson

Greenhorn
Posts:

29 May 2017 04:25 PM
I have found gold on our claims. It took me a few years to develop the skills but its ther. Tried to post a pic but terrible interface for that

Clark Mossman

Greenhorn
Posts:5

30 May 2017 11:27 PM
Mighty fine!

ARTHUR PEARSON

New Member
Posts:25

07 Jun 2017 10:36 AM
Study,study and study some more. Also accept the fact that the entire United States has been mined extensively in the past. I prospect nm , dry desert conditions. I have had good results following advice I have read from Australian prospectors.

Frank Orozco

Greenhorn
Posts:

15 Jun 2017 03:17 PM
I'm a new member and new to gold prospecting and on each outing I have done I have found gold. Not sure what the people are complaining about. sounds like they either are not digging in the right spots and need more experience to learn that. Or they method they are using to catch the gold is not working for them. I have gone out with the local Delta gold diggers chapter and all the people are friendly and again have always found gold. Glad I joined.

FRED DICKINSON

Greenhorn
Posts:2

16 Jun 2017 03:26 PM
If your ever in AZ, look me up. I find the gold on the GPAA claims and post pics constantly on facebook. Best day was almost 3 grams. My 14 year old son picked that spot. Just have to know where to look.

FRED DICKINSON

Greenhorn
Posts:2

16 Jun 2017 03:26 PM
If your ever in AZ, look me up. I find the gold on the GPAA claims and post pics constantly on facebook. Best day was almost 3 grams. My 14 year old son picked that spot. Just have to know where to look.

Sal Guttuso

Greenhorn
Posts:7

18 Jun 2017 10:27 PM
Just spent a day on 3 different spots and found gold at all three. I am new at this.

Shane Edwards

Greenhorn
Posts:

01 Aug 2017 01:46 PM
Holy Cow! I saw this post start almost a year ago and shortly after I got so busy with my Relic Hunting, I took a break from Gold until now, which I am back to, and it's hilarious to see the post still alive LOL

Russell Wiley

Greenhorn
Posts:

14 Dec 2017 02:05 AM
I agree, the learning curve is steep. You can't just aimlessly dig holes and expect gold. I have read numerous books, listened to others on the forums, talked to people in person that are more than willing to show you spots, and worked my butt off to find the elusive metal. Many headaches and getting skunked at first. Now I can't imagine not prospecting. The first time you see that picker in your pan, you're hooked for life. Like Tim I'd hate to see you go especially when there are so many resources that can be used.

Robert West

Greenhorn
Posts:8

17 Dec 2017 06:11 PM
I've been to a few in Oregon learned real quick if there is no gold in my sluce stop digging in that spot. Gold is ware you find it, I've got 3 grams out of blue bucket but had to run 10 yards of dirt. If you want easy maybe you should buy gold bags on line.

Mike Barbee

Greenhorn
Posts:2

20 Dec 2017 02:27 PM
Come to southern Arizona and I can take you to GPAA claims that have gold. You will however. have to dig, sweat and get filthy. But the gold is there.

Alan Smith

Greenhorn
Posts:1

20 Dec 2017 04:04 PM
Claims are different for sure. I have done good at some and not so good at others. One example that I was pleased with: my last trip to LDMA claim (Blue Bucket in Oregon) resulted in four grams for five yards of dirt processed. I am using Gold Hog mats.

Thomas Wentling

New Member
Posts:71

23 Dec 2017 06:34 AM
I understand your frustration. Not everybody has the patients, it takes, to fine the elusive. My brother does not enjoy Geocaching, struggles with metal detecting and hide and go seek. The point is, he tried it. Maybe consider asking the locals if you can pan in their back yards. You don't have to mine on GPAA claims. I have found out that there are better places in each stream to mine. Those places get hit the most. May I suggest trying the not so obvious spots. You need to ask yourself. Has getting out and being in the country been enjoyable? Have others things like cows sneaking up on you or seeing deer fighting gone along with your adventure? If you are not happy with this hobby (which is all the more it is) then maybe it is time to sell your stuff and find another. No loss... at least you tried it. We wish you the best with your decision.

Christopher Satkowski

Highbanker
Posts:112

25 Dec 2017 09:23 AM
As having had a few claims myself, I will tell you they can be as frustrating as the GPAA claims. If it were possible, I would be a full time miner and not working for someone else. For now, I just enjoy the outdoor adventure and the hunt, makes it well worth it. I'm in the process of prospecting and staking a new claim. It took me 8 months, but I now know the process to stake a claim, but this time I'm looking for one with gold in it in that can have potential for more. I'm not in southern AZ, but I'm in central AZ and I will say the gold at those claims, if dry washing, you can find just enough color to make you come back for more. I'm rarely alone out there at this time of year,.

Jonathan Monnier

Greenhorn
Posts:9

19 Jan 2018 10:01 AM
learn the nature of the beast I live in Black bear and lion country, always notice their markings and scat and often enough I see the critters themselves, however I know a few folks that live round here never laid eyes on either one. Course I imagine the only sign they know are the ones posted on the roadway, no offense to em they just be busy with a whole nuther category of life is all. If they slowed down and learned how to recognize these critters sign they would then be more aware of their presence and hence start seein em. You'd need to want to take the time to see em in the first place though. Golds the same way I think. Slow down, then listen to and retain the wisdom offered from the experienced prospectors, study and keep studying everything about gold, and be willing to work,you will then find it. Its hard work, you need to love it, moving yards and yards of rock for some little shiny beautiful specks is no joke.Packing your equipment into remote areas can be dangerous. For me I achieve a very pure joy, like nirvana, or a pure zen state, just watching material run through a sluice. When you are doing something you love the work part, at its worst, is just a grumpy friend. Ifn I see a new prospector mired in frustration I will be more than happy,and in fact if asked, I'd be most obliged to help bring them back to the light. The other side of the feather is to remember that prospecting for gold is not for everyone. On a side note my favorite bill is my GPAA/LDMA bill, always happy to pay that one.

James Lenfers

Greenhorn
Posts:

11 Feb 2018 06:48 AM
LOL, as a new member my confidence in a 108 dollars well spent after reading this comment is not improved, but the comments afterward are encouraging for the most part. I know I pretty much found even when I was decades younger and doing this very part time, the results were decent even on the most heavily worked old claims. Even in Oregon where the Chinese had hydrauliced the hillsides to death, you could still find good pockets. By good I mean you were working yourself like crazy all day to get 15 dollars worth of gold. But it was also 75 dollars an ounce back then. So you're not getting rich, but multiply that about 15 times and that shabby 15 dollars a day would be about 225 in gold today. Pretty good return on a healthy hobby in a healthy environment. I would somewhat find it hard to believe that GPAA claims are so bad that if a person really knew what they were doing they do worse then the heavily worked over areas I would go into. But I guess I will find out first hand. I think the access on these National Clubs is quite cheap if you're paying all membership fees with the return of a few days worth of serious mining.

Terrance Cieszki

New Member
Posts:45

10 Mar 2018 02:09 PM
40 GPAA claims..... 8 LDMA..... 10 years...... no gold, yet paying for the privilege. I would be too embarrassed to say so and just perfect my technique instead. ╦╦Ç

Tim Leibel
Buzzard

Buzzard
Posts:608

12 Mar 2018 07:15 AM
It all comes down to are you doing it right? That many Claims says, you have no clue. Join a chapter and go to a few outings and see if your recovery picks up.

Joseph Loyd
Buzzard

Buzzard
Posts:553

12 Mar 2018 07:55 PM
you said that right tim as i have failed to find gold .not going to get rich.but gold found

Tim Leibel
Buzzard

Buzzard
Posts:608

13 Mar 2018 05:34 PM
Oh, I have been skunked a lot. But not on 40 Claims straight.

Joseph Loyd
Buzzard

Buzzard
Posts:553

13 Mar 2018 07:03 PM
Any body that says they have never been shunked is either lying or what ever.

John Dawson

Greenhorn
Posts:3

17 Mar 2018 08:07 PM
Michael: You need to go back to the basics. Use "GOOGLE" and enter "How to pan for gold?" and how to use a metal detector properly, and where to use a metal detector. I have been to GPAA claims in Washington State, Oregon,California and Arizona. I have found gold in all of these states. I have also had good luck up in Alaska in May of 2017 near Juneau. If you have renewed your membership during the past 10 years, you would have received a current Mining GUIDE and frequent updates in the Gold Prospectors Magazine and the Pick and Shovel Gazette. Good Luck! Captain John

John Dawson

Greenhorn
Posts:3

17 Mar 2018 08:07 PM
Michael: You need to go back to the basics. Use "GOOGLE" and enter "How to pan for gold?" and how to use a metal detector properly, and where to use a metal detector. I have been to GPAA claims in Washington State, Oregon,California and Arizona. I have found gold in all of these states. I have also had good luck up in Alaska in May of 2017 near Juneau. If you have renewed your membership during the past 10 years, you would have received a current Mining GUIDE and frequent updates in the Gold Prospectors Magazine and the Pick and Shovel Gazette. Good Luck! Captain John

Matt Tripp

Greenhorn
Posts:1

21 Mar 2018 11:16 AM
Hello sir, I always get gold everytime on every claim in Idaho and Oregon. I am a member of the GPAA, AMRA and have been a member of a local group. If you ask someone from your area for sure they can help you be successful. The membership does much more than simply give you access to claims. They are leading (especialy AMRA and the GPAA) the fight to keep our mining rights and opening up new claims and methods of mining (dredging and such) It is important we support these groups so the crazies are kept at bay and fail in their quest to STOP ALL MINING! Please remember these groups are our only real defense and supporting them we have a voice in the fight and hopfully we can return some of our rights back to the People! Thanks sir, Matt

Peter vanderHeiden

Greenhorn
Posts:11

23 Mar 2018 04:44 PM
Been detecting for 10 years, first FL beaches at the 1715 Plate Fleet sites then prospecting GA, WY. SD and AZ, almost enough now to fill a tooth. Found lots of things even sub grain staples and other wire. The old timers took the gold and left their garbage. Gold can be found at claims maybe $10 /day if your lucky. Still it's great just to be out there and although miniscule, the posibility for a decent nugget is always there.

A. BRENT HARSHBARGER

New Member
Posts:40

24 Mar 2018 02:59 PM
Gold is where you find it! Sometimes I do great and other time nothing. That’s why it’s called prospecting. Kind of like hunting. If it was a sure thing,it would be called harvesting, not hunting! My claim can be frustrating too. Dig a hole that looks good, nothing. Come back a week later, dig 3 feet away and be damned if I don’t find gold!

Adam Fry

Greenhorn
Posts:1

25 Mar 2018 11:13 PM
Gold is where you find it! If you haven't found any then you didn't look where it is!

Walt Davis

Greenhorn
Posts:1

27 Mar 2018 08:08 PM
Mining Guide isonline now. No need to carry around that big book with the P&S Gazette updates taped into it! Spent two weeks in Nome at Cripple River Camp, and had a blast. Brought home more tales than gold, but that's the allure of the hunt!

Jeremy Roark

Greenhorn
Posts:

28 Mar 2018 09:59 AM
Just like life you get out what you put in. No Miner ever said gold mining was easy it's there you just have to work for it.

Robert Wright

Greenhorn
Posts:1

01 Apr 2018 11:24 PM
In my experience, it's difficult to go somewhere new and immediately find gold. I have to get to know the place. Read the ground and try to imagine what it looked like 1000 or 10,000 years ago and how the rocks, reefs and sediment have eroded and flowed. If you can learn to do that, you'll begin to find gold on a regular basis. I was lucky in that even though I had always wanted to look for gold, I was introduced to it in Australia where I was able to go out day after day for months and months at a time. My introduction was a 5 day trip and was with two fellas who knew their stuff. That first trip I came back with a 3 grammer and a 3.67 ounce specimen. I though "hell that was easy!". I went right out and spend a couple of thousand on a detector. Then I didn't find another piece for a year of looking almost every day! Very, very gradually the periods in between finds got shorter and shorter. Now 4 out of 5 days when I can get out, I return with some amount of gold, almost always nuggets. I Recently found a nice crystalline 3/4 ounce nugget at 10,000 feet, on top of a ridge West of Denver, about 11" down under the dirt . In the same hole there were three separate rocks with chunky gold veins running through them. All up, I think about 2 ounces total out of one hole. It was probably my forth or fifth time being there, but somehow I just had a feeling that there was something there. Don't just stick to the GPAA claims. Learn to understand gold. Do your research on local historic mining regions and go have a look. The old timers knew what they were doing. If they didn't find gold, they didn't eat. Don't give up because there's still plenty out there.

John Rozsi

Greenhorn
Posts:

04 Apr 2018 05:41 PM
I do agree with you to Some point, not all the claims listed are going to have gold that is easy to find, some claims are very rich with gold but you have to work for it. There are a few claims no matter where you dig or how deep you dig you will find a few flakes here or there. The best thing I can suggest is to get involved with your local chapter and look for more claims in order to drop the ones that are over worked. Become active in your chapter if you want things to change. Hope you find new grounds and may your pan be full of color..

CRAIG CAMPBELL

Greenhorn
Posts:23

02 Aug 2018 07:32 AM
Finding gold is great but as far as I'm concerned I'm in it for being outdoors.campfires.seeing different landscapes.simular to my love of surf fishing.not about the catch but the ocean therapy I get.

John Taylor

New Member
Posts:25

03 Aug 2018 03:03 AM
I totally agree - it is therapeutic to get outdoors and go on the hunt. I have found literally pounds of lead so far, but only three tiny specs of the good stuff. Obviously, I have no clue what I am doing but reading, watching, and trying to learn so hopefully over time I will find some more. If not, at least I am not stuck in the office...

Joseph Loyd
Buzzard

Buzzard
Posts:553

03 Aug 2018 06:50 PM
if you are finding lead the gold will come .I teach people how to pan with lead shot.good luck.

Brad Hatt

New Member
Posts:36

19 Sep 2018 06:48 AM
Ive only been to two claims so far, got gold on Both claims,

Greg Miller

New Member
Posts:65

19 Sep 2018 09:04 AM
Hi Brad, Glad to hear you've been successful at both claims so far. If you haven't already, please leave reviews on the claims you've visited in the online Mining Guide. It's easy to do, and your feedback will help other members to also find success in the field. Simply click the Properties tab at the top of the page to get started. Great job! Keep it up! Greg

WILLIAM VAUGHN

Greenhorn
Posts:7

19 Sep 2018 05:12 PM
I have found gold on every property I have been on, not always alot, but I haven't been skunked yet. ALSO, if you are doing this to get rich in $$ you made the wrong investment. Its rich in other ways. If you are not finding gold on these properties maybe you should do a little more research and learn yourself some stuff. There are alot of knowledgeable people out there and it never hurts to ask questions.

Glenn Skoniecki

Greenhorn
Posts:1

24 Sep 2018 08:09 AM
An Old Timer told me once as we sat at the bar in Dolan Springs, prospecting is alot like fishin. You get a couple hits then nuthin. Change the bait and keep going. For most of us we realize this is just another hobby which usually cost a little money. The rewards are good exercise, fresh air if your not dry washin, a chance to talk to people with the same interests and a good chance to get a rare element out of the earth no matter how big or small. THRILLING !! Ya my hands hurt, and my feet hurt but beats sitting on a barstool waiting to die.

LLOYD LOW

Greenhorn
Posts:

27 Sep 2018 01:03 PM
I am really new at this prospecting thing. I figure that if gold was easy to find it wouldn't be worth much or everyone and their brother would be out raking it up. I haven't been to a GPAA claim yet but plan to visit one or more in November but I already consider my membership to be money well spent. I have found quite a bit of useful information besides where the GPAA claims are in the Mining Guide. Do I expect to find a lot of gold the first time I visit a GPAA claim? Not really, but it would really be nice Some have said that there is a steep learning curve to prospecting and I believe it. I have already learned things that I had never thought about. I am still getting over losing over half of one lung and figure that I need an enjoyable way to get some exercise and check off something else on my bucket list. I am really enjoying learning about something I don't know much about and am looking forward to meeting some of you along the way. (From some of the posts on this forum there are some that I can do without meeting as well ) Instead of complaining, why not try to figure out what you don't know yet. One thing I have learned over my years is that the person who catches the most fish is the one who goes fishing the most.

Joseph Loyd
Buzzard

Buzzard
Posts:553

01 Oct 2018 03:52 PM
Lloyd you will get some exercise out of it .I am getting over lung cancer and it is my exercise.Good luck.

HAROLD NEWELL

Greenhorn
Posts:3

03 Jun 2019 11:02 PM
I started looking for that yellow stuff back in 1971. I didn't find any but the guy that took me panning found some. Being in the Marine Corps I moved around a lot for over twenty years but every place I was stationed I looked for it but found very little. After retiring I went to work in Yellowstone National Park and lived in Livingston, MT and did a lot of panning. I started finding gold after meeting the Massey brothers and talking to them several times I slowly started finding more. As I learned what to look for it was like the lights started coming on. Learn where to look and what to look for. I found out about the glaciers that came down out of Canada a million years before, and where they stopped and started melting, I started find plenty in the places where it was so visible I felt so dumb for be so blind. If gold was easy to find there would be no one looking for it. Don't give up. A guy in CA was making a flower bed in his yard, where he had lived there for several years, and found three nuggets that were all over one ounce. So like it says, Gold is where you Find it.

George Tanner

Greenhorn
Posts:3

07 Jun 2019 08:56 AM
oh yeah, definitely frustrating at first, especially when you haul alot of equipment around.. so much knowledge goes into it.

Bennett Helgerson

New Member
Posts:25

21 Jun 2019 02:52 PM
If you want gold for money, you can buy it instead.

Ed Tomlinson

Greenhorn
Posts:1

02 Jul 2019 12:55 PM
I went to a private creek in Colorado and spent four days with a suction dredge, and only found tiny bits of four gold. Everything looked like there should be gold there, and the other three partners agreed. We have hashed this over extensively since, and we all agree we just weren't going deep enough to get serious results. I have since joined GPAA but have yet to go to a GPAA claim, mostly due to the distance, but I am willing to try it since I think I know more than I did then. Not ready to give up.

Anthony Ingersoll

Greenhorn
Posts:13

11 Jul 2019 03:09 PM
It seems to me that many people think that they will get rich off of prospecting. That is the furthest thing from the truth. In all reality, you will put more into it than what you would get back. However, there are other benefits of prospecting in of its self. The first and foremost, you will meet other individuals who have a like minded purpose. If you join a chapter, you will make new connections and hopefully new friends along the way. It is hard to tell how much I have put into it already; but the time outdoors has always been a big bonus for me though. As I read earlier, the learning curve is going to be steep. If you want to get gold for each dollar you spend, then go and buy the nuggets and such elsewhere.

Christopher Satkowski

Highbanker
Posts:112

11 Jul 2019 03:33 PM
I think everyone who joins this and everyone who goes out should be doing it on a hope of making a living, but no when to draw the line and cut their losses, and move in a different direction There should be no such thing as recreational prospecting. Otherwise, the Mining Laws of 1872 just don't apply. I do think very, very few will become successful with this, nut that's fine, its like a learning thing. Use those contacts to go off to bigger and better things and grow the community. At least that's my plan. Even the crappy claims you learn something every time you go out. Now locally, I avoid the claims that seem to have 2000 feet of alley fill before bedrock. With some of the valley fill as deep as 7000 feet to bedrock in the Phoenix valley, if the claim is located in a very flat area, miles from any peaks, that is a big signal to avoid as much as possible. Use those crappy claims as much as you can to make contacts, and hopefully someday you'll be able to get a working one. If you fail, at least tried living the dream for a while.

Anthony Ingersoll

Greenhorn
Posts:13

11 Jul 2019 06:43 PM
You make a good point in regards to making a living. Maybe that is better suited for out west or in the New England States where the consentration of gold is much better. Ohio is known for fine gold and flour gold with the occasional pickers. The good news to that though is that where I live at, I am only 7 hours away from where I can go digging in Canada (6 hours from Niagara Falls ON). However, there are plenty of creeks and streams in the area that I live in and I have already secured permission from the land owners and the parks commission. The only catch with the parks commission is that I have to give a detailed plan on what equipment will be used, how it will be used, and the like. I was surprised that they agreed to allow me to do that honestly. With that being said, I imagine they just want the environmental impact to be minimal.

ARTHUR WAUGH

Advanced Member
Posts:967

11 Jul 2019 07:10 PM
There are no "recreational" or "hobby miners/prospectors" We are all SMALL SCALE MINERS!!!!!!! Use that term anytime you talk about what we do. Nothing less will suffice.

William Hall
Buzzard

Buzzard
Posts:650

11 Jul 2019 07:18 PM
Ed Tomlinson Welcome, If you did not get to bedrock, you probably left gold behind Dont give up, but find and get to bedrock Thats the secret And yes we are small scale miners . Bill

LARRY HABERKERN

Greenhorn
Posts:3

16 Jul 2019 06:10 PM
I've been a member for about 9 years in the GPAA and a member of LDMA for about 2 years. My wife and I have only been to the claims in Kern county Ca. and the claims in the southern part of Gold country, Columbia, Sonora and Stanislaus river. We have found gold in all of them, but just like everyone else, we didn't find OZS. What we did find was beautiful country, great exercise, nice people and some gold! We always say... "It's more than we had, but less than we wanted." We have found enough gold to make to make us happy and had a Damn good time doing it. I have a friend that I take with me on some of the trips to the Keysville area. When he started he use to scoop up the dirt by the bucket full and want me to run it in my recirculating sluice. I explained that it's not how much dirt you move, but what dirt you move. Keep trying, get better at reading dry washes, creeks and rivers, improve your panning, set your sluice up correctly and last but not least ask some of these old timers for info and help.

Tad Hamilton

Greenhorn
Posts:19

26 Jul 2019 11:53 AM
Why don't you get with a chapter and talk to one of their mentors they can make the learning easier. The ones I know are always helping people learn where to find gold

Robert Murata

New Member
Posts:50

31 Jul 2019 05:03 PM
I have been to three Claims in Southern California this year, and I always find some color. Not sure where you are prospecting. You can always choose to find your own claims or purchase one, I have done both, and yes the claims that I own produce more gold than GPAA shared claims. I do not believe any recreational miner can make any money at this hobby. I really only joined to support our love of the hobby, and this club.

Thomas Chambers

Greenhorn
Posts:10

01 Aug 2019 03:45 PM
My wife and I always always find gold on the claims if I metal detecting three or four hours and come up dry we get out the dry washer and start shoveling buckets classify classify classify run the buckets run the buckets run the buckets then we take it home and clean up are concentrates always always always find gold. May not be detectable with a metal detector or too much trash in the area dry wash if you come up empty but make sure you have the knowledge of where to dry wash where to dig education of geology is a very very big thing in this recreational sport if you don't have the knowledge you're going to come up empty every time

Laurin Cavender

Greenhorn
Posts:2

02 Aug 2019 12:16 AM
I've been a member of GPAA for many years, in fact, I was originally the 486th member of GPAA. I was friends with George Massey from when our children were youngsters. I think you dropped your end of the stick if you did not get a Mining Guide. I have had several over the years and kept them all until my home burned. I have a current one and have found many properties to be good places to go and do small scale mining. Perhaps you have had bad luck or maybe you just have not learned how to do gold recovery yet. I do know that I have never had a deaf ear turned towards me anytime that I have ever contacted the GPAA home office, they have always been very courteous and prompt to respond to any request. As for the claims not only have I found gold on the claims in the MG I have used the guide to point me in the right direction to develop my own places to mine from private landowners who allowed me to pan on their property. I've made some new friends that way as well as gotten some new folks into our ranks. So all in all you are either really unlucky or you want to be spoon-fed, Be a man step up to the plate and call the home office when there is a problem and let them know so that they can rectify the problem, as for the mining, team up with someone and see if they can give you a few pointers. Remember it's like fishing, In fishing, it's called fishing not CATCHING! Likewise, it is Panning, Not Gold Grabbing! There is not gold in every pan, but if you don't get water and dirt in your pan you'll never get any gold in there. I do not know of your proficiency at panning gold, I do know it takes some people more practice than it does others to become proficient. I have taught many folks both old and young to pan, the easiest way I know to learn to be proficient is to get a small tub fill it 3/4 full of water, get a bag of play sand from Home Depot or similar, buy a pack of lead or steel shot or BB's put about a cup of sand into your pan add 10 or 12 BBs or shot start panning in your tub you should be able to recover 80 to 90% of the BBs or Shot the first time keep at it until you are able to get them all as easily and as quickly as possible. Since Gold is at least 19 times heavier than these shot or BBs it won't take long to get good at recovering all of the shot or BBs and you can be sure that if you are getting all of them then you will be getting Gold if it is there! In fact, more than once while teaching someone to pan there has been both black sand and even a few pieces of Gold in the pan that came right out of that play sand from the Home Depot. So keep trying, or consider that maybe Gold panning is not for you and find something else that you can do in the great outdoors because that's what it is all about anyways is getting out and enjoying ourselves, and even getting some exercise while we enjoy the great outdoors. Laurin "Swamp~Fox"

bob alexander

Greenhorn
Posts:8

12 Aug 2019 02:47 PM
I also worked a few claims and found some gold but most times if there a road or easy entry it will be worked also by non members that sneak in So try looking for new areas to work Do the research and test then if it passes your gold requirements then tell us to check it out This is how we all can add new claims to the group With our members looking for new claims we can add We can keep good grounds for our club

Chuck Shepard

Greenhorn
Posts:

16 Aug 2019 09:09 PM
Out here in western Colorado the majority of what we have is "flour" gold, our streams and washes have a decent supply of gold, silver, platinum, lead, zinc, and tin among other base metals, and they are not hard to find IF your not looking for the stuff you see on TV. And it takes a lot of practice to recover it, our club was doing panning demos/classes at a historical day at one of the local museum sites using claim dirt, one smartass brat challenged me as to where the gold came from, I told him that "you are walking on $20 worth with every step you take anywhere", well he insisted I prove it to him, sooo I took a mortar trowel and a finish pan out to the driveway, did a quick dowse, and scooped up about a cup full of dirt, took it back and panned out about 100 small flakes, his eyes got big, he was with me so he knew I hadn't put any in there to start, he apologized for doubting what I told him. One little gal said she would like to go panning while dad was fishing but they couldn't buy any pans or screens, I smiled and told her the Good Lord gave her 2 pans to sample with, reached down into a tub and pulled up handful of material and showed her how to hand-pan, big eyes and smiles were everywhere, including some of our old hands, when I rolled off the dirt and the palm of my hand just glistened a rainbow of color. As I tell people, "gather up the wife, kids, cat, dog, and camper and go out for a weekend, if you find a few flakes then "WOW we found some gold", if not then "WOW we had a great weekend of good family time together" . A win-win situation no matter what". Just my 2 cents worth of humble opinion. Chuck S

James Martin

Greenhorn
Posts:7

18 Aug 2019 05:37 PM
I went out to my first GPAA claim a week ago. Isolated and not a soul to be seen. Saw very small specks in the pan but so small it would not spearate in the pan from the sand. Needless to say the GF and I enjoyed the peace and quiet as much as the panning. No complaints here.

Elijah White

Greenhorn
Posts:3

27 Aug 2019 08:51 PM
Agree with you. The only thing I really got out of any of this is a gold pan. I found gold lots of other places but never on a claim from this group

Stuart Brough

New Member
Posts:29

28 Aug 2019 10:05 AM
What are some of the claims that people are getting skunked at? There might be a member who has found gold on them that can guide where to look.

Martin Pohle

Greenhorn
Posts:1

29 Aug 2019 06:48 AM
Sorry to hear your so disappointed! I’m a greenhorn, been out 3 times on the GPAA claims. I found gold all 3 times!! I studied a lot before my first outing and used my new knowledge to find the shiny. The gold is out there. Like others have said, there’s hard work involved, it’s not just sitting there. Good luck on your future outings

Chris Starr

Greenhorn
Posts:14

04 Sep 2019 11:35 PM
I was in Stanton About 5 months ago in slaughter creek and found gold. I don’t know many other places that have been more panned over than that little patch of desert. It’s all about knowing where the gold isn’t that helps find where it is. Kevin H is constantly doing articles about where to look. Like others I have always found the GPAA/LDMA staff in the office very accommodating and helpful. Hopefully you can give them a call to get a book. I don’t doubt they will lend a hand. I’d even suggest attending a couple chapter meetings if that’s possible. I was on a GPAA claim finding nothing and attended a meeting asked a couple local guys who been around a while. They gave me very insightful information which lead me to to a spot I worked for quite a while. I go back every once in a while it’s been worked over but I still managed to find gold. Hopefully this helps CS

Chris Kelley

Greenhorn
Posts:4

05 Sep 2019 02:36 PM
I don't know about crappy I have been skunked on a claim or two but I have found some color It is work and doesn't come easy..

Matthew Cox

Greenhorn
Posts:6

10 Sep 2019 10:39 PM
You have to remember this could be the Chris Kelley from Bering Sea Gold that has a bad attitude guys? LOL!!!

William Hall
Buzzard

Buzzard
Posts:650

11 Sep 2019 06:29 PM
LMAO If it is Chris, I hope he left his dad and brother in AK What a dirt bag his dad is Bill

Robert Murata

New Member
Posts:50

16 Sep 2019 10:28 PM
You know for the small annual fee to be a member, not sure how anyone can complain, I found gold on three of the claims in So Cal, never a lot but great practice. If your expecting to retire on GPAA claims your delusional. I own two claims of my own and they produce. This is hobby-club, I am happy with my membership.

JEFFREY LIEB

Greenhorn
Posts:1

23 Sep 2019 08:55 PM
I think weve all been places and found little or no gold. My favorite place to prospect has yet to yield a spec. But i did find a old penny..... other interesting bits. Caught tons of fish and enjoy being out there... I guess my point is that you shouldnt get discouraged. Ive never been to a GPAA claim as we dont currently have any in PA.. i hope we get a claim even if it doesnt have much gold... just for the camping... meeting others. Seeing various equipment and techniques.. The GPAA doesnt and shouldnt put gold in the creeks for us to find.. but they provide properties for camping.. prospecting.. resources.. . Best of luck to you and I hope you dont give up. Im sure there is gold out there just waiting for you to find it.

KEVIN HOAGLAND

Basic Member
Posts:357

25 Sep 2019 12:12 PM
Stuart, When Members reach out to me saying they have continually been skunked on a claim the first place I go, the Online Mining Guide. Now, not every claim has reviews on prospecting but it is surprising that the vast majority of the claims that do have reviews are the ones that others are having a hard time finding gold on. Most will admit that they saw a good review or photos of gold and headed out the door. Mostly without reading the particulars about the area that the members are sharing. i.e. I got a call from a member that was livid after going out to the Vulture Bait Claims here in AZ. He had read parts of the reviews but not the details and looked at the photos of the gold and was angry at everyone of us that had posted gold when he had been there a number of times with NOTHING TO SHOW FOR IT. (yes he was yelling at me.) I asked his where he was working and the response was "In the wash!" I then asked him to log onto the Online and we went through the prospecting reviews in detail starting with mine that simply said "Stay out of the wash" and others that said the same thing and why. The next time he went out (after reading every word of every report) GOLD in the poke. Prospecting is prospecting open the tool box and use all the tools needed to fix the skunk. No member is alone in this, there are: 10's of 1,000's of other GPAA Members, GPAA Chapters, 2 mining guides (print and online), Forums, 2 publications Hundreds of videos and, GPAA staff All with members helping members, become better prospectors. Stuart Brough on 28 Aug 2019 10:05 AM What are some of the claims that people are getting skunked at? There might be a member who has found gold on them that can guide where to look.

Bill McCoy

New Member
Posts:42

25 Sep 2019 10:09 PM
In my family, we all grew up motorcycling. I started at 4. I remember my grandpa telling me and the other grandkids, “if you cry, you don’t ride.” Now 50, I’ve only been prospecting since January. As you’d imagine I get skunked or close to it pretty often. But it reminds me of learning to ride. Sure there were some spills. Some even hurt. Eventually though it all came together. Now riding is as easy as, or easier than walking. I expect prospecting will prove to be the same. Suck it up prospectors. If you cry, you don’t ride.

Larry Elarton

Greenhorn
Posts:1

28 Sep 2019 02:00 PM
Well, I’ve been associated with GPAA since 89 when I met Buzzard in Ramona Ca. . As a ex- underground miner and gold panner by then we had an enjoyable talk. I’ve visited many of the guide claims in Ca, Az, AK, CO, SD and Wy.. All had some gold, some had been highly worked, some had been barely worked, like the SD claims. All gave me a chance to try somewhere new while visiting other places. Since I moved back to CO from AK., I find my own locations, hence prospecting, to do serious work but I enjoy the guide and appreciate the people who let us play on their land for a chance when traveling or just to get the lay of the land. The GPAA claim on the Arkansas always has gold, depending on storms and high water you never know what you can find, especially since none of us really tell each other the exact amount we find anywhere- the code of the west!

Donald Ashley

Greenhorn
Posts:3

02 Nov 2019 04:05 PM
Maybe the claims are not the problem but the miner. We always find gold on our local claims. Try going with someone with local experience. There is work involved if you do not work at it you won't see it. Like anything else if you don't like it no one is forcing you to stay.

Randy Smith

Greenhorn
Posts:10

13 Nov 2019 09:47 AM
You may not find a lot of gold. But you look and you will find some. Depends on your region where im from we have a lot of fine gold. I don't expect pickers and nuggets in a pan full of gold. Even with my home made setup I find gold on all the claims I been to. Maybe you should look at your setup. Maybe you blowing it out of the box or overloading it in a hurry

Michael Hall

Greenhorn
Posts:2

19 Feb 2020 09:02 PM
Right on my hall nice name lol mike hall

Jane Wheeler

Greenhorn
Posts:1

01 Mar 2020 10:08 AM
my only complaint is the inaccessibility of many of the GPAA claims and LDMA claims.. You really do need a burro, or expensive ATV to get to undue areas. Many of the claims you have to be a mountain goat ... I am not that agile

Chris Starr

Greenhorn
Posts:14

07 Mar 2020 09:19 PM
Yikes, I have been to 30+ GPAA/LDMA claims in Arizona and found gold on every one of them. I guess I just figured out where to look. Hopefully you find someone to help or do some research on the areas you have access too. Cube it or lose it Good Luck

Keith Duclau

Greenhorn
Posts:1

16 Mar 2020 12:26 PM
We're newbies too. Been doing it for a couple of years when we have some time off. We've found a couple of pickers and some flakes here & there. I guess if it were that easy to find alot of gold all the time then everyone would be doing it. We enjoy the excercise so we'll just keep looking, lol!!

ROBERT MARTINEZ

New Member
Posts:47

19 Mar 2020 05:32 PM
Considering there's no gold my wife and I just renewed our membership for another three years. I think it's well worth it. We get out of the house and exercise. We communicate about things that are interesting and relax. We find some gold or we don't. It's about doing something together for us. P.S. ( I'm not to hot about the liverwurst sandwiches we pack though)

Christopher Crownhart

Greenhorn
Posts:2

19 Mar 2020 08:44 PM
I have a gpaa lifetime membership so do you get a ldma lifetime as well?

Lincoln Ritterhouse

Greenhorn
Posts:10

04 Jan 2022 02:26 AM
I kinda enjoyed reading these posts. I just joined. My thought was to learn as much as possible. Then go out on my own and hopefully not get skunked. I did purchase gold pans for my family and one sluice and 1 metal detector. Waiting from here to get some time with people who already have a clue because at this point I don't. I am wise enough to not get pissed and blame others for my failings. :) Maybe I will get lucky and run into some old timer who can teach me enough to really get me started.

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