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It is always fun for me to read the fossil hunting trip stories . . . ~ So, I’m goin’ through the after fossil hunt pictures. I’m takin’ a long look at a fossil in this one picture. I figure it’s not a fossil, but next to it may be a real one. I thought . . . no way. I’d found a similar fossil on an earlier hunt, so I compared it to the fossil in the photo – dead match. What luck. I told self, “I’m goin’ back in and I’m gonna find it.” I rested a day, geared up the next, dropped back in day three. I had an idea where it was. Searched all over, couldn’t find it. Mowed the grass, still no luck. Out of dead silence, I hear a raptor chirpin’, I look up and see it flappin’ its wings, bouncin’ up and down and carryin’ on (I can still see it in my mind). I didn’t think anything of it. I looked down and there it was, the fossil. I didn’t know it then, but that would become a pattern. Raptor chirp, fossil. Not all the time, but enuf times to think, this is kinda spooky. I looked up and thanked the raptor for its chirp. Same creek (I’ve named the creek Spooky Creek). I’d found a fossil or two on this day, so I was headed back with a quick pace. It was oh, so . . . quiet. Then, a raptor chirps. I took another step or so, then stopped dead in my tracks. I took a step back, look down and see a partially covered fossil. I uncovered it and there it was, a vertebrae. Nice one. Rare. I’d walked right past it. I thanked the raptor for its chirp. So, I’m huntin’ a near-by creek. Biota in this creek is different. It was loaded with fossil oysters, some seven, eight, nine inches across; a ton of em’. No way was I gonna be humpin’ a backpack full all the way back to the truck. I told self, “let someone else have em’.” Self agreed. I go most of the way down the creek, turn around and head back. Dead, thick silence all day long; not a sound. Then, a raptor chirps. I was onto it by now. I knew the sound when I heard it. I stop, look down and see a nice little fossil. I thanked the raptor for its chirp. I’m still workin’ on my fossil inventory. Over 70 fossils. What luck. I must give credit where credit is due. Thank you, thank you, silence. And the Raptors. I'm goin' back in. I don't expect to find anything.

Newbie notes I found the scapula during my last outing. The humerus I found many months ago. I didn't know it was humerus when I found it, but I thought it was a fossil. While I was taking a fossil inventory, these two came together again . . . after 90 million years. You can't see it in the photo, but they are connected quantumly. The "paddle bones" were dark, smooth and easy to spot. I've got a few more here. Who would have thought that putting them together could be as much fun as finding them. ~

Thus far, 18 fossils have been ID in my first four posts. Thanks to all the professionals here at TFF for taking the time to ID so many fossils. I’ve got a bunch more. THANKS ! ~ I found what appears to be a coprolite in the same strata that I’ve found most of the other fossils. I picked this one up, tossed it back, then picked it up again and decided to keep it because I read that if you don’t recognize it or think it might be different in some way, keep it . . . might be somethin’. I read up on the Dutchess of Dookie and I’ve been to her web site and reviewed the coprolites there, didn’t see anything like this one.

I thought the first fossil was a rib but I’ve got some other rib partials here that are small, thin and fragile, so I’m not sure. I thought the second two fossils were cervical vertebrae, but I don’t see the “peduncle on the underside surface,” so I’m not sure.

Newbie Notes I’ve had these fossils for a while. I’ve had a chance to research them and I have an idea of what they might be . . . but as a newbie I’m not positive. So, I defer to the professionals for the final ID. With the help of the veterans at this forum, (11) fossils were ID in my first two posts. Thanks. The following pics are group number four. The first fossil in this group was found a great distance away, but the depositional environment appears to be the same or similar.

Newbie Notes I’ve had these fossils for a while. I’ve had a chance to research them and I have an idea of what they might be . . . but as a newbie I’m not positive. So, I defer to the professionals for the final ID. With the help of the veterans at this forum, (11) fossils were ID in my first two posts. Thanks. The following pics are group number three. The last fossil in the group you’ll notice the depositional environment is different. It was found where the creek flows into the river. I sat down to eat lunch and there was the fossil.

Newbie Notes Updated and revised from 6/28 ~ September 2020 I decided to become a fossil hunter. I searched the internet and found the North Sulfur River. My first three visits I found coral fragments and small fossil wood. I was still hopeful. I then reviewed several maps of the area and decided on the road less traveled by. Went there November 2020 and found my first fossil. I followed the strata in which that fossil was found. The strata led me up a creek and that creek was laden with fossils. I hunted that creek countless times and found a bunch of nice fossils. On my last two visits they were scarce, so I stayed away for six months. I returned this May and it was the same as it ever was. I’ve had these fossils for a while. I’ve had a chance to research them and I have an idea of what they might be . . . but as a newbie I’m not positive. In the first group I posted for ID, I thought a cervical vert was a pygal/postpygal and a scapula was a coracoid. So, and as it should be, I defer to the professionals for the final ID. With the help of the veterans at this forum, (7) fossils were ID in my first post; they made it look easy. Thanks The following pics are set number two. I thought the fossil dated 1/18 was a piece of wood until I turned it over. The second and third on 2/7 came in quick succession. Three months later I found the fourth fossil in this set. I did review Russells's Manual and found the last fossil on page 50 . . . I've got more here related to these, just got to process the pics.

Newbie Notes Long story short. September 2020 I decided to become a fossil hunter. I searched the internet and found the North Sulfur River. My first three visits I found coral fragments and small fossil wood. I was still hopeful. I then reviewed several maps of the area and decided on the road less traveled by. Went there November 2020 and found my first fossil. I followed the strata in which that fossil was found. The strata led me up a creek and that creek was laden with fossils. I hunted that creek countless times and found a bunch of nice fossils. On my last two visits they were scarce, so I stayed away for six months. I returned this May and it was the same as it ever was. I searched the internet and I have an idea of what these fossils might be . . . but as a newbie I’m not so sure, so I need help to ID. The following first set of pics include the first fossil and one of the latest. Thanks in advance for your time to ID. I hope you find these fossils as interesting and fascinating as I have. ~

With lockdowns strangling basically everything right now, one question floats around in my noggin: is there anything on whether travelling for remote recreational activities is alright? I say this as obviously nobody's going (or should be going) to the big name sites where there's probably other visitors to contend with, but what about the lesser known sites where you can be fairly confident there won't be anyone physically exposed to you for miles in any direction? Is there anything in the books about it? I assume the answer is just stay put regardless, but I am indeed curious if there is anything in the books on remote/solo recreational activity away from home...