Panning in Uwharrie National Forest

[Matt]

Greetings ECP from NC,

I am new to these boards and relatively new to panning as well. (been a few times to private creeks in Boone, never saw any yellow in the pan I am going with a friend to UNF this weekend, a place where neither of us have ever been. Any tips on where to start? I'm not asking for anyone to give me their holes or anything, I just want to make sure I'm in a good spot for a beginner with very basic tools. Any help is greatly appreciated!

-Matt

[bahoogas]

Every creek in the area has gold, find one and go at it. Just a reminder clean up after yourself and have a good time.

[vote4dirk]

Thanks bahoogas. Are most creeks in the area on public land?

[Gold Seeker]

Welcome to the forum and gold prospecting, Matt and Dirk!

Stop by the Ranger's Station in Troy, N.C. and pickup one of the maps that shows which creeks and areas are opened to prospecting, there are some areas within the National Forest that are private property, you can also find a similar map by stopping at the store within the National Forest known as Eldorado Outpost on Hwy 109, they can also give you more info about prospecting in the National Forest.

www.eldoradooutpost.com/uwharrie%20mountains_007.htm

[dirtymike]

Any creek behind Eldorado outpost is decent and worth trying

[Deleted]

Moccasin creek is a good creek, just park on the road by the creek and walk down it a bit about 1/2 mile or so.

[vote4dirk]

Thanks ywevis. I'm Matt btw, not sure why it didn't have me as signed in for the original post. Operator error. Looking forward to UNF this weekend. Taking a few pans and a new sluice I've never used. Should be a fun learning experience.

[Deleted]

see if ya can hook up with savage on here he knows alot of good spots?

[dirtymike]

I think I'm going one day this weekend just don't know what day yet. What day are you guys going

[vote4dirk]

Planning on getting out there tomorrow morning around 9:00am. Making a full day of it. Have to back in Northern Davidson county by 6:00pm for a benefit dinner so I'll probably pack up around 3:30pm

[douglasnc]

Hi Derk and Matt,The BP station on hwy.109(Towards Troy a few miles into Montgomery county)  also known as The Outpost sales a great Uwharrie national forest map that highlites all the forest land in green.That land is a lot easier to get on when you know were it is using this map.Almost all the forest land is open to prospecting except a few spot's here and there.As Gold Seeker stated, The ranger's station will give you a crude map of places where you can't prospect.It's a cheezy black and white map with the off limit's places shaded in. Use it , and compairing it's location's with the National Forest map the "Out Post" sales will help you figure out the off limit spots..Private land is mixed with forest land, so that forest or gameland map will be a big help in not truspassing by mistake.I'm thinking about going there tomorrow also after it warms up a little.I usually collect my con's from creeks with little water to sluice, and take them down to Low Water bridge to sluice out.Remember, the gold will settle into the bedrock below the gravel..Good luck guy's.. Ill be in a white f-250 4x4 if you see one with a cb antanna behind the cab.. Oh yea, it's deer season there and lots of hunters will be in the woods..You can tell if someones hunting in an area you'r looking at because their truck will be parked near by on the road..They don't care for us prospector's when they are hunting...lol...Sunday's are best day's this time of the year..

[dirtymike]

So how did you guys do , did you find your first gold

[douglasnc]

Well I got some small flakes and a small picker out of the Uwharrie, downstream from the Low Water bridge. They were hiding under a bolder I rolled over on the island. Lots of rocks there that could hold gold. Hunter's were parked at most of my favorite spots, so I just headed down stream to some of my uncle's land across from the Steel mine. Long walk with a back pack full of equipment, and a detector and shovel. Was fun though, and I plan on returning when I have more time to explore. Would love to pack my 2" dredge in there and try my luck.Took lunch at the Outpost (BP STATION)in hopes Dirk or Matt would spot my truck and hook up to show them around some. But never saw anyone except hunter's stopping in to eat..Maybe next time..

[cabarrusgold]

Anyone walking around in woods during this time need to wear a good amount of orange. I have been in many a hunters scope. Heck, one hunt I went on... on my friends land, I scoped another hunter looking at me through his scope! Damn fool was hunting my friends land!!!! Then there was that time we were caring a deer out. Wow... Mental note... never, never carry a deer! Drag it at all times no matter how rough the land is!