LENGTH OF STAY IN NATIONAL FOREST, Are prospectors exempt from 14 day limit? Options

[English]

Hello everybody!
Hope you can help...
I'm planning a gold prospecting trip for "claim staking" purposes.
I'm now in the process of narrowing down my search area within a National Forest.
All National Forests promote a 14 day camping limit.
One National Forest said 14 days within a 90 day period (I wonder if that applies to them all).
I'm open to the possibility of it taking more than 14 days to find a "profitable" claim within my search area.
I can't imagine the 14 day rule applying to prospectors.
Are prospectors exempt?
If so please point me to the source (Web link) if available.
If you don't have the link but know the info tell/write me anyway. Thanks!

[Coalbunny]

Hello everybody!
Hope you can help...
I'm planning a gold prospecting trip for "claim staking" purposes.
I'm now in the process of narrowing down my search area within a National Forest.
All National Forests promote a 14 day camping limit.

And you will be expected to adhere to that limit. Except the 14 day period really does vary per area. Different districts have different rules for different areas, depending on a number of factors. Could be a previous lease agreement; could be geological; could be biological; could be nearly anything. In the San Isabel District it is typically 14 days. But in the Arapaho District I have seen areas that are 18 days.

One National Forest said 14 days within a 90 day period (I wonder if that applies to them all).

If you stay all 14 days, it can be. I don't see how you will be bound to stay in any one location for 14 days, though. You can "drag it out" and stay far longer, but every 3-5 days, move your camp site 1/4 mile. And document the locations & when you were there (with a GPS and map) so if you're questioned, you an pull out the paper and say "see here? These are the locations and the dates we were there". I have never seen a ranger argue with that (though they may want a copy).

I'm open to the possibility of it taking more than 14 days to find a "profitable" claim within my search area.

I wish you the best of luck in finding the Mother Lode!

I can't imagine the 14 day rule applying to prospectors.

It does if you don't have a claim or written consent to work a claim. The latter gets really tricky though.

Are prospectors exempt?

Only if they have a claim. Then they can stay until they die of old age or run out of spunk.