wildtech

Wildlife refuges generally don't allow uses that are not in keeping with the purpose for which the refuge was initially created. For example, Browns Park NWR was established to provide waterfowl breeding habitat to make up for habitat that was lost when the dam at Flaming Gorge was built. Uses within the Refuge that don't specifically fulfill that aim have to clear a pretty high bar in order to be allowed. An example would be the campgrounds and related facilities on that refuge. The idea being that without public support for raising waterfowl in this particular area, it would be more difficult to secure funding during Congressional and internal Interior budgeting processes. The campgrounds help waterfowl by furthering this aim and, more importantly, don't hinder the refuge's ability to fulfill it's real purpose. All that being said, I can see where some refuges would allow caches and some wouldn't. Hopefully by understanding what the local refuge manager has to consider would help you better sell the idea of a cache on a refuge or to better understand why it would be denied. I don't work for the FWS, but I do work for another Interior agency-one that is VERY friendly to cachers!

Most of my few caches have been of the public type. On each one, my self consciousness (which is considerable) evaporated once I found the cache. I just keep reminding myself of the advice my fisheries professor gave me while driving a truck across a city park: "It's amazing what you can get away with if you look like you know what you're doing!" While I still favor the more out of the way caches, and intend to do many more, the winter season and perpetual snow cover dictate that most of the ones available to me in my local area are more urban in nature. So, I will continue to "look like I know what I'm doing" and go for them.

How might you feel if they started stocking your favorite trout pond with bluegill (panfish) because bluegill is cheaper and easier to stock, easier to catch, and it gives those who only have a 'pocket fisherman' something to do? You don't know much about fishing, do you?

Although I have been familiar with the sport/game since its inception, I only recently decided to really partake. One of the great things about Geocaching to me is that it is a "big tent" kind of hobby, like fishing or homebrewing. Since I really became active about a month ago, I have mostly been finding micro urban caches and I understand what you are saying. I have much more fun going out into the scrub and finding a medium to large size cache under a rock or log without a whole lot of scratching my head and wondering where the hell did the CO stick that tiny chewing gum container. But that's me. I'm a fisherman. I hate bass fishing and love trout fishing, so I don't fish for bass. I homebrew. I hate pale ales, so I don't brew them. In either case, I would never say that fishing for bass or making pale ales is not in the spirit of their respective adherents. The great thing about a hobby is that you make it what you want it to be. Otherwise it would be called a job. Have fun and pick what ya want!

I've had a Legend for a year now and love it. I had to get my own unit after using so many "high caliber" Trimble units for my work. As far as simple navigation performance goes, the Legend is better than a GeoExplorer 3 costing $4K!