Comments on: Do you log your DNF’s? Why you should!

By: MadCacher

MadCacher — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 14:49:03 +0000

Great commentary! Personally, I go back several times to search before logging a DNF. I will also look to see over the next couple days if someone else has found it. In my experience someone with better hunting skills discovers it and I return with renewed interest. If the area is particularly difficult I will post comments to other cacher’s and see if they can provide assistance. Usually on the second try the cache will stand out at me and I question why I was never able to find it before. However, if I return multiple times and after my search people begin logging DNF’s I will register the item as DNF.

By: Marrakesj

Marrakesj — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 18:31:31 +0000

I’ve seen people logging a found when the cache is still active but not in place (gone). How do you feel about this ? Thinking about it – when you found the place of the hide you would have found the cache when it was there …

By: Luke

Luke — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 23:26:44 +0000

I think about it before I log a DNF. If I didn’t spend too much time looking for it, I won’t put up a DNF. If I thoroughly searched everywhere I could think of and feel like there was nowhere else to look, I will log it. But you are right, it does hurt a little to admit that I couldn’t find one.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:11:14 +0000

DNF’s are important, for sure. As a CO, if someone logs a DNF on one of my 1 or 2 star caches, I know it’s missing & I’ll get it replaced quickly. But I am discerning with my own DNF logging.

One thing I have noticed in this game, is “DNF’s can be contagious”. Sometimes cachers make assumptions about where a cache “must have been hidden” & think that seeing a couple previous DNF’s means it must be missing. They may cut their hunt short & log the DNF, waiting for the CO to recheck before coming back. I’ve been guilty of this on occasion, only to find out it was just hidden better or differently than I expected.

I try to make sure we spend at least a good 15-30 mins (depending on difficulty) searching before we give in & log the DNF. Sometimes I’ll just use the “Write Note” instead, especially if I know the CO, just to let them know we tried, but I don’t think the cache is necessarily missing.

There is nothing I love more than seeing a cache with 4 or 5 DNF’s in a row & being the one to find it before the CO can chime in & reassure everyone it’s still there, LOL!

By: w9jim

w9jim — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 05:39:18 +0000

I log most of my DNFs. The difference is when I do an urban micro, or something else I’m not too interested in, and and my search was half-hearted. If I can’t find it in a couple of minutes, I move on to greener pastures and pretend I wasn’t even there.

By: lesterzx3

lesterzx3 — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:38:19 +0000

Just found your blog, looks like there is some good stuff on here.

I agree that DNFs should be logged, but I am very cautious about it. I have only been caching since November 09, and there have been several times that my inexperience was the only factor in me not finding a cache. I think cachers should give at least 3 attempts before logging a DNF, as DNFs can cause some cachers to not even attempt the hunt.

By: JUSTIN PEEK

JUSTIN PEEK — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:13:26 +0000

I THINK I HAVE MORE DNF THAN FINDS THEMSELF. IN MOST CASES ITS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT THERE OR MOVED. I’VE SEEN PEOPLE LOG FINDS WHEN THE CACHE OWNER LATER STATED THAT THE CACHE WAS GONE DURRING THE TIME OF THE “FIND” FOR MAINTENENCE. HOW DOES THAT WORK?

By: cainrcc

cainrcc — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:14:07 +0000

I always log my DNFs !

By: Wheeler Dealers

Wheeler Dealers — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 03:09:53 +0000

As an owner of more caches in California than any other we want everyone to log the DNF’s. We take care of our caches and that is the only way we would know if something is missing or needs care. We would also like to know if someone decides to replace our cache. Strange how a different container OR other containers wound up at our caches.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 01:07:56 +0000

I’ve only been caching since September 09, so I’m pretty new to the sport. If I don’t find a cache, I typically won’t log it as DNF – especially if it had been logged recently before my attempt to find it.

I take other factors into consideration… such as, if my GPSr is jumping all over the place, time of day (eg twilight), weather, etc.

If I don’t find a cache, I’ll go back to it a second time. If I don’t find it then, I’ll either log a DNF or return for a third attempt. If after the 3rd try I don’t find it, then I’ll log a DNF.

So far, there have only been a couple of caches that I’ve just flat given up on, and logged as DNF.

Usually when I return for the second attempt, I’ve found that I seem to notice things I didn’t notice on the previous attempt.

For me not finding a cache just makes it all the more challenging… and when I return and do find it, it’s all the more satisfying.

Happy Caching folks!