Hiding Caches For The First Time

[+BirdmanATW]

Hello, Im interested in placing some caches. First, there is one at the end of my road where the road meets the highway. At the corner where I plan on placing a cache, it would be near the road and also near an old antique shop. Am I required to get permission from anyone in this case? From what I can see, it will not effect traffic nor the antique shop, and the fact that its more on the side of the road, i believe it would be considered public property.

 

Also, I plan on placing a cache out by the Big 5 I work at. Would this be precieved to be a commercial cache? It would have nothing to do with the store...

 

Thanks!

[+briansnat]

Neither sounds like a particularly appealing place. What it is about them that is so interesting that you want to bring other geocachers to them? If can't think of anything, consider placing your cache elsewhere.

 

Now getting off the soapbox and answering your question... if the caches are on private property you would need permission of the owner. As far as the commercial aspects of the second cache, if the page is not promoting the business and there is no requirement to enter the buisiness or buy something, then it is probably not commercial.

[+Ed & Julie]

Since this would be your first hides, I would recommend you read carefully the Guidelines for reporting a cache.

 

Caches on private property need permission.

 

<soapbox mode on>

If you hide a cache on the side of the road and the Big 5 parking lot, cachers WILL find them...but they don't sound like very interesting hides. Good for boosting up peoples numbers only. But, if you are excited about hiding the caches, and can maintain them well...I vote 'hide them'.

<soapbox mode off>

 

Ed

[+JohnnyVegas]

A few things to remember.

1) Make sure your GPS is running and looked on with a 3D fix for at least 15 mnutes before to take a reading

2) Place the cache before you submitt it. If the cache gets posted before you place you may get some the locals First To Fid hounds upset.

3) After taking a reading use you GPS to navigate back to the cache to make sure the coordinates are good.

 

IF you want to place a cache in the parking lot were you work, go ahead it is your cache hide, besides you can have fun watching the locals look for it. If you make it hard to spot that is even better. I had a camoed micro hanging in a bush were I use to work that some experianced cachers had trouble finding. We got a kick out of watching them look for it. Some times they had to make more than one trip to find it. I think it was my second hide.

 

The cache hanging from the Duck is a Film can covered in Camo. I have stumped lots of cacher with these in urban areas.

Edited April 12, 2006 by JohnnyVegas

[+tozainamboku]

My advice to first time cache hider:

 

The following guidelines will help you get a reputation for hiding "good" caches.

 

1. Pick a nice location. Don't hide the cache in a parking lot if you can hide it in a nice park or near a scenic view. Don't hide the cache in your front yard because you want to watch people finding your cache.

 

2. Don't hide a micro. A full size cache will get you more positive comments - but it may be hard to find a location where you can hide it well. In urban areas, full sized caches are more likely to be "muggled" (found and possibly taken by non-geocachers)

 

3. Use a good container. If possible, use an ammo can. People will appreciate your cache more if the contents are dry and protected from the environment.

 

4. Put good stuff in the cache for trade - but nothing expensive. A well stocked cache makes a better impression on the finders.

 

5. If you have any artistic/craft skills, think about camouflaging the container. Otherwise just slap a geocaching sticker on it. Poorly camouflaged containers and ammo cans that still have the original markings make a bad impression.

 

Once you have a reputation for placing "good" caches, you can ignore these rules.

[+JoesBar]

There's some good advice in the preceding posts. But I'll add mine anyway. I looked at your profile. I suggest finding more caches and consider what you liked or disliked about each. Lots of folks want to jump right in and hide a cache. And frequently, the caches end up being unremarkable. Take your time. Wouldn't you rather have posts telling you how folks enjoyed the find, rather than, "Found cache, signed log."?

[+BirdmanATW]

Alright, Thanks for all the advice!

[+EPMinnesota]

I have to say we are rather new at this but were impressed with one cache we found at a rest area. It didn't cost a lot, was camo'd, wasn't too big, but not too small, and took a little hunting but was right where it should have been. It was a gatorade (powder) container that had been completely covered in camo duct tape. A handle had been added and an S hook and it was hooked inside an evergreen tree about waist/chest high. I don't think anyone not looking for it would have noticed it and with a screw top kept everything inside dry. Nice idea for an evergreen tree cache anyway if you have them in your area! We've made one from a quart size plastic paint jug (Dutch Boy) that you can purchase new/unused/empty from your local home center. We got ours at Menards. Then we carefully completely covered it in camo duct tape (also from Menards) and since it has a built in handle on the jug we just needed a hook to hang it in a tree on a branch. Not noticeable to muggles at all! HTH!