This topic contains 32 replies, has 19 voices, and was last updated by 
kbraband 22 years, 11 months ago.
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Several of you have been asking about our state’s official position on geocaching. In light of what is happening in Minnesota, we want to be proactive and create a friendly, cooperative, and informative relationship with the Wisconsin DNR. Therefore, we’ve decided to initiate contact with the DNR now, before they formulate a final opinion on the sport.
We WGA planners, are asking you to let us represent you to the Wisconsin DNR. By working together, we have the best chance of seeing that geocaching is allowed to continue on state-run land.
To make this work, it’s going to take a unified effort on the part of Wisconsin geocachers. If you have comments that you would like to see entered into the discussion with the DNR, please post them here. We will take your comments, consolidate them, and attempt to put them together in a thoughtful, cooperative manner so we can assure the DNR we are serious about helping them preserve the state’s public lands for all to enjoy.
[This message has been edited by kbraband (edited May 22, 2002).]
I have talked to Sue Black at the DNR, and posted the offical DNR statement in another forum. Sue is in charge of State Parks and Trails. You can contact her at: [email protected]
Thanks iso50. It is our hope that we can build a strong level of co-operation with the DNR, and that they would feel welcome to participate on this forum to our mutual benefit.
Elsewhere, I read a thread about coming across “meth kitchens” or similar illegal activities while geocaching. Perhaps this can be presented as a benefit of us hiking through the woods. We can report such activities and once the word gets out that “we” are all over the place, such illicit activities might deminish.
I have not come across anything but I wonder if anyone else here ever has?
Steve Bukosky
WaukeshaWe’ve never come across anything like that, but my daugther did find a pistol while searching for Entwives Tumor. I know the officer was happy that we turned it in.
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Originally posted by WIRACER24:
We’ve never come across anything like that, but my daugther did find a pistol while searching for Entwives Tumor. I know the officer was happy that we turned it in.I remember this one… I’ll bet whoever dumped that there never thought that anyone would ever be walking anywhere near there.
Does anyone know what a meth lab looks like? I’ve seen some odd looking things in the woods before, but I couldn’t figure out what they could possibly have been there for.
If you suddenly start to smell ether (starting fluid) or ammonia, leave quickly (before you are discovered), and contact the authorities. The forum topic is HERE
Don’t panic, it’s probably just Yawningdog’s “what’s that smell cache”
Oh oh….
Maybe I should ammend my cache page to read “Please don’t leave a meth lab at the cache”?
If you do smell ammonia, and read in the logs that Yawningdog was the last one there, don’t worry, it was probobly just Rem the Dog. He marks all cache sites for future reference.I went to the two geocaches in High Cliff last year and mentioned geocaching to the DNR in the office on the way out. When I mentioned the location of the hard geocache, I was told I could have been fined for being there. It is in a prohibited area of the park because of the steep terrain and cliffs. I recommend we honor the park rules as we consider where we are hiding our containers. This will keep the peace with the natives and chiefs. Hopefully, we will also not be forcing others into illegal activity.
You should write to the cache owner and let him/her know what the DNR told you, and recommend that it be archived and removed.
That could explain why this cache disappeared.
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Originally posted by Caesaria:
I went to the two geocaches in High Cliff last year and mentioned geocaching to the DNR in the office on the way out. When I mentioned the location of the hard geocache, I was told I could have been fined for being there. It is in a prohibited area of the park because of the steep terrain and cliffs. I recommend we honor the park rules as we consider where we are hiding our containers. This will keep the peace with the natives and chiefs. Hopefully, we will also not be forcing others into illegal activity.I have just gotten into Geocaching at the end of May 2002 and realized that I loved the hobby/sport right from the start. I’ve hidden 8 caches so far and 4 of them are in the Roche-A-Cri State Park (please see Roche-A-Cri #1 – #4) with permissions from the Ranger. (I had to wait 2 weeks to get the permission after my first presentation/approach)
Because I came to them first with considerations.. backed with my commitment to constantly monitor the impact to the area I hid the final cache upon.. I was given permissions. This State Park has a Registered Historical Site plus has a protected Natural area. I respect why the DNR wishes to protect certain areas.. my micro cache there is easily gained without breaking their rules yet allows a fun hunt and a beautiful view. As far as my normal cache placement was reconsidered after I gave much thought to how some geocachers love to blaze off trails.. so hence my first site option was moved to a less sensitive area. (I did not hide the cache first then ask permissions to relocate it. I went back to get the Ranger’s permission to relocate it.) And yes, I did get permission to hide the normal cache container “off trail”. Surprised??I feel if we work hand in hand with the State Parks that we can actually have their respect. But if we sneak around behind their backs and show no respect to their rules, naturally we all then look like we do not respect the area they try to preserve.
After my 75th cache.. I cannot call myself an expert on Geocaching.. all I can state is how much I love this sport and how much I am willing to commit time to it. It has given me (a single white female over the age of 35) the option to enjoy these areas by myself. How, without Geocaching.com, I’d have never ventured into the scope of understanding how beautiful our “Wisconsin” truly is.
I thank all those geocachers that have taken the time to find these special placement spots and how much it means to me to share in their secrets/discoveries. We are not a bunch of renegades that trash our natural resources.. I constantly walk with trash bag in hand now as most other geocachers do.. and I take great pride in knowing that Wisconsin is staffed with quality DNR/Ranger staff.. so why not respect what they are trying to protect and work with them instead of against them.
A parting comment.. I just came from a full day at Governor Dodge State Park and I had the amazing experience to venture into a small cave (please see “I Dare You” cache). I had stopped to pick up the official park map and NOWHERE was this cave mentioned on their map, yet there are two signs on the small trail that says “CAVE” so it’s common understanding that the Park allows entry into this area. Yet it took Geocaching for me to find it and enjoy in the experience. And this is only one of the AMAZING adventures I’ve been on..
I’ve done most of my caches solo, yet with being a member of Geocaching.com, I DON’T feel alone when on my trips. And I’m constantly showing others, that I encounter on my journey, how amazing this hobby is.. because they think it’s amazing to see a single older female out hiking.. I even had an Amish family, at Roche-A-Cri, help me in finding the perfect spot for my micro. It was a perfect day and many more to come.
~The Lil Otter
(AKA Lorrie)Well said, Lil Otter. We can all learn a lesson from how you are conducting yourself in your approach to geocaching. We all need to understand that at this stage in its young history, geocaching could be banned or encouraged because of a single action by any of us.
Way to go Lil Otter. This is certainly the way every geocacher should be conducting themselves in the State Parks. We have been in most parks in the state before we started caching but this has certainly gotten us to areas we didn’t know about. Hope we get to do some of your caches soon. Thanks for these comments if just to remind everyone.
The Searchers
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