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Permission for hiding on public land


CascadeHandmade

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I've been caching for over a year and really enjoy it. I feel like it's time to "give back" to the awesome people who've hidden the exciting caches in my area by hiding my own caches for them to find. I've read and re-read the guidelines for hiding a cache which stress the importance of getting permission to hide on private property and the laws against geocaching on some government lands.

 

But, I've been having trouble finding out who or where to get permission for hiding even just a basic cache on public land - just simple stuff like, under the bench at a bus stop, or near a street lamp post. I tried asking at City Hall and they looked at me like I was from another planet. None of them knew what Geocaching is. I was fortunate enough one day to meet another cacher while searching a nearby park, he didn't know either, having never hidden any of his own. I tried asking some knowledgeable-looking employees at the local sporting/camping stores. They at least knew what Geocaching is, and they were all reasonably sure you don't actually have to have permission if it's on public land. Can that be true? Can I really just walk down the street and hide one next to the sidewalk without getting permission from anybody?

 

I have wanted to attend some geocaching events, because I figured I could meet some old caching veterans who'd know everything; but alas, I haven't found many events nearby that where scheduled at a time I was available to attend. Bummer.

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Most light post and such caches probably don't have permission, but when you submit any cache, you check a box saying that you've gotten permission. So yeah - you should get permission for every hide you make.

 

The front desk at city hall will probably be clueless. Try talking to Public Works or whoever is in charge of parks and other area maintenance. That's where I got permission in my town.

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You also might check with your local reviewer. (The name will be shown in the first post of local caches.) He/she knows the local variations and some of the contacts. Some places are overseen by local, county, state or federal governments or charitable organizations. Some places actually have forms & a contact person.

 

And someone is sure to post a comment about the "Frisbee rule." That theory says that if you are in a place where you can play Frisbee without actually asking permission, then you can place a geocache with "implied permission."

 

Let the slugfest debate begin.

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Let the slugfest debate begin.

But happily, there won't be a slugfest, or even much of a debate, because this is the "Getting Started" forum and we're posting to help someone make the big move into becoming a hider.

 

To the OP, it looks like you're doing everything right so far, like finding a decent number of geocaches before trying to hide one, and now asking for guidance before heading off to hide a cache on the railroad tracks running through the National Park.

 

Besides reading through the Listing Guidelines, I recommend becoming familiar with the Washington section of the Regional Geocaching Policies Wiki. Of course, the absence of a specific policy or prohibition does not necessarily mean that you don't need any further permission -- just that there's no policy published by the land manager.

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Thank you for the suggestions and info. I definitely want to make sure I follow all the guidelines and protocol to make sure that any caches I hide are safe and legal. Perhaps now I can find the right place to get permission. When I started reading about and looking into hiding my own caches, I kept looking at that little box TriciaG mentioned and I knew I couldn't just rush through and check the box assuming permission was implied. It makes me wonder how many others have done just that...

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Thank you for the suggestions and info. I definitely want to make sure I follow all the guidelines and protocol to make sure that any caches I hide are safe and legal. Perhaps now I can find the right place to get permission. When I started reading about and looking into hiding my own caches, I kept looking at that little box TriciaG mentioned and I knew I couldn't just rush through and check the box assuming permission was implied. It makes me wonder how many others have done just that...

 

Probably fewer than you think, but still far too many.

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Thank you for the suggestions and info. I definitely want to make sure I follow all the guidelines and protocol to make sure that any caches I hide are safe and legal. Perhaps now I can find the right place to get permission. When I started reading about and looking into hiding my own caches, I kept looking at that little box TriciaG mentioned and I knew I couldn't just rush through and check the box assuming permission was implied. It makes me wonder how many others have done just that...

 

Probably fewer than you think, but still far too many.

 

Actually, i'd bet it's way more than we want to think! :blink:

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