Use bones for a cache

[Les WODEY]

hello !

Does anyone here know if I can use bones to hide containers ?

it's a cow femur with much space inside.

[+cerberus1]

Kinda peculiar, trying to see it as a container, but I don't see why not.

How are you gonna weatherproof the log?

I'd write about the find on the cache page, like "something unusual", so somebody squeamish doesn't call the cops.

- "Hills have eyes" kinda thing.

Much space?

[+T.D.M.22]

Can? I'm sure you could. I'd think it would be large enough to hollow out and put a bison tube in.

 

Should you? Probably not. First off, how are you going to replace it? At least if you use a Halloween decoration you can buy more. Second, I'm not sure people would even look at it as a cache. Means it wouldn't be found, and have DNFs. Then there's the fact it's a real bone. Dogs like bones. Bones are also a source of food. It's never a good idea to have anything that has a scent or could be food in a cache, so it follows that you can't have that stuff as the cache. Even if the bone is cleaned and bleached it won't stop animals from trying to see if there's anything left.

[+T.D.M.22]

Although all of what I said is educated opinions based on what I know about other similar/related things.

 

All things considered, even though I don't think it's a good idea, I would say try it. Have a fake plastic bone or something incase it goes bad. And report back how it holds up.

Edited August 22, 2016 by T.D.M.22

[+L0ne.R]

You'll want to fit a watertight container inside. Maybe a Coghlan's Matchstick container or a preform tube. And list it as a micro because the actual container is less then 100ml/3.5ounces/third of a cup in volume.

[+cerberus1]

Remember, many cachers walk with their dogs...

[+Harry Dolphin]

Can? I'm sure you could. I'd think it would be large enough to hollow out and put a bison tube in.

 

Should you? Probably not. First off, how are you going to replace it? At least if you use a Halloween decoration you can buy more. Second, I'm not sure people would even look at it as a cache. Means it wouldn't be found, and have DNFs. Then there's the fact it's a real bone. Dogs like bones. Bones are also a source of food. It's never a good idea to have anything that has a scent or could be food in a cache, so it follows that you can't have that stuff as the cache. Even if the bone is cleaned and bleached it won't stop animals from trying to see if there's anything left.

 

I helped my sister hide one a few weeks ago. Drill out the bone. Gorilla glue a bison into the bone. So far, it has held up well.

[+Foothills Drifter]

What would the hint be... boner?

[+Harry Dolphin]

What would the hint be... boner?

 

No. The hint was "multi tree".

[+ecanderson]

Had a local caching friend replace his 'bone' three times before giving up. The last attempt included a serious boil and bleach job to try to get rid of any remaining odor that might attract critters. Trail area frequented by dog walkers, and you know dogs.

[Pup Patrol]

It's not just domesticated dogs that would be attracted by a real bone.

 

Geez, a margarine container gets teeth marks in it...can't imagine a bone would stay put for very long.

 

B.

[+JustFindingOurWay]

I found a sun bleached cow femur that became a cache - It's been in place 5 months now - running 30% FPs on 18 finds.

[+DadOf6Furrballs]

I have a cache out in the hills that uses a deer skull and a few other bones next to the actual container for props and effect. Cleaned and sanitized, of course.

 

[+Mudfrog]

I've hidden a couple of caches using bones as a theme. On one, i had a mixture of bones from cow, deer, and raccoon. Have to say that they did spruce up the area nicely. Didn't use a bone as a container but i did use the raccoon skull to cover a soda tube. Both caches were out in the woods and to this day, i haven't had any problems with other animals going after them.

 

To the OP, go for it. I saw some naysaying here but i bet you find that people enjoy the cache.

[+wmpastor]

The ideas given about washing and bleaching are good. I think another treatment that would help is to seal it in some way. This could include two coats of matte finish spray varnish. That would seal in any remaining odor *and* would help delay rot caused by rain permeating the porous bone and decay setting in.

[+kunarion]

hello !

Does anyone here know if I can use bones to hide containers ?

it's a cow femur with much space inside.

I'm guessing you mean to place a waterproof Micro in the space.

 

I've found bones that seemed untouched in the forest, even a deer head with antlers (pretty big buck!). But one cool jawbone had a lot of deep gnaw marks on it, from I don't know, rats or something? Animals, even herbivores, will chew bones, and around here (Atlanta, Georgia area), I guess it happens sometimes. So I won't be placing an actual bone as a cache item. Maybe if I find one made of concrete...

 

But you won't know how a bone or whatever will work unless you try it. You could even place it as you like, and wait a while and check to see how it holds up. If you then activate it, and are performing maintenance as necessary, it should be fine.

Edited August 26, 2016 by kunarion

[+ThistleMae]

I would definitely consider this an EVIL! Great idea. Give it a shot.