Buried Camp Equipment

Sytes

Sytes

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Anyone come across a buried cache of camp equipment? I left a message with the LEO for the area w/ GPS coordinates though never heard back. This was a couple years ago. Rambling w/ a buddy about the past trip had us wondering if there is or is not a law against such.
What are the legalities? Is there a specific law against such? Or, is this a grey area not really able to be enforced as there are no specific laws regarding this action? Google wasn't too helpful.
 
I did with a metal detector prospecting for gold. Not a lot, but like someone dug a hole and buried their trash along with a few coolers and that. That stuff don't break down good. My bet is there has to be a law on burring stuff, more likely under auspices of the various state environmental departments. You might call them. I even found a lead acid battery at the location I found.
 
BuckRut said:
There is very much a law against this on USFS land. You cannot camp on or stash camp material for more than 14 days out of any 30 day period and it is definitely enforced.
Click to expand...

There are laws on that with EPA and the various states too. It's definitely illegal on BLM and state lands.
 
I've come across so many camp stashes and wondered the same thing. I found one about two years ago where they dug a big hole and actually lined the walls with wood. A lot of time and effort put in for that one, too bad the elk hunting wasnt great. It looked like it was filled with quite a few stuff too.
 
This is an interesting subject, I definitely agree people shouldn't keep camping gear buried or not out there if it's not being used. I feel like I've heard more than a few times of guys stashing water in places long before a hunt in areas that are deep from a trailhead where water isn't available. That way they aren't carrying so much extra weight when they pack in for the hunt. I'm wondering if that's a gray area that's not looked at the same way as camping gear.
 
I've had some buddies stash gear in a 50-gallon drum but personally never saw the point of saving yourself 1-2 extra trips (although it was a steep climb). I have stashed water before during scouting trips to stay up there longer, but I always took it out when done, and the statute of limitations has passed anyway. :cool:
 
MTelkHuntress said:
I've come across so many camp stashes and wondered the same thing. I found one about two years ago where they dug a big hole and actually lined the walls with wood. A lot of time and effort put in for that one, too bad the elk hunting wasnt great. It looked like it was filled with quite a few stuff too.
Click to expand...
That sounds like one of elkchaser's bunkers!
 
A found a cashe in the flattops on year. I turned it into the forest service and the next year it was still there.... They dont do nothing about it.
 
When my brother and I were younger we built "forts" out of dead timber all over Sheep Mountain by Clancy. A few years back we were BS'ing about how it would be cool to build one in the backcountry as an improved shelter. But that would be illegal. Link As far as I can tell, burying something might be illegal because it would potentially be a significant surface disturbance, and the abandonment of personal property. That'd be my guess anyway
 
§ 261.10 Occupancy and use.
The following are prohibited:
(a) Constructing, placing, or maintaining any kind of road, trail, structure, fence, enclosure, communication equipment, significant surface disturbance, or other improvement on National Forest System lands or facilities without a special-use authorization, contract, or approved operating plan when such authorization is required.
(b) Construction, reconstructing, improving, maintaining, occupying or using a residence on National Forest System lands unless authorized by a special-use authorization or approved operating plan when such authorization is required.
(c) Selling or offering for sale any merchandise or conducting any kind of work activity or service unless authorized by Federal law, regulation, or special-use authorization.
(d) Discharging a firearm or any other implement capable of taking human life, causing injury, or damaging property as follows:
(1) In or within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area, or
(2) Across or on a National Forest System road or a body of water adjacent thereto, or in any manner or place whereby any person or property is exposed to injury or damage as a result in such discharge.
(3) Into or within any cave.
(e) Abandoning any personal property.
 
continued...(f) Placing a vehicle or other object in such a manner that it is an impediment or hazard to the safety or convenience of any person.
(g) Commercial distribution of printed material without a special use authorization.
(h) When commercially distributing printed material, delaying, halting, or preventing administrative use of an area by the Forest Service or other scheduled or existing uses or activities on National Forest System lands; misrepresenting the purposes or affiliations of those selling or distributing the material; or misrepresenting the availability of the material without cost.
(i) Operating or using in or near a campsite, developed recreation site, or over an adjacent body of water without a permit, any device which produces noise, such as a radio, television, musical instrument, motor or engine in such a manner and at such a time so as to unreasonably disturb any person.
(j) Operating or using a public address system, whether fixed, portable or vehicle mounted, in or near a campsite or developed recreation site or over an adjacent body of water without a special-use authorization.
(k) Use or occupancy of National Forest System land or facilities without special-use authorization when such authorization is required.
(l) Violating any term or condition of a special-use authorization, contract or approved operating plan.
(m) Failing to stop a vehicle when directed to do so by a Forest Officer.
(n) Failing to pay any special use fee or other charges as required.
(o) Discharging or igniting a firecracker, rocket or other firework, or explosive into or within any cave.
(p) Use or occupancy of National Forest System lands or facilities without an approved operating plan when such authorization is required.
 
Stumbled upon an entire wall tent, stove, and big cast iron pot with tripod and lid about 8.5 miles deep in the Pecos Wilderness back in 2015. It was underneath a tarp shelter, covered with brush. It looked to have been there for a while.

I didn't do anything as I was hunting with a NM Wildlife Officer and he was saving the GPS coordinates as I was looking at it. :)
 
I have found a few. Went in on an early July scouting trip last year and came across a good stash someone had left from the previous hunting season. Several dehydrated meals, tuna packets, spam, etc. Looked like they had planned to come back in that season but never made it. Nice had mostly left it alone. I packed it out and salvaged some of the Mountain House meals.
 
I came across a slucebox and a couple hundred feet of 2" plastic pipe way back in at the head of a drainage in the Bighole a few years ago. Someone went to a lot of work getting it in there only to toss it on the ground and never come back to set it up and use it. Looked like it had been there for 20 years.
 
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