Update on attempts to reserve a location

Way back when, a person could not "reserve" a cache site by making an unsubmitted page. Basically if someone else came along and submitted a page there, the first to submit would get the spot. Then this changed a bit to where I would often write to the owner of the unsubmitted page and give them a period of time in which to claim the spot.

That process became problematic as more an more people started leaving unsubmitted pages pending, and it became rather unfair to the people actually placing something at the spot since they would have no way to know that another cacher was attempting to "reserve" that spot. However, I do want people to be able to find a cool spot and then have a short period of time to work on their cache page for it before submitting. So, based on some recent discussions, I am going back toward what it used to be which a few modifications, which is this:

Generally, first to submit will get the spot. Plain and simple. So if you really like that spot, you generally should use it or face the potential that you might lose it.

However, if you have a reason to want/need to hold a spot for a bit while you work on the page, state your reasons in a reviewer note on the unsubmitted page. If I see such a note, and it is less than 2 weeks old, if another cache pops up in that area, I will write to you and give you a short period of time (probably a week) to use the spot. If the spot requires a permit and it will take several weeks for that process to carry out, I will give you longer than a week. I generally will not archive your page since some folks are using pages as long term works in progress. So you might lose that spot, but will not lose the page.

One exception to archiving: If your page is over a year old and I haven't seen you active during that time, I might archive it as abandoned. But if anyone later wants such a page unarchived so they can work on it, write to me and I can unarchive it.

If you have special circumstances that might require longer than 2 weeks, add a reviewer note stating that you want to hold the spot for X weeks and explain why. Please don't abuse this. I want to see a valid reason why you need more than 2 weeks to get the cache in place and the page submitted. "I found a cool spot and am kind of busy right now" isn't good enough, but "I placed the cache there already and need to do some difficult calculations for my hard puzzle for it that might take 3 weeks to accomplish" may be OK. Another example of a reasonable request: "I have this put in place for a wheigo cache, but writing the cartridge will probably take a month." It is probably best to contact me ahead of time with these if you have any doubts on them.

Note that with event caches none of this is likely to be a problem since those tend to get submitted and then held for the event. To the extent they get held longer than 2 weeks, they get an exception by virtue of being an event cache.

If anyone has questions about this feel free to contact me.

Thanks!

Note: This applies to the Dakotas, I cannot speak for Nebraska on this.

North Dakota Wildlife Management Areas

North Dakota has banned geocaches in their Wildlife Management Areas. The following public announcement was provided by an area cacher:

Public Use Regulations for State Wildlife Management Areas
NORTH DAKOTA GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT

The following rules are authorized by Chapter 20.1-11 of the North Dakota
Century Code and established in Chapter 30-04-02 of the North Dakota
Administrative Code.

1. Public access and use. All state wildlife management areas
are open for public hunting, fishing, and trapping, except as provided under
this chapter, governor's proclamation, other valid rules and regulations or
laws, or as posted at public road entry points.
... sub para 20
20. Geocaching prohibited.
1. No person shall engage in any form of geocaching on any state wildlife
management area.
2. The term "geocaching" refers to an outdoor treasure-hunting game in which the
participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or other
navigational techniques to hide and seek containers (called "geocaches" or
"caches"). A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook
and "treasure,".

New Nebraskache Site

Nebraskache has a website! Check it out at Nebraskacher.com.

South Dakota Game Production Areas

The South Dakota Department of Fish and Wildlife has banned geocaches in Game Production Areas and Walk in Areas statewide. These areas are hunting lands managed by the Game and Fish Department. This does not include State Parks and Recreation areas, but note that State Parks require permission from the park superintendent for cache placements.

The Department has asked that existing caches be removed. Please note that reviewers will not go search out existing caches for archival, but will respond to should be archived notes. I ask that cachers who have caches in Game Production areas go and retrieve their caches and archive the pages.

A map of of the areas affected can be found here.

New North Dakota Group

There is a new North Dakota Geocaching Group. Join them here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NorthDakotaCapitalCachers/

Wow! An Update!

I was recently asked if this space would ever be like a real blog. You know.... one of those spaces that actually get updated frequently?

Hmmmmm, I'm not sure.... This was set up really just as a place holder for all of the park policies so that cachers in our review areas could find them in one location. So there is little need to actually update often.

With that said, I wouldn't mind seeing the space get a little more active. So I am going to ponder that a bit and perhaps try to throw up a general informative post once in awhile. Time will tell if I succeed at that!

One thing for sure, which is illustrated by the fact that I am posting this update, is that if you email me a question specifically for this blog, I will consider posting it and answering it!

Cache Listing Tips

Here are some general cache listing tips. It is by no means exhaustive, but it can be a good starter checklist.

Before you submit a cache, read this page and the cache listing guidelines and ask yourself:

(1) Is the cache or stages of a multi more than .1 mile (528 feet) from another cache? Physical caches or physical stages of a multi must meet this without very good reason for an exception. If there is a reason, add it into a reviewer note.

(2) Is the cache on a railroad right of way? A cache cannot be listed there.

(3) Is the cache on a rails to trails area that might still show on maps as rail tracks? If so, please include that information in a reviewer note.

(4) Are there knives, fireworks, matches, lighters, or non-family friendly items in the cache? A cache cannot be listed with those types of items.

(5) Is the cache in a permitted area? If you have a permit or permission for private property, state so on the cache page. If a preschool, or elementary through high school, please include specific permission with contact information for the person giving permission in a reviewer note and state that there is permission on the cache page.

(6) Does the cache have a container and a log book? Both are required and the site no longer lists virtual or locationless caches.

(7) If the cache is in a cemetery did you get permission if it is private? If public, is it placed away from grave sites and was respect for the area mentioned on the page?

(8) If the submitted cache is a multi or puzzle cache did you include the coordinates for all stages and the final cache using the additional waypoint feature? Those are necessary to check the cache for listing.

(9) Did you provide any information that might be necessary for listing on the cache page or in a reviewer note?

(10) Did you tell the reviewer how great she or he is in a reviewer note? OK... you can skip this one. We just threw it in for fun and to get 10 items on the list. :)