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[Outdoorsman]

It is not normally a thing one does in the winter, but Gold fever can strike anytime. I started to come down with it near Christmas time. I had told an arrowhead hunting buddy this last summer that Gold was deposited in Ohio during its glaciation. Southwest Ohio Has a good concentration, so much so that one could make a living off of going out. My dad told me this about ten years ago and I stored it away in my useless information file. At that time gold was $300 an ounce, now it is hovering around $1100 an oz. The living one can make for themselves have gotten a lot better it would seem. My friend started panning and with only going out a handful of times has around 1/2 ounce. He showed it to me and I started to do my homework. Pretty soon I could not just research, I had to find some for myself. The first gold I found was the first of this year and I have found gold every time I have been out since. The cold has made it hard but hasn't stopped me. My trips are short because everything but what is under flowing water is frozen solid and I get pretty wet in the process. I am going to join The GPAA this year, They have a wealth of information and claims all over the country. I also plan on going to the DNR district 5 headquarters next week to see what the legal aspects of public land prospecting are since I have just been on private land. If you are interested is small time prospecting It can be very cheap if not profitable. I have spent more in gas than tools and probably have enough gold to pay for both. I still have not put in enough hours yet to make a full warm weather day of prospecting. If I were to buy or make a sluice box I could compound my finds even more. let me know if you are interested, I can help out some, at least get you going in the right direction.

[bonebuster]

Howdy to ya I hunt arrowheads myself and have thought of hunting gold also.Even thought about a submersible metal detector ,but had my doughts.I live not even a mile from district 5 you are talking about Xenia Ohio right .Would like to talk more .About have found sum gems that were glacial deposits in Greene county.

[Outdoorsman]

Yeah the one in Xenia. It has been some time since I have been there. I Think if you enjoy arrowhead hunting you would probably like prospecting as well. Prospecting is pretty easy. Gold is lazy and predictable. At around 19 times heavier than water it can't really hide from those who know where to look. The tools needed to start are basic. The first is a pan. Second is a snuffer bottle, it helps collect the small stuff and protect it and a shovel and bucket gets you started. The most important tool is a good understanding of gold's properties. I said that gold was lazy, It only moves when it forced. It also tends to settle behind the big rocks and stumps in the low pressure waters It also drops to the bottom of your pan and tends to lag behind all other things in the pan. lead also has a high specific gravity at 11 or so times the same volume of water. I have a nice collection of natural pieces and lots of buckshot. Gems also show up, I have hundreds of garnet chips and one large enough to be faceted. Rubies also found around here. Two diamonds have been found in Ohio, maybe more. Most don't know what they are looking for and since there is a chance one might check out what natural diamonds look like. Pretty cool stuff, lots of geometrical variances. I have also found lots of information in video form. just type in "finding gold" or something to that effect. some videos are not as good as others but each one might have something to take from it.

[bonebuster]

what did district 5 have to say.something good i hope. when u say behind u r reffering to on objects down stream side ? is this right.i think there is a prospectors store on 73 in waynesville , do u know if  i'm right?

[Outdoorsman]

I have yet to go, so far this week I have had to be on the road. In the next few days I will be there. Yes, behind=downstream side. I hadn't heard of a prospectors store but I am going to check it out and see if there is one. I did go out to the Caesars creek flea market on 73. In years before a guy had metal detectors and whatnot but he was no longer there. I figured I could pick his brain and see if he had any used gold search coils for my metal detector. Well, I am getting off of here to plan this pilgrimage to district 5.

[Outdoorsman]

I haven't got much information yet. I went to District 5 today and they had some numbers to call. After some phone tag I did get in touch with a guy who seemed to know some things. I am still waiting for a call back. I am kinda confused by the wording of what he said but i will try to clear that all up when I talk to him next. I never got anything set in stone so I will keep digging so to speak until I can give you some firm information. so far though it does looks good on private land with permission, a small time hobbyist probably will not break any rules doing what they do. I asked specifically about public river access and if it would be legal to hunt there, he is going to ask around and see what info he can get. like a lot  of information I have found it seems to be scattered between a bunch of people.

[bonebuster]

should be on 73 just before you cross 48 think its by solar shades and silver spur, but dont hold me two it .if i am right plz let me know?

[Outdoorsman]

My wife and I went to go check the prospecting store out today. It is closed sundays so I am not sure what all they have. I did get the website. www.treasurehunters-supply.com. still waiting for some information to come in the mail and for a few calls from odnr.

[Outdoorsman]

Today I got to spend some time and money at that treasure hunter's store. They seem like a good place to get some things, online still seems better for others. I did buy a sluice. It was $120 but you would be hard pressed to find it for that online after shipping. I also got a 1/4 in. classifier. They a good selection of pans and a multi-piece garret kit there and a few types of sluices. They were nice and knowledgeable about metal detecting and gold prospecting, just don't expect them to tell you where to find the treasure unless you want vague and general answers.

I have found that no one knows of anything illegal about hobbyist prospecting. I got a number for the army corps of engineers I expect the same thing, "don't divert waters, don't use machines and don't leave signs of your presence" if you want to look on public land you need to figure out who is in charge of it and ask permission. If you have a stream or creek running on your property you can do anything you want within reason. it wouldn't hurt to get written permission from land owners like hunting. I have no clue about the true laws for dredge use in Ohio but since I don't plan on buying one while I live in Ohio I am cool with my ignorance. With all things taken into consideration I only need to find 1/8 of an ounce of gold before I have made all my money back, not bad since I already have a start and now can find it easier. The areas of possible gold are in the se corner of warren co, sw corner of Clinton co, lower half of highland co, nw tip of Adams co, most of brown county, (All of Clermont co (SUPPOSEDLY ONE OF THE BEST PLACES)) all of Hamilton co in ross county. Basically it is all of sw ohio. I found a glacial map of ohio and a gold find map of ohio and layered it with my computer, overlapping to show more detail for each.

[bonebuster]

do you know if the prospecting is any good in our area [greene & clinton county] or how fair from us should i have to travel.

[Outdoorsman]

You would have to check. The possibility of gold in Greene is there, not sure the concentration but totally worth a shot. I personally have found gold in Clinton, also Warren and highland. I still have yet to get a full day out, I can only get out for about a half hour in this snowy weather. The picture is two maps I found, I think ODNR released both. hope it helps.

[bonebuster]

gonna try my hand at it as soon as it warms up.making a sift ,got a metal detector and getting sum pan's soon. looking at make it your self sluice box. never looked for it ever and the idea has infested my head ,not really just kinda.cabin fever maybe.lol

[Outdoorsman]

Gold fever and cabin fever have been known to kill when they effect a person at the same time. Those last nasty snowfalls drove me to the edge. I got my Cabela's spring catalog in the mail Friday, I shed a single tear of joy. let me know how you do. I will keep you posted too.

[RichieElam]

what are gold prices these days?

[Outdoorsman]

Gold has been around $1,100/oz for a while now. Metals in the platinum group and silver can also be found in very limited amounts around here. Silver isn't too expensive at $17.50/oz but still worth keeping if you find and platinum goes for around $1,500/oz+.

[bonebuster]

I,m constructing my own sluice right now.have pans ,metal detector and think i can start in at least 6 places around my home town.did have a wheat grain size nug of platnum found 2 years ago can not find it now ,but can go right to where i found it. if you would like to get together some time .maybe we could pick each others brain.I also like to bow fish when i go( have 2 bows rigged up)getting my boat taggs renewed soon it help me carry gear upstream alot easier and it carries my beer too .hehe made bucket sift also I'm so ready

[Outdoorsman]

been a busy week. Took my Hunter's Education instructors course last weekend. Long but fun, good bunch off guys. Getting my certification letter soon I hope, aced the test and have no criminal background so it should be a few signatures away. Monday I got to go out metal detecting and found my first silver coin. picture below during the rest of the week I broke my little shovel and killed six 9volt batteries detecting. This morning I found my first dollar coin, a Susan B. Anthony. I just got permission to go to an old cabin site and check it out. Our tax returns came back so I think I am going to buy arrows for my bow, I have everything I need to bow fish but them and practice. I have wanted to get out prospecting but the rivers are swollen and I want no part of that. Once I get out there I will let you know whats what.

[bonebuster]

hey that is great your going for your instructor course .my youngest son has signed up 3 times to take his test and they cancled with no notice we showed up three times to nothing his lil feeling got hurt.would love to get my instructors coures my self.I think what youve done is great and hope everything is in your favor the next generation is our future.would love to promote and help set up your first class betwween my son ,nephews and neighbor kids I'm sure I could fill up a good size class for you.plz let me know how it goes for you . that coin was a nice find ,last time I took a detector around an old cabin and barn I found merc dimes and a hand forged axe head in good condition .good luck an keep it groove'n

[Outdoorsman]

Not sure when the first class will be yet. I will be teaching with my dad who has done it for several years now and probably a few other nice guys. I am sorry about the classes being canceled, That is pretty common in some areas and one reason I volunteered. Last year we had people drive their kids two hours to the class, from all over Ohio. When I do know when the class will be I will let you know so you can sign em up for it. The classes will be taught in two places in the Cowan lake area for sure and we may scout new locations inside Wilmington for later class and home study courses.

[bonebuster]

found sum

[Outdoorsman]

I was on a quest yesterday to find gold in a stream I hadn't found any in yet. I figured the last time I was there I didn't go deep enough and I was right. I had to get about a foot and a half down before things started to pop up. loads of garnets including a vibrant yellow one. found some lead shot as well. After I found some gold I expanded the hole and while clearing the larger rocks out of the pan I found an arrowhead. since I was just looking for evidence of gold and found it I started to use my 1/2 classifier to sift through some bigger rocks in case some more arrowheads were in there. I didn't find any more but it got me thinking. I think i will make a big sifting box like archeologists use to search for artifacts in the creeks and streams. figure it may be worth a shot.

[bonebuster]

make yourself a rocker box. a bigger sift would definitely work. both are kinda big . thanks for starting this subject you got me started on something the kids are really enjoying. I found a bird point in my second bucket. pay attention to the big stone me and some friends at differ time found stone axes . I still have mine but my buddy got over 4 grand for his real nice full groove axe. look for books bye laire hothem and that will help you get familiar with the many differ artifact .

[Outdoorsman]

no problem and thank you as well. Finding out about the prospecting store on 73 save me money and time. I am just glad to be able to share a new passion of mine with someone.

[bonebuster]

would like 2 get with you sometime after it gets a lil warmer and see if we might pass some know how back n forth . can never learn to much.not sure if what i found is the real thing or not only able to trust the detector and what it tells me. now small garnets are in every pan it seems . anyway toss it around an hit me back

[Outdoorsman]

I would like to get together, I get up that way every now and again. I have a pretty good selection of gold now that I know to be genuine. If we can meet at my cousins store in Xenia I might be able to hook up my microscope up to one of his plasma screens and we can look at everything with some intense magnification. I have been meaning to do that anyway. I think once I join the gppa I can have guests with me at the claims, if that is the case I would invite you out with us. That might be a little while ahead though. Some land my wife and I are trying to rent has gold on it and is where I panned out the arrowhead, if we get it I plan on collecting ever spec of gold in the stream and wouldn't mind company. I also have some new public land scouted out for mushrooms and a few places I hope they plow this year for arrowheads. Plenty of chances to get together very soon.

[bonebuster]

what is the name of the store if u dont mind me asking .

[Outdoorsman]

treasure hunter's supply, their website is www.treasurehunters-supply.com

[bonebuster]

no sir , I told about them . I was asking about ur cousins store in Xenia . sorry .

[Outdoorsman]

"Game it up" it hasn't opened just yet. think they made the front page of the Xenia gazette either today or yesterday. it is kinda between lowes and walmart.

[bonebuster]

pass iy everyday .only 4 blocks or so away . thats cool. just let me know .thnx

[bonebuster]

gonna take a trip down the mad river soon if u might want 2 go outdoorsman "Rickey". I also made my own vortex bowl it works great. I could make u one if u would like?

[Outdoorsman]

I have never been on the mad river, just let me know when you firm up a date and I will probably be able to make it. The vortex bowl intrigues me. I am getting back into gold mode since the morels have kinda slowed down in my spots. Yeah Ricky is the name I go by, I gave up on introducing myself as anything else a long time ago. It is much better than other nicknames for Richard I have been called.

[bonebuster]

the vortex is cool. i put a flake in with 3 teaspoons of well classified material & got it back plus 2

[Outdoorsman]

That is really cool, I have saved the majority of the black sand that I have collected so far. I would love to see if I missed any gold.

[bonebuster]

should be getting tags 4 the boat today.mad river here i cum

[bonebuster]

i will show u how 2 make one u will be disgusted at how easy versus huw much the want for the darn thing

[becky noel]

Thanks for information

[bonebuster]

my 11 ft sluice is in operation ,vortex bowl and taggs on the boat . ready to float on. hola at me Ricki

[bonebuster]

found a 2.8 gram nugget of silver on memorial day . I now its not worth much ,but it was a cool rush anyway . kids got excited for it was a whole family effort with good results.

[vivan]

I Think if you enjoy arrowhead hunting you would probably like prospecting as well. Prospecting is pretty easy. Gold is lazy and predictable. At around 19 times heavier than water it can't really hide from those who know where to look. The tools needed to start are basic. The first is a pan. Second is a snuffer bottle, it helps collect the small stuff and protect it and a shovel and bucket gets you started. The most important tool is a good understanding of gold's properties. I said that gold was lazy, It only moves when it forced. It also tends to settle behind the big rocks and stumps in the low pressure waters It also drops to the bottom of your pan and tends to lag behind all other things in the pan.

---------------------------
free games

[yogi44]

i think there is a prospectors store on 73 in waynesville , do u know if  i'm right?

[bonebuster]

yes it is across the road from the silver spur & solar shads and its run out of a storage unit their phone # is 513-897-0700

[kreams]

I hadn't heard of a prospectors store but I am going to check it out and see if there is one. I did go out to the Caesars creek flea market on 73. In years before a guy had metal detectors and whatnot but he was no longer there.

[bonebuster]

has anyone found any silver ? if so how or who do you deal with to sell an or have its purity tested.really have a need to know. might any of yall have sum nitric acid to test silver 4 purity.i know its monitary value is growing and when its found in native nugget form its value blows throw the roof.

[pixel]

I have yet to go, so far this week I have had to be on the road.