CompuServe Thread

Hi All- Having only recently gotten some time to hang around here again, and realizing I'm probably flogging a deceased equine (G) (and for the record, as a polite rockhound, I'm against closing public lands for collectors…) but a few observations from my experience: Depending on the size of the public land, there is likely in many cases to be private land nearby with the same types of mineral/fossil. You already can't collect in National Parks. So go next door. I met a REALLY decent cowpoke outside of the Badlands, SD, who showed me where all the turtle bones were and let us swim in his part of the river, and shot the breeze with us over lemonade. All because I asked permission. Last summer in Colo., I went to get bug fossils. NOT in the park. But the Bug Lady right outside the park will let you dig for a reasonable fee. There are sometimes alternatives. (Yes, I realize that the diamond deposit in the middle of a 9 million acre patch of land is going to be a tough one. That's one reason I'm against closing public land.) Second, on the subject of insurance/liability….. I would *love* to see a release form uploaded here…… And to whip out a *second* deceased equine to flog (heh, heh……), all but two of the mines in Franklin are closed for exactly this reason. The owners will *NOT* budge, and enforce the NO TRESPASSING rules. It's a major factor……. Finally, the *private* owners of gold claims in Colo. enforce their own rules, with their own six shooters. It is better to ask permission….. Point being in all cases that we don't *want* this evil thing, but there *are* alternatives in many cases. (And yes, I think Sue the T. Rex would look great on my lawn. (Hee!)) Ok, EndDeceasedEquineFlog……….JD