azog Posted July 19, 2002 Posted July 19, 2002 Has anyone placed caches in national wildlife refuges? Where I live, there is one called the Great Swamp. It's about 10,000 acres and has some nice trails thru it. I found a spot which I think might be a good place to hide. It would be close to a 2-mile hike, one way, in some pretty rough areas. At least, rough to me. I know that caches are not allowed in national parks, but the national wildlife refuge commission is not governed by the national parks commission. I did speak with the director, and he was hesitant about my idea. He asked me to submit a request in writing, but after speaking with him for about 30 minutes, I might change my mind. He was extremely helpful and answered all my questions (and then some). I came away with a great deal more knowledge of what their mission is. Quote
Mike Chmi Posted July 19, 2002 Posted July 19, 2002 I don't think I'd place a cache anywhere that was a National refuge, habitat, etc. The reason being is that 1 chances are it will eventually be removed and 2 geocaching may disturb the wildlife that is there, I mean there usually is a reason it's a refuge. In fact often areas of refuge's are closed during certain months of the year to protect the wildlife. "...Not all those who wander are lost..." Quote
+Criminal Posted July 19, 2002 Posted July 19, 2002 Do it. Do not ask, do not pass "GO", do not collect $200. Criminal's Rule #1 is: Never ask a question when you're relatively certain you won't like the answer. You see, if you ask and the answer requires effort or labor on the part of the person you are asking, they'll say NO out of simple laziness. Ask yourself one question before you decide to ask permission (for anything). “Will doing this get me put in Jail?” If the answer to that question is yes (illegal), then DON’T DO IT. If the answer is no, but I might get into trouble with the law and be fined, cited, etc., then do more research. If the answer is no, but I’ll get a severe scolding from the authorities (quasi-legal), take the chance. ><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>< What is the price of experience, do men buy it for a song, Or wisdom for a dance in the street................. Quote
Macduff Posted July 19, 2002 Posted July 19, 2002 There is already a cache hidden in the Great Swamp. I am going to travel to NJ in a couple of weeks, and it is at the top of my list. http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=10167 Quote
azog Posted July 19, 2002 Author Posted July 19, 2002 quote:Originally posted by Macduff:There is already a cache hidden in the Great Swamp. I am going to travel to NJ in a couple of weeks, and it is at the top of my list. http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=10167 I've hit that cache myself. Where this is hidden is geographically part of the "Great Swamp", but it is land administered by the Somerset County Parks Commission, not the National Wildlife commission. Different entity altogether, so they don't follow the same rules. When I spoke to the director above, I was curious about the layout. The map he gave me was hashed to show the NWR-administered land, and the Environmental Education Center (where "Swamp Thing" is hidden) wasn't hashed. I didn't tell him there was a cache there, Just In Case. But it's interesting, nonetheless. Actually, there are at least four groups that administer land in the Great Swamp. Both Morris and Somerset county; the Department of the Interior (NWR) and a private foundation call the Raptor's Trust. There may also be Harding Township, too. But back to the topic, I think I am going to forget my idea for this one, based on our discussions. The land is set aside primarily for wildlife. Some paths are blazed, and the public is welcomed, but that's secondary. Also, they shut down some of the land during the deer population control phases (read: deer hunts). Quote
+Criminal Posted July 19, 2002 Posted July 19, 2002 NO! DO IT! Because all known geocachers are alive, (life) and almost all are pretty wild (or at least unusual). Thus geocachers ARE wildlife. I don't mind if the occasional animal crosses a street my tax dollars paid for, why would they mind us in their environment (also paid for with tax dollars). If you’d like to lessen the impact on the area just add a warning in the notes. Then make it a three or four difficulty to dissuade the casual cachers. But by all means put a cache out there, that's what geocaching is all about right? Get people out to someplace you’d like to share. ><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>< What is the price of experience, do men buy it for a song, Or wisdom for a dance in the street................. Quote
+Bluespreacher Posted July 19, 2002 Posted July 19, 2002 quote:Originally posted by azog: quote:Originally posted by Macduff:There is already a cache hidden in the Great Swamp. I am going to travel to NJ in a couple of weeks, and it is at the top of my list. http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.asp?ID=10167 .... snip .... But back to the topic, I think I am going to forget my idea for this one, based on our discussions. The land is set aside primarily for wildlife. Some paths are blazed, and the public is welcomed, but that's secondary. Also, they shut down some of the land during the deer population control phases (read: deer hunts). Hmmm. This is a wildlife refuge that is open to hunting? It's hard to imagine that a few geocachers could possible have comparable impact. You say that it is a 2 mile hike in and 2 out, my guess is that a cache placed there will see fewer that 20 seekers in a year. Most folks, even cachers will not walk that far, IMHO. Do what you like as far as placing the cache, but I think it would be OK to go for it! Bluespreacher "We've got the hardware and the software, the plans and the maps ..." -- Citizen Wayne Kramer Quote
+briansnat Posted July 19, 2002 Posted July 19, 2002 I'm the one who placed Swamp Thing. As was mentioned, Swamp Thing is in the Great Swamp, but its in a county park, not in the GSNWP. Most sections of the GSNWP are closed to the public, except during the hunting season (usually one weekend in the fall), so its probably not a good spot for a cache. But if you can get the director to agree to it, then go for it! To Macduff; Swamp Thing is an easy cache and a pleasant walk, but if you want to experience a good swamp walk, check out my Bottom Of Lake Passaic series of caches, esp. I & III As an aside, if anyone questions why hunting is allowed in a wildlife preserve, please explore this area and notice the lack of understory. The deer population has totally outgrown available habitat and is destroying the next generation of trees and plants. "Life is a daring adventure, or it is nothing" - Helen Kelle [This message was edited by BrianSnat on July 20, 2002 at 03:27 AM.] Quote
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