Serious drilling prospects for Hay Mountain goes back maybe a year and that was for a "deep" mine project. JB has gone overseas trying to get financing for that project. The "shallow drilling" change of direction project is relatively new (last 4-5 months) so the JV for the two holes corresponds to that timeline. Not sure where some get 5 years , maybe JB has owned claims on Hay Mountain that long I don't know.
This shallow drilling project cuts down the timeline for money coming in to less than 2 years, unlike the deep mines 7 years or more. Thus getting a JV partner MAY be just a little easier to get.
Time will tell....let's wait and see.