For just flakes, I would not do any type of digging or sifting, I think you'd just be wasting time. If you come across anything that may have been inhabited, then yes sifting might be appropriate. I also don't know how much acreage you're limited to looking on, but if you have enough, I'd continue to look for surface finds. If you don't have much area to search then going deeper may be the answer.

I've found several on our place in northern Young County as well as sharks teeth. Some found on the surface and some 12-18 inches down in the sides of washes. Now that deer season is over it's time to break out the screen and try to find some more.

I have 1,000 acres to look on. I do prefer surface hunting but the grass got pretty thick this year as well as the broomweed and that makes it pretty tough. I did some sifting last weekend in one of the creeks and only found fossils. I talked to the rancher that runs cows on the place and he said the owner has a huge collection of artifacts that he’s found out there over the years. I’m starting to think maybe the place has been picked over. Surely he didn’t find everything.