I’m based in Richmond near Nelson and just bought my first gold pan (steel rather than plastic for better or worse). I’ve been watching endless youtube videos about gold prospecting and am really keen to give it a go. I note there are some public fossicking areas but have a mentality of bugger that as I’m assuming they are heavily used and there won’t be much there. I am also looking at the price of a gold prospecting permit/claim and hooolllyyy.
What is the answer on getting started. Do DOC really care if they come across a (somewhat) young fella with a gold pan in doc land? There is a few spots I would like to try after reading some government issued GNS reports (bit of a nerd like that), but it does appear to all be DOC land.
If anyone has any recommendations of where I might try gold pan that would awesome, just looking to get something to satisfy the untested gold fever I’m experiencing. Also if anyone wants a buddy to come along with I am rearing to go!
Id suggest starting out on the fossicking areas. Once you can find some colour there you are golden and good to go. Youll also meet some fellow miners you can look learn a few tips and tricks and bounce some of you ideas off. Nobody’s going to suggest you go out on DoC land. If everyone with a bit of fever starts doing that they are going to fk things up for the rest of the community. Most of us started off in the fossicking areas and youll soon learn if you want to progress from there into getting into a claim… its not cheap. Another option is find a claim owner thatl let you have a dig on their claim, there’s a couple owners on Paydirt that dont mind that.
All the best mate👍
Nothing quite like the price of gold going through the roof to get people coming out of the woodwork thinking they are going to make their fortune. If only it was that easy. Gold_Standard has given you excellent advice. After a trip or two & the gold isn’t coming thick & fast you may decide this game isn’t for you & that a lot of what you saw on you tube or those gold rush programmes on tv make it look a lot easier than it is in reality. But you wont know until you try. Good luck.
