Illinois To Wyoming - Looking For Fossils In Between

[tbones]

What's up people, I am new to this so bear with me. I am venturing to Wyoming in the near future by truck and was wondering what type of potential collecting sites I could stop at along the way? South Dakota, Nebraska, Wyoming fossil collecting sites would be greatly appreciated. As I will be traveling by truck, I will make multiple stops along the way to break the monotony of driving. Fee or free, I just need places to collect along the way. I am open to just about any type of fossil collecting, hunting and exploring so feel free to suggest anything. I appreciate it,

bones

[Ray Eklund]

(Although this is an old post... this is to all new collectors asking where you hide your silver and gold- my reply.)

tbones.... I would recommend that you start the search by going to your local Library and doing some work on your own.

1st. Figure out your route from Illinois to Wyoming.

2nd. Get a general geological map of each State you plan to be stopping and hunting.

3rd. Determine how much time you have available in your quest.

4th. Don't travel the Interstate Highway System. The smaller highways were built to serve small towns and did not bypass the rougher terrain and stratigraphic areas where... you can explore at your leisure the local geology.

Are you new to collecting? What is your reason for collecting? Have you any experience with geological formations and kinds of fossils to expect while traveling East to West? Have you read anything concerning Geology... Paleontology?

My family knew nothing about Fossils or Rocks. They did not care. It was a slow beginning, at first.

I checked out a book when I was 12 years old on Rocks and Mineral Identification. I was not even aware Fossils existed until I began reading about different kinds of Rocks and the fossils they contained. There was no Internet in 1962. I explored my local area and began to expand my territory to explore... on foot and on bicycle. All of this was done without any help. This beginning helped me build a foundation of knowledge to understand Why, What and Where, which is much more important than the actual collecting of a FOSSIL. Without knowing what you are doing, the Fossil has no inherent value, no more than a discarded plastic soda bottle or plastic bag blowing across a parking lot.

Your Keyword List and you are focused on Vertebrate Fossil locations in the Mesozoic and Tertiary are "protected".

Protected by Federal and State Laws on Public Land and Protected by the Landowners from being over run by collectors. These locations have been vigorously guarded by the land owners and private collectors who may be leasing for collecting. I would be very cautious on your ambitions and make it a point to inquire and ask before venturing onto potential fossil hunting locations.

Collecting Vertebrate Fossils, today, is no longer possible without relationships with land owners and a considerable budget to gain any access, if any are open for lease. It has been decades since I collected Tertiary Vertebrate fossils in the West, AND I knew the Ranchers. These contacts have died or sold their Ranches to individuals who understand that the fossils on their ranch have income potential to cover the overhead of operating their business. You are 40 to 50 years too late.

I know you did not want to hear this from an experienced collector living in the Western USA. A suggestion is to concentrate on Invertebrate Fossils and knock on doors. There are NO new locations to find. Everyone who has done their research over many years have a difficult time to collect what you want. You will have to be like the rest of us when wanting to collect... find an area of interest and knock on doors.

This is "what's up people".

This is the sign to Welcome you to Colorado. It is not along the Highway for entertainment. It is a warning that you can come, take in the scenery... but it is not yours to take.

[Uncle Siphuncle]

i had to chuckle when i read this as it all rings so true!

an addendum to noobs: veterans are a little looser with quality site info once you've invested enough personal effort to bring new, quality site info to the table. quid pro quo never goes out of

style, especially when the guest is first to propose it.

Edited March 4, 2014 by danwoehr

[old dead things]

When I first read the post my thought was "is this guy nuts." This is the wrong time of year to collect in Wyoming, it is mud and what isn't mud is still covered with snow and under that mud the ground is still frozen. Good catch on the date Ray.

Just wonder if tbones made it to collect or is the near future yet to come?

Many of the ranches where I use to collect........well some are ranched by the sons that don't want collectors, many ranches have been divided and sold and for some reason the fees have risen. Ahh..........I miss the "olden days."

Jim

Old Dead Things

Edited March 15, 2014 by old dead things

[Ray Eklund]

Jim... you let the secret of Wyoming out!

The wind never blows in Wyoming.

The sun always shines.

A tent never needs to be staked after lunch time.

Ask anyone still hanging fearfully onto these lines.

Fossils are shoveled out of the ground in snow balls.

Some actually are found stuck to the ground.

Oh, what a place Wyoming is, with wide open spaces to hide.

No one regrets melting ice on the inside of the windows, as the view is so pretty.

No Rancher's hat is ever blown off by a tornado, nor even his capital city.

A last dying wish of a Wyoming Native.

Is to find a much nicer spot.

Standing upon a nice sunny calm June Wyoming outcrop,

Holding a frozen can of soda pop.

Today it may be the first March day in Wyoming.

The air is guaranteed fresh and clean.

The clothes that were worn last Winter, can not be removed until August, it seems.

Taking six months for clothing to thaw from the freeze, is a sure sign of an early approaching Spring.

I will make a toast to Jim and his Dead Things.

As he hangs high upon a telephone line.

Ask anyone born under those blue skies of Wyoming, from any old time...

They will reluctantly refer you to Jim and his Dead Things

and what remains of his tired old rhyme.

The wind never blows in Wyoming...

added: Written by a wanna be Rancher, on a wanna be cow pony, with a wanna be Cattle Herd, keeping the visitors honest with a Peacemaker 45, just asking for a little more free time and don't wanna be out on the roadside, ending up like Jim and his Dead Things, high on a telephone line.

Edited March 15, 2014 by Ray Eklund

[old dead things]

At last I know, old poets never die..........they join the fossil forum :D

[GaRockhound]

Ray Eklund ! Love your poem about Wyoming ! I am native born from Cheyenne but my parents were from Alabama. A couple years after I was born we all moved back to Alabama. Would you mind if I copied the poem. Last time in 1994 when I was in Wyoming up near Sheridan, I was in an Escort station wagon. I was wore out from "The wind never blows in Wyoming". I was tired from trying to keep the wagon in the road. Maybe next summer I will make a trip back to Wyoming ! Thanks for Sharing ! !

[Ray Eklund]

I tried to clean up some verses, as many did not rhyme.

It is very difficult, unless you can devote plenty of time.

Although I do not hold being born in Cheyenne against you, my daughter finds Laramie her birth place, not far from your city.

We must all remember the dying Cowboys Creed... give them city slickers a bit of western pity...

and remember you have friends far and wide from Wyoming that can give you the time with a smile.

Just top off the tank as you will need it for the last...dog gone... mile.

Anyone from Wyoming can take Jim and his Dead Things rhyme and improve and post it, only if you can afford the spare time.

[Taxman56]

RT 50 UTAH U DIG TRIOLBITES near Delta opps I let the secret out.