Re-introducing fox hunting - with a difference!

[volterrano]

NEW IDEA?

 

Hi from Volterrano

 

We were only introduced to Geocaching very recently and we're loving it. I have had an idea, but it may have either been done, or dismissed as silly some time ago, so please be gentle.

 

I call it Geocatch.

 

The idea would be that a member with a trackable device announces that he will be available to be hunted at a particular time on a particular day and that his general position will be in a particular county (or at stated generalised coordinates). He becomes a Geofox.

 

At the appropriate time, he switches the trackable device on and suddenly everyone can see where he is. The game is to catch him before he switches off again (when he reaches his destination, or sensibly a little way away from it, for security).

 

How you catch him would depend on the type of Geocatch the fox sets. A Carcatch, a Bikecatch and a Footcatch would all be slightly different, but the catching method could be really simple, like the hunter holding up a Geocatch Disc and the fox acknowledging with a similar one.

 

Take an example. You have a trackable device and are planning to travel by car from Cornwall to Cheshire on 14th September. On 12th September you announce this and give the hunt time as being from 12.15pm on 14th until switch off. You choose either fastest route, or one that might put Geocatchers off the scent, depending on how keen you are. At 12.15pm, you switch on and those Geocatchers in Cornwall see how far away you are from them. If they look on their maps and think you will pass on a particular road, they head you off and wait for you. They only have your device blipping away, but don't know if you are a lorry or a motorbike and as you pass, they hold up their disc and hope to get a hoot and a disc waved back at them.

 

Meanwhile all other catchers en route try to do the same and by the time you arrive, you may have been caught many times over. All you have done, is go and see your aunt and whilst doing so have created entertainment for others.

 

Can't see a particular safety issue as long as switch on and switch off are a little way from start and finish points and it could get very obsessive, with hunts happening all over the place.

 

Equally, with Bikecatch, a fox might be in a group of cyclists or alone and may choose an on road or off-road route, giving waypoints as clues. A Geocatch would give an excuse for lone bikers, or groups who know the area and need to get some exercise, to quickly work out a fast route to get to you between waypoints and again, it could become an adrenaline chase, a show of speed from fit foxes and catchers and again, no risks, because the catching is all distant. It would be for the fox alone to decide whether to acknowledge the catch and then invite the Catchers to join him.

 

So, there's the idea. Now what? Is it a good idea? Who do I tell to get it started? What problems can you see?

 

The idea is free and if it's original, I just want to record right here that I thought of it first. If it's been done, well tallyho and show me where.

 

Volterrano.

[+jerryo]

[/b]

 

Although I see you have posted this more than once. It'll stay on topic if you confine it to this thread.

Edited August 27, 2007 by jerryo

[+Paul & Ros]

Seem to remember talk of this being done once but way back before my time.

 

 

I'm sure someone will tell.

[+dino-irl]

I think something similar has been done based on Pacman. I read about it on some forum or another (probably here)

[+Birdman-of-liskatraz]

It's been done for years with Amateur Radio kit. It does sound fun, but what equipment could you use to transmit your location so cachers can find you?

[+Stuey]

Been done before CIN Fox hunt 2003. Sadly Mark (The Cat) is no longer with us.

[+jerryo]

Sadly Mark (The Cat) is no longer with us.

That's terrible. Only 48 years old.

[SteveThePirate115]

We used to do this with our CBs back in the day, when we were all far too young to drive and would rely on someone's older sibling to race us accross the Isle of Wight with our Midland Portapack, a magmount aerial and an RF meter!

 

Oh the fun you could have before mobile phones, and before anyone calls me old, I'm 26 so it wasn't that long ago!

[Lactodorum]

Please do not cross post duplicate messages in different threads, it's against the Forum Guidelines.

 

As has been pointed out, dear Mark (The Cat) did this successfully some time ago and I remember chasing him around Epping Forest once using this idea. Good fun it was too! Nowadays though, moving caches are no longer allowed so it wouldn't qualify as a cache but there's no reason it couldn't be included as a bit of fun at an event.

[+Team Sieni]

NEW IDEA?

Sounds like a hi-tech version of Hash House Harriers "Hare and Hounds" races, you can find tons of info on that at various HHH sites on the net.

[+chizu]

Wasn't the TV show "The Interceptor" (hosted by the lovely Annabel Croft) based on this idea?

[+Matrix]

It's been done for years with Amateur Radio kit. It does sound fun, but what equipment could you use to transmit your location so cachers can find you?

 

Its popular here in Swansea always on a thursday night and around the Oxwich bay area on 144.725 Mhz for the SWL or licensed amatuers. So I suppose you could use short range PMR446 or as been suggested CB or for those with lots of free text messages they could be used.

[+JUSTHEJOB]

Played the game with The Cat a few years ago. brilliant game would like to see it again, hope it takes off

[+Cryptik Souls Crew]

The credit for the first two geocaching fox hunts in the UK lies with Team Tate for this event in 2002 and this event in 2003.

 

I believe Bob of Team Tate was involved in the GPS tracking industry so had the necessary equipment, sadly Bob is also no longer with us.