So what should you do if you find Gold?

Lets say that you have decided to go out prospecting. There are a few things that you need to be careful about when doing this because certain things could end up getting you into trouble. Lets say you have found a spot that you want to start your prospecting activity in, however, how do you know if you are even allowed to do so in this particular area? The first indication or warning sign would obviously be if the area is fenced up or posted as private property. If you run into this, stay out of there. And do not by any means go prospecting in any National Parks or National Monuments.

If you locate an area that looks like uninhabited wilderness, most likely that’s what it is. If you see that there would probably be no problem setting up a tent there or fishing there, then you could probably go ahead and start your prospecting.

If you do your prospecting over the weekend and find around half an ounce of gold dust or a few nuggets, you are doing quite well. Once in awhile though, you just may find a really good deposit and one visit to that spot might not be enough and you may have to go back to it. If the place you found this deposit is located on public land, you may be able to get the rights of location for it. However you will need to find out about the laws in each state as they vary from place to place and in some cases the laws are very complicated. If you find a really good deposit you should find yourself a lawyer, as it will be worth it.

If you are going to file a claim there are a few things you should know about because there are rules and guides about how to do so. The local and federal governments get into the act. The local point is the county recorder where the claim is located and the federal government is represented by the Bureau of Land Management of the Department of Interior. There you will be able to get a brochure that will give you indication on how to establish a claim.

If you see a good place on lawfully available lands, you may possibly desire to set up your own claim, which you would file with the correct federal, state and county offices. 

You can start your contacts with the federal agencies at the following addresses:

U. S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service

Arizona and New Mexico
USDA Forest Service
Southwestern Region
333 Broadway SE

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87102
Phone: 1-505-842-3292

California
USDA Forest Service
Pacific Southwest Region
1323 Club Drive
Vallejo, California 94592
Phone: 1-707-562-8737

Colorado
USDA Forest Service
Rocky Mountain Region
740 Simms Street
Golden, Colorado 80401
Phone: 1-303-275-5350

Nevada and Utah
USDA Forest Service
Intermountain Region
324 25th Street
Ogden, Utah 84401
Phone: 1-801-625-5306