Living History

      Wouldn't you think taking a trip to the origins of our great state of Montana is in store with family and friends. Bannack State Park puts on a recreation of the prospecting days of 1860-1865 for their living history section of presentations.

      You will get to have a chance to experience life as a wood worker, black smith, or panner for gold with more. The immersion in the life as it was might be a plan for you and your family to participate in outside the Bannack Days that happen in July. The history reliving comes in September and has a different approach. Watch a video of what it might be like to enjoy a living history event. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=298946557574302

      This place is the best one as it is rich in prospecting history as remnants of its history are everywhere. You can almost feel what it was like to be in a new territory where there was no law, familiar products or the luxuries others in the times took for granted. Everything had to be created on the spot and sometimes it wasn't easy. 

       Immersion in history is always a fun time. You can even come home with some gold and there are places nearby where one can pan too. Check out this site for a video on what you can find on history days. https://www.krtv.com/brand-spotlight/montana-state-parks/bannack-living-history-free-4-day-event

       Governor Steve Bullock just announced: July 17: Today, I signed an Executive Order creating the Get Outdoors Montana Advisory Council that will guide the efforts of my Office of Outdoor Recreation as we continue to enhance Montana’s outdoor recreation economy.
      Montana is rich in outdoor recreation experience – making it the perfect place for recreation-based industries to thrive and for businesses to grow, while providing employees a way of life that cannot be manufactured.
      The Get Outdoors Montana Advisory Council will support the mission of the Office of Outdoor Recreation, which I established in 2017 to grow and enhance the state’s $7.1 billion outdoor recreation economy that supports over 70,000 direct jobs.
      The Council will provide direct perspective and feedback through active communication, resources and data on recreation industry topics, and feedback for strategic action plans.
       I encourage interested Montanans to apply to serve on the Get Outdoors Montana Advisory Council by visiting boards.mt.gov for an application. Applications are due by August 17, 2018. 

  Gemstones Found on this Website:

       Two years of traveling around the state of Montana exploring places to prospect for gems, fossils, specialty rocks, and gold then returning to write up the experience for you to see and learn from is an invaluable assest for you to access from your computer at home.

       If you click on Treasure Hunting Year 1 Treasure Hunting Year 1 and Treasure Hunting Year 2 Treasure Hunting Year 2, click on the gold button, it will open you up to descriptions of what you might find on each site. This "trippin'" occured from the middle of May through the end of September for both years. That is a wealth of information with many excursions for your perusal. The array is far better than you can find in a book, because it is provable, true and direct. Check these links to make your summer time plans. With preplanning and exposure to your potential sites, better experiences are gained. 

Harassment of the Prospector

      Memorial Day in Zortman, Montana, the Yellowstone Prospecting Group can dig up the creekbed and make giant piles of rock and gravel in the middle of the road blocking it and BLM accepts, "We are working as fast as we can!"

     The Libby prospectors can dig out the hillside, work and block long areas with multiple trommels and water hoses everywhere with USFS approval.

     But the Lincoln District Forest Service will not allow the Blackfoot River Chapter of GPAA to do their simple plan of digging a hole for gravel for club members for two years now without any repreive in sight. The giant disparity is excruciatingly horrendous proving there are no limits to the extent of power the giant bullying by the USFS goes. We have to suffer at the hands of a federal agency that has been allowed to go too far and too long with the citizens of Montana who are stakeholders here. Where is the balance, leadership, and fairness for the prospector? Then they keep your bond money for years after the reclamation is completed satisfactorily and won't return it to the club, but rather put stipulations to it about going to an individual, not a group? Logic gone, only power remains. More to add: The USFS told our prospecting group point blank they didn't have to follow the ADA or Americans with Disabilities Act. Here's a quote right from their prospecting handout that states otherwise: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.  I think I will write a complaint about the Ranger in Lincoln District Michael Stansberry for what he said. 

Another note to add to the complaint to the Office of Civil Rights: Apparently Michael Stansberry, the ranger out of Lincoln, Montana thinks he is above the law AGAIN!!!! He stipulated he would only meet with the men of the club, exclude the representative woman, and thinks that is appropriate. Get this Michael Stansberry: That is discrimination and your terms of employment prohibit that. Apparently you don't know what you are doing and think you are above the law!!  This dude needs to lose his job or get some serious training exercises. I know: he's been in the woods too long. He's got that Lincoln, Cabin Fever!! He needs a change. 

Flocking to Montana

      Opportunities abound with former Montanans who come back here in the summer to enjoy our great outdoors. Just today spoke with one who knows of an antimony mine just south of Thompson Falls he explored while growing up there. Gonna connect up with him and explore the gold that comes in the area as well. Putting it on my calendar right now.

     The other Texan source of love for this state has a claim out of Helena that he has developed with friends and the US Forest Service with their plan of operations that has been accepted. For one month the bunch avidly dig in our soil for the hopes of landing some shiny. Summer prospecting plans are being laid right now. 

Crucial Time to Make Your Voice  Be Heard

     This very week, March 4-7, in Washington DC, the Mining Journal editor, Scott Harn, and Clark Pearson for Public Lands for the People (PLP) will be at the Capitol to speak with senators and advisees about upcoming legislation that will help the small miner and prospectors in the United States.

       If we can get this proposed legislation passed it, it will provide immediate relief and mostly get the government off the backs of the prospector.  PLP needs our help with making phone calls and emails to your senator.  A brief message is all that it takes to throw your support.  Our country's dependence on foreign minerals is not a pretty picture. We can change the thrust of our country's approach to independence with soliciting help of Congress and the right legislation. 

        Please consider giving your senator a call this Monday, March 4 or during the week to let them know what's best for our country's needs. Be polite. Let them know that Clark Pearson and Scott Harn will be there with their proposed legislation related to critical minerals and prospecting and will be bringing it to their attention. Please ask your senator to support this crucial piece of legislation.

      Please pass this message along to your fellow miners. The more volume we can generate, the better the results. Members of Congress want to know that their constituents support this proposed legislation.  Check out the Mining Journal at this website for more information https://www.icmj.com/userfiles/files/Critical%20Minerals%20-%20Breaking%20China’s%20Grip%20on%20American%20Mining%20and%20Production%20Through%20The%20NDAA.pdf 

.............Not Much Help...........

After the trip to Washington DC where the editor of the ICMJ Mining Journal, Scott Harn and the rep for PLP, Public Lands for the People, the word came that our list of horror stories about dealings with the USFS was one of 415 of them from all across the country. So, basically, we in Montana are not alone and we are subject to cruel and unusual punishment by giagantic bureaucrats looking for a bad guy to persecute.  There were also 20 something stories represented by the PLP.

     Even though the font had to be reduced to size 8 in order to fit most of the 30 something issues presented by the Forest Service, the idea of resolution or assistance with our issues were dashed due to the high turnover in those in offices in DC and the leadership (or lack of) there. Apparently there are whirlwinds at each level of government. So much for trying; next time may be a charm, or other levels of pressure may offer some alternatives. 

 Prospectors Need to Speak UP!!

Hold the Government Accountable for Their Fitfull Decisions

           Submitted as a Letter to the editor to the Great Falls Tribune 6/18/18 is the following as a wake up call to the State of Montana's procedures of letting the USFS do whatever they want in our great state. This shouldn't be. Where is our opinion in what goes on around here and certainly that of the prospector is at the bottom of the food chain if they can get away with it. Montana forests should not be controlled solely by the USFS as their logic doesn't work. For years in the Lincoln District they have proceeded to close roads they have not maintained and say to our small prospecting group, "We don't need these roads to fight fires because we have helicopters." Doesn't seem like to me the forest fires in the Lincoln area were solely fought by helicopters as the ground crews were a big part of the scenes. So why can the USFS close access to thousands of acres off of Stemple Pass with the taking out of the culvert on Poorman's Creek as a legitimate plan? Seems like to me that someone needs to redirect the leadership in this organization because they are leaving Montanans unsafe for suppression of fires with their plan in place. Montanans need to say NO! to road closures by the USFS for our own protection. Speak out. No one is saying anything in the news about our state being run over by the USFS. Where's our action plan?

     Meeting Dates Set 

      Revising the plan of forest use is set for meeting dates all over the Lewis and Clark Forest Service District between now and September 6th. There is a meeting in Great Falls, on August 2nd at the Civic Center from 5-7 and another one in Lincoln on July 30th from 5-7  at the Community Hall. Mining needs to be represented at these meetings. Put it on your calendar and head out to voice your opinions as to access to roads.

      Multiple other cities are listed and you can find one you are interested in on this link: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/hlcnf/landmanagement/planning/?cid=stelprd3798801

Under the Radar

      The question is: does Kelly Fowler's Little Monster in the large black tub of water and a battery hook up get shut down after 12 when the US Forest Service has an order to not use any machines from noon until 1 AM?  According to some, there are no moving parts that cause sparks, even though the mini trommel trough runs gravel, the battery doesn't cause sparks to start a fire. We're good.

     We think we go under the radar and can process our gravel on Stemple Pass as we dig it without disturbing the rules of order. We are "Good to Go!!" with such a dandy little deal coming to our chicken feed plus sides with the Blackfoot River Chapter of the GPAA.  

     August 18, show up, sign up and dig. There are 5 claims to access all in a row. How about it? Digging by 7, chicken dinner at 12, meeting at 1, then more digging.  Drawing for a gold nugget too!! Check out the maps on Treasure Hunting Year 1 & 2 for Lincoln for directions and GPS logistics.  

Whew, we are set with the Gold Fox fix!!

Agate Search Coming Up

       Had a tour guide agree to take some to the hills of White Earth Campground, hop into a canoe or boat and scour the hillside in search of the famous Montana agate.

      It is always good to go with someone who has gone before you to sites to find the semi-precious stones of Montana. That person is Andrew Luna. He has rock hounded all over and has undisclosed site that have produced exquiste pieces of earthly treasures. 

      Come July 29th, a Sunday, we are headed out of the dock just outside Winston, Montana to fill our buckets, bags or rig up full of agates prime for the cutting and savoring of a day long trek through the hills of Montana. Write us if you want to join. It will be worth your while. 

     Opportunity Knocks

     Come July 7th, in Lincoln, Montana check out the gold panning opportunity at the Community Center. They are celebrating 100 years of being a facility for the people of the town. Amazing that the gold rush days out west brought so many people.

     That's why the Blackfoot Prospecting Club has been invited to give demonstrations about how to pan for gold and other additions to the gold search topic which has brought so many people to Lincoln. It is a shakin' and bakin' town as the earthquakes in the area in 2017 proved. Maybe some gold was unearthed in it all as the earth is always in upheaval and gold comes up from inside. An amazing process, but come to Lincoln to practice your hand at panning.

 Hear Ye, Hear Ye:

      Notice comes that Steve Hicks has room for a few on his gold panning excursion July 11th in Avalanche Gulch just outside of Helena, Montana. It is through arrangements with him that you can dig gravel on his claim, then dump them throught the trough of his Denver Gold Saver that processes a bucket in one minute.

     As many buckets as you can fill will be your take of concentrates from the sluice down below his trommel. A Wednesday morning just might do the trick for you.

     Contact him at 406 547-2266 and make arrangements for that day or any other day of the week for that matter. You will like it. Great Opportunity!! The Governor got invited, how about you? Here's what he says, "To find my web page, go to www.visitmt.com and search for gold panning. The name of my business is Gold Panning Adventures." And see what he's got on our page Green Prospecting

      Some Save the Date postcards from the Butte Gem and Mineral Show indicate that there are some dates to put on your calendar if you like rocks that is. The first one to note is June 30th is in Bynum for the 40 million birthday party for the Maiasaura dinosaur with balloons, cake, and a party atmosphere. The Two Medicine Dinosaur Museum will be unveiling a wide variety of special features that day to commemorate this ginormous event. It will be a date to remember. Check out all the important details by clicking this button. http://www.tmdinosaurcenter.org/ There will be tours to sign up for and special digs you can search out. Lots of fun activities the end of June!!

     Another date is for the 4th Annual Mining and Mineral Symposium in Butte from Octover 10-13 and we will have the link as soon as Peggy Delaney emails it. Keep this in mind as it is fabulous.

      Another date is July 14 just outside of Avon Andrew Luna of 406 Minerals has agreed to show a few a crystal find for digging your own crystals and then possibly going to a gold claim near there as well. Maybe we might set up an agate search soon as well. This information will be forth coming as it is available. 

      When conversing with people who have looked at our website, we hear things like: It is very comprehensive and a job well done. Wow, that does it when an educated, experienced miner who has worked for long periods of time in trying situations with government officials in the mining area. Glad to know people are getting value out of our dedication to prospecting.

     While in conversation with the commentor an invite ensued about his solar powered trommel. Apparently this dandy machine can process Montana dirt for gold without using much water and the portability of it lends itself to use in areas where there is little of no water for gold panning.

     Check out the Green Prospecting drop down button on our webpage for more information on this trommel. Steve Hicks will be demonstrating it in Lincoln, Montana in June on the Horse Laugh claim. You can join that day, June 16th and get the lowdown. 

 June 9-10—BUTTE, MONTANA: Annual show; Butte Mineral and Gem Club; Butte Civic Center Annex, 1340 Harrison Avenue; Sat. 10-5, Sun. 10-5; $3, under 12 free with paid adult; There will be dealers in fossils, minerals, gems, cutting rough, jewelry, and unusual treasures you won’t find anywhere else, 20 + top class exhibits, a silent auction and a games area for children.; contact Pete Knudsen, PO Box 4492, Butte, MT 59702, (406)-490-5828

https://livelytimes.com/event/butte-mineral-and-gem-club-annual-show/