Panning and gold detecting in fremont???, Was looking for a good place this weekend? Options

[Troy#1]

Hello everyone Iam new to this forum and gold prospecting in general but just bought a bunch of gear and live in canon city CO, was looking for a little help in the search of ether a good ghost town for my new ATgold or a good sluice area for this time year for my new Keene A52? Plan on joining the CP yearly once I recover from the 1300 spent on gear! Thanks in advance really like reading some of these posts.

[swizz]

Hi Troy and welcome to CP!

My suggestion is to learn the nuances of land status research so that you can become a "true" prospector/small scale miner. You don't need to suck on the hind tit of a GPAA or GPOC claim... stake your own claim. I learned everything needed to do this in relatively short order from the kind folks here. I'm now a proud claim owner and know my rights very well. Land status research has become second nature.
If you were to join here at an Annual level you would be quickly introduced to the basics of land status research since all of the Annual CP areas require the user to verify the status of the BLM and NFS lands that this club recommends. That's a damn good start to learning the basics... forces you to learn it if you wanna legally use these areas. Do you want to learn?
Any miner worth his salt knows the basics of land status research and abides/is protected by the mining laws of 1872. These are things you need to know (unless you're content sucking hind tit).
Explore your public lands for Gold & Gems and stake a claim. That's how real miners operate and what we strive to teach here. Colorado is an exceptional state to do this in and we're lucky to live here. Strongly suggest that you take advantage if you're serious about it. Consider this site an oasis if that's your prerogative. We're here to help.

[Troy#1]

Hi Troy and welcome to CP!

My suggestion is to learn the nuances of land status research so that you can become a "true" prospector/small scale miner. You don't need to suck on the hind tit of a GPAA or GPOC claim... stake your own claim. I learned everything needed to do this in relatively short order from the kind folks here. I'm now a proud claim owner and know my rights very well. Land status research has become second nature.
If you were to join here at an Annual level you would be quickly introduced to the basics of land status research since all of the Annual CP areas require the user to verify the status of the BLM and NFS lands that this club recommends. That's a damn good start to learning the basics... forces you to learn it if you wanna legally use these areas. Do you want to learn?
Any miner worth his salt knows the basics of land status research and abides/is protected by the mining laws of 1872. These are things you need to know (unless you're content sucking hind tit).
Explore your public lands for Gold & Gems and stake a claim. That's how real miners operate and what we strive to teach here. Colorado is an exceptional state to do this in and we're lucky to live here. Strongly suggest that you take advantage if you're serious about it. Consider this site an oasis if that's your prerogative. We're here to help.

Yes I really want to learn and only joined the GPAA thinking the guide would be helpful but its really not and maybe find a claim that I could learn on, I would love to get my own claim and I have all the time in the world to prospect as I dont get much work around here but what kind of money is involed it getting a claim???

I would really love to have an area to learn without any worries and know that I have a chance at making something out of it one day, I have watched some of the videos you recommend from the prospecting channel and working on getting the rest of the things I need but until I at least get out and find a spot and some color I dont want to be putting to much into it.

I will join up asap cause Iam serious about this and like I said I need all the help I can get!

[swizz]

... what kind of money is involed it getting a claim???

It's not very expensive to stake your own.
If you stake your own claim the initial filing fees are in the ballpark of $200. +/-
After that you are responsible for paying annual filing fees to legally maintain ownership of the claim. If you miss the annual deadline (Aug 31)... you lose the claim.
Basically, there are two methods of filing annually for an individual Location Claim once you own it:
1) Provide a statement of (at least $100 worth) maintenance performed on that land and pay $10 per year
2) Use Annual Maint Fee Waiver option and pay $140 per year
You can use either option each year. They require that you pay the $140 (included in that $200 +/- estimate) for your initial filing but it's up to the claim owner after that.
I prefer to pay the $140 per year which leaves no legal room for maintenance scrutiny from the land mgmt agency (typically NFS or BLM). For myself and many claim owners this is a wise decision. Many others prefer the $10 annual route but in my opinion.... it leaves your flanks exposed.

[Troy#1]

It's not very expensive to stake your own.
If you stake your own claim the initial filing fees are in the ballpark of $200. +/-
After that you are responsible for paying annual filing fees to legally maintain ownership of the claim. If you miss the annual deadline (Aug 31)... you lose the claim.
Basically, there are two methods of filing annually for an individual Location Claim once you own it:
1) Provide a statement of (at least $100 worth) maintenance performed on that land and pay $10 per year
2) Use Annual Maint Fee Waiver option and pay $140 per year
You can use either option each year. They require that you pay the $140 (included in that $200 +/- estimate) for your initial filing but it's up to the claim owner after that.
I prefer to pay the $140 per year which leaves no legal room for maintenance scrutiny from the land mgmt agency (typically NFS or BLM). For myself and many claim owners this is a wise decision. Many others prefer the $10 annual route but in my opinion.... it leaves your flanks exposed.

Wow I had no idea it was that cheap Iam sure theres got to be alot of paperwork BS to deal with though?
I would really love that more than anything so Iam down to pay for it but finding the right spot seems like the hard part!

Thanks for letting me know Swizz!

[swizz]

... theres got to be alot of paperwork BS to deal with though?

No, it's not too excessive. All has to be done right and in proper order though.

[Troy#1]

No, it's not too excessive. All has to be done right and in proper order though.

I think I read somewhere on here that being a member they give you areas to look into that are unclaimed if so would they help in any of the paperwork aspects as well, dont want to sound like I cant do anything on my own but dont want to be one to do things wrong ether!

[swizz]

I think I read somewhere on here that being a member they give you areas to look into that are unclaimed if so would they help in any of the paperwork aspects as well...

No.
If you are a club member you will receive some additional help through the process of finding and staking your own researched location if needed. Dan didn't research club areas to drop them in your lap and stake claim on. Good Lord, what would you learn from that... how to steal someone else's homework?
The CP club researched areas are not provided for you to walk up and stake claim upon.
As a Lifetime member I can testify that Dan helped be tremendously through the learning process while I was staking and filing my own claim... which I researched on my own. As a benefit of being a Lifetime Member he consulted me one-on-one outside of the forums, tirelessly. This was EXTREMELY educational and valuable to me when I needed it the most. He did not do any filing or ground work FOR me... instead verbally guided me through the process when needed and saw to it that I physically did everything on my own. He is a very knowledgeable consultant who possesses a wealth of knowledge in this arena. It was an incredible learning experience for me and I'm eternally grateful.
The CP researched areas are there to help you learn how to verify land status and get some goodies while you're at it. These areas provide users the first true steps to truly realize their rights and begin learning the actual Small Scale Mining process. Using the CP club researched areas forces you to learn how to verify land status. These areas need to be verified prior to each club member's use. I can't reiterate how important this is. EACH time a member uses a CP Club researched area they must first verify that it is still legal to prospect there.... EACH and every time... land status is subject to change every day, that is why. Once the land status verification research skill is mastered... many new doors are opened and the sky is the limit. This skill is very basic and NOT hard to utilize. It is possibly the most basic skill and certainly a prerequisite to Small Scale Mining.

We're here to help you learn how to legitimize your own discovered locations and stake claim, as a real Small Scale Miner does.
Lot's of people like to say "all of the good areas are already taken". Nothing could be more bullshit than that.... it's the lazy man's swan song. Colorado is rich in unclaimed and undiscovered areas that are claim-worthy. Ambition, education, and research will reveal rich areas worthy of claim throughout the state if one is willing to get off their ass and dig in. Is this hard work? You bet, great things don't come easy. Worthwhile? Yes.... tenfold!
I'm not pegging you as a person with a lazy man's attitude/approach because you seem sincere in motivation.... and there's also nothing wrong with a person who just wants to keep it simple and play at designated recreational prospecting areas (although they are not true Small Scale Miners and do not enjoy the same rights). Most real Small Scale Miners would prefer that recreational hobby users stay in those recreational areas, do their thing, enjoy their "hobby", and live happily ever after. I personally prefer to mine for-real (much more than a casual hobby) and don't fault others for their choices unless it is damaging to Mining rights and Federal rights of Small Scale Mining... and in some cases uneducated recreational users can cause damage to the public perception of actual Small Scale Mining... that's when it pisses off the Commercial and Small Scale Miner.
Just telling it like it is and hope I'm not coming off as being too brash. I'm a bit passionate about this.

[Troy#1]

No.
If you are a club member you will receive some additional help through the process of finding and staking your own researched location if needed. Dan didn't research club areas to drop them in your lap and stake claim on. Good Lord, what would you learn from that... how to steal someone else's homework?
The CP club researched areas are not provided for you to walk up and stake claim upon.
As a Lifetime member I can testify that Dan helped be tremendously through the learning process while I was staking and filing my own claim... which I researched on my own. As a benefit of being a Lifetime Member he consulted me one-on-one outside of the forums, tirelessly. This was EXTREMELY educational and valuable to me when I needed it the most. He did not do any filing or ground work FOR me... instead verbally guided me through the process when needed and saw to it that I physically did everything on my own. He is a very knowledgeable consultant who possesses a wealth of knowledge in this arena. It was an incredible learning experience for me and I'm eternally grateful.
The CP researched areas are there to help you learn how to verify land status and get some goodies while you're at it. These areas provide users the first true steps to truly realize their rights and begin learning the actual Small Scale Mining process. Using the CP club researched areas forces you to learn how to verify land status. These areas need to be verified prior to each club member's use. I can't reiterate how important this is. EACH time a member uses a CP Club researched area they must first verify that it is still legal to prospect there.... EACH and every time... land status is subject to change every day, that is why. Once the land status verification research skill is mastered... many new doors are opened and the sky is the limit. This skill is very basic and NOT hard to utilize. It is possibly the most basic skill and certainly a prerequisite to Small Scale Mining.

We're here to help you learn how to legitimize your own discovered locations and stake claim, as a real Small Scale Miner does.
Lot's of people like to say "all of the good areas are already taken". Nothing could be more bullshit than that.... it's the lazy man's swan song. Colorado is rich in unclaimed and undiscovered areas that are claim-worthy. Ambition, education, and research will reveal rich areas worthy of claim throughout the state if one is willing to get off their ass and dig in. Is this hard work? You bet, great things don't come easy. Worthwhile? Yes.... tenfold!
I'm not pegging you as a person with a lazy man's attitude/approach because you seem sincere in motivation.... and there's also nothing wrong with a person who just wants to keep it simple and play at designated recreational prospecting areas (although they are not true Small Scale Miners and do not enjoy the same rights). Most real Small Scale Miners would prefer that recreational hobby users stay in those recreational areas, do their thing, enjoy their "hobby", and live happily ever after. I personally prefer to mine for-real (much more than a casual hobby) and don't fault others for their choices unless it is damaging to Mining rights and Federal rights of Small Scale Mining... and in some cases uneducated recreational users can cause damage to the public perception of actual Small Scale Mining... that's when it pisses off the Commercial and Small Scale Miner.
Just telling it like it is and hope I'm not coming off as being too brash. I'm a bit passionate about this.

Of course not I understand completely if you dont have passion for what you do why do it!

What would one need to get started verifying land status and would you recommend a GPS unit to find the spots your looking for?

Thanks for the help!! everyone here is amazing