I'm fairly new too. I think you can prospect on property as long as you have permission.
I have a small Green Mountain made classifier. It is small and easy to use. I love it. Look it up on Youtube. I watch all kind of youtube videos. There are so many. My favorites are Dan Hurd. Ralph Chris and Joseph the maker of Green mountain sluice. You tube will teach you anything you need to know. But, practice on the pan will make you confident. If you want to try buying a bag of gold dirt to practice with, use Gold Bay. It is worth practicing on paydirt to see how the gold works in the black sand.

Nancy

James, I take it you're in Washington. If so the first thing to get and read several times is the gold and fish booklet. Available online to print, but go to a fish and wildlife office. Free, and required when you're out. It will tell you where you can mine, what equipment is allowed and times you can make use of that waterway.

As a member you have the use of all GPAA claims, nationwide. As far as claims located on USFS ground, casual use generally does not require any kind of permit. This includes pan, sluice, small dredge, and use of hand tools. Once you get into heavier equipment, like a backhoe, washplant, etc then things get more complicated. Also check with the national forest main office and BLM district office for any local restrictions.

As long as you have permission from a claim owner, you can prospect that claim. If you want to go out on your own, be sure it is not claimed. Figure out the township, range and section, check with the State BLM office. They will break out to quarter section. Then go to county recorders office to verify any claims filed and current. If not, you're good to go, within state regs as outlined in the gold and fish booklet.

Seems like a lot of hoops to jump through, and can be daunting to a new prospector. Locate and get with the closest chapter, lot of knowledge there, and most will share because we all want you to be successful and get others interested

I was curious on the claim portion because my wife's family owns property out in Morton, WA. That's where I was hoping to pan, right in our property.

Arthur,
You are the best when it comes to knowledge. I didn't make it down your way last year. Hope to sometime this year.

I am in Onalaska WA. I hope you find something on family land. There is a GPAA claim on Yellow Jacket Creek near Randle. I have not found anything up there, but it looks like others have.

I was going to ask Arthur if a claim on private property negates the owner of the propertys saying it is ok to prospect on their property.

Generally, private property includes the mineral rights, check with the property owner. If they do, then their permission is all required, as long as you follow the regs.

As an aside, I was filing a claim, and asked BLM who held the mineral rights on the ground owned by a private timber company. Was told feds has them, so I filed a portion of the claim on it.

If you find that situation, the owners might have their own requirements as to access,equipment, and where they will let you work. You should make sure the landowner who doesn't have mineral rights is good with a claim being filed. You may be legally right, but it could start a minor war that ends up in court. Agree to use, equipment and access, preferably in writing to cover the old tail feathers.

Hope this is clear as muddy concrete.

Nancy,if you haven't yet, get hold of the Vancouver chapter. I know some of them, great folks.

If you can't contact the chapter, email Steve, the state director, he may have options closer to you.

Generally speaking, if you have a claim like that, or permission from the claim owner, (in writing preferred), they can't legally deny acess, but they can make it hard if they want. They can set reasonable restrictions on equipment, times, (such as fire season, camping, etc.). A mining claim just gives you the mineral rights. Other uses of that ground rest with who owns the surface rights. And you still have to comply with all other regs, as most waters belong to the states, at least down here.

Once again, Arthur. Great info. I will get hold of Vancouver chater. Wish I was closer to Vancouver to have a chapter closer. Thank you so much

This is perfectly clear.

Just need to ask my wife's Cousin for written permission as a CYA after verifying their title includes mineral rights on their 5ish acres right on the river.

I can have that cleared up before I start panning there in June/July.

Until then, I have a can of GPAA pay-dirt to train on :D

Thank you again Mr. Arthur! I really appreciate your willingness to teach beginners like me ! :D