BLM Notice

The only thing I see here that could become an issue down the road is BLM setting a precedent that mechanical extraction methods are not considered recreational which could effect much more than just this one area.

the BLM/USFS/wacoenviromentalists keep using that word "recreational" to avoid/bypass the 1872 mining laws! and we keep falling for it! why would anyone want tobe classified as a "recreationalist" and be exempt from the 1866/1872 mining law rights and protection! NOWHERE in the 1866/1872 mining laws do they refer to any "recreationalist" so by not exactly stateing, they then exclude you from ANY protection if you admidt to being a "recreationalist"! think about it, because there just isnt any other way!

Thanks for posting the new change to the special rules for that designated area Astrobleme. Sad to see it get further restricted from poor prospecting diligence/conduct.

Unfortunately there still seems to be quite a few folks confused about the Cache creek "special designated" area and the difference between a recreational use and a prospecting right.
In these specially designated areas like the Arkansas headwater recreational area, the district ranger has been delegated the authority to make any special rules they deem needed for that specific area only. The "special rules" do not apply outside of that area nor would it set a precedence as I see it for real mining or claim owners.
Recreational use is not a right and can be regulated to death! Proof is in the puddin' for that right here!
Anyone "prospecting" in an area they know is minerally withdrawn (can not be claimed) by the weekend or on vacation is clearly a "recreational" use. Claim owners are just that, owners/miners 365/year on their own claims or leased for a living/profit, not fun.

Now I could yammer on and on here with link after link I've tracked down of my previous postings on the subject in the past, but really the information anyone needs to buff up on this topic can be found by just simply doing a search on this forum (upper right on every page) for a few keywords or phrases such as......

Arkansas recreational

Delegated authority

Speically designated

Or even just the word recreational

Now hopefully many wish to really know the differences and actually do some searches/reading but it comes down to one thing and one thing only....
YOUR KNOWLEDGE IN THE FIELD DIRECTLY AFFECTS YOUR SUCCESS! No club, organization etc is going to be there to do it for you. Act accordingly and be confident in your knowledge of your rights!

Good luck prospecting everyone.....DIG IN!

CP

AHMEN!!!! some people just cant get it through their head about that word "recreational" VRS. your Congressionally given RIGHT! thankyou!

Everyone needs to remember to fill in their dig holes!!

It doesn't hurt to bring a trash bag either, to carry out yours, and that of other not so caring individuals.

AHMEN!

It is always a good idea to document your actions including trash pickup. Most folks have a cell phone with a built-in camera with them or they could get a cheap digital camera for field use. So I'd suggest taking pictures of the "public" trash before cleaning it up. That kind of evidence could be very helpful some time in the future if questioned about your activities on public lands.

You can identify a patriot by their actions.....


ASTROBLEME

yep you nailed that solution! always backup your actions with proof rather than talk! then you can say,when stopped, "heres what i did today! what did you do today other than stop me from cleaning up the trash you probley left here!"

I guess one can argue about 'recreational' and not being a 'right'.

I find that to be pretty bogus. The federal government is not even supposed to own all this land that it does. It is more power hungry #### as far as I am concerned.

I agree, but, We the people own the land, but the government agencies manage it for the people, sad part we don't always get to make up the rules for use unless you have your hand in the back pockets of the politicians who get the rules made up. and that is getting harder and harder for the people.

Right guys, we do own the lands and they (BLM/FS) are admin agencies working for us on our tax dollars. But our rights as citizens are for access to use the lands. Specific activities like (biking, hiking, hunting, fishing, rafting, or "recreating") are all activities many of us do during our access of those lands but those specific "recreational activities" are not "rights",
Not to worry about disagreeing, that's what the forums are for folks....discussions like this that everyone can benefit from in many ways with great info.
Good work digging into the info everyone!

Here's a copy of a post on Cache Creek I made on the GPAA forum.

Here's a trip to Cache Creek right after it opened. Cache Creek later was diverted more so there was a lot more water in the small stream I was panning in.
http://golddredgervideo.com/prospecting/cachecreek.wmv

Our favorite highbanking spot is at Dennis O'Niels private property at Balltown. I don't know if thats still available.
http://golddredgervideo.com/prospecting/ca...ek2006part3.wmv
http://golddredgervideo.com/prospecting/cachecreekpart4.wmv

Take a trip to the Gold Basin Mine in 2004.
http://golddredgervideo.com/prospecting/lostcanyonhigh.wmv

Back in 2005.
http://golddredgervideo.com/prospecting/goldbasin05.wmv

After that, travel up the mountain from the mine.
http://golddredgervideo.com/prospecting/pr...highcountry.wmv

Leonard
http://golddredgervideo.com/menu.htm

Since the Gold Basin came up I thought I'd let everyone know that he is no longer offering daily dig rates to the public. I made the trek up there last year and spoke with him for a few minutes. They were working it themselves and he made it quite clear that the pay to dig thing was no longer happening.