Perhaps you would be interested in geocaching for the rest of the year. A handheld GPS will be all that is needed along with coordinates of a geocache hidden in the area where you want to explore. You don’t need any license, and aren’t restricted in time frame. Besides which, handheld GPS units can also help you while hunting to be sure you don’t get turned around in the woods and to help you find your way back to the best hunting spots you found last week or even last year if you just save those coordinates on your GPS unit. Whether you are searching for deer or hidden “treasures”, now you can find yourself “hunting” any time you want!

I was talking to one of my friends today, and she suddenly started chuckling. She and her husband had been visiting friends this week. One of her friends started talking about how their neighbor was doing something with her navigation thingy looking for stuff and couldn’t understand what she was doing or why they thought it was so much fun. My friend surprised even her husband by explaining to them that they are using their handheld GPS units looking for a geocache. Geocaching is very a popular activity in which you get the coordinates of the location where someone else hid a special waterproof container containing a log and maybe some little trinkets or geocache coins or such, then you go out and find it with the aid of your portable GPS device. It is something that is fun for the whole family to do together. She was pretty smug that, after having talked about geocaching with me from time to time, she was the only one in their group who understood what was going on. Cute. She has since started talking to them about trying it with her soon with her handheld GPS system. Maybe I can tag along, too!

When was the last time you or your buddy got turned around in the woods while waiting for that big buck to pass by?  Or out on a drive, and by the time you worked your way around that thick stand of trees or that rock ledge, where were you supposed to end up?  Your buddies are counting to be where they need you, but where is that anyway?  Now you are turned around and not sure where you ended up.  You sure don’t want one of the other hunters to mistake you for a deer because they weren’t expecting you to come out way over there… Or it started raining buckets while waiting on the line, or worse yet, wet soggy snow; and it sure is hard to see those landmarks you were watching for earlier on the way in here.  So many things can happen to get you off course, especially if you are in a new area with unfamiliar landscape.  Now what will you do?

There are actually handheld GPS units that are built specifically for hunting.  These GPS units are waterproof for that nasty weather that is bound to hit right when you want it least, and you can mark your car, the tree stand, the hunting lodge and any game signs you may spot.  Some of them even include a built-in electronic compass and barometric altimeter! Think especially how easy it will be to get back out there tomorrow when you can just check your hand held GPS device to see where you marked special points and compare notes with your buddies back in the lodge.  Sweet.

I would like to share the joy of Geocaching with you.  I have been enjoying this hobby for a few years now.  Each and every cache I have found has been unique in it's own way. Everything from a quick find in a parking lot to a long hike in the woods.  The adventure never gets old.  This hobby is for the young and old alike.  For those who haven't heard of Geocaching it basically is Modern day treasure hunting. One person or group hide a cache then others go find it using the Coordinates of the cache on a handheld GPS unit.  Additional information about this hobby can be found at Geocaching.com . Geocaching is a world wide hobby. Go to Geocaching.com type in your zip code and you may just be surprised at just how many you'll find. As with all outdoor activities please respect the areas you visit, and if you carry it in please carry it out. Happy caching.
Roadragetrx (geocaching name)
JR Akins