There has been a lot of discussion from various angles on the nugget hunting forums lately about mining claims. Claim jumpers, claim jumpees, new clubs and organizations and the dreaded “my nugget patch got claimed” oriented discussions are prevalent.

There are always two schools of thought on the subject of mining claims and therefore two types of people. Those who file claims for whatever reason and those who do not. For those that tend to file mining claims, the game is the same. They find an area, file claim, mine it and try to keep others off it. There is no question that they have the advantage of being on the legal side of the fence when it comes to mineral rights. Still, there are disadvantages to claiming. Some people have no respect and I’ve heard it said that a discovery marker is like putting up a sign that says “dig here”. The ground and it’s contents is no longer a secret. It’s now a matter ofvisual and public record. It can be hard enough keeping the wanderers off the claim much less preventing deliberate mineral theft from those not willing to do their own legwork.

The other school of thought belongs to those who do not claim for whatever reason. Either they are inexperienced in the process of filing a mining claim and avoid it or they choose to find an area and avoid claiming in order to keep the area a secret fromvisual and public record . There can be an advantage to this method. It’s a secret. Get in and get out in a stealthy manner, maintain secrecy and nobody is the wiser. These people have a disadvantage. If someone else finds the patch, the non claimant has no say in the matter. “Hey, that’s my patch” hold no weight because the ground is open. Further, the new discoverer may opt to file a mining claim and then who is on the right side of the law? The new claimant!

So, what is the right path for the nuggetshooter? I think it depends on the situation and situations change, especially in the recent past. More and more placer claims are being filed each month and open ground can and does disappear quickly. Easy access areas that have sported a lot of open ground in the recent past are now being heavily claimed. Areas that used to be considered off the beaten track are seeing more prospectors and thus more claims. It’s no longer wise to set out without prior claims research. A prospector from the 2nd school of thought now has to seriously weigh the risks of using secrecy alone to protect their finds. Is it far enough out? Is there road access or is it a hard hike? Either way, it is certainly well worth learning to do mining claims research and understanding the mining claim filing process while keeping a pulse on the changing attitudes as more and more people change their minds about claiming.

What are your thoughts? Do you claim and why? Do you avoid it and why? Are you considering changing your methods to protect your spots?

I’m looking forward to any comments from registered goldplacer members.

 In December of 2006 we lost an extended famly member in Iraq. To this day I still as why? Why are we there? Why are the politicians so worried about political correctness? Our men and women die and we are worried about those who want to kill us, why? There is no answer as to why. Below is a man my son’s age, who lost his nephew in December and I think he has summed it up for us. Thank you Eric.

I have never posted a bulletin before,,, never felt the need. I tend to be more private and reserved. However, lately I don’t really know why, but I have felt the need to overflow, and maybe this isnt the time or place to do it, but who really cares right? So much has happened, this past year, things that have left many people like an ant that spins in circles after you step on it with no purpose or apparent direction. Life altering, gut wrenching things. Everyday, I open my email and watch it load…knowing that once again, I will have to see the name, age, and hometown, of another one of my brothers who gave his life in the line of duty. Another mother, daughter, father, son, wife, aunt, uncle, nephew, niece or cousin is already 24 hours into the pain and torment that I have seen. With a clenched jaw, I highlight the message and save it to a folder that I have marked, “Casualties” There are several hundred messages in the folder, hundreds of names that I don’t know, but for some reason I have to save them, tuck them carefully away like a folded flag, while through clenched teeth I utter another “God Damn’t” Why?
Through so many cautions, “Don’t Hate” and so many explanations…There remains no answer to the question, “why?”
But to my soldiers, my brothers on the ground, I want to let you know, that I understand the , “Why?”. I know how your heart feels right now, the sense of duty, brotherhood and honor. Watching each others backs, the teamwork, the mission. There is nothing on this earth that will ever compare to where you are and what you are doing right now. Damn the politicians, damn the media, damn the critics. You are building a country, not Iraq, but the United States. You are bringing us together…..You are saving OUR COUNTRY! Because when you set the politics aside, you can’t find a soul who doesn’t, “Support Our Troops!” The rest will be left to history.
After all of the dust has settled, and after the politicians decide which option is best, YOU WILL STILL BE SOLDIERS!… Any lost honor will be borne on the backs of lawmakers, while you, will forever carry the honor and prestige of being a United States Soldier!
Hours before a 500 lb bomb exploded under the Humvee of my nephew Seth Stanton, I told him, “Drive on , duck and cover, stay safe, I Love You!” Words that never in a million years I thought would be my last to him. And now, after so much more loss, those words have continued to ring back in my ears as a reminder. My life will never be the same, and neither will yours if you take the time to truly understand the, “Why?”
I’m just a simple guy, with a very little part in this world. But I want to let every one that reads this message know that I will do everything within my power to help any United States Soldier, from this moment until I take my last breath… Whatever it is! And as of this date, I have listed, 71 myspace friends who I know will do the same.
“DRIVE ON, DUCK AND COVER, STAY SAFE, WE LOVE YOU, AND WE KNOW THE “WHY”