12 replies to this topic

[bear-dog]

:)Recently came up with a neat idea on fossil hunting and want to share the love.I came across those bright flourescent orange flags when they were re-doing the phone lines in our area.When they were done they left them in a pile next to the road.[The ones on the wire.]
I came up with the idea to place them upright near my finds as I find them,do a quick description and gps.coordinates in a hand book.This way you can cherry pick your finds in the time you have to hunt.When your done remove the flags and cover up the items you didnt have time for.You include them in your next hunt when you get there.
I normally work find after find removing one then hunting for another.Got really tired of working real hard for a nice find,only to be told what someone else found the next day,usually a better find than mine.This way you can scout more fossils and save some in the old cookie jar for later.
Tried it already,and I'm happy with the new method.
If it works good for you,remember you heard this on our wonderful forum first.Happy hunting

[Auspex]

If I had a de facto exclusive on the site, that is exactly what I would do.
(Not so good if other hunters come around...)

[bear-dog]

I think you missed the point about removing the flags and covering up the remaining fossils.If anyone comes there after you leave there are none of your finds exposed.
You would have it saved in your book and the gps.I've tried it twice now and have went home knowing I left with the best items that day as well as having a little [fossil]easter egg hunt for goodies if the next trip isent as productive.

[Auspex]

Ah, OK; but why use flags at all if the GPS does the job?

[bear-dog]

As a visual aid on your origional hunt .All you have to do is look up for a flag.When you return the flags are gone and fossils hidden thus the book and gps.

[Fruitbat]

Back in the pre-GPS days I used this technique quite a lot. I found the little flags to be an excellent way to mark finds during my explorations so that I could return later to decide whether or not the fossil was worth excavating. I do understand Auspex's point, however. If you're 'hunting' in an area where other folks are also looking you risk that they might find your marked finds before you have a chance to return for them. I never had this problem as most of the places I was searching were pretty isolated. I wouldn't try it in a popular spot.

-Joe

[Bill]

We used to do something similar when I went collecting minerals with a local club. If one found a 'relatively' nice but large specimen, (I'll get that on the way back), a sheet of newspaper, put under the specimen meant that it was already a members find. If the collector found better specimens, the original piece/s was/were either collected by the finder and distributed among the others, or the others were told that they could collect the marked specimens.

For me, the burying part didn't come into play, as the collecting areas were hundreds of miles away, and not usually revisited by me.

Edited by Bill, 05 September 2010 - 03:12 PM.

[veomega]

A collector I knew once came upon an small orange flag on a stick at a collecting site, above a couple rocks. He removed the rocks and found an 8 inch trilobite hiding under it. He then removed the trilobite, left a note, put the rocks back, and put the flag back.

Lesson: don't forget to remove your flag.

-YvW

[fossiljunkie]

i think on a short hunt it would work well for me if i knew i'd be alone until i was finished. definitely seems like it would work in certain areas.

[dhk]

I have always just used red face cloths, just put them on the find with a small rock on it to keep it down. Simple but effective. DHK

[lordpiney]

i generally just stuff em into my pockets as soon as i see em!

[pleecan]

veomega, on 05 September 2010 - 03:16 PM, said:

A collector I knew once came upon an small orange flag on a stick at a collecting site, above a couple rocks. He removed the rocks and found an 8 inch trilobite hiding under it. He then removed the trilobite, left a note, put the rocks back, and put the flag back.

Lesson: don't forget to remove your flag.

-YvW

That is really unfortunate....
I think there is a civil code of conduct when collecting. I guess it depends on the individual.... if I saw a flag and there was an 8" trilobite... I would leave it alone as it has already been claimed by someone else.

PL

[jpc]

I use flagging tape tied to a rock. Carrying flags in my pack is always a pain in some part of me or another. The non-flag end always either pokes or gets caught on something. If oyu are out with friends you canput your nameon the flaggingtape with a simnple sharpie, that way they woill know, "Oh look, Bear-dog found this cool 8 inch trilobite" And then you can learn something about your the level of honesty in your friends. Flagging Tape... Yeah!