Arkansas Cache Stats

I was reading the Groundspeak forums and came across a thread that was interesting. The subject was mainly about virtuals but I thought it had some interesting stats for our state.

Stats as of 5/26 at 6:26p.m.
Total state caches: 592
New caches since 1/1/04: 252
2004 cache growth:74.1%

Looks like we led all other states for the percentage of growth.
This just gives us another perspective on how geocaching is growing in our state and another reason to get this site organized.

Keep those caches coming.

WOW! I knew we were growing quickly, but that number is surprising. I'm sure that I'm biased, but I've always said that geocaching is custom made for Arkansas. Unspoiled natural landscape, glorious mountain views, a great state parks system, caves and crevices galore, breathtaking waterfalls, and good hometown people, to boot!

Can you imagine how this number would skyrocket if every geocacher placed at least three caches? We would probably see the total number of caches in the state triple. Also, when there are several caches in a small area, people tend to be more open to making the drive to find them. (By the way, this is the reason that we've gone back to Clarksville again and again. We've taken weekend mini-vacations there twice, and made a few more day-long trips and STILL haven't found all of the caches there!)

I saw this when the cacher put it up on the Groundspeak forum and thought OMG this can not be right the highest number hidden in the first few months of the year. Its about time ranked number 1 in something lets keep the stats going up. I've got about a dozen caches getting ready to go up.

I am gonna have to get TIGGR busy hiding some more and maybe talk SWMG into a few across the line.Got a few neat ones up my sleeve.
I think that if we make some(not a majority) easy to get to we will have more hits.
I have found that the ones that are hard to get to with no mapping do not get hit very often around here.

I got 4 caches ready to go myself. I'm pretty much finalizing on where I want to place them. Two of these I expect to be pretty difficult to find. I got a ton more ideas for caches also. Its great to see more caches and cachers popping up in the NWA area.

--RuffRidr

One thing I've noticed is almost no activity in the Southeast part of Arkansas.

Check out http://www.geocaching.com/map/AR.asp to get an idea of what I'm talking about. There are 13 or14 counties that are fairly empty. I think in those 14 - I counted 9 caches total!

We have a thread called "Counties without caches". There are 82 caches in MS, we have the list down to 5 or so - when we started it was 20. A lot of those counties that had none now have multiple caches.

I don't know anybody there, so I can't suggest anything. No caches pretty much means no geocachers. That part of Arkansas looks like the southern part of the MS delta looked not to long ago - and how the Northern part of the MS delta looks now - empty. It'll fill up with time though.

I can't beleive there aren't any caches in Pine Bluff - I can understand the larger part of SE Arkansas - there just aren't a lot of people there - and less people means less chances that one of those people will be a geocacher.

southdeltan

Most of that land is swamp land or land used for duck hunting.

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Originally Posted by arkansas_stickerdude

Most of that land is swamp land or land used for duck hunting.

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Yeah, there are two parts of Arkansas I would avoid placing caches in, or at least consider archiving them for part of the year: the popular Duck hunting areas, and the popular Deer hunting areas!

I'd hate to hear about a cacher who got shot because he went caching in the wrong part of the woods during hunting season. It is a much bigger risk during deer season, of course. Most duck hunters don't shoot just anything that moves in the bushes - most are watching the skies. Still, a cache near the water during duck season just isn't worth the risk in my opinion.

Still, it seems there could be opportunities for semi-urban caches in those counties that would be safe year around.

Hunting season is only a few months out of the year. (Duck season is fairly short here - I can't imagine it being much longer there, with federal laws etc...). The geography (and geology) of Southeast Arkansas is pretty much the same as the Mississippi Delta (since it's just on the other side of the river). It's flat and most of it has been cleared for agriculture.

Caches in woods even during hunting season are WAY safer than urban caches in my opinion. Everybody in my family and community hunts - I don't buy into the beleif that going into the woods is dangerous just because of hunters. I'm much more afraid of city drivers or drive by shootings. Besides - over here people just post a note "This cache is in a hunting area" and people either go after it or not. There are lots of caches in National Forests here - which is the bulk of public hunting land.

I just looked at a map with the Arkansas State Parks on it. I am well aware of rules and I know some of these are off limits to caches - but the part of the state south of the I-30/I-40 diagonal (I-30 from Texarkana to LittleRock, and then I-40 to West Memphis) has 15 state parks. There are also a few National Forests and I'm sure some Game Areas (and hunting is only roughtly 1/4 to 1/3 of the year). Probably some state lakes, local parks, etc - and that's not counting the urban settings.

There are hundreds if not thousands of places that are away from hunting and swamps that would offer great settings for caches, either micros or traditionals - but there just aren't geocachers there to hide them.

I'm positive that the reason there aren't many caches there is mainly based on population. There aren't as many people in that area - less people means less geocachers - plain and simple ;)

sd

First of all I think its great that we have so many caches now in Arkansas. I can remember when there were less than 100 in the whole state and I thought wow thats not enough. Now it is pushing 600 I think its pretty cool.

One question that I have, and I hope no one gives me grief over asking, its just my opinion and would like to know what others think. What do you think the ratio of finds to hides should be? Or should there be one? When I first started geocaching. I waited for a good long time before I put out a cache. I wanted to make sure I knew what I was doing, and was able to maintain the cache as well as have it in a good location.

I have seen several cachers over the course of the couple of years that I have been caching, where they find one and hide one and then the one they hide, is not maintained, you can't contact the person or anything. I think you should find at least 10/20 caches before you put one out, and I also think that you should maintain somekind of managable number so they can be maintained. Once again this is my opinion and was just wondering what everyone else thought........
Cya on the trails,
Rusty

I found over 100 before I hide one just to make sure I knew what I was doing and that this is what I wanted to do for a while.

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Originally Posted by arkansas_stickerdude

I found over 100 before I hide one just to make sure I knew what I was doing and that this is what I wanted to do for a while.

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See thats what I am talking about, a lot of people I know jump on any new thing that comes along, and they do it till something else comes along, I know about that cause my sister is that way (LoL) seriously though. Thats what I am talking about. It saves a lot of caches being abandoned because "it isn't any fun anymore" or some other reason about like that.

I found several before I put any out but there were not very many at all in SW Missouri or NW Arkansas.
If one can maintain the caches that they put out I see no problems with numbers.
But when they do not try to maintain them they should be limited to the number.
I like the Adopt a cache theme.
And so far have had no problems in this area in that.
The reason I put out so many was to promote the sport in the area and the like.It worked.
I like it now I have so many that I have to start planning good now and can get several in an area.
I have been so busy lately I have not had time to do some quality caching.
Just wait all u'uns out there I am coming to a cache or two near you.

Thanks for putting them out.

When we started caching there were 102 caches in Arkansas! And we love how it's changed! We agree with Gaddiel & O.D. that Arkansas is the perfect place for caches - whatever you want, woods and wildlife or urban caches.

As far as cache finds/hide ratios go - we HATE to see a "found 0/ hid 1" post. We agree that hides are better with a little bit of experience under your belt. And to make sure that you're still caching a few months from now! We have a little over 300 finds and 16 hides. Actually, it should be 19 if you count the ones we've placed for CCCooper Agency here in Arkansas. And we maintain 2 for out of state hiders.

But we didn't hide ANY until we thought we could hide and maintain good caches. We also think it's important to hide no more caches than you can maintain properly. For us, every DNF means a trip to the cache to check on it's welfare and make sure it's still in place. To us, maintenance is more important than the original hide.

In the last year, the Mountain Home area has gotten enough new caches placed that it's now worthwhile to spend a weekend here. Big difference in a short time!

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Originally Posted by cachecrazies

In the last year, the Mountain Home area has gotten enough new caches placed that it's now worthwhile to spend a weekend here.

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Do I detect a subtle (or not so subtle) hint in that post?

Are you asking for a bunch of us to come up with a cache-a-van.

Gaddiel wrote

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Do I detect a subtle (or not so subtle) hint in that post?

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:oops:

Maybe just a little nudge?? :lol:

I can not beleive Arkansas is up to 609 caches. Keep up the good work.

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Originally Posted by arkansas_stickerdude

I can not beleive Arkansas is up to 609 caches. Keep up the good work.

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What's really cool, is that since we have so many people on this site now, if we all decided to put just one more cache out, that number jumps by 55!

--RuffRidr

I am only going to put onces close to me so I can visit it when it needs to be. Plus they are only about 5 miles to me. I have only 1 out now and I have logged about 26 finds. I am going to get 30 this weekend for sure and I will have my 2nd approved. Again I believe if you are done with this sport pull all the caches and archive it. No sense leaving us high and dry if we need you. Lukywest

We set out 2 new ones today - still waiting for approval.

2 more reasons to hit northern Arkansas, guys and gals*!

(hint, hint, nudge, nudge)

* one is a lady cachers cache!

And they're both in a beautiful, but remote, area. Takes some time to get there - but well worthwhile - in our opinion anyway!

I just thought I would update some stats on the Arkansas caches.

Stats os of 7/3/04 at 1:00 am.
Total state caches: 621
New caches since this thread was posted: 52

By looking at these numbers it appears we have also had 23 caches archived since that time also.

Let's keep it growing.

I have several containers ready but just can't find the time to get out and hide them. I also have about 15 new ones planned for this fall as soon as I get enough ammo cans and hiking weather rolls around again.

It is truly amazing how more and more folks are joining the geocaching ranks. We too have about 5 new caches to place, but weather and time become the biggest obstacle.
Seems like we enjoy caching more in the cooler weather, similar to hiking, as the bugs and heat are not nearly as bad.
We recently came back from Northwestern Iowa, and the mosquitos were absolutely horrible, :( in the early evening, or when the weather was cloudy.

Still had fun caching and scratching.
Lefty & Roust-about

I should be able to get out the 5 micros and 1 multicache in and around Marion over the weekend.

I have about a dozen to get out soon.

I know this is an old topic, but I'd be greatful if anyone in the Booneville area could put some out for when I have to go visit In-Laws around June each year :D :wink:

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Originally Posted by Valorian

I know this is an old topic, but I'd be greatful if anyone in the Booneville area could put some out for when I have to go visit In-Laws around June each year :D :wink:

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Run on up Hwy 10 to 71 and environs and you can cache out with alot of cache on hand, one of ours near my in laws.

Well WE did it Arkansas is UP TO 702 Lets keep it going and see if we can reach 1000 by New Years. I know I'll try to do my part.