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The public lands offer a
broad range of outdoor activities that include collecting resources such
as firewood, gemstones, pine nuts and fossils for personal enjoyment and
use. This article summarizes what may be collected from public
lands. The Bureau of Land Management encourages people to explore
the nearly 48 million acres of public lands in Nevada.
Please use care in
collecting. Avoid activities which damage public resources such as
vegetation, scenery and archaeological sites, or which create hazardous
conditions such as pits or trenches. Power equipment and
explosives may not be used except for woodcutting and certain dredging
operations.
Reasonable amounts of the
following may be collected for non-commercial purposes:
--Flowers, berries, nuts,
seeds, cones and other plant parts.
--Campfire wood.
--Rocks, mineral specimens,
common invertebrate fossils and semiprecious gemstones
Exceptions include
specifically protected plants, campfire wood in posted areas, wilderness
areas, wilderness study areas, areas of critical environmental concern
including Stewart Valley, near Gabbs, Nevada, Red Rock Canyon National
Conservation Area, historic and prehistoric sites and districts, and
national natural landmarks. Maps and information on specific
restrictions are available at local Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
offices in Las Vegas, Tonopah, Carson City, Reno, Winnemucca, Battle
Mountain, Elko, Ely, and Caliente.
MINERALS
Gold and silver may be
prospected for with hand tools including pans and metal detectors.
Minerals such as gold, silver, and opals found on mining claims belong
to the claim holder. Mining claim records may be viewed at BLM and
county recorder offices. Sluicing, dredging and commercial mining
require permits. Recreational panning which does not involve
mechanical equipment is permitted in wilderness and wilderness study
areas if it does not create surface disturbance or impair the
environment.
STAY
OUT
AND STAY ALIVE!
ABANDONED MINES ARE DANGEROUS PLACES
Saleable minerals,
such as sand, gravel, cinders, topsoil and other common mineral materials
must be purchased by prior arrangement with the BLM
Gemstones and common rock
specimens may be collected for private use on unclaimed sites.
Commercial production of
common rocks on an unclaimed site requires a permit. Only hobby
collecting is allowed in wilderness and wilderness study areas and must
not involve surface disturbance. Collection of prehistoric tools and
chips made of precious or semiprecious stones is not allowed.
FOSSILS
Vertebrate fossils such as
dinosaurs, mammals, fishes and reptiles, and uncommon invertebrate
fossils may be collected only by trained researchers under BLM permit.
Collected fossils remain the property of all Americans and are placed
with museums or other public institutions after study
Common invertebrate fossils
such as plants, mollusks, and trilobites may be collected for personal
use in reasonable quantities, but may not be bartered or sold.
Petrified wood may be
collected up to 25 pounds plus one piece per person per day, with a
maximum of 250 pounds per person per year. Permits are required for
pieces over 250 pounds. Petrified wood may not be traded, bartered or
sold without permit.
Cave resources, including
plant, animal and geologic features, are federally protected and may not
be altered, damaged or removed.
CULTURAL ARTIFACTS
Cultural materials on public
lands may not be removed, damaged, disturbed, excavated or transferred
without BLM permit. Cultural resources include prehistoric and historic
artifacts and sites, broken objects and debris more than 100 years old
which were used or produced by humans. Protected materials include
arrowheads and other stone tools, grinding stones, beads, baskets,
pottery, old bottles, horse shoes, metal tools, graves and trash
scatters.
Historic sites such as
cabins, sawmills, graves, trail traces, mining areas, town sites, ranches
and railroads are not open to collecting.
Metal detector use is allowed
on public lands. Modern money may be collected, but coins and artifacts
more than 50 years old may not be collected.
WOOD, PLANTS, AND
PINE NUTS
Various species of trees are
available for firewood
with a personal use permit, which allows the cutting of up to 10 cords
per family per year in specified areas for a nominal fee. Permits for
woodcutting are required even on an individual's mining or
exploration claim.
Collection of dead and down
wood for immediate campfire use is allowed except for posted sites.
Christmas tree permits are
available for a nominal fee during the holiday season. Check with local
BLM offices for permits and tree cutting area maps.
Small amounts of plants,
plant parts, seeds, flowers and berries may be collected for personal
use in most areas. Cacti, yuccas, succulents and evergreen shrubs and
trees are protected by the state. Species listed as threatened or
endangered are protected by the federal government and may not be
collected without a permit. Collection of species listed as sensitive or
candidates for threatened or endangered status should be avoided.
Pine
nuts in amounts up to 25 pounds per person per year may be collected
for noncommercial use. Although there are some designated commercial
collecting areas, these are fully open to the public as well.
Harvesting plants or plant
materials such as seeds, pine nuts, landscaping materials, firewood, and
timber for commercial purposes requires a permit.
ANIMALS
Collection or harvest of game
and non game animals, including fish, is regulated by the State and the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Information for hunters, trappers,
fishermen, and collectors is available from the Nevada Division of
Wildlife.
Threatened and endangered
species, including desert tortoise and some other reptiles, whether
federal or state listed, may be collected only under permit for the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service or state of Nevada. Lahontan cutthroat trout
may be taken with a Nevada fishing license in permitted areas and
seasons. Lists of protected species are available form the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, the Nevada Division of Wildlife and BLM offices.
Wild, free-roaming horses and
burros may not be harassed, harmed, collected or sold under any
circumstances. Their water sources are also protected. Wild horses and
burros gathered under BLM supervision and prepared for private ownership
may be adopted from the BLM.
Violations of regulations
under the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the Native American
Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, the Archaeological Resources
Protection Act, state and federal wildlife law, and other laws may be
punishable by fines, imprisonment, and forfeiture of equipment and
vehicles used in the commission of the crime
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