Comments on: Why to Log a DNF

By: Stephen John Hansen

Stephen John Hansen — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 20:41:00 +0000

I always try to leave a DNF if I have done an excellent job searching and the light was good if it was a daytime cache. If I am not certain I missed it I would say so in my log. As a Cache Owner I had a cacher post a DNF one day and send me a note asking if something was the container. It was not. I would love a hundred of those rather than a 100 false found logs for a cache that was there. (I can see it out my office window.) They were back the next day and got it with no problem.

By: JakeDK

JakeDK — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:31:00 +0000

Just started geocaching and I plan on logging all DNFs(logged my first DNF today). It shows that the cache is popular and is a personal reminder to myself that one day I have to find it!

By: Cache On Wheels Geocaching

Cache On Wheels Geocaching — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 23:53:00 +0000

When should a DNF log also mean i should log a needs maintanence (NM)?

eg We went to find a cache a couple of days ago. I tried to find the cache myself as my husband had already found it previously. When i could not find it, i asked him for help – am i getting warmer or colder kind of game.
He searched the area extensively, to no avail. Also there has been extensive work carried out on the site since my husband was here last.
I logged a DNF describing my experience and also logged a NM due to the fact that it was clear there had been extensive work carried out all around and at the GZ.
I did also wrote in my log that we would be back at the area this saturday as it is near my parents in laws home and offered to replace the cache for them if they wanted us to.
Did i do the correct thing?
Does it reflect bad on me or the Cache owner by logging a NM?
I would hate to get it wrong and cause a problem for the CO by logging a NM if it didn’t need it.

By: Cache On Wheels Geocaching

Cache On Wheels Geocaching — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 23:45:00 +0000

You raise a very good point there When we are GC, and come to log a cache, i agree, it is about logging our experience there, be it a found or DNF or write a note if we were with someone else who could reaach the cache, like a tree climb, and we went along for support, but could not reach the cache in situ, in order to log a find.
When i log a cache, i usually mention who i am out with, something about the weather, and other places we may have visited that day eg We enjoyed our day which has taken us to a beautiful village, that without GC, we would never have found …
It is sad to see when people put TFTC easy find. Especially as even for a simple hide, a lot of time and effort has gone into placing a cache.

By: Cache On Wheels Geocaching

Cache On Wheels Geocaching — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 23:36:00 +0000

Sometimes it’s difficult to know when to log a DNF, especially if it is where i think it is – which is beyond my physical abilities eg in a tree, higher than i can reach. I attempted one of these the other day witj a friend of mine, both of us with physical limitiations.

We didn’t know if we should ‘write a note# to the effect above, log a ‘DNF’ in case it was not where we thought it was, or just leave it.

What’s your advice please?

By: Joshism

Joshism — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 20:01:00 +0000

I would say “Got there after dark” is either a Note or a DNF depending on more details…
Searched unsuccessfully with a flashlight = DNF
Planned to search after dark, but the park closed at sunset which isn’t mentioned on the cache page = Note
Got there after dark, didn’t plan on searching after dark, didn’t have a flashlight, didn’t bother looking in the dark = no log

DNF “wasp nest” or DNF “too many muggles” is fine so long as this is clearly explained in the log. It alerts other cachers they need to be aware of these issues. The context of the DNF being included in the log is the most important part.

By: Brian Sniatowski

Brian Sniatowski — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 21:34:00 +0000

As I see it, there are two possibilities when I hunt for a cache. I find it, or I don’t. There is a log type for each and I choose the appropriate one for each cache hunt.

By: Tamara Krebs

Tamara Krebs — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 04:25:00 +0000

I dispise people who “Found it”, then include in the post DNF because…______________ I typically delete those logs from my caches.

By: 3Teas

3Teas — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 20:39:00 +0000

Note: If you are searching as a group; I recommend only logging 1 DNF rather than all of you.
eg. if you are in a group with 4; 1 DNF GC may still be there; howerver 4 DNFs may stop others from even attempting.

By: Joel Taylor

Joel Taylor — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:33:00 +0000

From my own experiences in planning a geocache outings and from discussions with others, often times if the last log was a DNF the cache will be scrutinized before being selected or rejected for the geocache outing.

I don’t want my inability to search to discourage others from searching. If there are circumstances that prevent me from doing a thorough search at GZ (muggles, wasp/snake/dog, nightfall, etc) then I write a note instead of logging a DNF and explain what happened. Once someone logs a find or DNF after my unfortunate circumstances, then I’ll change the note to a DNF.