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Securing the workings from the public
Coalbunny
post Dec 16 2014, 11:00 PM
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As I already said in FaceBook....
Ok, I have a few questions. Let me say in advance that it has been years since I last held a lease on a claim, always leased claims, never having staked one myself. With that said, I am looking at staking a claim or two. Now considering how the laws have changed and what I have seen and experienced, I am concerned over how to secure my equipment.

In discussion with a sheriff's deputy, anyone messing with my stuff while it's on my claim, is vandalism at the least and criminal mischief and possibly theft at the most. So I figure I'll get some trail cameras to keep an eye on the stuff.

My thoughts are, while I'm there, have the worksite (IOW not the entire claim) cordoned off with an easily visible rope barrier with a few signs saying "stay out", and include in that "staging areas" for use and parking, and have those cordoned off as well. I see a minimal cost here, and possibly worth the expense. Included in the signage I am thinking a sign saying "leave the miners alone" as I have encountered people that just don't care. I know the next time I leave my sluicebox in the water and go "take care of mother nature" and come back only to find some schmuck picking in my box...I know what I'd like to do, but then I also want to avoid getting 20+ years up-state.

I was originally thinking of a 50 meter radius, but that may not be proper. So I'm thinking just the immediate area around the equipment and worksite, specifically the active workings, and then a 50 meter radius around those. So far it seems it's permissible, to keep unauthorized people away.

And as discussed in FB, if someone is so upset they can't camp there, there's tens of thousands of acres of available BLM land in the immediate area then can camp on. If the want to hunt, wait until hunting season. If they wanna fish, good luck as I have been watching one particular creek there and I have never seen a fish there, nor has the ichthyologist with the State (though I will double check with him on this).

However, I am serious about the "DO NOT DISTURB THE MINERS" sign.

So I'm asking you guys for advice in dealing with this stuff in today's world.


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Crusty
post Dec 17 2014, 07:07 AM
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If you're in a "high traffic" area, chances are your biggest problem is from curious people who stumble upon your operation and want to poke around and see what's going on. A simple rope barrier should be enough to deter them. Your sign might work, or make it even more humorous and put "Don't feed the miners." Or if you want to be serious, get the signs that let them know it is a federal offense to interfere with mining operations.

If you come back and someone is digging in your sluice, call the Sherriff



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Caveman
post Dec 17 2014, 12:18 PM
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Carl, several options, one of which I will mention, as the others probably are not feasible for you....

A steel strong box storage locker (Truck box, etc), anchored to either the ground (cement, pole, and chain) or a tree (chain). Put or weld in 200lbs of lead or steel weight to make it practically immobile for 1 person. That can be used for tool/equipment storage - and are considered "temporary" which will please the USFS/BLM types. For other ideas, see Swizz's and others posts in Swizz'z "My Mining Update", as this was just discussed. Good Luck on securing that claim!


Edit: You can really secure the box to the ground by digging 4 corner holes that would sit inside the footprint of the box, fill with concrete, set anchor bolts, drill appropriate holes in the box, and bolt the darn thing down. Then they would need a torch to get inside of it, or a piece of heavy equipment to move it.


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Caveman
post Dec 17 2014, 12:29 PM
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This is what I'm talking about....

http://www.grainger.com/category/jobsite-b.../ecatalog/N-998

This would work quite well, for tools I think.....

http://www.zoro.com/i/G4021893/?utm_source...CFSyZMgodECAAjQ

Less expensive than on Grainger......


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Coalbunny
post Dec 18 2014, 02:15 AM
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No, I think you misunderstand, Caveman. Crusty has a pretty good idea of what I'm talking about. The rope barrier will be there when I'm there, and I'm looking at 1-2 week stints. Possibly. It's not far from home, less than 30 minutes away, one way. However when I go, I'm looking at hauling equipment to it. 30 minutes or so one way, about an hour round trip. Likely two trips there, and three coming back. So that's about 1-1/2 hours road time getting everything there, 2-1/2 getting everything home. Doing that in one day would be impossible. 4 hours road time...and how long working?

So I figure when I'm there working the claim, have the rope barrier and signs up. I also know that while I'm there I may have to make a trip or two to town or the county seat (both about the same distance, 30-40 minutes). So having rope barriers, signs, and game cameras watching the area protects my stuff better than if I just left the stuff sit, have a sign or two and a camera.

The logic the deputy & I agreed on is just a sign and a camera, and if anyone takes anything and it's a slap on the wrist at best because they're just curious. But with a visible barrier & signs with camera, anything happens and since the perp knew they were where they were not supposed to be, curiosity just flew out the window.

I know the camera system I prefer would not be cheap. Game cameras is good, but I think a back up camera would be good as well. One of those that runs off of a 12v battery and transmits to your smartphone when someone trips it. I dunno.


It's all speculation for now. Just looking at what I may end up facing.


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If they were they'd have eaten the snake instead of the apple and we'd still be in heaven....
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Crusty
post Dec 18 2014, 09:40 AM
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Seems like it would be more than a slap on the wrist, as tampering with your mining equipment would seem to be interfering with your mining operation.


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fenixsmom
post Dec 18 2014, 09:55 AM
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With cameras and signs you can nail them with trespassing within 100 ft of a mining operations, criminal mischief, mineral theft and probably a felony theft if they stole your equipment. My father is a former Douglas Cty. Sheriff's deputy as well as a prospector. I'll ask him what theycan be charged with upon being caught with cameras within the cordoned area around your "pit".
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Caveman
post Dec 18 2014, 10:34 AM
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Ah, I thought it was further away than that. The bin would be great security for short term tool storage, though. But if you have a trailer, that takes care of storage, too. It also depends on how much storage you need - sluice/power sluice/high banker/dredge (or combo unit), pump, digging tools, and maybe a tent would be all that would fit in it - and for the scenario you described, it's not worth it. Chris's location is different, and longer term storage is what he needs there, plus more of it. My son-in-law used one of these when he was contracting, but he had a 2 hour commute to the jobsite, so multiple trips was out of the question.

A rope barrier with signs works, and crossing that makes it criminal trespass, because crossing that barrier shows "intent" - whether or not they are just curious, they are knowingly trespassing - and the cameras provide the proof needed to prosecute, not to mention that they are knowingly entering an active mining site, which also has it's own set of penalties.

Good luck!


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Coalbunny
post Dec 19 2014, 04:44 AM
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QUOTE (Caveman @ Dec 18 2014, 09:34 AM) *
Ah, I thought it was further away than that. The bin would be great security for short term tool storage, though. But if you have a trailer, that takes care of storage, too. It also depends on how much storage you need - sluice/power sluice/high banker/dredge (or combo unit), pump, digging tools, and maybe a tent would be all that would fit in it - and for the scenario you described, it's not worth it. Chris's location is different, and longer term storage is what he needs there, plus more of it. My son-in-law used one of these when he was contracting, but he had a 2 hour commute to the jobsite, so multiple trips was out of the question.

A rope barrier with signs works, and crossing that makes it criminal trespass, because crossing that barrier shows "intent" - whether or not they are just curious, they are knowingly trespassing - and the cameras provide the proof needed to prosecute, not to mention that they are knowingly entering an active mining site, which also has it's own set of penalties.

Good luck!

Right now I'm asking general questions because I'm looking at several sites.
I know that from the looks of things, this is going to be expensive to start. So I have to make sure it's worth the effort.


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If they were they'd have eaten the snake instead of the apple and we'd still be in heaven....
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NewRockHounder
post Dec 19 2014, 12:54 PM
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"Signs, signs, everywhere a sign," - Ok hippie, simmer down - the signs you've stated would be great - but you can't go wrong with "trespassers will be shot on site, survivors will be shot again"

I think a rope barrier would be good also - but yer best bet for dealing with intruders (funking, yes funking, claim jumpers) is trail cameras. Catch them varmints in the act - It would also be wise to set one or two up in and around parking areas so you can get plate ID's. thumbsupsmileyanim.gif

That guy over there, no wait...

Colin


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Mineral Estate G...
post Dec 20 2014, 11:06 AM
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Example for Oregon: This, or similar POST NOTICE(s), referencing numerous Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) are found about Mineral Estates in the Jefferson Mining District boundaries.

One should be able to find similar statutes for Colorado, and elsewhere.

One would fill in Blanks; 'County' name, and County 'Recordation' number.


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