Yuma Arizona Gold Prospecting

Gold prospecting on the Barry M. Goldwater Range (BMGR) in Yuma is a complex issue due to its primary purpose as a military training range.

While portions of the BMGR are open for public recreation, there are significant restrictions and dangers to be aware of.Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know:

Yuma Arizona Gold Prospecting

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• Absolutely essential. You cannot enter the BMGR without a valid permit.
• Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know:1. Permits are Required:
  • Absolutely essential. You cannot enter the BMGR without a valid permit. Permits can be obtained from the Range Offices at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (for the western portion, BMGR-W) and Luke Air Force Base (for the eastern portion, BMGR-E), as well as Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and the Bureau of Land Management offices in Yuma and Phoenix.·         You’ll likely need to sign a hold-harmless form and watch a range safety video.·         Two permits are often required: one to carry on your person and one to display on your vehicle’s dash.·         You must call before you enter and after you depart the range.
  2. Military Operations and Hazards:
  • The BMGR is an active military training area where live ordnance is used. This means:

  o    Lethal dangers: There is a real risk of encountering unexploded ordnance (UXO). Never touch anything that looks like a munition.o    Training exercises: Aircraft may attack targets at any time, day or night, without warning.o    Restricted areas: Much of the range is off-limits. You must stick to designated recreational areas and roads as specified on your permit.

  • Your safety is your responsibility. Be aware of your surroundings, know your location, and adhere to all regulations.
  3. Gold Prospecting Specifics:
  • Mining activities are generally incompatible with the military mission. While the BMGR used to be managed by the BLM and had some mining history (like the Poorman Mine, which produced gold), the land was withdrawn from normal public uses, including mining, when management transferred to the Air Force and Marine Corps. This means that typical gold prospecting, which often involves digging and potentially disturbing the land, is likely prohibited. Even if you have a general recreation permit, it does not grant you the right to engage in mining activities.·         Public land that is open for prospecting: If you are interested in gold prospecting in Arizona, it’s crucial to research BLM lands that are specifically open for prospecting and are not under military withdrawal or private claims. You can use the BLM MLRS website to find areas without claims and verify permitted activities.·         Small-scale recreational prospecting on public land (not the BMGR): On general BLM land, for small amounts of gold, you generally don’t need a claim initially, but there are limits on how much you can dig without one. Heavy equipment or blasting usually requires a claim and permits.

  In summary:While the Barry M. Goldwater Range is a vast and historically significant area, its primary purpose as a military training ground makes gold prospecting there highly restricted, if not entirely prohibited, due to safety concerns and the nature of land withdrawal. It’s crucial to prioritize your safety and adhere strictly to all regulations and permit requirements. For gold prospecting, you should explore other public lands in Arizona that are explicitly designated for such activities and are not part of active military ranges.

Yuma Arizona Gold Prospecting

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    • Some of the links in this description and in our videos may be affiliate links, and pay a small commission if you use them, but never increase the basic cost. I really appreciate the support. The content in my Youtube videos & blog posts SHALL NOT be construed as tax, legal, insurance, construction, engineering, health & safety, electrical, financial advice, prospecting or other & may be outdated or inaccurate; it is your responsibility to verify all information. I am a not financial adviser. I only express my opinions based on my experiences. Your experience may be quite different. Investing of any kind involves risk. While it is possible to minimize risk, your investments are solely your responsibility. You must conduct your own research. There is NO guarantee of gains or losses on any investments. My produced videos are for entertainment purposes ONLY. DO NOT make buying or selling decisions based on these videos. If you need advice, please contact a qualified CPA, attorney, insurance agent, contractor/electrician/engineer, financial advisor, or the appropriate professional for the subject you would like help with.
    • Keep in mind land use and land boundaries are constantly changing,  before going to a unknown location you must do extensive research not only into the current weather conditions, access and current land status.  Keep In mind private property owners and mining claim owners do not take kindly to trespassers and or claim jumpers. Always follow local laws and regulations related to prospecting and land use. Regulations and restrictions are constantly changing on BLM lands, State lands, National Monuments  and tribal lands. It is your responsibility to totally investigate any potential prospecting area  prior to heading out.  Failure to do so, could not only result in massive fines but also imprisonment and confiscation