Gerry in Idaho

Gary is a great guy for the MD'ing industry and really is a very skilled Beach Hunter. I tip my hat off to him for everything he's done. We were in the same TV commercial for Minelab back in 2013. It was the 1st US Commercial for television on select channels. I was the experienced Minelab dealer, Gary Drayton was the professional Beach Hunter (this was before he became famous) and Stu Auerbach (since passed) the founder of Kellyco Metal Detectors and they are largest retailer of metal detectors in the world. The commercial used to be on Minelabs website but it looks like they took it down. But Gary...yea he's worth some good stories and a few beers. I'd detect with him again in a heartbeat.

I've known Gary for at least 15 yrs. and have detected beaches with him. Yes he's a King on the beach in FL. He's getting better at hunting Relics. He would not be the guy to get for hunting gold nuggets as we use different detectors.

You being on this forum with your claims and knowledge of mining could be a win win for a group of people. If you are serious about getting some experienced nugget hunters on your ground, I recommend you have a predetermined amount of people sign up. Try to get both experienced PI/ZED and VLF users so you have all aspects of detectable gold covered. Try to make it at least a 2 day event since you have so much ground. I know for a fact I have helped claim owners in the past by showing them where I was finding gold with my detectors. I've even had my photos used to help sell claims. This could be a fun eventful trip for a lucky few folks. As for as size and depth of pickers, the VLF detectors can find some really small pickers in bedrock, but depth is lacking. 1/10 grain less than an inch and 1/10 of a gram 2 to 3", 1 gram 4 to 8" is possible. With big detectors, we have found solid nuggets of 2 gram near 18" and bigger gold down over 3 feet.

That's mighty kind of you GhostMiner and I just might do that down the road. My goal for 2022 is to find Gold with a detector in California and Colorado.

I've always associated the 2 as the same, but I would assume (that's scary at times...assuming) they technically have different meanings. I too have been informed I was Claim Jumping and it was when I had a detector in hand. I was able to help the guy with my knowledge of previous discovered gold from many years ago when it was not claimed. In hind site, I guess I could have claimed it up? Being a dealer who offers Field Training, I used to have all kinds of areas to detect and train on. I even had a couple permissions on claims for a few years. Then when gold prices started breaking over $1000 many of my permissions were taken away. Some, because of others who actually Claim Jumped and were caught. A few because the new claim owners felt their claim had serious nugget potential and I could be a threat. It's really hard to get permission for a group anymore so that's why I stick with Rye Patch for most of the Training. Some folks say I should claim an area just to do my Field Training. I guess I could, but since so many people know me, anything with my name on it would certainly draw attention. I could be sneaky... my thought is to claim a really good gold area I know of that has more trash than I prefer or care to deal with or hunt. After some time I'm hoping the majority of folks will get all the surface trash clean up and removed for me. I can then go in and get all the deep gold most folks seem to miss. As Steve had mentioned earlier, the majority of folks swinging a gold detector are not much of a threat. I think it's kind of funny, but true.

I think today...we are all a little skittish about upsettings our friends. I don't see any ill towards anyone at all and all info shared is good.

That used to be the case until this Equinox 800 came out. Seems they decided to add the IRON REJECT to the standard Turn on and Go mode in Gold #1 and Gold #2. So now I instruct my customers to turn the IRON Reject OFF so it accepts all targets. You'd think they would have it the Prospecting Modes wide open and you push the Horseshoe as an added feature. At least that detector is a killer VLF gold machine. Yes I agree when wide open (all boxes accepted on NOX) and no Iron Rejection, the VLF detectors have best depth and most sensitivity. Also, I think the digital identification is more accurate on the NOX when operated in true All Metal.

GhostMiner, I appreciate your knowledge, writing skills and answering the question of owning a claim. You and your team sound like pretty fair, hard working and honest folks. Just to be clean, I had and or have no intention of trying to smear your issue at all. I have very good friends who own claims and we have stopped counting how many times we've ran into Claim Jumpers. Even one guy with an AR-15 strapped to his back (I have pics to prove it), but no need to show the world. It seems so frustrating for those who try to do the right thing and then find out someone else already filed (as mentioned above). It also is a business operation to some folks as you mentioned and I know from guys who are in the business. Then there is the family owned claims for weekend recreation and each has their +/-. Thanks for adding your input and I am especially glad to see your group allows panning/detecting as the majority of folks doing that couldn't remove enough gold from the site to pay their gas to get there. That certainly shows true character and realizing most folks are just out on weekends trying to have fun. Well said.

I like your way of thinking. Now that's out of the way, where's your claim? I'll only be sure to take a few grams a day. Just joking 🙃

It seems ever few yrs we get a post on here about folks who own gold claims having issues with Claim Jumpers. I'm not saying it's right or wrong to own a gold claim but I sure see issues that I don't want to mess with. I have friends and customers who own good gold claims and every one of them have caught folks in pursuit of precious metals. Yes it's ok to drive across, park and even camp on someones claim and I have no issues with that. I have also ran into a few rough neck who won't allow you to camp or even park on their claim. I know I'm in the right, but I'm not going to argue and or do I like worrying. Besides, I am usually the one driving the nicer fancy truck and I know how much it cost to get 4 new tires replaced (not from experience). I simply turn around and go somewhere else where I feel it's more safe. There's a guy in NV (won't mention names but he has been on here before) who is so anal about people getting on his claims. He's called me in times past and swore I was on his claims and in fact I had not been to NV in months. This guy has blamed my Field Staff being on his claims and even says he flies over and takes pictures. But yet he has never proven it. Yes he owns gold claims and a couple of them are really good producers and I have even found gold on his claims (with him being there). I feel the stress some folks go through is not worth it and wonder why even own one? I've come to the conclusion that owning a good or productive gold claim is like marrying a really good looking lady. There's always someone trying to get in on the poke. No I don't own any claims and I really don't think I need the stress of always worrying about it either. If you own one, do you stress over it or are you low key and just roll with it? No right or wrong answers.

ALL DETECTORS have limits when it comes to proper ID. You can take a 6 ounce solid gold nugget and there will be a certain depth that every detector made thinks it's IRON. It's been that way for me the last near 50 yrs on every detector I've owned. You the operator needs to learn when, where and how often to rely on the Target ID system. Many PI detectors have IRON ID, but they have limits as well. That's why so many folks simply say "dig it all". I use IRON ID on closer targets near the surface but if in good gold terrain, I check more iffies and end up with more trash.

I would walk up to them with your phone on while recording their faces, the vehicle they drive, the license plate and ask for their names. If they do not provide their ID cards, simply tell them their faces will soon be across the internet, local eateries and bars as well as the Sheriff's office and of course post on the forum. Now you don't need to do that at all, but the guilt trip on them would make for a long drive home. I doubt they would be back anytime soon, at least not in the same rig. Realize, In some states folks are walking into businesses in the middle of the day, filling up pockets/bags and walking out without paying. The other option and you might think I am totally nuts. Ask them to help and work with you. Now at least you can get knowledge they have to help your recovery efforts. Either way it seems owning a claim for a small scale miner or detectorist is getting harder to justify. I personally know folks who spend to much time worrying about others they think who are going on their claims and finding gold.

Mitchel, Those 1 day hunts can sometimes be very rewarding and your efforts prove so. The best part is the drive home with the rattle in the bottle and knowing you had success. Thanks for sharing you Au story and pics.

That map has many miles of potential and I always say if there has been one of a certain size found, there has to be a big brother or sister. Another thing you bring up is throw out piles. I have found so much gold in throw out piles it's laughable at times. But I also realize the majority of gold is fine Au.

Very nice gold to start the new year Tom. Good to see you out there enjoying our freedoms and finding a few nuggets with the GPX-6000. BTW, did you ever own a GPZ-7000 and if so, what do you miss about the 7? I've owned both and the only thing I miss about the 7 is the extra money I made when I sold one. GPX-6000 is a dream gold gettin machine. Nice pics and thanks for sharing.

Thanks for all the detective work my friend. I'll reach out to the person who shared with me and see if anything can be confirmed. But continue on as I am enjoying the reads...it's still frozen here in Idaho.

Zincoln, A couple pics looks pretty gold to me. I hunt Eastern Oregon quite a bit and we find pocket specimens and placer nuggets. Were you detecting Ore Dump piles? The pic with the red background looks pretty assuring as well as the pic with the dime. There's a Geologist in Baker City (if he's still around) who will verify or your next trip to Boise and I can verify. Yes they sometimes have a silver look to them.

Thanks for updating us Lunk. Those big ones are hard to keep quiet.

This was just shared with me so I can not confirm if the actual date and state are correct. All I know at this time, it was found in 2021 with a Minelab in Arizona. The weight is 61.5 ounces and I've been told it is not for sale. I'm quite sure this big daddy would choke me out if I tried the Gerry Mouth Pic. I would be happy as heck to choke on it all the way to my grave. What's interesting is the mostly solid state of this mammoth rock. Wonder when it will hit the news and be on every channel. Even though it's not for sale, there will be crazy price offers and sooner or later it will sell. What would you pay? If it's a genuine AZ nugget, I'll start off with $75,000 and a free GPZ-7000.

Happens on a rare occasion. When the flies/nats are bad, I try to keep the gold trap shut. Notice one on my chin. he wanted to join a mouthful of flies I already had eated that day. The really rare occasion I find something odd and start to think, will that ostrich egg fit?

Kunkler, Ugly is just the scruff on the outside, kinda like caliche covering a nugget. If the bedrock story is true and you need an experienced Equinox 800 user to help you count nuggets, I'm available and my rates reasonable. I'll even wear the dreaded mask to boot. Do you think any nuggets big enough for me to choke on? Now that it's a new yr, I'd like to find a dandy to continue my mug shot tradition. Might not hurt to sweep a 6000 over those crevices either.

If you are finding gold with the Deus, then you are going to be able to do it with the NOX as well. Just remember that if you are finding tiny lead dove/quail shot, then you are doing it right.

I wish it was that simple but in reality it's not. Here is why I say so. When I chase big gold with the NOX, I set it up differently and I actually use a larger coil and swing/cover ground at a different pace. When chasing pickers, I use a smaller coil and fine tune the detector. Are you chasing bigger gold or tiny nuggets? If tiny ones, you should be doing a Manual Ground Balance and then locking the tracking (turning it off). Also run IRON Horseshoe OPEN. In reality a 3 day camping trip with like minded people and some detector experts will provide you more knowledge than you can learn on your own in a much faster time. No use wasting any more gas and vehicle wear and tear. Check out my website Calendar of Events for the 2022 Training Classes. If you are in AZ or Southern CA and want a 1 day 1 on 1, we can provide that for you as well. Yes it's a full day deal. www.gerrysdetectors.com Gerry in Idaho

Each class is a little different based on the folks taking the class and for which detectors they are getting the training on. I've had classes were it was all PI's and GPZ's and if we am pushed for time, I may decide to not go into much detail about the VLF's. It really depends on the folks taking the class. Sometimes it's repeats and through discussion they want more knowledge about certain detectors or technologies. On most of the training, we do have a variety of detectors and technologies int he class and it's always fun showing a bunch of gold that a few detectors (even high dollar ones) can't see. Definitely wakes a few folks up when a $1500 rock is gleaming with gold and is heavier than many others, but a technology does not like that kind of gold. Bottom line and I tell this to everyone. If you have already invested in the big high dollar detector, it's much easier to step into a sub $1000 VLF to compliment the big dog. Even some of that nice gold from NV ore dump piles is missed with a few high end detectors. Why go on a prospecting trip for a week or 2 with 1 tool when you have been shown another tool can get different types of gold the big machine misses or the big machine can't see as deep as a VLF. Yes I have a few multi ounce specimens with ounces of gold and my VLF's will see them deeper than my big machines. I've said it many times and will say it again. If you detector does not beep on it, then you never know what you're missing, because you didn't find it. Yes a VLF (certain ones) will beep on all the gold I show. 2 yrs ago I found I think it was 14 specimens in an ore dump pile. I tested them with the GPZ-7000 and not one of them responded. Those 14 specimens were crushed, panned and smelted with a bar just shy of a troy ounce of gold. Moral of the story, is to always have a VLF gold detector and a big one for the heavy duty work.

Phrunt, You make up some very good points and I would agree with them all..but 1 thing. Minelab quit selling the X-Terra 2 yrs ago and it's still on their site? Just goes to show the folks in charge of Marketing their site and detectors is...a lost cause.