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Trip planner
Bone Valley (Polk County phosphate region)
Best windows in the next two weeks, plus a packing list calibrated for river low-water hunting.
Top 5 windows · next 14 days
1
Sunday, May 31
River site — dry season stage; wade the exposed gravel bars.
68
Good
2
Monday, June 1
River site — dry season stage; wade the exposed gravel bars.
68
Good
3
Tuesday, June 2
River site — dry season stage; wade the exposed gravel bars.
68
Good
4
Wednesday, June 3
River site — dry season stage; wade the exposed gravel bars.
68
Good
5
Thursday, June 4
River site — dry season stage; wade the exposed gravel bars.
68
Good
Packing checklist
Essentials
- ☐Water (more than you think)
- ☐Hat + polarized sunglasses
- ☐Reef-safe sunscreen
- ☐Phone with offline copy of this dossier
- ☐Snack / electrolytes
- ☐Trash bag — leave it cleaner than you found it
River-specific tools
- ☐Sifter with sturdy handle
- ☐Tall waders or quick-dry shorts + water shoes
- ☐Trekking pole for current
- ☐Dry bag for phone
- ☐Insect repellent
Find care
- ☐Soft toothbrush
- ☐Padded box for any 2″+ tooth
- ☐Cotton or tissue layers between teeth
- ☐Notebook (or open the Toothhound logbook)
Safety
- ☐Tell someone where you'll be
- ☐Watch upstream weather (flash floods)
- ☐Snake awareness in warm months
Tactic refresher
Hunt the Peace River and its tributaries (especially Bowlegs Creek and downstream of Bartow / Mulberry) with a sifter and shovel during low water. Reclaimed phosphate land at Mosaic Fossil Park and Tenoroc reveals fresh material after rain. Always follow current state water-bottom permit rules.
Don't forget
Florida requires a state Vertebrate Fossil Permit ($5/year) to collect vertebrate fossils on state-owned waters and lands. Invertebrates are unrestricted. Stay off active mine property.