United States
THE SHORT VERSION
On much BLM- and Reclamation-managed public land you may casually collect common plant and invertebrate fossils (and petrified wood) for personal use. Vertebrate fossils — dinosaurs, mammals, fish, reptiles — and all collecting in National Parks are off-limits without a scientific permit.
The legal landscape
Fossils on federal land are governed by the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act (PRPA, 2009). The BLM and Bureau of Reclamation allow 'casual collecting' of common invertebrate and plant fossils for personal use — surface finds and non-powered hand tools only, no selling, up to roughly 25 lb per person per day. Collecting vertebrate fossils or rare specimens requires a permit and is reserved for qualified researchers. The National Park Service and US Fish & Wildlife Service prohibit fossil collecting entirely. On private land, fossils belong to the landowner, so you need their permission; state and tribal lands have their own rules.
Golden rules
- Know whose land you're on — federal, state, tribal, or private — before you start.
- Keep casual collecting to common plant/invertebrate fossils, surface-only, hand tools, personal use.
- Never collect vertebrate fossils without a permit — note the spot and report it.
- Assume National Parks and refuges are entirely off-limits.
If you find something important
Found what looks like a bone, tooth, or skeleton on public land? Leave it in place, photograph it, mark the location, and report it to the local BLM office or a natural history museum.
Official resources
Hunt the past — responsibly.
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