Gold claim / lease

Can anyone help me ? I have been to a few different places over the years and always said gee I would love to have a lease or claim on this area so I can come in and really turn over the dirt and have a real crack at finding something. Most of the time I have been on my friends properties and they have no problem with me doing any work I want, but I would rather know I am doing it the right way straight up than find out I am in trouble later ..... Is there a way I can do this, for example getting a lease on the area or finding out who owns the lease already if they want to sell it ?