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Ahhh, Maturity. Getting a mining claim is a right of passage for the serious prospector. You start by getting your panning down (walking). You spend thousands on equipment and get proficient in most of them (puberty). And now it’s time to contemplate your passage into adulthood.
A gold claim can be the most exciting purchase made by today’s prospectors. It’s an opportunity to be able to go to a private area where you won’t be shoulder to shoulder in an area that is frequently picked over by tons and tons of other people over the years. On most claims you can camp without additional costs and only have to pay a small annual fee to the Bureau of Land Management or show proof of maintenance of your claim to waive or reduce the fee. All in all a claim can be one of the best reasons to take up prospecting in the first place.
However, a claim can be a horrible mistake as well. Picking a place that is poor in gold production. Choosing a claim that is impossible for you to realistically get to on a regular basis. Grabbing a claim that is too easily accessible and subsequently over picked by unknowing amateurs. All these can make your claim choice a poor one so that you only have two options; holding on to a claim that will cost you emotionally and make you cynical the next time an opportunity presents itself, or making you contemplate selling the claim to some other unsuspecting individual.
So when picking a claim here are a few tips to help you choose a claim that you will enjoy for many years to come.
First of all, don’t be in a rush to buy a claim. Many of the primary mistakes that I have seen was when someone had some money in their pocket and simply bought a claim because they could afford it. You should be able to research a claim before making your final payment on it.
If your buying the claim from someone then ask to test drive the claim. If someone doesn’t want you to go to the claim or do a sample panning before you buy it, raise an eyebrow. How many cars have you bought without a test drive? It’s not uncommon for someone selling a claim to want to see that you are serious about your potential purchase and not just looking to get a free day panning. Generally offering five to ten percent of the asking price is a fair trade. Simply request that any deposit be put to the total of the sale if you choose to buy the claim. Again, if the seller declines you should question why.
Next, get out to the claim and look around. You’re not breaking any laws going out and looking around at the claim. Just don’t take any minerals from the claim without permission. Your safest bet is to not bring your gold with you either unless you received permission to spot test the claim previously. Make sure the claim is easy for you to get to on a regular basis with all of your gear and equipment. If you plan on camping you should survey the area to be sure it’s safe, has plenty of room for your tents and other equipment, and check with the local state forestry department for fire restrictions and animal warnings.
Next, is the claim patented or unpatented. An unpatented claim is the more popular claim. This means that you have the mineral rights to the land, but cannot build any structure or permanent foundation on the land. A patented claim means you can build on the claim, including hooch’s, slabs for mining, and mine shafts. Just be sure to get professional help in building a mine. No amount of gold is worth your life.
Finally, before making your final purchase get out to your local BLM and make sure that the claim isn’t over claimed. Over claiming happens when two or more parties encroach or overlap, or when con artists file for a claim on an existing claim. By going to the BLM with the claim number and GPS coordinates will allow you to see if the claim is free and clear. Remember, if you purchase a claim owned by someone else first, you will lose the battle and the war if the rightful owner of the claim challenges your rights to the claim.
So take these steps to heart when choosing the claim that is right for you and you will have an awesome adventure that you can pass down through your family.
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