Many communities and cemeteries have rules against being in them after dark. It was rumored to be a WI state statute but we couldn’t track down that info. In any case, I would consider it a bad idea, and it is noted as such to our cemetery caches (albeit sometimes ignored).

I have hidden about 40 WSQ’s and there are signs at many of them saying no visitors after dark. I had 5 of them published at about 7:00 PM tonight and they all have the not available at night icon on. I had my fingers crossed that no one would try them tonight. Think about the damage that hunting them at night could do to the reputation of geocaching. Whether a WSQ or any other type of cache always hunt them responsibly.

@TheBalks wrote:

So I got thinking tonight, now that the days are getting shorter, as winter draws closer, do people no do WSQ’s after work on the weekdays? I try to not go into cemeteries after dark in the summer because thats like 9 pm, but is it ok to be in a cemetery at say 6 or 7 pm when its dark in the winter?

Generally, if it would look bad or like something wrong might be happening to passersby, then it would probably be best not to do it. That is kind of a general statement, that applies to more than just night caching in cemeterys.

As far as the specific question goes, I wouldnt want to go into a cemetery after dark just because of how it would look to the uninformed. They might think something bad was happening, call the police, and cause trouble. too many instances of people kicking over tombstones and causing trouble and so you cant blame people from calling the cops is they see you in there after dark. Also, in rural areas, the caretakers often live close by.

On the other hand, if said cemetery was on the end of a dirt road, far in the country with no traffic, and there was no chance of being noticed, then I would have less qualms personally. It aint the ghosts that I worry about. It’s the folks who might think I am up to no good and call the cops that I want to avoid.

z

Please see the note that I posted for GC2F0YQ when a cacher was too eager for a FTF at one of my WSQs… It’s not something that I was glad to do, but what can one do when the rules are obviously ignored???

I would have deleted that log the second after I got the inbox notifcation of potentially illegal activity with a PM explanation to the finder as to why. If they remember their trip differently upon reflection or relog with a TFTC, so be it.