WPAs

[bcain]

I have noticed that several caches located on WPAs in my area are being archived because geocaching is no longer allowed in these areas.

What is the story or what is the status on these areas? Are they all being closed to caching?

[Lostby7]

What is a WPA?

[sandlanders]

waterfowl production areas

[Team Deejay]

As with all geocaches on DNR land, you need to have permission to place caches through the notification form available on the “Hiding a Cache” page. I’m not aware of any blanket restrictions, but often these areas are limited access to avoid disturbing nesting birds, so permission might not be available.

[Spike007]

I was talking with Da Bloodhound a few weeks, back, and he got wind of the possibility that we may need to remove caches from WPA lands here in Western WI. Chukkar does alot of volunteer work for this organization and knows many of the folks (DB does too). He talked with the local land manager about geocaches placed on WPA property, and it seems that since this land is officially managed by the US Fish and Wildlife department, they have authority over activities on the WPA property. (In addition to hunting, they encourage hiking, wildlife observation, etc.) While using any of their properties, nothing may be left behind that was not originally there, which is one of the primary reasons geocaching is not allowed. (It seems this mostly pertains to folks building permanent tree stands or duck blinds.)

Chukkar’s discussion with the local manager went pretty well, and he is very sympathetic and agrees that while we are probably doing more good for the promotion of their proprties than harm, he does not have the authority to override the national rule. It’s really unfortunate, since these areas are just beautiful, have abundant wildlife, and are mostly unused parcels of land. So, we’ll be removing caches on these lands in the coming days and weeks, but perhaps down the road we’ll get a variance to allow caches here – stay tuned. (Perhaps a similar notification form like the WGA has for DNR-managed lands could be implemented.)

I’ll still go out and hike these WPA areas, but hopefully we’ll have a chance to share them with others at some point again.

[cheezehead]

Sort of the same guidelines followed by the NPS along the St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers.

[gotta run]

What about “rockstashing?”

Yes, this is a real game. 😯

To wit:

“Follow directions to find, not a tupperware container or metal box, but a
stone, rock or boulder. This is called ‘rock stashing’. There is a
surprisingly growing group of enthusiasts for this activity.”

I don’t know what a “surprisingly growing group” entails. To me, one person would be surprising, but there are those who feel that way about geocaching.

Now, if you use an existing rock as your geocache, you’re not leaving anything behind that wasn’t already there. Of course, you have to find a way to make it loggable. You could paint a log on the bottom similar to some other creative caches around…though that gets us into the prohibition against “defac[ing] public or private property, whether a natural or man-made object, in order to provide a hiding place, a clue or a logging method.”

Ha!

On the Left Side of the Road...

[bcain]

Thanks Spike!
That’s the information I was looking for.

[Spike007]

Rockstashing?! That a new adventure to me – I’ll have to give it a look! There are usually plenty of available rocks out in these areas. 🙂

[Author]

Posts