30SEP2017 Ernst Quarries Bakersfield CA

[Calvin Jenkins 18]

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.

[Calvin Jenkins 18]

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)

[Doctor Mud 826]

Nice finds! Amazing that you had the place to yourself.

that very looks like a shark vertebra. Can we see it from the side?

[jcbshark 662]

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

[WhodamanHD 3,054]

Nice finds!

[ynot 7,236]

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?

[Nimravis 6,532]

Nice finds- I need to stop out there next time I am in California.

[Calvin Jenkins 18]

Vert Photos, Thanks for ID info!

[Calvin Jenkins 18]

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!

[ynot 7,236]

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.).

[Fossil-Hound 503]

@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.

[Mitchu 2]

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!

[Fossil-Hound 503]

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.

[Mitchu 2]

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?

[Calvin Jenkins 18]

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.

[AncientEarth 86]

CJ,

 

Good to see you got back out there

 

 

[ynot 7,236]

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.