"Field Trip Convoy Guidelines"
As a stated Internet policy of GMS, we do not give out non-commercial
mineral/fossil location information and directions over the Internet.

• Most field trips are open to members of other clubs unless they are designated a "limited access" or "limited attendance" site. In which case, everyone will be required to sign-up before the trip.
• We also recommend that all family members or friends who are not members of a SFMS federation society need to join, as they are not covered by our (SFMS) liability insurance. Since a family membership covers everyone in your family, we need all of their names on our membership roll.
• All sites visited by G.M.S. are not to be revisited unless they are on public domain property - road cuts, national forests, etc. This is the quickest way to lose access to a site.
• Please do not visit a site immediately before one of our G.M.S. field trips. Also, do not go to a site ahead of the group on the day of the field trip. Meet and convoy with the rest of us so that everyone has an equal access to the site.
• Do not park your vehicle where it is blocking the road, a gate, or another vehicle.

Everyone should follow the AFMS Code of Ethics while on G.M.S. field trips. Wherever you go to collect, always obtain permission before collecting. Always fill in all your holes. Don't litter. Never disturb buildings or other facilities at a collecting site. Only take home what you can reasonably use.

"AFMS Code of Ethics"

• I will respect both private and public property and will do no collecting on privately owned land without the owner's permission.
• I will keep informed on all laws, regulations or rules governing collecting on public lands and will observe them.
• I will, to the best of my ability, ascertain the boundary lines of property on which I plan to collect.
• I will use no firearms or blasting material in collecting areas.
• I will cause no willful damage to property of any kind - fences, signs, buildings, etc.
• I will leave all gates as found.
• I will build fires in designated or safe places only and will be certain they are completely extinguished before leaving the area.
• I will discard no burning material - matches, cigarettes, etc.
• I will fill all excavation holes which may be dangerous to livestock.
• I will not contaminate wells, creeks, or other water supplies.
• I will will cause no willful damage to collecting material and will take home only what I can reasonably use.
• I will support the rockhound project H.E.L.P. (Help Eliminate Litter Please) and will leave all collecting areas devoid of litter, regardless of how found.
• I will cooperate with field-trip leaders and those in designated authority in all collecting areas.
• I will report to my club or federation officers, Bureau of Land Management or other authorities, any deposit of petrified wood or other materials on public lands which should be protected for the enjoyment of future generations for public educational and scientific purposes.
• I will appreciate and protect our heritage of natural resources.
• I will observe the "Golden Rule," will use "Good Outdoor Manners," and will at all times conduct myself in a manner which will add to the stature and public "image" of rockhounds everywhere.




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For a discussion on collecting in our national forests,
follow the link below.

Rockhounding, Mineral Collecting, and Our National Forests:
by: John Nichols, Forest Geologist, Ouachita National Forest
February 1997