Hello Clint, Welcome to the GPAA family. I hope you and your family have a great time prospecting, enjoying the outdoors, and spending quality time with friends and family.

My one suggestion, is to join a local chapter, there are 3 in Idaho. The folks in chapters are always friendly, and helpful in teaching new folks the ins and outs of prospecting, and usually have monthly meetings or outings.

 The folks here on the forum are very helpful also.    Feel free to ask me and others for any info you might need. 

May your pan always show color.

Paul Straub, Outings Coordinator, NW GA Chapter GPAA, Buchanan, GA

I'll second the chapter folks.  Lot of knowledge to be had, and fast friends to be made in a hurry.

 

If you are close enough, try to get to the show in Boise in a couple of weeks (April 11 & 12th)  You can see all types of equipment and talk to the vendors to get an idea of what is available for later when you decide to go bigger. (we all do eventually) .  Plus, you can usually find decent pricing at the shows on most items there.

 

Welcome get your feet and hands wet and have a good time with it.

Thank you Paul and Arthur for your suggestions.

I have already made contact with a potential fourth chapter for the GPAA here in Idaho that's closer to me in southwest Idaho. Their name will be the "High Desert" chapter from Mountain Home. They have their paperwork in and are coordinating with the GPAA to make it official.

 

I have a lot to learn, but the wife and I feel great about our panning abilities! Can't wait, the weather here in Idaho is doing it's usual up-and-down tease rotation, but soon wie'll be heading up the hill to hit them streams soon!

 

I'll be attending the Boise GPAA show this month and am very excited to meet some like-minded folks.

 

Best of luck to you and all this season!

 

Clint

I am a new member and went on our first prospecting trip in New Mexico.  We met a wonderful member of the GPAA at the campsite.  One thing you have to know is that you are not restricted to the sites that are in the Mining Guide.  If you are on BLM land you can prospect anywhere there are not claim markers.  From what I have seen on this trip claims that have been staked are not up to regulations on marking them.  The member I met took us to an area that has good possibilities for gold.  We did find some color on test pans.  He had been all over the claim in the mining guide but came up empty.  Check for claim markers on BLM land and if you don't find any, I would say prospect.  The member I met was both very helpful and friendly.  He was extremely informative on the location and tips.  So if you meet someone like this you will come away with more than gold.  You will come away with knowledge that you won't get from youtube or google.  This is real life knowledge and OJT if you get my meaning.  Joining a GPAA Chapter is also great and you can have a lot more resources other than the mining guide.  I joined for a three year membership in March of this year.  I got my kit and membership card in a very timely manner.  We planned a trip to NM.  This one didn't pan out due to the claim being rescinded.  I contacted the New Mexico Gold Prospectors chapter and spoke with a wonderful lady and right then I knew I had made a good choice in joining the GPAA.  If all members are as wonderful as the two I have met it will be an adventure and hobby of a lifetime.

Hello Don,

 

it's great to meet someone who joined the same month; maybe we can use the forums to track each others progress in tracking down that gold!

 

I've been doing a lot of research on claims up here in Idaho, and I'll tell you one thing, there doesn't seem to be a shortage of them! I've yet to make a call to the BLM or USFS to see what I can get away with in closed "stream alteration"season streams; pretty sure its just panning, hopefully sluicing...

 

I'll be attending a local GPAA chapter meeting this week, so looking forward to that. I understand completely about OJT and great informants out there, nothing could be better for us green-beans.

 

I bet its a little nicer down there in NM for prospecting than up here in Idaho, we were 60 degrees today, but snow tomorrow!

 

Take care and good luck!

 

-IDGoldtailer

Hey Clint. The Boise Gold and Treasure show is coming up. If you can make it I would go. I learned a lot last year in Fresno and got some great deals on equipment. All the people from GPAA will be there and local Chapters as well as a lot of vendors and they have seminars all day.

Adding to Don's reply, just because there are now markers, does not mean there is not a claim.  They get torn down by others, storm damage, posts rotting away, etc.  If you find something you think might be worth looking into and doing some prospecting/sampling, take the township/range/section and check with BLM and the county recorder to be sure.  Lot safer that way and can avoid a situation.

Already have my tickets Tim.

 

I'll be taking the wife and kids for a fun-filled day I'm sure. Birthday's coming up to, so who knows, maybe I'll get lucky by winning a prize or even the wife letting me splurge a little!

 

Clint