Fossil hunting

We finally got to go to the Middle Fork Forest Preserve in Pennfield a couple of weeks ago. We have been several times before, but this time we explored the Middle Fork River. It was wonderful. The kids swam, caught crawdads, chased minnows, and tracked a clam. I was told that the path along the river has been in use for close to 10,000 years. It is a path that went from where we were to the Paxton area. I had hoped we would find some fossils or geodes, but no such luck. Not that any of us looked very hard. The trip did get me more interested in rock hounding though. It turns out that hunting for fossils is really frowned upon these days. I think this is really sad. I understand the need to protect major historical sites and our public lands, but what about the awe and wonder of finding something so amazing as a fossil or geode. It is not the same when you look at some collection locked
behind glass. I guess the answer is to do no damage & don't get caught. Later.