Big Boys Hobbies

Detecting in a National Forest - tips?

Jeepfreak81

Jeepfreak81

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 13, 2018
Messages
334
Location
Northern NH
I know this comes up from time to time and I'm not asking if it's allowed because I read the regulations and yes, it is and no i don't need to ask anyone.

That being said, a few questions come to mind. For those of you that have hunted in national forests before, where are good areas to check out? My local national forest has an area that I've frequented for camping in the past. Just little sites off the road, useable for free. They are pretty popular and there are dozens of them. I'm thinking these would be good spots?

Aside from that, what else might be worth researching or looking for? I'm allergic to people, LOL - read "avoids unnecessary contact" so I'm not looking to detect around hiking trailheads and places that people are coming and going.

One more question - when should I be concerned with ARPA? Is it mostly a common sense thing? Like obviously if I find the ark of the covenant or something, I'm not touching it and called the rangers. lol
 
1) hunt wherever yesteryear people gathered. Eg.: The recurring heavily-used camping spots, where they put their tents. The best ones are ones that ceased usage by , say 1960 (thus no clad, less foil, no tabs, etc...)

2) You're right about NFS : Not disallowed. In fact, an express allowance. Hard to argue with that eh ? Beats the heck out of merely "silent on the subject" (which I also take to mean : Not disallowed). Thus dispelling the popular myth that all federal land is a no-no.

3) As for ARPA : Sure, the "allowance" is : In-so-far as you're not in conflict with ARPA : Thus sure : You only find modern coins, RIGHT ? (How good is your math ?). But seriously now : That is realistically only invoked if you were snooping in/on obvious historic sensitive monuments. But if you're in the middle of nowhere ...... then .... :roll:
 
Tom_in_CA said:
1) hunt wherever yesteryear people gathered. Eg.: The recurring heavily-used camping spots, where they put their tents. The best ones are ones that ceased usage by , say 1960 (thus no clad, less foil, no tabs, etc...)

2) You're right about NFS : Not disallowed. In fact, an express allowance. Hard to argue with that eh ? Beats the heck out of merely "silent on the subject" (which I also take to mean : Not disallowed). Thus dispelling the popular myth that all federal land is a no-no.

3) As for ARPA : Sure, the "allowance" is : In-so-far as you're not in conflict with ARPA : Thus sure : You only find modern coins, RIGHT ? (How good is your math ?). But seriously now : That is realistically only invoked if you were snooping in/on obvious historic sensitive monuments. But if you're in the middle of nowhere ...... then .... :roll:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply - basically what I was already thinking but always nice to have some validation. This particular forest was established I think 1908, maybe I can find some old swimming holes or something as well. The campsites I'm thinking of are scattered amongst dirt roads and have been used heavily over the years. I stayed there a few times as a little kid.

I do know that in NH you can't prospect for gold except by panning and only by permit. Not that I expected to find gold but good to know if I'm asked not to say I'm looking for gold. LOL
 
In a NF, depending on your area, you may want to do some nugget detecting as well if you are in a gold bearing area.
** EDIT ** Didn't realize that local laws could prohibit prospecting in a NF... too used to being out west I guess.

I like to think that distinguishing a previously unnoticed historical site would be pretty obvious... ie you find a LOT of things
that are in a very small area, you find a things that have no business being in the area you found them, or you find old human
remains.

Actually that sounds kind of like a possible crime-scene too.
 
TheFrood said:
In a NF, depending on your area, you may want to do some nugget detecting as well if you are in a gold bearing area.
** EDIT ** Didn't realize that local laws could prohibit prospecting in a NF... too used to being out west I guess.

I like to think that distinguishing a previously unnoticed historical site would be pretty obvious... ie you find a LOT of things
that are in a very small area, you find a things that have no business being in the area you found them, or you find old human
remains.

Actually that sounds kind of like a possible crime-scene too.
Click to expand...
haha, could do some CSI work. Ya I'm not sure why we have weird gold laws, this is a gold bearing area to some extent. There were some mines in the 1800's and people still pan the rivers and find gold.
 
Jeepfreak81 said:
I know this comes up from time to time and I'm not asking if it's allowed because I read the regulations and yes, it is and no i don't need to ask anyone.

That being said, a few questions come to mind. For those of you that have hunted in national forests before, where are good areas to check out? My local national forest has an area that I've frequented for camping in the past. Just little sites off the road, useable for free. They are pretty popular and there are dozens of them. I'm thinking these would be good spots?

Aside from that, what else might be worth researching or looking for? I'm allergic to people, LOL - read "avoids unnecessary contact" so I'm not looking to detect around hiking trailheads and places that people are coming and going.

One more question - when should I be concerned with ARPA? Is it mostly a common sense thing? Like obviously if I find the ark of the covenant or something, I'm not touching it and called the rangers. lol
Click to expand...
Some of those national Forests were purchased for like 3 cents on the dollar from individual families during the Depression. I guess 3 cents per acre was better than starving. Maybe you can find old aerial photos or Maps of where those long gone house sites were located. Perhaps old steam driven drag line areas and pre W W 2 logging camps also.
 
Being in Northern NH be ever vigil for old stone walls which could signal the presence of an old home, farm, or small community. Yes, ariel maps would be a big help. I'll just bet that area is loaded with thousands of large coppers. :rofl2:
 
Jeepfreak81 said:
I know this comes up from time to time and I'm not asking if it's allowed because I read the regulations and yes, it is and no i don't need to ask anyone.

That being said, a few questions come to mind. For those of you that have hunted in national forests before, where are good areas to check out? My local national forest has an area that I've frequented for camping in the past. Just little sites off the road, useable for free. They are pretty popular and there are dozens of them. I'm thinking these would be good spots?

Aside from that, what else might be worth researching or looking for? I'm allergic to people, LOL - read "avoids unnecessary contact" so I'm not looking to detect around hiking trailheads and places that people are coming and going.

One more question - when should I be concerned with ARPA? Is it mostly a common sense thing? Like obviously if I find the ark of the covenant or something, I'm not touching it and called the rangers. lol
Click to expand...
Campgrounds and visitors center and poop stops
 
I detect in NH, I had no idea that you cannot detect in manch parks. That is crazy. I was going to hit some of those.

I wonder sometimes how channels like Not Thursday get so much access to diggable places. Seems like they all might be permissions.

Next season I am going to try to do more door knocking, seems like that is the only way to get good land to hunt on.

If anyone detects in Southern NH and wants to share their permission let me know!
 
I go camping in in the forests and deserts of so Cal frequently and I have been told by park rangers they don't care where you go except for burial grounds and historic sites
 
wolf-n-wa said:
Creeks, rivers, trails are your best options. camp sites are generally full of trash.
Click to expand...
What are you looking for when It comes to creeks and rivers? I've tried a handful and never find anything. Just random spots tho. Mostly try due to montana having such a huge diversity of gold bearing rivers... maybe I'll pickup a big nugget one day lol.
 
GTimberMT said:
What are you looking for when It comes to creeks and rivers? I've tried a handful and never find anything. Just random spots tho. Mostly try due to montana having such a huge diversity of gold bearing rivers... maybe I'll pickup a big nugget one day lol.
Click to expand...
100's of years of prospectors, fishermen, explorers, etc. generally anything you'd find anywhere else. when we pan and sluice the creeks and rivers here in Washington state we often times will find old coins in the sluice boxes. And a lot of bird shot! Creeks and rivers were also primary spots for dump sites as well so the chance of finding an old dump site is as rewarding. Just because something is not there now doesn't mean their hasn't been! Search it all and have fun.
 
wolf-n-wa said:
100's of years of prospectors, fishermen, explorers, etc. generally anything you'd find anywhere else. when we pan and sluice the creeks and rivers here in Washington state we often times will find old coins in the sluice boxes. And a lot of bird shot! Creeks and rivers were also primary spots for dump sites as well so the chance of finding an old dump site is as rewarding. Just because something is not there now doesn't mean their hasn't been! Search it all and have fun.
Click to expand...
Now that would be awesome! I'm picking up a new sluice this season along with some other this and that's. This is gonna be the year I fill a couple vials of gold lol.
 
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