Always ask permission before collecting on private property. Maintain a respectful relationship with private property owners. Once granted permission, be respectful of the site. Leave it cleaner than you found it.

Strive for having a minimal impact on the environment as you collect. Do not use dredging or blasting equipment without the appropriate permits.

Be courteous to other fossil hunters. If you notice someone diving in a river, for instance, do not dive directly upriver from them and stir up sediments that will block their view of the bottom. Be polite to other collectors too, and quick to offer tips if they are beginners.

Make every effort to understand fossil laws where you plan to collect. Laws on state-owned or federal-owned land are often different than on private land, and laws governing the collecting of sharks teeth are different than those of other vertebrate fossils. (Check with the Florida Museum of Natural History for the current dos and don'ts.)

Turn in an annual list of your finds and sites to the Florida Museum of Natural History even if you haven't hunted on state-owned land. Highlight any unusual or significant finds and include photos or more details about those finds.

Don't wait for a paleontologist to ask for your significant finds. Instead, offer them freely. By doing so, everyone benefits from your find.

Don't demand recognition or money for your fossil contribution and don't fret if your find ends up in a box in a museum basement. Be above such pettiness. A box in the basement is one of the best places for scientists to have easy access to study your find. Once on display it becomes more difficult.

Be aware of any archaeological significance to your fossil discoveries. Do the bones have what appear to be deliberate slices in them as if the animal was butchered rather than gnawed on by an a scavenger? Did you stumble onto a site containing a lot of artifacts? If so, contact your state archaeologist.

Learn the proper way to identify and preserve your finds, and use the appropriate data collection techniques for your state or particular type of fossils.

Do not kill wildlife just because you can. If you encounter a rattlesnake or alligator, it's probably because you have ventured into that particular creature's environment. Respect that and move on if need be.

Make safety a priority. Do not get into situations that may be dangerous to you or your fellow collectors. Carry a First-Aid kit and know what type of medical problems could crop up. If you or someone in your party has special medical problems, that information should be shared in case something unexpected happens.