Can I Keep This?

Forest and Wood Products

You can collect reasonable amounts of certain forest products. 

• Christmas trees: Permits to cut a Christmas tree for personal use are available seasonally in designated areas for a nominal fee – check with your local BLM office.
• Firewood for campfires: You can collect dead and down wood for immediate use unless fire restrictions exist. Always check local fire restrictions and follow posted signs.
• Firewood for home heating: Firewood permits for personal home heating are available in some areas for a small fee — contact your local BLM office.
• Plants, seeds, berries, flowers, nuts, cones, and mushrooms: You can collect small amounts for personal use in most areas. Do not collect plants that are federally threatened or endangered, BLM special status species, or protected by state laws.

For more information, see 43 CFR Part 8360 Subpart 8365 -- Rules of Conduct.

Rocks, Precious Metals, and Gemstones

Rockhounds may collect gold, silver, gemstones, and rocks from the surface, or prospect with hand tools (pans, shovels, metal detectors) if it causes no more than minor surface disturbance. You may collect up to 25 pounds per day, with a maximum collection of no more than 250 pounds per person, per year. 

Exceptions are:

• Developed recreation sites: Do not collect in picnic sites, campgrounds, or similar unless otherwise permitted.
• Federally designated Wilderness: In Wilderness Areas and Wilderness Study Areas, only non-motorized hand tools may be used, and the ground's surface may only be minimally disturbed.
• Existing mining claims: Collecting in these areas is prohibited without the claimholder's permission.

For more information, see 43 CFR Part 8360 Subpart 8365 -- Rules of Conduct and 43 CFR Part 3800 Subpart 3809 -- Surface Management.

Fossils

Invertebrate animal fossils, like trilobites or mollusks, and common plant fossils, maybe be collected in reasonable quantities. Sensitive areas may prohibit collection, so check before you go and follow posted signs.

Collecting any fossils with a skeletal structure (remains of dinosaurs, mammals, fish, or reptiles), uncommon invertebrate or plant fossils, or dinosaur track castings is not permitted. When in doubt about prohibited items, contact your local BLM office for guidance.

For more information, see 43 CFR Part 49 -- Paleontological Resources Preservation and our Can I collect fossils? webpage.

Petrified Wood

Unless otherwise specified, you may collect up to 25 pounds plus one additional piece of petrified wood per day, with a maximum collection of no more than 250 pounds per person, per year.

For more information, see 43 CFR Part 3620 -- Free Use of Petrified Wood.

Cultural Materials

Cultural items found on BLM lands tell stories about the past. From remnants of pioneer cabins to earthen pots created by early Indigenous peoples, these objects teach us about our shared history. If you encounter any cultural artifact, leave it in place.

Under the Archaeological Resources Protection Act, it is illegal to remove, damage, or dig up any cultural item.

Examples of cultural items that cannot be collected include but are not limited to:

• Pottery, beads, baskets
• Historic bottles, metal tools, horseshoes
• Projectile points (arrowheads, etc.) and stone tools (axe heads, mortars, pestles, etc.)
• Remnants of historic structures and sites (cabins, mills, graves, railroads, townsites)
• Historic coins (only modern money may be collected)

For more information, see CFR Part 7 -- Protection of Archaeological Resources and 43 CFR Part 8360 Subpart 8365 -- Rules of Conduct.

Permits and Contracts

Under certain circumstances, permits may be available for the extraction or investigation of designated resources for research purposes or commercial uses. Examples include forest product permits, commercial extraction of common-use minerals, and scientific permits. Contact your local BLM office for eligibility requirements and additional information.