Hunting for gold nuggets in the West?

[Florida-Hunter]

Just curious if anyone has done any hunting for gold nuggets near streams out West in the U.S. or elsewhere? I grew up in Colorado... Actually panned for gold a few times, looong before I ever owned a metal detector... It probably shaped me early in my love for treasure hunting!

I'd love to plan a trip out west with a nice gold hunting detector to look for gold nuggets one of these days!!

 

[salmonriverhotrock]

Here in Idaho where I'm at on the Salmon River, I've yet to find any Gold with a metal detector but on the river, I can pan it in micro form. I've found tiny lead bird shot and boot tacks along with the usual Hot and Cold rocks and trash but no Gold Nuggets, not even a tiny picker. There is one I know of that missed a tiny picker with his Gold Bug machine but got it with a Vac-Pack out of a crevice he had previously checked.

What I would suggest is you get familiar with the Prospecting regulations of BLM and the USFS before you get to wild. Another is, you may want to just join the GPAA that has Claims the Members can hunt so to avoid the Federal crap. The section of Salmon River I'm on has a Recreation Dredge season that is handled by the Idaho Dept. of Water but now the EPA is getting in the middle of it all and you must get a permit from them as well though I think it's still in the Drafting stage. After all these years, they claim the Recreation Dredgers were Violating the Clean Water Act by not having their permission. MORE worthless GOVERNMENT getting in the way of THE PEOPLE. Anyhow, I know a retired gentleman that seems to do quite well electronic nugget hunting in the two Clubs he is a member.

Hope you have more Luck than I've had.