Sources & Methodology
Last updated: October 2026
Primary Source Types
Every fact published on Permitted Pursuits must trace to one of the following primary source categories:
| Content Type | Accepted Primary Sources |
|---|---|
| Metal detecting — federal land | NPS: 36 CFR § 2.1 · ARPA (16 U.S.C. 470ee) · National seashore, refuge and forest rules for the specific unit |
| Metal detecting — state / local | State park regulations · State antiquities laws (e.g. Fla. Stat. ch. 267, Texas Natural Resources Code ch. 191) · County and city codes for the specific beach or park |
| Foraging | USFS forest-specific personal-use rules and permits · NPS superintendent compendiums · State plant-protection laws · State park and state forest harvest rules |
| Rockhounding | BLM: 43 CFR 8365.1-5 and BLM state-office guidance · Petrified wood: 43 CFR 3622 · USFS forest rules · State park and state trust land rules · Mining-claim status (BLM MLRS) · Fee-dig operators’ published rules |
| Fossil hunting | Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470aaa) · BLM: 43 CFR Part 49 · USFS: 36 CFR Part 291 · NPS: 36 CFR § 2.1 · State fossil laws and permits |
| Gold panning | BLM and USFS mining and casual-use rules (43 CFR 3809, 36 CFR 228) · Mining-claim status (BLM MLRS) · State water-quality and suction-dredge permits |
| Beachcombing & magnet fishing | State park removal rules · NPS: 36 CFR § 2.1 · State antiquities and waterway laws · County and city codes |
| Permits | Agency permit application pages · Federal Register notices · Site-specific ranger district rules |
How We Verify Requirements
- Locate the primary source. For federal land rules, this is typically the relevant Code of Federal Regulations section, the agency's land-use plan, or the specific ranger district's permit page.
- Read the original rule or policy. We do not rely on secondary interpretations for permit requirements, restricted areas, or penalty information.
- Cross-check against agency summaries. BLM and USFS offices often publish visitor-facing summaries that confirm our interpretation of the underlying rule.
- Record the "Last verified" date. Each page carries the date its researcher last confirmed the information against the primary sources, and lists those sources at the end.
What the Verdicts Mean
Every Site page opens with one of four verdicts for one hobby at one place:
- Allowed — the agency that manages the land permits the hobby there without a permit. Conditions (zones, seasons, limits, tools) are listed with it.
- Permit required — the hobby is allowed only with a permit, license or written authorization, which the page names.
- Prohibited — a rule we can cite bans the hobby there.
- Unclear (verify locally) — the rules conflict, haven't been published, or are changing. The page says what we found and who to contact to confirm.
A verdict applies to that hobby at that place only. Several agencies can share one location (for example a state-owned beach run by a county); the page lists each one under "Who Sets the Rules Here".
How We Handle Conflicting Sources
Where a federal regulation and an agency's site-specific rule appear to conflict, we consult the full regulatory text and note any ambiguity in the article. We do not publish a requirement we cannot verify against a primary source, and we flag situations where the rule is genuinely unclear or disputed.
Outbound Links and Citation Format
Where outbound hyperlinks to primary sources are included, they are manually verified before publication. A broken link to a government source undermines credibility more than no link at all. Source citations without hyperlinks follow the format: agency name + document or rule reference (e.g., "BLM — 43 CFR § 8365.1-5").
Adding and maintaining outbound links is an ongoing editorial effort. Articles published prior to our hyperlink standards may carry citation text only; these are updated as editorial capacity allows.
Update Cadence
Federal land-use rules change through notice-and-comment rulemaking and land management plan revisions. We monitor Federal Register notices and agency announcements for changes affecting the hobbies we cover. Articles are re-verified at minimum annually; high-traffic articles and articles covering recently changed rules are reviewed more frequently.
When a check finds a material error — a verdict, permit requirement, limit, penalty or citation — we fix it and log it in the public corrections register, and the corrected page shows a notice linking to the entry.
Limitations
We cover US rules for metal detecting, foraging, rockhounding, fossil hunting, gold panning, beachcombing and magnet fishing on public land — federal, state, county and city, whichever governs the specific site. Private land (beyond noting that it is the landowner's decision) and international rules are outside our scope. Site-specific posted signs and on-the-ground ranger instructions always take precedence over published summaries.
Contact
If you believe a source citation is incorrect or outdated, please contact hello@permittedpursuits.com. We take source accuracy seriously and will review flagged content promptly.