Contact the property owner of the land on which you want to organize a dinosaur fossil dig. You will need permission of all property owners to do any digging, especially if you are going to be removing fossil finds from the property. Most owners will negotiate for shared rights in any found property like fossils or other buried artifacts. Contact the state environmental protection offices to obtain all the necessary permits and permissions to dig. You will need to contact the Environmental Protection Agency if the dig is on federal land.
Measure out the area to be dug in 1-foot-by-1-foot grids. Mark each intersection with a flagged post with string laid in between the posts to delineate the boundaries. Mark down the gridwork on a map, writing down the grid square names (like a chess board, letters for columns and numbers for rows; A-1, B-2 for example) on the map. This allows for you to keep easy track of where fossils are found. Make copies for all your assistants and/or students.
Assign each assistant/student to a four-square plot that only they are to dig. Dig out the top of the soil with shovels and pick axes. The shovel is best for light soil, while the pick axes are good for dense soil and to break up rocks. Always wear safety goggles and work gloves when digging to protect your eyes and hands.
Brush aside the dirt when you reach the fossil layer. Do not use the pick axe and shovel near the fossils. Their age makes them fragile and prone to break under pressure. Place the fossils carefully in plastic zip-type bags, marking each bag with the grid square in which it was found and the depth at which it was recovered.