Is Gold Rush still Gold Rush without one of the show’s breakout stars, Dave Turin!? That’s the show many fans seem to be asking — in addition asking why he’s no longer featured on the show. And it turns out, the answer is relatively simple: He felt disrespected on the show, so he decided not to continue.

“I want to take the time to say thank you to all you true fans, especially those that have written me with encouraging, kind words. It’s definitely not how I had expected my run with Gold Rush to end, but it is clear to me that it is time to move on,” the reality star — nicknamed “Dozer Dave” — wrote on his Facebook page. “I have some new opportunities, so you just might see me in the future — God willing. Keep the positive posts coming my way, they really mean a lot to me. God bless you and yours.”

When one commented suggested that being on the show was “too much money to give up,” he clapped back, “Nope, can’t work with disrespect, never worth any amount of money. It’s time to move on.”

As fans of the hit Discovery reality show — which follows gold miners, mostly in Canada — know, the end of Season 7 was dramatic, as “Dozer Dan” faced off with another one of the show’s stars (Trey Poulson), hence the comments about how being on the show is no longer “worth it” to the beloved star. The altercation between the two men escalated to the point of getting physical during the Season 7 finale.

Despite Dave’s departure from the show, he’s been keeping busy with his career as a quarry and mining expert. On social media, he has invited fans along to see his adventures at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show, additionally, he was a panelist at the Association of Equipment Manufacturers annual conference. We can’t wait to see what he does next!

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