South Dakota Help

[tj102569]

Anyone in South dakota that my son and I can get in touch with? I really want to get my son involved, but am having a hard time knowing where to go and whatnot.

[squalicorax]

there is cretaceous outcrops along the county highways south of sioux falls along Iowa 12. Try a few roadcuts in the area.

[tj102569]

anyone hunt for fossils in south east SD? My son and I would love to go hunting with you...message me if you are out there

[tj102569]

anyone in south dakota that looks for fossils? There has to be some members that are in my state. Anyone want to link up and hunt together????

[sdgoldpanner]

Anyone in South dakota that my son and I can get in touch with? I really want to get my son involved, but am having a hard time knowing where to go and what.

Lots of fossils west river

[tj102569]

That is true, the majority is west river. But where can a guy go? that is legal and wont cost you to go on the land? that is the hard part.

[old dead things]

Most of us have collecting spots on private land because we knocked on doors. I've been turned down more times than I have found places to hunt. Sometimes it takes awhile to develop a relationship with a land owner to collect. Be sure to check the legalities of collecting on BLM or state lands before collecting. Corner jumping is frowned upon in Wyoming, so even if it is BLM it is always best to get adjacent land owner permission to cross their private land, and once again "knock on doors."

I sense a frustration that no one is giving up their collecting spots. Remember in many cases we spent a lot of time knocking on doors to just give our spots away.

Jim

Old Dead Things

[tj102569]

I do understand.. I dont want anyone to give me their hard earned spots. I am just trying to find those easier places just to have fun. Not looking for everyone's "Place: that was producing a t-rex or anything. Just trying to get my son involved. I was shocked when I gave him the opportunity to either fossil hunt or play ps3, he chose fossil hunting. After that , I was waiting for a call from the president himself congratulating me on getting my son into something other than video games... lol.

We are just trying to find the places,,, then I will work on the knocking on doors and what not.

[Auspex]

I truly wish I could help; that country is Terra Incognita to me. I have poked around the internet, but with no results so far.

[old dead things]

Eastern South Dakota is not a "hot bed" for collecting fossils. There is a place (name escapes me) in central Iowa that caters to fossil hunters. I would think that there may be collecting along the Missouri River perhaps on sand bars and eroded cut banks. Anywhere along the Cheyenne River near Wasta or around Edgemont that are public would be a good places to go. (ammonites and mosaur/sharks teeth). I have not collected in any of these locations, but do have fossils from these locations.

My time in eastern South Dakota as a youth (Sisseton and Armour) was spent catching bass and playing golf. My dad collected lots of artifacts along the River near Pickstown.

Jim

Old Dead Things

[Uncle Siphuncle]

suggestion: when knocking on doors, take your boy. his presence will soften some hearts as the world has least sympathy for a lone, grown man. add a kid to the mix and your likeability and credibility skyrocket, in my experience. but more importantly, your boy will experience important lessons in courteous dialog between adults, and this will impress upon the lad an ethic that some of the best things in life require some effort.

[Uncle Siphuncle]

wasta... we got a few ammos there but found the area to be extremely picked over, at least at easy, legal access points.

before knocking on doors, it sounds like best use of time would be to study some geo maps, ascertain the most fossil rich formations within desired driving range, then target private landowners within that outcrop area. this will save your son from experiencing a giant, enthusiasm crushing boondoggle.

locate promising looking areas via aerial imagery, then call the county tax assessor to ascertain ownership. then call information for the phone number. then tell the landowner what you'd like to do on his land with your son, and maybe let him know what channels you went through to get to this point, not to pressure him, but to demonstrate patience and responsibility.

if you get permission, consider bringing him something. its generally not expected, but it demonstrates that you don't have a "free lunch" mentality. i feel that this has been a great lesson for my son to observe this in action.

find out what presence the landowner is comfortable with, then come in somewhere below that threshold. take the time to chat with these people. they are generally quite down to earth and practical, with good stories.

i wish you luck, but brace yourself for perhaps a 25% success rate in landing good sites. it isnt easy or fast, but the results are quite satisfying. plan on one time visits, but quite often you'll end up with a site that allows many happy returns.

Edited June 3, 2013 by danwoehr

[tj102569]

Thanks Dan,..... by the way my son still looks at all those fossils you sent him....He loved getting those in the mail..... it helps fuel his want to hunt... I am hoping it spurs a love for science...

[Uncle Siphuncle]

ahhh yes... i find satisfaction in knowing that those specimens were bequeathed to appreciative hands.

you might consider expanding your driving radius to wherever richer deposits lie. i.e. weekend trips via day trips. most places in the US have

something good within that range.

Edited June 3, 2013 by danwoehr

[tj102569]

yeah,,, a little further out,,, there is tons of tons of places.

[Bev]

With that in mind, a trip doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg. Gas and a campsite and now you have two or more things that you and your son can bond with. Fossil hunting, camping, add some nature study and fishing and you have a winning combo!

yeah,,, a little further out,,, there is tons of tons of places.

If you want to come east about 200 miles, you can camp along the creekside in my yard. I have a campsite, the creek is a trout stream, and as long as we don't have a lot of rain it is safe (floods with lots of rain). We have loads of collecting sites and 2 top 10 caves. Plus just plain beautiful country. If interested check out my blog at BluffCountryWoman.com and of course my fossil adventure blog.

Bev

Edited June 3, 2013 by Bev

[tj102569]

Thanks Bev, we may take you up on that some day.... also as soon as I find some places in eastern SD. Ill let everyone know.

[tj102569]

any hunters in south dakota....? I would love to hook up and hunt with you.

[tj102569]

Over the weekend i attained permission for one of two areas that are full of fossils. Fairly easy to get to , and by the end of the day, should have the permission for the second area. The second area is harder to get to... but WOW looks very promising.

[Auspex]

You're breaking new ground, in several ways!

[Uncle Siphuncle]

very cool. i find this approach to step up personal satisfaction big time. in fact i'm probably as drawn to the thrill of chasing down new sites as i am to chasing the fossils themselves. wanderlust is a good itch to scratch. good luck to you guys in your quest.