FireFlyer

When backpacking several years back, I had a tick attach/bite into the back of my neck. My friends weren't able to brush it off, so they held a lighter flame up to its butt. It quickly pulled out its "teeth" and backed out of my skin. I did not catch Lyme.

quote:Originally posted by BrianSnat:The GPS III+ also has a quad helix antenna and I know several people who successfully use them for geocaching in wooded areas with no complaints. Oh great, that was a let-down to read. I didn't realize the 3plus had helix antenna. Here I thought I was upgrading by getting the Magellan. I'm glad the 3plus works for some people. I spend at least 40 hrs/wk in the woods in a work capacity, and I can vouch that it has given us poor coordinates, dropped signals, and is basically unreliable in some forested locations, included ridgetops and highpoints that have no line-of-sight blockage except for the trees. I was hoping the SporTrak Pro would eliminate the reliability problem.... Anyway, thanks for your comments.

It's easy to find out who owns the land. Go to a local USFS office and look at the Forest Service map--they're color-coded for land ownership. Or you can visit your local BLM and buy a "Land-Status" map, which also shows color-coded ownership. If the land maps show the land as being PRIVATE instead of agency-owned, you'll need to go to the courthouse with a location description, and they will tell you who the land-owner is.

Hi, Thank you everyone, I appreciate your comments! Brian, F&G = Fish & Game. Some states call them "Fish & Wildlife", some call them "Game & Fish", etc. Wow, I read the BLM memo posted by NightThree... I can't believe they suggest to write up an EA or NEPA document for a cache! Anyway, thank you, I'm glad to have something written to take in and show the staff that the organization does have an opinion on the issue. Everyone right now just looks at me like I'm crazy, or suspicious that I'm trying to plant a bomb or something. Thanks again for all the suggestions. It's a bummer about not being able to use archaeological sites. Those are the places that are neat to see. And almost everything worth seeing in the woods (except for a view) is now listed as an archaeological site. I'll have to do some more checking on allowed hiding places...

I checked http://www.geocaching.com/hideseek but it didn't say anything other than to obtain permission from the landowner or land manager. Because I work for one of the larger public land agencies in this area and yet the collegues I've talked with have never heard of geocaching, I'm guessing there isn't any nationwide stance on it. Just wondered if anyone knew of any rules specific to the federal land agencies. Can anyone advise WHOSE department caching would be under? i.e. Forestry, Geology, Realty, etc. No one seems to think it's their call.

I've used a Garmin 3 plus, and really haven't been very happy w/ how badly the signal "jumps" around in the woods. I never thought about people using GPSes in urban areas until I found this website, and I imagine the 3 plus would work fine in that type of setting. But IMO it's a waste of money if you're in the woods and need any kind of accuracy. I've read a few reviews about helix antenna on Magellans, and just ordered a Magellan SporTrak Pro. Haven't used it yet so can't offer a comparison. But I just can't see anyone who plans to use the GPS in a wooded area using the 3 plus. It just is NOT reliable. Crossing my fingers that this fancy-schmancy helix antenna will cut the mustard! I got it at a STEAL by buying off eBay. It was cheaper than the Garmin 3 pluses and the Garmin Legend. I had also considered buying the Garmin Vista because of the altimeter/compass, but finally decided an altimeter wouldn't do me much good if the signal was jumping all over hell and high water. Ability to get a signal is my top priority.

Are there special rules for, or special permissions to seek, in order to hide a cache on public Federal lands? Specifically, do any of the following organizations have an official stand one way or the other on hiding caches: BLM, USFS, F&G, Corps of Engineers, state land, etc? If not, must you contact a representative if you want to cache on that organization's property? What type of resource manager would you talk to: realty, forestor, geologist, archealogist, etc.?