Panning for gold and rock collecting on the Chequamegon-Nicolet

The collection of minor amounts of rock samples and gold panning as a recreational activity is allowed on National Forest land, but is strictly limited in the type of collecting activity and intensity of activity allowed. Recreational rock collecting and gold panning activities do not grant any rights to any discovered valuable mineral deposits. The 1872 General Mining Law does not apply to Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest lands.
The Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest authorizes recreational mineral collecting, such as panning for gold or rock collecting without the need for a permit. Gold panning is only allowed with the use of small hand tools (pan, small shovel, and hand pick). Occasional recreation panning, for an individual or group is limited to extremely small areas of stream disturbance: A few scattered areas of less than 1 square foot and totaling less than 40 square feet within a 500 foot segment of a stream and would occur less than 5 days per year. The Forest does not issue permits for more substantial recreational collecting.
The use of suction dredges, any type of motorized equipment, mercury or any king of chemical, and sluice type devices is prohibited.
Gold panning activity is not permitted in classified trout water before April 15th and after September 15th. You must also avoid disturbing fish spawning nests.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) has the responsibility and jurisdiction concerning water quality. Past contacts with the WDNR have indicated that occasional recreational panning with no equipment other than small hand tools (pan, small shovel, and hand pick as defined in Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 345.03(8)) would not have substantial effects on water quality and a permit would probably not be required.
Recreational rock collecting or "rock hounding" means the collecting of surface rock samples without the need for digging tools or surface disturbance. Rock hammers or geo-picks are allowed for use to break off small hand samples from larger rock outcrops on surface boulders.
Digging for Quartz Crystals is prohibited at a specific historical quartzite crystal collecting area known as "Quartz Hill", located in Oconto County, north of Townsend and a 1/4 mile east and northeast of the junction of FR 2123 and State Highway 32. This are has had unauthorized digging activity that has resulted in adverse visual and environmental impacts. You may collect small amounts of surface rock samples but may not do any kind of digging or other surface disturbance.
The Forest Service needs to know the locations and dates of your proposed recreational panning or rock collecting. Please contact the individual below in advance of this activity.

Contact Greg Knight, Forest Geologist, Medford-Park Falls Ranger Station, 850 N. 8th, Hwy. 13, Medford, WI 54451, 715-748-4875, ext. 26, or email gknight@fs.fed.us