Gold Rush: Can You Strike It Rich?
Cash may be king but these days, some Americans are giving up their day jobs to pan for gold.
As gold prices move closer to $1,000 per ounce, modern-day prospectors like Fred Milton, who got rid of his printing business in New Richmond, Ohio, last September, are moving to California in search of the mother lode.
“People say that it’s going to be tough,” says Milton. "But I’m going to make a claim and try to get rich.”
Related Articles
Prospecting for Gold v. the Golden Arches
Good luck. “It’s fun hunting for gold, and it’s fun finding it,” says Josh Holpkamp, an amateur prospector and member of the Temecula Valley Prospectors in Temecula, Calif. “But, if you’re in it for the money, you can make more working at McDonald’s (Stock Quote: MCD).”
In the three years he's panned for gold, Holpkamp's found between $10 and $20 worth at a time, but he hasn’t found enough to quit his day job as an ambulance worker.
Milton is unphased. He's already bought a $6,000 dredger that will help him sift through the layers of rock and mud lining the Yuba River. Until then, he’s got his savings, a camper and his dream. “I’m going to make it work,” he says.
Panning for gold doesn’t have to be a full-time job, but you can have some inexpensive fun (and probably make a few bucks in the process).
Here are a few places where you can find out what you need to become a modern-day prospector:
Where to Look for Gold
Look up places where gold has been found previously. According to the Bureau of Land Management, modern-day prospectors can set up claims in 19 states including Arizona, California and Colorado. However, federal lands, including national parks and wildlife refuges, are closed to prospectors. If you want to learn more about claims, your local BLM office is a good place to start. Recreational prospecting areas are another option, and you can find some online.
Prospecting clubs also often have claims. The Gold Prospectors Association of America is a national club with many local chapters. Online resources such as Gold Miner's Headquarters and Mini Gold also have local club listings.
