Land Status Guide

Field check

How heavy is 25 pounds of rock?

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Last checked October 2026. The cap is weight, not how the bucket looks.

The commonly applied BLM casual-use cap is 25 pounds a day plus one piece. People picture a small sack. A full 5-gallon bucket of dense rock is often already there.

Weigh it at the truck if you are close. A digital hanging luggage scale (see options on Amazon) weighs a bucket in seconds. The yearly line is 250 pounds per person. Selling any of it leaves casual use. Numbers and the citation: BLM collecting limits in Utah and Nevada.

Informational only — not legal advice. Confirm with the managing agency before you dig or hunt.

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