StarshipTrooper

Okay, I'm not going to get into an argument over semantics here - but clearly, hunting accidents are on the decline. And the accident you describe has little to do with cache hunters and this thread. My point is - here is a newby asking if he should stay home during hunting season. You and Energizer (and others) are making it sound as if he should. And I am saying that he should not, and that there is really not that much danger out there - IF you use common sense. I am also asking that we don't invent danger where it is rare or does not exist. -FreeMe

BTW, please don't anyone think that I was implying that hunters routinely shoot at rustling bushes. This truly is not the rule - only the exception. But it does happen. The simple caution is to not be rooting about in the bushes for a cache while wearing earth-tone clothing during hunting season. The possibility of a slob-hunter accident is there, but it is not by any means rampant. Just use some common sense and be alert to your surroundings. Is that any different than urban caching? -ST

Absolutely. Even the safest hunters have accidents from time to time, according to statistics. The overall point here is to not let that hunter be a statistic, and to not let yourself become a statistic. Good Lord! This is looking really bad for hunters! "Even the safest hunters have accidents from time to time, according to statistics." What on earth are you talking about? The safest hunters - by definition - do not have accidents. And where are you getting your statistics? Hunting accidents have been in decline FOR DECADES. This doesn't jive well with your statement, when you take in to account that there are more hunters (in total) now than ever. Let's not frighten people unnecessarily, eh? -ST

Quite the contrary! Poachers tend to stop and shoot from the side of the road in my area, and by the nature of their illegal activity, do so under pressure and are more likely to make a rushed shot. Also, poachers are more likely to do this at night, when even blaze orange may not be quickly identifiable in their spotlight. Maybe things are different in your area. But around here, there are plenty of places to shoot game out of season without being rushed or having a difficult shot. This is different than "in-season poaching", which is often as you describe. Speaking as one who has heard poachers discuss their methods, I am confident that it is very unlikely that anyone would be shot accidentally by a poacher - even at night. At least not in this state (Idaho). Most (off season) poachers are repeat offenders. They know where and when to do their stuff without witnesses. They learned their "craft" from other experienced poachers. That's why they are so hard to catch. BTW - have YOU ever seen blaze orange in a spotlight? Doesn't sound like it... Also BTW - blaze orange isn't an issue here, because we're talking about out-of-season poaching (at least, I was). -ST

What has this to do with the subject of this thread? Other than bashing hunters, I mean. -ST

I think everyone should realize that just because the state says you can only hunt between certain dates, does not mean that poachers follow the laws. Poaching is very common, however I should also point out something else-- varmint hunting is legal (depending on staqte/county) and usually allowed year-round. Also, many hunters do not wear orange, even if its the law. Bottom line: hunting season is year round, but of course more common during deer and turkey season. I would not be concerned about being shot accidentally poachers. Poachers generally do their business when game is not under hunting pressure and is easy to get close to. They are not likely to attempt a difficult or rushed shot. And there are not nearly as many of them. I would also not worry about varmint hunters. There are few humans who would be mistaken for varmints - regardless of dress. (maybe some here? ) Varmint hunters don't take shots at rustling bushes, and they almost always use scopes, binoculars, etc. -ST

...This charger does indeed work with odd numbers of batteries. I've been using it constantly for almost three months now with no problems. I charge three batteries at a time for my GPS and for my FRS radios. Works great - what a bargain! -ST

Oh man. I must need to go back to sleep. I thought you said "geocaching vehicles suck". "...clear as mud?"

Actually, if the owner is requiring the friend to log every skunk in the meantime - it could be pretty fun to watch. I don't think I'd call it cheezy. I'd go with "odd". "...clear as mud?"

Last week we hunted a cache during the "storm" with no problem. Accuracy was normal - or else the cache was misplaced. Yesterday, we were busy around the house - but I had the Rino on, and it showed my waypoint for "home" in it's usual place all day. Looks like the sattelite disruption was a non-event "...clear as mud?"

Fraggles rock! "...clear as mud?"

quote:Originally posted by MrMom:...My third favorite light is the NewBeam conversion for the Mag. It's very efficient and long lasting.... Hey, MrMom - where do you find those conversions? "...clear as mud?"

More useless information... You can debate whether or not the GPS is more accurate at highway speeds, but I can tell you that at extremely low speeds the GPS is definitely more accurate. It has been my experience - to the degree that I now rely on GPS in my work at times - that at speeds below 5mph, the speed reading of the GPS is far more accurate and useable than that of any cable driven speedometer that I am likely to have. How this applies to anyone else is a matter of speculation, I guess. But it has been very useful for me. "...clear as mud?"

I also have a Surefire G2, and it's a great light at a good price. Like the 6P, it can be equipped with the P61 lamp - which turns it into a seriously bright light (brighter than any other 2 cel lithium light that I'm aware of, but with only 20 minutes runtime). In fact, it looks to me like the G2 can be accessorized more than any other light in it's class that I'm aware of. If I could fill my wish list. I might pair up my E2e with the Inova X5, so I could have a long-runtime light that is just as light and durable, and uses the same batteries. Or - I might prefer the Streamlight Twin Task 2L, and have both in one light (though not as bright as the E2e). But I'm waiting to actually try one of those to decide if I would actually like it better. It seems to me (and at this point, I can only surmise) that the Twin task 2L might give the best all-around service, with regards to price, size, quality, and capability - at least, as far as non-tactical lights. Give me a little time to squirrel away the money ("...for another flash light?!", my wife screams), and I'll hopefully have an answer to that. "...clear as mud?"

My favorite flashlight - of all the ones I have or have had, is my Surefire E2e. Sure - you can get a cheaper light that is just as bright, but none as small and light and durable(yet). I work nights a lot, and this light is with me always. "...clear as mud?"

quote:Originally posted by Cooter13:...As I mentioned in another thread about computers, check out the local shop, they may not be able to beat the price from the internet or mall stores, but you will get what you are after. You got *that* right! "...clear as mud?"

I have three in place - with one loaded and ready to go, one in construction phase (the container, that is), and one on the drawing board. I don't imagine I'll ever have more than a dozen, or so. "...clear as mud?"

I always use a map with the GPSr. Sometimes it's on paper - sometimes it's in my head. Either way, the map is "north up", so the GPSr is also north up. If I'm following a road or a trail, it often helps to tell where I am just by comparing the "bread-crumb trail" with the map (north up). Since most roads and trails around here are not very straight, this can be a very accurate way of navigating. Interesting enough - I often navigated this way before GPS. I had to rely heavily on memory, though - which sometimes meant I wasn't where I thought I was - especially if the map *and* the track were both in my head. But I always did know where I was when I got there. "...clear as mud?"

Of all the brands mentioned so far, the only ones I have been really impressed with overall are Vasque and Asolo. Some of you guys must be a lot easier on boots than I am. I have seen premature failure in Raichle ($200 boots, no less), Hi-Tec and recent Merrells. Danners should fit better, for what they charge, and so should Columbia (although I like Columbia's light snow hikers). The Salomon and One Sport stuff looks good, but I haven't done more than try them in the store. Haven't tried LLBean, La Sportiva, Lowa, or Ecco. I've spent a lot of time looking at hiking shoes (and wearing them), and IMO, the biggest bang for the buck in medium weight hikers that I can find locally is almost always Vasque or Asolo. BTW, if you are counting on a Goretex liner to keep your feet dry, don't expect it to work after the shoes are a couple of years old - that is, if they see much hard use. "...clear as mud?"

There is so much more I could say about this, but I think I will leave it alone - except to mention my confusion over the fact that this all takes place inside a National Park. Isn't hunting banned in Katmai, as in all other national parks that I am aware of? "...clear as mud?"

Commercial vs consumer grade...it couldn't have anything to do with antenna size and/or highth, could it? I mean - those things ain't stickin' way above the backpack (or tripod) for nothin'. "...clear as mud?"

And, for those of you in the Pacific Northwest... just when you thought it was safe to reach under that woodpile... "...clear as mud?"

quote:Originally posted by SamLowrey:Another link - this one with a video clip of Treadwell. He was not quite the camper minding his own business that I'm sure a lot of people assume at first. http://www.msnbc.com/news/977560.asp Qouting Treadwell..."I would never ever kill a bear in defense of my own life..." Well....okay. "...clear as mud?"

quote:Originally posted by HardCache:Personally, I'd like to see large predators purposely introduced into areas overpopulated with vermin...say, wealthy suburbs...executive boardrooms...Washington, D.C. LOL! Don't forget UC Berkley. "...clear as mud?"

Bloen, I don't have time to look for it - but I believe this has been hashed out before. The fact that the approval process has changed has less to do with cache count and more to do with limiting abuse of the .1 mile rule. The fact is, a cache hider can already set his multi up as seperate finds. We have one here that has the clues to the final cache hidden in other regular caches by the same owner. I see no reason why someone couldn't - with a little creativity and a little communication with the approver - set a cache that requires multiple progresive and logged finds. As an owner of two multis myself (yeah, I'm no cache king), I don't WANT any more incentive for cachers to hunt my caches. If they aren't worth the hunt, then that is my fault. Logs indicate that they are, though. If the stages are fun and interesting, that should be enought. If there was more incentive than that, I believe the caches would be visited too often and by hunters that are not properly motivated (by my standards - after all, they ARE my caches). Besides - the cache difficulty rating system takes into account whether it is a multi. If you're going to allow multiple logs for multis, then you should also have to allow multiple log for other difficult caches. I see no sufficient reason to change this, thank you. "...clear as mud?"