Geocaches In Texas State Parks

[+filler & bcat]

Pasted below is an e-mail I fired out to the CentralTexasGeocachers mailing list. Perhaps those who cruise the forums might have some insight.

 

While investigating what caches were active in nearby Texas State

Parks, I saw that someone had posted notes to certain cache pages on

May 8 stating that park rangers have confiscated all geocache

containers in _all_ state parks until cache owners register their

caches with the respective park offices.  The user who made this post

was vidivici.  This user made posts on caches hidden in Enchanted Rock

SNA.

 

I have checked the pages of caches hidden in Garner SP and Pedernales

Falls SP; no such note appears on any of the cache pages in these

parks.

 

Does anyone have any information to confirm or deny this?  I dont know

if this user is legit or not.  I have mailed vidivici for more

information on the notes.

 

Examples of the note:

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=12415

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=23076

 

If anyone has any details, please respond ...

[+Renegade Knight]

You could ask the Texas state parks involved.

[+filler & bcat]

Follow up e-mail which just went out to the group ...

 

I just got off the phone with XXXX, the assistant manager of Enchanted

Rock SNA.  He stated that those who wish to hide caches in Enchanted

Rock SNA need to visit the ranger station to gain approval.  Fred also

mentioned that this is a state-wide policy for all TPWD lands.

Enchanted Rock SNA has chosen to enforce the policy and has picked up

all the caches which are unregistered/unapproved.  They are available

at the ranger station for owners to claim and register before they are

returned to their hiding spots.

 

He stressed that there are hiding guidelines for TPWD lands which must

be followed: nothing too dangerous, nothing which will create a spur

trail, nothing in live vegitation, nothing underwater, etc.  When

asked for a printed statement of the guidelines, XXXX mentioned that

he has "posted this to the geocaching site".

 

He also mentioned that there will be no other requirements imposed

upon those who wish to enter the park and seek out caches.  The above

mentioned information applies only to those wishing to hide caches.

There was no clarification on what the step-by-step process is for

hiding a cache in Enchanted Rock SNA.  Shall a ranger accompany a

cacher before he/she hides the cache?  Shall he/she revisit the cache

site with a ranger escort for approval?  Only time will tell I suppose

...

 

XXXX closed the conversation by stating that TPWD/Enchanted Rock SNA

in no way wants to inhibit the activity; it is welcomed.  He said

there is merely a concern for the safety of the land and cachers.

Edited May 14, 2005 by Max Cacher

[+filler & bcat]

I got a reply from vidivici, the user who posted to Enchanted Rock SNA

cache pages about the new policy ...

 

I personally stopped at Enchanted Rock this past Sunday to hunt

geocache.Upon arrival,I stopped at the office to pay admission; I told

them I was searching cache.The park ranger then informed me that he

had the caches in his back office,that he had picked them up because

there is a new state park policy that all caches need to be registered

before being set,that these caches need to be registered by the owners

before he would release them.That's all I know , just passing it

along.

[+filler & bcat]

Follow up e-mail I fired out to the CentralTexasGeocachers mailing list ...

 

I contacted the Austin TPWD State Parks Division office yesterday to

find out details on this state-wide policy.  I was referred to xxxxxxx (xxxxx.xxxxxxxx@tpwd.state.tx.us)

, who sent me the following

e-mail this morning:

 

"We have a draft policy that provides for geocaching.

 

'xxxxx.xxxx@tpwd.state.tx.us' is finalizing the document. However, he is

on a training assignment for two weeks."

 

So I guess it will be publicly available in the semi-near future.

Edited May 14, 2005 by Max Cacher

[+Moosiegirl]

For Central Texans concerned about having something to hunt, Todd in Bastrop/Buescher complex has approved all caches in both parks, and all the caches in Colorado Bend SP up by Lampasas have also been approved. I guess we'll hear more as things proceed. We have had nothing but positive response when we've asked permission to place a cache in State Parks. The problems that have occurred have all happened when permission has not been obtained.

 

Happy Trails,

Candy

[+Moosiegirl]

I also suggest that you sign up on txga.net (Texas Geocaching Association) if you want to keep up with this topic, because 9key (Will, who is on TXGA board) is involved in the policy development process. You'll probably see lots more info there than here.

[+9Key]

Just a note ~

 

We're on top of the situation and it is very important that we have a single point of contact with the TPWD. Please do not contact them directly at this point. It will only cloud the issue.

 

If you have something you'd like the parks dept. to know please email me.

 

Thanks

[+filler & bcat]

Thanks so much for your prompt attention, Candy/Will/TXGA et al.

 

I have gotten a moderator to remove the TPWD contact information from the previous posts in an effort to allow the TXGA to single-handedly resolve the matter. (Thanks MaxCacher!)

Edited May 14, 2005 by filler & bcat

[+We_Found_It!]

The most recent cache we found at Pedernales State park had the same statement from the park manager william.mcdaniel@tpwd.state.tx.us with a form that needed filled out and registered with his office. Along with a bunch of legal mumbo jumbo, typical Texas, also it said they would confiscate and bad all future caches in the park it said. It is the cache for Old stumpy in pedernales state park. I let the cache owner know about this insulting letter.