Ozark-St.
Francis National Forests Policy
The
Approval of cache content and location must be granted
prior to placement of any items on public lands.
Contact
your nearest Ranger District office prior to development
of a “cache” in order to inquire about any designated
and/or "off limit" areas.
You must submit a “Cache
Registration Form” to the particular Ranger District
you plan on being on before you develop and advertise your
site. Cache Registration Forms are available at District
Offices or the Ozark-St. Francis National Forest web page.
The district will remove any unregistered caches found.
For a geocaching application for the Boston Mountain Ranger District, please click here.
District Personnel will share information
with Recreation and Special Use Managers at the Supervisor’s
office.
Geocachers must abide by any and all applicable
federal rules and regulations contained in the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR).
Participants of geocaching
must restrict their activities to areas that are open
to the public. Caches are off limits on closed roads,
unless traveling by foot.
Caches
should last no more than one year. Notify the Ranger
District Office upon removal.
Access
routes and caches should avoid fragile areas, such as
rock shelters, caves, bogs, wetlands, steep slopes, historic
structures, and other sensitive sites. Do not use areas
closed to the public.
At
developed recreation sites, adhere to all rules and regulations
posted at sites.
Traditional
cache sites are prohibited within wilderness areas. Only
virtual caches are allowed within East Fork, Hurricane
Creek, Leatherwood, Richland Creek or Upper Buffalo wilderness
areas.
Do not interfere with or detract from other visitors'
experiences.
Do not dig soil or cut vegetation when developing
a cache.
Caches should be no more than 2 gallons in size.
Caches
must not contain any food or hazardous materials.
Containers
must be labeled on the outside so that it would not be
mistaken as containing hazardous materials.
Caches
need to be public; no “members only” or subscription
caches.Encourage
friends and fellow geocachers to follow these guidelines
and be responsible and environmentally ethical when geo-hunting.
Safety Geocachers should only attempt hunting sites according
to their experience level. Please carry a map and
compass in case of poor satellite reception. GPS units
compute distances in straight lines only. Differences in
distance due to access as well as obstacles (cliffs, rivers,
ponds, canyons) should be considered before attempting
the cache location. Geocachers must plan ahead for their
hunt by making sure they have adequate water, food, proper
clothing, footwear, first aid kit and other items needed
for travel in the forest. The use of ladders, ropes and
other vertical equipment can be dangerous for you and
future hunters. Caches should not be placed in areas needing
any of this equipment to access. The USDA Forest Service
does not take any responsibility for any injuries that
may occur to an individual due to hazardous placement of
a cache.
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