I know the disappointment is coming...

[Fin Lover]

Since posting my last trip report (below), I've gotten back out twice.

 

I have a handful of spots and am still figuring out how much they produce (if I can go on a weekly basis and still find stuff).  Since I drive about 2 hrs each way, I always hope to find one good "trip maker" each week, but who doesn't?   But, I was having a pretty good string of luck lately and, being a novice with limited sites, knew it had to come to an end.

 

Last week seemed like it was going to be it. My spots weren't recovering quickly enough and I was either finding little stuff, or broken/worn teeth. It was looking like these were going to be the best I could do (which is funny because I would have been thrilled to find these 4 months ago):

 

 

I decided to try out two new spots, one of which was a very bad idea in the heat. I came across this guy, which did not make me feel any better about the spot:

 

 

 

It definitely was not the honey hole that I had been expecting, so I went on to another spot.  Found a decent amount of small teeth and ray mouth parts until it was time to leave. And then, walking back in the creek, I looked down and saw what I thought was just a broken angustidens.  But, no, this broken, worn tooth was my find of the day/week because it was my first identifiable meg frag!

 

 

 

It's small (for a meg), it's broken, but that was what I had been waiting for!  (Also found my first tuna hypural bone, which is cool.)

 

So, after finding a meg last week, I had already accepted that yesterday would be the day of disappointment. Other than to find a complete meg, how could I top last week?  Sites seemed to not be producing much, but I found a small angy that I decided would have to be my find of the day:

 

 

Had one spot left to hit when the storm started to roll in, but I was determined to get there and look quickly (2 mile hike for this spot).  I literally had about 10 minutes in the spot before the sky turned too dark to see much but, what did I see?  This!!

 

 

Something that actually did top my small, broken meg!  I decided to make a run for it after that, and made it back to my truck right before the downpour.

 

So, here I am again knowing that I will soon have a disappointing hunt. 

 

[Meganeura]

Wow those are some absolutely gorgeous Angs! We all have those disappointing hunts (Every time I go out on the peace ) but it's the big finds that absolutely make up for it. 

[Fin Lover]

Thank you!  I thought it was black and dark gray when I went to bed last night, but woke up to a light root and pretty cool pattern.

[Rock Hound]

1 hour ago, Fin Lover said:

Since posting my last trip report (below), I've gotten back out twice.

 

I have a handful of spots and am still figuring out how much they produce (if I can go on a weekly basis and still find stuff).  Since I drive about 2 hrs each way, I always hope to find one good "trip maker" each week, but who doesn't?   But, I was having a pretty good string of luck lately and, being a novice with limited sites, knew it had to come to an end.

 

Last week seemed like it was going to be it. My spots weren't recovering quickly enough and I was either finding little stuff, or broken/worn teeth. It was looking like these were going to be the best I could do (which is funny because I would have been thrilled to find these 4 months ago):

 

I decided to try out two new spots, one of which was a very bad idea in the heat. I came across this guy, which did not make me feel any better about the spot:

 

It definitely was not the honey hole that I had been expecting, so I went on to another spot.  Found a decent amount of small teeth and ray mouth parts until it was time to leave. And then, walking back in the creek, I looked down and saw what I thought was just a broken angustidens.  But, no, this broken, worn tooth was my find of the day/week because it was my first identifiable meg frag!

 

It's small (for a meg), it's broken, but that was what I had been waiting for!  (Also found my first tuna hypural bone, which is cool.)

 

So, after finding a meg last week, I had already accepted that yesterday would be the day of disappointment. Other than to find a complete meg, how could I top last week?  Sites seemed to not be producing much, but I found a small angy that I decided would have to be my find of the day:

 

 

Had one spot left to hit when the storm started to roll in, but I was determined to get there and look quickly (2 mile hike for this spot).  I literally had about 10 minutes in the spot before the sky turned too dark to see much but, what did I see?  This!!

 

Something that actually did top my small, broken meg!  I decided to make a run for it after that, and made it back to my truck right before the downpour.

 

So, here I am again knowing that I will soon have a disappointing hunt. 

 

Look at those serrations!!!

[Kane]

Well done.  

In prospecting, we can expect maybe 1 out of 10 to be productive, if we're lucky. Even tried and true spots can disappoint on any given day, particularly if there hasn't been much "activity" to replenish the stores. But that is the nature of fossil collecting: if it was easy, everyone would do it. You made away with a decent haul given the conditions. 

[FossilNerd]

I have to agree with @Kane. For prospecting new spots and having limited time to hunt, you did fairly well.

 

I’ve been to many sites that were duds for every one I find that produces. New spots come with time and more than a little effort.

 

I think researching and checking out new hunting grounds is half the fun. This hobby/obsession is all about curiosity and discovery. Whether it be discovering a new fossil or a new hunting location. There is also the curiosity that drives us to prep and identify our finds. To see what is under the matrix or to figure out the genus and species of a specimen. 

 

Keep at it and feed your curiosity. You will be rewarded in the end! 

[Fin Lover]

@FossilNerd, thanks. The hunt itself hasn't seemed as enjoyable since the weather turned hot and humid, so hopefully that enjoyment will return in a couple of months.  I also seem to struggle more than others with deeming the trip "worth it" (the cost of gas) if I don't find something better or bigger.  I need to work on just enjoying the experience more. 

[FossilNerd]

8 hours ago, Fin Lover said:

@FossilNerd, thanks. The hunt itself hasn't seemed as enjoyable since the weather turned hot and humid, so hopefully that enjoyment will return in a couple of months.  I also seem to struggle more than others with deeming the trip "worth it" (the cost of gas) if I don't find something better or bigger.  I need to work on just enjoying the experience more. 

It’s the cold for me. I can deal with the heat and humidity, but I hate being cold. Although I can understand how a hot and humid day can make one uncomfortable. 

I can see how your long drive makes prospecting for new sites a bit harder to justify.

 

I find that many things can make a trip “worth it” for me. An epic find will do it for sure, but also confirming or denying the potential new site that I spent hours researching. Even just getting away by myself to spend a few hours with Mother Nature. I rarely find that a fossil outing wasn’t worth it in one form or another.

 

I’m lucky enough to not have to drive 2 hours one way to find fossils, but I rarely get to go out these days, and when I do it’s usually not for long. Two very young kids, and what is essentially a second job, will do that! I still enjoy getting out when I can. Even if I find nothing at all and only end up confirming that my 5 potential new fossil sites are all barren. 
 

I’d suggest that you hang in there and enjoy the complete experience. Go out when the weather is cooler. When it is very hot or money is an issue, scratch the fossil itch by spending time researching\cataloguing\photographing your finds, new potential sites, or studying the current sites you have (their flora and fauna or geology) Some form of prepping may be an option for you too.

 

For me the hobby of fossils is multifaceted and more than just “hunting”. The above mentioned things make the hunt that much more enjoyable.  
 

Oh… and spending time on TFF let’s me enjoy fossils vicariously through others. That is a beautiful Angy you found and I have yet to find a Meg tooth myself. 

[Fin Lover]

Thank you, @FossilNerd. The plan for the summer was to start kayaking and try new spots on the water, but the logistics of taking the kayak that far and tendonitis have prevented it from happening yet. But, I can definitely work on my fossil photography skills on the days that are too hot to hunt on, and I have a ton of random bones, frags, etc. that I've been collecting that I need to go through. Maybe now I will have a better idea what is/isn't worth keeping (or at least asking for an ID on). 

 

I appreciate you sharing and giving me some other ideas!