Anyone know what this object is?

[+StumpWater]

Found affixed (nailed? screwed?) to a tree near a cache I put out awhile ago:

 

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh282/s...fiedobject1.jpg

 

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh282/s...fiedobject2.jpg

 

Can't make heads or tails of it. Probably something obvious, but I don't have a clue. (Looks like some funky little nano, actually! ... but isn't)

 

Thanks,

StumpWater

[+PhxChem]

It's a reflector. I know hunters use them to navigate in the dark. They are usually found in the hunting section of a department store. I believe some cache owner use them too for night caching.

[me_chris]

It is a reflective trial marker used to show a trail at night when you shine a flashlight on it - sometimes called Firetacks...

 

Might be part of a Night-Only cache?

[+Laugh Your Cache Off]

This could be a reflective marker for night caching. Seeing one marker usually means the way to the cache, two together usually means you are at the cache.

[+egami]

Yeah, looks like a firetack, used by people to create a trail they can find in the dark for various reasons....geocaching, hunting...

[+StumpWater]

Thanks. Fast and certainly correct answers. Just send me the bill.

 

StumpWater

[+PhxChem]

Hey, if you find something, and you don't know what it is.....you could always call the bomb squad!!

[+egami]

Thanks. Fast and certainly correct answers. Just send me the bill.

 

StumpWater

 

No charge, first ones free.

[+egami]

Hey, if you find something, and you don't know what it is.....you could always call the bomb squad!!

 

No, no, no...you have it all wrong, you're supposed to do what this person did...

[Mag Magician]

OK, I'm so outdated. Firetacks used to be regular tacks with a reflective head. When did geocachers update to a cubic style tack?

[+egami]

OK, I'm so outdated. Firetacks used to be regular tacks with a reflective head. When did geocachers update to a cubic style tack?

 

Well, I am not as "old school" I am sure, but the last time I looked into them, which would've been almost a year ago when I learned about them, the site I found had these 3D triangle and square shaped types. Think it was a hunting supply site...

[+joranda]

yep, just seen some at Gander Mountain the other day.

[me_chris]

OK, I'm so outdated. Firetacks used to be regular tacks with a reflective head. When did geocachers update to a cubic style tack?

 

You can get them here: http://www.firetacks.com/

 

They no longer manufacture the flat-style tacks since sales have dropped on those after they introduced the much more visible 3D and 4D style tacks... These really are excellent for marking trails at night

[+Team Crime Scene]

Here's a couple of caches where they were put to a great use, GC177VQ Skunk Ape and this one uses various types of tacks: GC162J1 What goes Bump in the night And yet another twist GC17GHD LightApalooza

[+edscott]

I like the triangular ones better for my night cache. Placing a flat side toward the approaching cacher reflects the light right back at him so he finds the route to the cache easily, but that puts the other two sides angling down and up, both away from his flashlight beam and eyes as he attempts to find his car. Cache difficulty 2 ... finding car afterward .. priceless.

Edited January 6, 2008 by edscott

[+Team Cotati]

Yeah, I seen a few about a year ago in the east bay area.

[+beezerb]

OK, I'm so outdated. Firetacks used to be regular tacks with a reflective head. When did geocachers update to a cubic style tack?

 

It's a Borg thing.

[+trainlove]

It's a Borg thing.

 

I've seen the pyramidal ones but these cubical ones seem way cool.

 

These are so stealthy that they are usually impossible to see in the daytime. I did a night cache in the day and got 1/2 mile in never once seeing a 'tack' and half way back to the car saw one of these.

 

It helps the stealthiness of these to only have one every 100 or more feet instead of on every tree like other night caches I've done.

 

Once seen never forgotten...

[Mag Magician]

Wow! Thanx, guys. In my bow hunting days, sooo-o-o many moons ago, the flat tacks were all we could get. I like the idea of the 3D and 4D ones, now that I've had a look. You can rest assured that some of these are on the way into my caching bag in preparation of The next Team Magic hide.

[+ar_kayaker]

The 3d and 4d tacks may be a little better, but I use fat-headed roofing nails and reflective tape. The tacks cost upwards of $.40 each, making even a short trail expensive. My $2 box of nails and $10 roll of tape will last me through miles of trail marking and the tape comes in black which is totally unfindable from more than five feet away in daylight, even if you know where it is.

 

AK

[+piscatore]

The 3d and 4d tacks may be a little better, but I use fat-headed roofing nails and reflective tape. The tacks cost upwards of $.40 each, making even a short trail expensive. My $2 box of nails and $10 roll of tape will last me through miles of trail marking and the tape comes in black which is totally unfindable from more than five feet away in daylight, even if you know where it is.

 

AK

 

You got a linky to the tape?

Edited January 8, 2008 by piscatore

[+JohnnyVegas]

That must be an old Fire Tack, I does not look like the one I have. The stealth tacks are kind of a rust color in daylight, but at night with a Halogen flashlight they can be seen at almost 200 feet away.

[+trainlove]

Wow! Thanx, guys. In my bow hunting days, sooo-o-o many moons ago, the flat tacks were all we could get. I like the idea of the 3D and 4D ones, now that I've had a look. You can rest assured that some of these are on the way into my caching bag in preparation of The next Team Magic hide.

 

Oh, please send me an actual 4 dimensional alien artifact.

 

I think you mean 4 sided. sigh!

[Mag Magician]

 

Oh, please send me an actual 4 dimensional alien artifact.

 

I think you mean 4 sided. sigh!

 

Nope! We're magical. 4D on it's way by interstellar post. Naw, you don't need to send me your coordinates, I already know it.

[+ar_kayaker]

The 3d and 4d tacks may be a little better, but I use fat-headed roofing nails and reflective tape. The tacks cost upwards of $.40 each, making even a short trail expensive. My $2 box of nails and $10 roll of tape will last me through miles of trail marking and the tape comes in black which is totally unfindable from more than five feet away in daylight, even if you know where it is.

 

AK

 

You got a linky to the tape?

I can't find the site I bought the roll from (I originally got it to mark my mailbox five years ago.) But I found This marking kit by doing a search for "black reflective tape" on google.

 

AK

[+piscatore]

The 3d and 4d tacks may be a little better, but I use fat-headed roofing nails and reflective tape. The tacks cost upwards of $.40 each, making even a short trail expensive. My $2 box of nails and $10 roll of tape will last me through miles of trail marking and the tape comes in black which is totally unfindable from more than five feet away in daylight, even if you know where it is.

 

AK

 

You got a linky to the tape?

I can't find the site I bought the roll from (I originally got it to mark my mailbox five years ago.) But I found This marking kit by doing a search for "black reflective tape" on google.

 

AK

 

 

Cool, thank you AK.

Edited January 9, 2008 by piscatore