I think I recall reading somewhere about size regulations pertaining to prybars or spuds used for the purposes of small scale mining in Colorado (statewide?).
If my memory serves me well (rarely), I think it was "no longer than 48 inches", is this correct?
thanks

If so, get some heavy steel pipe. I doubt they can regulate "shaft extensions" or "cheater bars".

Well... the spud bar that I currently own is 63" long. I don't own a smaller one that I could add a cheater bar to.
I could cut this one down to 48" if needed, just not sure if I should do that or not.

I've never used one shorter than about 6 feet long and have never had a problem. Even if there is some rule, I'd be surprised if you would even run across anyone that knew about it. A real polite "gee mr. ranger, I'm sorry and I'll never do it again" should take care of the problem. If not, I'd bet he'd find something else to get you for, like not wearing steel toed shoes.
Leonard

My claim is on BLM land so I'm not worried about a ranger. It's not uncommon for me to see BLM personnel there though... they have been busy with beetle-kill tree mitigation on and around my claim which I'm thankful for. Hell, they manage the forestry of this mountain better than any NF or State lands that I've run across. They have never befriended, confronted, or questioned me.
We are currently on a wave "hi" back and forth basis.
Terror Alert Level: Yellow
I think I'll give it a GO and not worry too much unless someone provides information on any known bar length regulations.
Thanks.

The only place I've had a problem on our claims is mine in Boulder county near Boulder. It's Forest Service and they've asked for a NOI which I gave them and then they asked for a POO. That I started on but they wanted all kinds of crap so I dropped it. A couple of years later they notified me that if I was causing "any significant damage" I'd need a POO. I decided that the small amount of dredging I did on it caused "no visual damage" and I just go dredge there a few times a year and have had no further problem.

What do you do on your claim? We have one on the Arkansas that we dredge. At least I plan on doing this year as I have a valid permit for this year. They are changing the rules currently.
Leonard

It's a placer claim on a glacial deposit (no known lode source historically). I have a small creek running through it and several recycling ponds for processing rough. The creek is too small to dredge during normal summer/fall flows but I can operate my small Keene dredge there during spring runoff (no permit necessary) or operate with a hand sluice, recirc sluice, or highbanker the rest of the season. The deposits are pretty well spread out and not necessarily concentrated in the creekbed. Locating tertiary and alluvial deposits within the claim topography are of more interest to me. Long story short... primarily pick/shovel with various methods planned for locating optimal samples. I don't have a large mining budget so my sampling techniques this year will consist largely of core samples taken by hand power auger (gas post hole digger) and help from another miner who can run a detector. If I could afford it... I would be using refractive seismic technology at this time to narrow things down faster. Reckon I'll need to pull out 5oz the hard way this year to pull that off....
ya never know...

I've never heard of a restriction like that either Swizz. If it's a hand carried piece then I would not be concerned about it we've used our 6ft rock bar many times in the field although we dread even taking it out in the field because it's so dang heavy to haul out. Can't find the heater switch on it either for turning down the heater!! Talk about a work out.

CP

I hear ya there! Mine probably weighs around 30lbs.