How easy is it to receive permission from a land owner?

[Hatredcopter]

The guidelines to hiding a cache state that you must receive permission from the land owner in order to have your cache listing approved. I contacted someone and I've already been rejected

 

My question is, just how easy is it to have permission granted to you? How do you go about asking? The way I see it, why would someone want a piece of garbage (essentially, that's what it is since it's not natural) on their land? There's no real benefit for them, so I don't blame them for saying "no." Are some people nicer than others and don't care if you hide a cache on the property?

[+GeoBain]

Depends. I prefer the Smith and Wesson approach. I haven't had my garbage refused yet.

[+Gitchee-Gummee]

Lots of variables pop up in trying to answer your question, so....

 

It's NOT easy!

 

It isn't easy because you have to do your homework first. If you don't do the homework, you better get used to rejection -- and rightfully so.

 

Make sure that the owner/manager understand just what geocaching is. It isn't a "treasure hunt". You know that, but do they?? The phrase conjures up thoughts of shovels, holes and piles of dirt, ruined flowerbeds and trashed gardens, not to mention the STAMPEDE of people descending upon their property just plain tearing everything up.

 

Ridiculous, right? Not -- if you assume they know what geocaching is all about.

 

Face-to-face contact is the best. Phone for an appointment, but don't try to get the permission over the phone. Take with you as much info as you can (without going overboard). Printing off a few of these help quite often: http://www.geocaching.com/articles/Brochures/EN/EN_Geocaching_BROCHURE_online_b&w_A4.pdf. We carry piles with us at all times.

[+Montala]

Face-to-face contact is the best. Phone for an appointment, but don't try to get the permission over the phone. Take with you as much info as you can (without going overboard). Printing off a few of these help quite often: http://www.geocaching.com/articles/Brochures/EN/EN_Geocaching_BROCHURE_online_b&w_A4.pdf. We carry piles with us at all times.

Unfortunately I think there is a problem with this link, as I just end up with an error page!

 

Perhaps you could repost it?

 

Thanks.

[+SeekerOfTheWay]

All my caches have permission, and all but two have permits. I found it easy to get permissions. After finding the proper contact, I use this letter written by Brian. I've had great success with it!

 

I start with the email letter. My Lemon Bay Park hides required phone call as well.

 

briansnat permission letter

 

My local reviewer, Palmetto, helped me find who to contact. She's awesome. Good luck!

Edited August 10, 2011 by SeekerOfTheWay

[+niraD]

Here's the brochure URL without the extraneous . at the end:

http://www.geocaching.com/articles/Brochures/EN/EN_Geocaching_BROCHURE_online_b&w_A4.pdf

[Hatredcopter]

All my caches have permission, and all but two have permits. I found it easy to get permissions. After finding the proper contact, I use this letter written by Brian. I've had great success with it!

 

I start with the email letter. My Lemon Bay Park hides required phone call as well.

 

briansnat permission letter

 

My local reviewer, Palmetto, helped me find who to contact. She's awesome. Good luck!

 

This is a great letter; thanks for digging that up and sharing! I might use this and tweak it a bit, and hopefully it brings me success

[+NeverSummer]

The guidelines to hiding a cache state that you must receive permission from the land owner in order to have your cache listing approved. I contacted someone and I've already been rejected

 

My question is, just how easy is it to have permission granted to you? How do you go about asking? The way I see it, why would someone want a piece of garbage (essentially, that's what it is since it's not natural) on their land? There's no real benefit for them, so I don't blame them for saying "no." Are some people nicer than others and don't care if you hide a cache on the property?

The biggest variable that would effect permissions is how you introduce the topic. It takes some carefully worded information sometimes, especially if a land manager/owner isn't familiar with geocaching at all. Whatever you do, don't call it a "game". The essentials are addressed in the post by SeekerOfTheWay about briansnat's letter.

 

The bottom line will be to demonstrate that the activity of geocaching is not intended to, nor supposed to, disturb the area a cache is placed. The object of this activity is to use a GPS to mark coordinates, and have people visit them to log their visit. There are many reasons to invite people to visit the posted coordinates, and that reason is something you can explain on your own terms.

 

Best of luck! Don't let one "no" get you down!

[+EdrickV]

You might be able to get more localized help here:

http://www.massgeocachers.org/

Or some other local Geocaching organization. (I know a local Geocaching group in my state has worked with various park authorities on getting permission and formalizing rules for placing Geocaches in various parks.) The site above has an article about getting permission to hide a Geocache that should have some useful info. (Since you only have 21 finds, a local Geocacher with more experience, especially one who already has caches hidden with permission, could probably help out a lot and point out areas that may welcome a Geocache.)