[meteorite-list] Fwd: Arizona regulations
From: cdtucson at cox.net <cdtucson_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:25:50 -0500 Message-ID: <20100131202550.MCS4W.472500.imail_at_fed1rmwml35> > > CD, > > Are you from Arizona? Do you have experience with the desert? Even this time > of year it is very hazardous so follow all recommendations about desert > travel and preparedness. > > Include in your 'all but' list: petrified wood, fossils, prehistoric > artifacts and historic site artifacts. Oh, and feathers or parts of all rare > and endangered critters. There are also some cactii and cactii parts and > pieces on the list. The feds, USFS included, are really stiff on > enforcement and prosecution of prehistoric pot hunters and professional > artifact operations. Don't get caught with anything mechanical to dig with. > > Having worked for US Forest Service, I have an answer but it may be dated. > The best bet is to call a FS office anonymously and ask what the policy is. > The Coronado National Forest headquarters is in Tucson. Here is the link to > the directory http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/forest/contact/contact.shtml. > Call the Santa Catalina Ranger District in Tucson and just ask about rock > hunting, metal detecting and if you need a permit. The less specific you are > the better. > > If a law enforcement officer checks up on you in the field, just tell him > you are hunting for rocks or looking for gold. Claim ignorance if he tells > you, you are doing something wrong. Most often the officer will stop you to > check for drugs or to caution you about illegal aliens and drug runners. > > The USFS sells a map on a scale of 1/2" to a mile that shows FS roads, > campgrounds, land ownership, wilderness areas, etc. There is also an > Arizona Atlas & Gazetteer which has detailed maps of the whole state of > Arizona. It is sold at Wal Mart, K Mart, and book stores. As a minimum, you > need the Gazetteer to identify Federal Lands, Indian reservations, State > trust lands and private land. > > DO NOT get caught hunting on the Indian reservations - they are considered > sovereign nations and have their own laws and penalties. They will > confiscate your finds and equipment. They do not give out permits. Don't > bother to ask. > > State Trust Lands have signs that say something to the effect of 'This is > Arizona State Trust Land. You must have a permit to be in this area.' It's > mostly a bluff. Stay on the roads and have a camera handy. If anyone asks, > just tell them you are taking pictures. A permit means you have to be a > rancher, land custodian, researcher or have a hunting permit. There are > other permits issued but it is a long and complicated process. I've lived in > Arizona for 35 years and have never seen an enforcement officer on State > Trust Lands. > > CAUTION: If you see a group of people walking single file, unless they are > easily identified, they are probably illegal immigrants or involved with > drugs: do not approach them, do not stare at them, do not take pictures, do > not let them see you make a cell phone call. If possible go hunting with > several friends. If you have a pistol - carry it. Arizona is a > right-to-carry state but you must have your pistol fully visible on your > person or in your vehicle. > > Wish I was there. We're north of Tucson 160 miles at Show Low. 6000' > elevation in the White Mountains and dealing with lots of snow. > > > I hope this has helped. > > Be careful out there and have fun. > > > > > Barb > > > > > > > > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4821 (20100130) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > Received on Sun 31 Jan 2010 08:25:50 PM PST |
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