Calvin Jenkins Posted October 1, 2017 Share Posted October 1, 2017 Work has me in CA for the weekend so I struck off to Bakersfield to hunt for some teeth. Ernst Quarries was open this time so I signed up there, my first trip to this site. Strangely enough I was the only person to show up so I had the entire site to myself. (Strange that no one else would want to chisel compacted dirt all day long in the sun on a barren hill in Southern CA at the end of September but me?) Ernst Quarries supplies some hand tools (hand sledge and a point chisel) and has a f ew screens. Eight and a half hours later of pretty solid chiseling/ digging my results are below. No Meg for me but I understand 20 some Megs where pulled from this hunting ground over the last year. Bones & Matrix. Not sure what the bones are, probably whale, the vert wasn't complete but interesting, not sure what vert it is but it seems too "short" for whale & it has several divots in the sides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Jenkins Posted October 1, 2017 Author Share Posted October 1, 2017 At the end of the day I went over to some of the "freebie" areas (Ant, Hangglider etc) and took a walk around. It is pretty scary to see how deep some of these "handmade" trenches are now. I think the last collapse death was in 2015 but surely it is just a matter of time by looking at these sites. (Several were much deeper than this photo) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted October 2, 2017 Share Posted October 2, 2017 Nice finds! Amazing that you had the place to yourself. that very looks like a shark vertebra. Can we see it from the side? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcbshark Posted October 2, 2017 Share Posted October 2, 2017 Quote Excellent finds Kevin and glad you found some productive areas..... certainly not the easy pickings we've been used to here lately but beautiful finds none the less Every once in a great while it's not just a big rock down there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miocene_Mason Posted October 2, 2017 Share Posted October 2, 2017 Nice finds! “...whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved.” ~ Charles Darwin Happy hunting, Mason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted October 2, 2017 Share Posted October 2, 2017 I think You did real good for slow curve. Nice finds too! Most locals wait for the soil to get wet before going there, it makes for easier digging. Is the east pit still closed? Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimravis Posted October 2, 2017 Share Posted October 2, 2017 Nice finds- I need to stop out there next time I am in California. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Jenkins Posted October 2, 2017 Author Share Posted October 2, 2017 Vert Photos, Thanks for ID info! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Jenkins Posted October 2, 2017 Author Share Posted October 2, 2017 I was wishing I had one of these.... (are these even practical in such an environment?) I don't know if any other sites at Ernst where "open" I basically was escorted to the "premium" site and left to my own devices. What is "locals" hunting season? I get to CA a couple of times a year and I think rainy season is Jan-Mar? but if there is a better time then I can "plan" better next time. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted October 2, 2017 Share Posted October 2, 2017 6 minutes ago, Calvin Jenkins said: I was wishing I had one of these.... (are these even practical in such an environment?) I don't know if any other sites at Ernst where "open" I basically was escorted to the "premium" site and left to my own devices. What is "locals" hunting season? I get to CA a couple of times a year and I think rainy season is Jan-Mar? but if there is a better time then I can "plan" better next time. I doubt that Rob would let You use a power tool there. For Me hunting season is anytime that it has been raining enough to soften the soil (and I have funds to go.). Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossil-Hound Posted October 2, 2017 Share Posted October 2, 2017 @Calvin Jenkins gorgeous looking teeth. This site is nine hours from my location and I'm going to try to get out there some time towards the end of October. Wonder if I can try your suggestion. I'll talk to Rob and see if he would let it swing. Very nice Makos. Do or do not. There is no try. - Yoda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitchu Posted October 2, 2017 Share Posted October 2, 2017 Im hoping to hit Ernst later this month, really excited to get into the dirt. By in southern California for a while, so im gonna try and get in as much hunting as i can. Really awesome teeth! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossil-Hound Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 20 hours ago, Mitchu said: Im hoping to hit Ernst later this month, really excited to get into the dirt. By in southern California for a while, so im gonna try and get in as much hunting as i can. Really awesome teeth! Let me know when you go and I might be able to join you. Do or do not. There is no try. - Yoda Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitchu Posted October 3, 2017 Share Posted October 3, 2017 18 hours ago, Fossil-Hound said: Let me know when you go and I might be able to join you. Sounds good! Which option does everyone go with? The regular dig or the premium dig? Chances of finding teeth really go up by that much? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calvin Jenkins Posted October 4, 2017 Author Share Posted October 4, 2017 I'm not real clear on the differences between premium and "regular" other than $80 vs $40. When you factor in your time and effort for a special trip and the cost per fossil this number looks pretty reasonable. I don't know what sort of package deals are available and I could imagine if I was a local it might be a bit harder to pay as much regularly to hunt. The risk of life that some of the "freelancing" locals are taking seems a bit too risky to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AncientEarth Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 CJ, Good to see you got back out there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted October 4, 2017 Share Posted October 4, 2017 On 10/3/2017 at 1:14 PM, Mitchu said: The regular dig or the premium dig? The premium is the areas that have had the overburden removed. So the difference is how much overburden You want to deal with. Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now