So you’re looking to hire a claim staking company. This page describes a number of variables that we consider when making a bid on a project. Then, we provide ballpark $ numbers for how much we typically charge in each state. We usually charge less than other companies and our work is of the highest quality.
Bid Variables
Click on the “Bid Grid” button to see all the tasks in a claim staking project. When making a bid, we start with the Bid Grid.
Then we research the fieldwork on the project:
- How many claims?
- Fieldwork:
- Forested terrain, open country or a mix?
- Forested terrain, can use trees as posts in some states, less time consuming than a post job, therefore we bid less
- Open terrain devoid of trees, we’d have to pack 4×4 or 2×2 posts, more expensive
- A mix of forested and open hillsides, can cut posts in the field and pack them short distances to claim corners
- How much travel time to and from the claim block?
- How is the road access to the claim block and inside of the claim block?
- What time of year?
- Winter jobs take longer because of snow on the ground and short days, so we bid higher.
- July or August it’s tough to work all day in 90 degree heat so we might bid more.
- Shoulder months like April/May and September/October are ideal.
- Topography?
- The steeper it is, the more time consuming
- Are there lots of creek drainages to hike into and out of? Creeks, ravines and draws are usually brushy, slows us down
- How brushy is it? Old forest fire areas or old logged areas can be very brushy, slow going
- Forested terrain, open country or a mix?
Based on the Bid Grid and on what the fieldwork will entail, we draft a bid.
We can’t state the cost to stake your claims without talking with you about your project. However, the Cost Charts below can give you an idea. The Cost Charts are merely for informational purposes and are not a bid.
Click on the state where you want claims staked:
IdahoNevadaWyomingOregonWashingtonMontanaCaliforniaUtah
Idaho-specific lode mining claim staking requirements pertinent to pricing the job:
- Locate claim boundaries with four corner posts / monuments no less than 4′ high and 4″ diameter
- Can use trees as posts
- Post “Notice of Location” at one of the corners
Idaho’s claim staking statutes are here. A guide to staking mining claims in Idaho, produced by the Idaho BLM office in 2017, is here
Depending on the variables above, the cost for 20-49 claims would probably range from $100 – $250 per claim
Depending on the variables above, the cost for 50-99 claims would probably range from $100 – $230 per claim
Depending on the variables above, the cost for 100-150 claims would probably range from $100 – $210 per claim
Depending on the variables above, the cost for 150+ claims would probably range from $100 – $190 per claim
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Nevada-specific lode mining claim staking requirements pertinent to pricing the job:
- 4 corner posts consisting of:
- A blazed and marked tree, with top removed and minimum diameter 4″ protruding at least 3′ above the ground, or
- A wooden post at least 1.5″ x 1.5″ and 4′ long
- Location Monument along centerline of claim (meaning a 5th post with the Notice of Location)
If you want to read the full Nevada guide to staking mining claims click here
Panke Claim Staking Services might not be the best fit for your project because we might need to charge you $250/claim or more
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 40 – 99 claims would probably range from $130 – $250 per claim
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 100-150 claims would probably range from $120 – $200 per claim
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 150+ claims would probably range from $100 – $180 per claim
Wyoming-specific lode mining claim staking requirements pertinent to pricing the job:
- 6 “substantial posts or monuments” to mark claim boundaries, 4 at the corners and 1 at the center of each side line (2x2s count as “substantial posts”)
- Location Monument along centerline of claim (meaning a 7th post with the Notice of Location)
Read the Wyoming statutes governing staking mining claims here
Depending on the answers to the variables listed above, Panke Claim Staking Services might not be the best fit for your project because we would probably need to charge you upwards of $250/claim.
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 61-99 claims would probably range from $150 – $250 per claim
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 100-150 claims would probably range from $130 – $220 per claim
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 150+ claims would probably range from $120 – $200 per claim
Oregon-specific lode mining claim staking requirements pertinent to pricing the job:
- 4 wooden corner posts measuring not less than 1.5″ x 1.5″ and measuring not less than 3′ tall above the ground
- Trees can be used as posts
- Location Notice can be placed at the “1” corner or on a Location Monument along centerline of claim (meaning a 5th post)
Read the 2023 Edition of the Oregon statutes for staking mining claims here
Depending on the answers to the variables listed above, Panke Claim Staking Services might not be the best fit for your project because we would probably need to charge you upwards of $250/claim.
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 41-99 claims would probably range from $130 – $250 per claim
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 100-150 claims would probably range from $120 – $200 per claim
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 150+ claims would probably range from $100 – $180 per claim
Washington-specific lode mining claim staking requirements:
- Four corner “posts” (posts, stumps, trees, monuments of stone)
- if using posts, posts not less than 4″ in diameter and not less than 3′ above ground
- Location notices posted at or as near as possible to the point of discovery (meaning a 5th post on the centerline of the claim).
Read Washington’s statutes on locating mining claims here. There is also a thorough discussion of Washington’s claim staking laws in this 1974 Washington Department of Natural Resources pamphlet
The cost would most likely be $250/claim or more
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 21 – 50 claims would probably range from $180 – $250 per claim
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 51 – 99 claims would probably range from $150 – $250 per claim
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 100 – 150 claims would probably range from $120 – $230 per claim
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 150+ claims would probably range from $100 – $210 per claim
Montana lode mining claim staking requirements:
- four corner posts which can be any of the following:
- tree at least 8” in diameter and blazed on four sides
- a post at least 4” in diameter, 4.5’ length, set 1’ in ground
- a squared stump meeting requirements of posts
- stones and boulders (which aren’t practical and aren’t used except in a real pinch)
- a 5th post at the point of discovery on centerline of claim
Read Montana’s statutes on locating mining claims here
The cost would most likely be $250/claim or more unless client were doing all the pre and post fieldwork, project were close to Coeur d’Alene and trees to use for corners and Location Monument
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 21 – 50 claims would probably range from $180 – $250 per claim
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 51 – 99 claims would probably range from $150 – $250 per claim
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 100 – 150 claims would probably range from $120 – $230 per claim
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 150+ claims would probably range from $100 – $210 per claim
- four corner posts which can be any of the following:
- A wooden post not less than 11/2 inches in diameter projecting at least two feet above the ground.
- A mound of stone projecting at least two feet above the ground.
- metal post/rod (not practical)
- a 5th post at the point of discovery on centerline of claim
Read California’s statutes here
It’s probably not practical for us to take on your California project of less than 50 claims due to the distance between Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and California
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 51 – 99 claims would probably range from $160 – $250 per claim
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 100 – 150 claims would probably range from $140 – $220 per claim
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 150+ claims would probably range from $120 – $200 per claim
The Utah Geological Survey website says that you can post Notices of Location “on one of the corner markers”. However, a reading of Utah’s state statutes would indicate that one should post a Location Monument on the centerline of the claim and then stake the four corners.
The Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining says here that Utah has no specified requirements for type of stakes used, but that following “California requirements for claim markers is suggested”.
It’s probably not practical for us to take on your Utah project of less than 40 claims
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 40 – 99 claims would probably range from $150 – $250 per claim
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 100 – 150 claims would probably range from $120 – $230 per claim
Depending on the answers to the variables described above, the cost for 150+ claims would probably range from $100 – $210 per claim