Anyone spend much time in Owen Putnam? I have been there a few times and do not see much sign of digging--- many miles of creek there.
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Anyone spend much time in Owen Putnam? I have been there a few times and do not see much sign of digging--- many miles of creek there.
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I am in Southern Illinois, about 3hr away from Owen Putnam. Drop me a note if you need a prospecting buddy. Im pretty new, but up for some exploring.
I got lost in there ,never could find Rattlesnake creek campground, went down a VERY steep 1 lane gravel road, praying nobody coming up the hill, which came out to a low bridge over the creek at the bottom. So, what is the right way to come in there off rt 67 south from Spencer? Or is there another way,assuming I start from Martinsville area?
-Tom V.
Tom:
I looked at a map and now see where you were coming from. If you are heading north on 67 into Spencer, take 46 West. You have two options, you can turn right on Rattlesnake Road and head North until you see a bridge on the left that crosses Rattlesnake Creek. You will also see two roads intersect just on the other side of the bridge. One is Hale Hill, the other is Surber. Take Surber. But I recommend taking 46 W and go past Rattlesnake Rd a couple of miles. Turn right on Fishcreek Road. You will pass the Forest Office as mentioned before. Just keep going on Fishcreek for 5-6 miles until it Tees. Turn right on Hale Hill and just go until you get to the same intersection on Rattlesnake creek mentioned above (do not cross the creek). Take a hard left onto Surber. The first creek crossing is not on Forest Property. The second one is on the property and the second crossing is probably the spot most often visited by prospectors. Even so, not a lot of evidence of digging and I have gotten good gold 20 feet upstream from the road.
Sounds like a good plan Randy? I am up by Chicago so its a bit of a drive. Is anybody else in NE Illinois?
Do you just do bedrock cracks, pan, and what tools do you bring? Sometimes I use my copper dowsing rods to find gold spots , 1 more tool in my arsenal. I will try map dowsing that Fish creek and see what I get.Something to do for winter prospecting anyway...and I could sure use some new prospecting buddys !!
Sounds like you just missed the turn at the bridge if was at Rattlesnake road. Surber road goes back to the campground. The road crosses the creek three times on the way. I come into the forest from Route 46 onto Fishcreek Road. The forest headquarters is there. The lady that works there is really nice and can help with directions. By the way, you can pan right across the street from the headquarters and there is some good flood gold right there. The maps are terrible and the boundaries are crazy. I have focused on the creek where you cross the second time. Gold is spotty but I have found some good spots. I am planning of doing a lot of sampling this winter in some remote areas. I love looking at the topos and soil maps. Also, just driving and finding out what are real roads verses closed logging roads. Again, maps are not good.