AZ has two mineral withdrawal areas, Lynx Creek and Lake Pleasant that are free like that to simple prospecting. Lynx was an area where potato sized nuggets were once found. Another was Rich Hill that still produces good gold, but all private and club claimed. A forty something ounce nugget was found recently there on a private claim. Have some friends that go to Alaska every summer that do pretty good. Enough that they don’t have to work the rest of the year. It’s a fickled “sport” at best, but it’s a fun and healthy one. Lol, I’ve yet to pay for all my equipment, let alone gas with it, but just get’n out in the wilderness, such as it is these days is reward enough.