Best State to Hunt Agate on Public Land

[adam]

As in the thread description. Coming from Kentucky, everything is more or less privately owned. I like collecting agates where I don't have to ask someone to go look for them. So why not avoid that altogether and hunt agates on public land where there won't be knuckleheads questioning your motives! I am being for real. I have studied all night on how the west ended up with the most public land. If you can hunt agates and the like on public lands, why not live in the vicinity and have your fill of agate everyday? 

I need some good answers, and I'm talking about western states, including U.P. of Michigan and Minnesota where one can find lake superior agates(there's always that one expert willing to contribute). I know not everyone will have the same answer, but I hope a few of the members can shed some light--I absolutely hate asking for permission or asking for help. I'm the little train that could in this forum.

Coming from an agate freak that mostly knows of Kentucky agate, I'm widening my rock-hounding horizon. Thanks in advance.

[ziggy]

Jul 9, 2016 5:46:52 GMT -5 adam said:

I need some good answers, and I'm talking about western states, including U.P. of Michigan and Minnesota where one can find lake superior agates(there's always that one expert willing to contribute). 

Well, that's honestly the first time I've ever heard the U.P. mentioned as a western state. As a matter of fact, I think they should change the designation from mid-west to great lakes state along with the other states surrounding the great lakes. Hell, to me the midwest is the nebraskas through to about utah. The states from there on to the west coast should be the west.
It's only logical. I know. What's logic?

Anyway, the agates in the U.P. are a lot less easy to find nowadays than they were say, back in the 50's. There's just so many people rock hunting now. The popular destinations like Grand Marais, while written up in rock collecting books as being a fantastic place for agate, are actually now what should be considered a high volume (read, full of collectors) site.
The agates there are way picked over and are actually kind of rare there now. Places that are (relatively speaking) easy to get to like whitefish point can sometimes produce if you go where the crowds don't. Walk the beach west away from the point and you run into a place where with a little work you might find one. The beach gets plenty rocky towards that direction. There are still places near from Ontonagon to copper harbor that are less traveled by the throngs of collectors, but can still be picked over pretty well by the U.P.ers who make a living selling agate. Those might be your best bet towards success in the U.P. They aren't just laying around out in the open by the dozens like they used to be.

[Fossilman]

I'm proud of Oregon,so I will say Oregon.....Those Kentucky agates aren't anything to sneeze about either (They are off the chart cool)!!!

[Rockhobbit]

Arizona! Agate and Jasper most everywhere! We even have pet wood! LOL
Sheri

[Deleted]

Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Wyoming are going to have the most public land to hound. In Oregon, all ocean beaches and navigable rivers are also open to the public for collecting (and good sources for agate, jasper and petrified wood). There are rockhounding guidebooks available for each state that will get you to some good sites - I'd recommend getting those from a library as a good starting point, then purchase one for each state you are planning to visit. You need to also realize that even in these states it has never been a free-for-all. There is private land interspersed with the public, and you need to be aware of mineral claims and markers. Public land has collecting limitations (where and how much you are allowed to collect without a permit), too, and these vary between one area and jurisdiction and another. Some areas have been trashed and others have been closed off because of abuse or conflicts with other users. If you decide to wander beyond the sites mentioned in the guidebooks, stop in at the local BLM or Forest Service office in each area and get an up-to-date map that shows boundaries (more often than not, you cannot count on fences or gates to tell you where private land starts) and have a chat about what you can expect as far as what is available, collecting restrictions, road conditions, areas with claims, permit availability for larger quantities, what to carry (including lots of water), etc. You'll also be reaffirming that there is still an active interest in rockhounding in their area. For your own safety, always let someone know the exact area where you are going, how long you'll be there, and when you will be returning (and check in with them to confirm you are ok at that time). No one will come looking for you if you don't, and don't count on your cell phone or passers-by to be available for getting help if you get stranded or hurt - few people in many of these areas, no services and folks do die out there.

[adam]

rocks2dust, a bit too much information.

[fernwood]

South Shore of Lake Superior in Wisconsin there are a lot of public beaches/boat landings and trails that have many agates. Just go a little ways from the beach/landing and they are easy to find. Port wing to Cornucopia and everywhere in between.

[orrum]

X2 Az.

[Sabre52]

Cady Mtns of Commiefornia if they ain't all closed yet. SE part of the Colorado Desert too. AZ, Nevada, SE Oregon and SW Idaho. Most of south and SW Texas...Mel

[wampidytoo]

2/3rds of Wyoming is BLM land and many areas have agate but many areas have only sandstone. The majority of the agates and jaspers are fractured but it is possible to find exceptional agate if you look hard enough or have a friend with experience to show you where to hunt. Agate and jasper are free for all but pet wood has some restrictions.

As was stated above, you have to watch for private lands and claims. BLM maps are the best way to go and a Gazetteer is a big help. I spent two summers hounding a large area in north central Wyoming and only saw a few people the entire time. If you are not prepared the buzzards will pick your bones clean before anyone finds you. Case in point, I high centered my vehicle and spent a couple of hours jacking up the front end and placing sandstone slabs under the tires so I could back up a little then do it all over again. I was prepared but nobody knew where I was so I would have had to either walk out or wait a long time for someone to find me.

Good luck
Jim

[Deleted]

Jul 9, 2016 11:32:01 GMT -5 adam said:

rocks2dust, a bit too much information.

That was some of the most thorough and informative info in this and many other threads. I implore you to read it sentence by sentence and parse it all.

Well done. @rocks2dust

[adam]

Ok I read through the whole paragraph rocks2dust posted. I got this embedded in my mind.

[spiceman]

Well, I know one thing for sure. Don't look in Ohio. I looked at many old post in RTH and someone from my area loked around streams and fields and only found one.
He is no longer a member. Of course it was years ago, but still don't waste your time. Find a different state. LOL

[ziggy]

Just an update on my Michigan report. The water levels in lake Michigan have obliterated most of the Petoskey stone beaches. The water is up what looks like over a foot from last year. What used to be thigh deep wading for stones has turned into waist deep water. From what I understand, Lake Superior is also at very high (compared to normal) levels and although I haven't actually seen any of the beaches there yet this year, I am betting that a lot of the beaches up there are in a similar state.

[jakesrocks]

Buffalo Gap National Grasslands in SW South Dakota, NW Nebraska & a little bit of E Wyoming. Fairburn agates, prairie agates, bubble gum agates, black agates & in Nebraska blue agates. Did I mention fossils ?

This is rattle snake & mountain lion country, so be extra carefully where you put your hands & feet. Carry extra drinking water, and don't drive on the dirt roads if there are storms in the area. That gumbo mud will swallow the best of 4WD vehicles.

[adam]

There are geode beds in southern California in Wiley's Well district, the best hounding in the area! Awesome agate geodes and nodules, druzy quartz geodes, and everything in between.