Questions tagged [united-states]
Questions specific to the United States
268
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What is the history of the Duckbill rock formation in Oregon?
During an internet search for fun places to go in the Western United States, I came across a number of articles about an unusual rock formation in Oregon called Duckbill. It was called iconic, ...
6
votes
2
answers
7k
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How dangerous are wild horses?
In some parts of the western United States there are herds of wild horses. How dangerous could a herd be to a human on foot while hiking or backpacking?
If they are dangerous how should a human ...
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8
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2
answers
294
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How do I choose the right tent?
I am looking for a good 1 person tent, and like some of these. I need a tent that will keep out the rain if needed, but also be open so I can see the sky at night on clear nights. I want enough room ...
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5
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1
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Do American mourning doves only make their plaintive cooing sound where people can't see them?
We have American mourning doves in abundance in Massachusetts. They spend months in our yard, eating seeds both on the ground and in the feeders. They also peck around in my flower garden, so I think ...
5
votes
1
answer
366
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Where exactly is this rocky shoreline in the Downeast region of Maine, USA?
During the second week of October, 2016, my husband and I went for a drive from our home in Massachusetts to the state of Maine. One of the things we wanted to see was the town of Bar Harbor.
...
10
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3
answers
418
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What are some blind-friendly wildlife trails in or including Massachusetts?
I have a group of friends who live in Florida, United States. One woman is blind. One man uses a wheelchair most of the time, although sometimes a cane is sufficient instead, or a friend to lean on. (...
25
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1
answer
2k
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Is the Park Service continuing its case to re-rename Yosemite Park's historic landmarks?
I have often checked into the Ahwahnee in Yosemite Valley after emerging, filthy and undernourished, from the backcounty. A hot shower in one of the cottages, an Ahwahnee Burger, a glass (or three) ...
- 23.9k
6
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2
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Where and when can I see the most seals in Cape Cod, Massachusetts?
A few different types of seals (Pinnipeds) are common in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Some live and breed there year-round. Others migrate through on their way elsewhere.
We're planning a trip to the ...
7
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3
answers
855
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What is this mountain seen from above the Banks Lake region of Washington State?
In January 2016, I was on a flight from London to San Francisco and photographed this prominent mountain (the large one, roughly in the centre of the horizon). Can anybody identify it?
The ...
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19
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2
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4k
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How long does it take for trash to become a historical artifact (in the United States)?
How long does it take for trash like beer cans, old mattress springs, or glass bottles to go from trash and need to be packed out to being a historic artifact with archaeological significance?
- 69.3k
13
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2
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Why would archery season be either before or after rifle season?
Are there any reasons, other than tradition, to have archery season either before or after rifle season?
I was chatting with a couple of Stack Exchangers when one of them remarked that in Pennsylvania,...
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4
answers
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Why are there separate seasons for archery and firearm hunting for deer?
I was reading up on Pennsylvania's hunting regulations and noticed there are different seasons for the hunting of deer with bow-and-arrow and firearms. Why is this?
I can understand hunting seasons ...
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10
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2
answers
549
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How to become a falconer at a young age?
Last year, we had an assembly at school where two falconers came and talked about the craft. I thought it was amazing and the idea captivated me. But I don't quite remember all the details. He said ...
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7
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1
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License Not Needed for Fishing in County of Residence
It seems pretty clear but I would like to make sure that I don't need a license or permit to Catch and Release in Florida, in the county that I live in. According to Florida Fish and Wildlife ...
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7
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1
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Disposing of live ammunition
While out hiking today, I came across a spot where someone had fired off a couple dozen shotgun shells, then left the spent cartridges lying around. Dealing with those was simple (put them in my ...
- 2,980
12
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2
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3k
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What breed is this very large, black, turtle/tortoise found in the Northeast United States?
My husband found this very large turtle (or tortoise) crossing a road from an industrial park towards a wooded area. It was in June, in Massachusetts, USA, at 8:00 in the evening. He didn't touch it, ...
12
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2
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What are these round, spiny, puffy, green things from the ocean in Northeast United States?
Last October, we were on a road above a beach in a small town near Bar Harbor, Maine, in the Northeast United States. We looked down and saw two fishermen loading their trucks with piles of something ...
4
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1
answer
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Where can I buy bear banger launcher and ammunition and have them shipped to US?
I need bear bangers and launchers, but I live in the US. I've found a site that sells Launchers and Bear Bangers but they only ship to Canada, it seems.
Where or how can I obtain bear bangers and ...
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5
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2
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2k
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Approximately how long does the Telluride Via Ferrata route take?
I'd like to know approximately how long it takes to do the Telluride Via Ferrata route. I've seen estimates anywhere from 2 hours to 6+ hours which seems extremely wide to me. How long does the actual ...
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4
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2
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What's the policy and cost regarding picnic area in US regional parks?
I've been to US regional parks a few times and managed to get a grill and picnic table for free, without reservation.
At the same time, when I look up park websites, for example Cabin John Regional ...
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10
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1
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292
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Why are trees marked purple in the state of Texas?
I've recognized this a few times in Texas. Trees were more or less "professionally" painted purple. It appeared totally random to me but was too frequent to just take it as a plain tag from the owner (...
- 23.4k
13
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2
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841
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What are these strange insect nodules on my front porch?
Twice this summer, I've found some little brown domes / nodules attached to the window sills or the porch railing. They seem to be made by some sort of insect and I think when I removed them, there ...
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12
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1
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647
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Is dirty birdbath water worse than none at all?
For the last few months, we've experienced long spells of drought and heat in Massachusetts, on the East Coast of the United States. At least thirty birds and three generations of squirrels and ...
5
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4
answers
334
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What are the downsides of baiting game while hunting?
Here in Germany (and I think I can even speak for the majority of the EU) it's indeed quite common to bait game. I've recognized that this technique generally encounters critic on US media (blogs, ...
- 23.4k
9
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1
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How far does a nursing Eastern Gray squirrel travel from her nest?
It's obvious by her belly that we have a nursing squirrel, probably an Eastern Gray, Sciurus carolinensis, in our yard in Massachusetts, USA. I assume her nest is in one of our large evergreens, not ...
14
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0
answers
498
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Tahoma Creek suspension bridge history
One of my more memorable hiking experiences came on the Wonderland Trail in the summer of 1994. The trail is about 93 miles (150 kilometers) long. It's in the Mount Rainier State Park which is located ...
- 10.7k
7
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1
answer
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What's a good place for a beginner to go backcountry camping in Oregon and California?
I am a beginner hiker who is looking to spend a few days alone in the woods while not putting myself at risk before I am familiar yet.
Criteria:
easily accessible by a normal car
sufficiently ...
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12
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1
answer
924
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Where do I document first ascents?
I see a lot of people on social media posting their first ascents. These people are usually professional climbers climbing new super hard routes and as a result their first ascents blow up on social ...
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1
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What is the Chincoteague Pony Swim on Assateague Island in Virginia and Maryland?
Ever since I read a book called Misty of Chincoteague as a child, I've wanted to see the Wild Chincoteague Ponies, on the Eastern shore of the United States. I believe there are two herds on ...
16
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3
answers
486
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Optimal timing/routing for a year visiting US national parks?
There are 59 National parks in the US. Of which 49 are in the Continental US (lower 48). There are 52 weeks in a year. I would like to take a year and spend about a week camping and exploring each ...
- 30.3k
9
votes
1
answer
574
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What built these mud structures (Ohio, USA)?
I found these structures while hiking in Wayne Township, Clermont County, Ohio, USA, on June 7, 2016, at approximately N 39° 12.5 W 084° 04.0. I only had my phone, and not a real camera, so sorry for ...
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10
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4
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Legal deep-woods campsites or forests that allow off-trail hiking and ad hoc camping in Maryland?
When I was in Boy Scouts every month we went camping places that seemed to be deep in the woods with no one else around within hiking distance.
When I go to reserve a campsite as an adult they're all ...
- 285
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1
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What happens to the eggs after American robins are born?
When American robin chicks fledge, meaning leave the nest, it is pretty much empty. It's also fairly clean, as the parents have been removing the waste from the babies after each feeding.
Aside from ...
12
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5
answers
1k
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What are the laws for backcountry ("dispersed") camping in the US?
I'm planning on taking a trip across the US and was planning on doing as much dispersed camping (a.k.a.backcountry camping) as possible. I wanted to educate myself on where it is legal to go off trail ...
- 1,172
9
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3
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What can I provide to help a robin build her nest?
We went away for five days and came home to find a robin building a nest in the crook of the downspout of our gutter. I live in Massachusetts, in Northeast United States, so she's probably an American ...
9
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1
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Gunfire in US national parks
What are the consequences of firing a gun in a US national park due to distress? (for instance, shooting at an attacking animal, or firing in the air to attract attention when stranded)
There is a ...
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14
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2
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166
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Legal liabilities of non-profit guiding in adventure sports
I am a whitewater kayaker and I often show people down rivers I'm familiar with on their first time down. I take special joy in doing so and consider it community service. The only compensation is ...
- 4,053
1
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1
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Do all American Summer Camps end with an award ceremony?
As a Brit I've very little knowledge of American-style summer camps (none, in fact, beyond Addam's Family Values) however I'm attempting to help organise such an event this Summer.
I've been told ...
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2
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1
answer
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If I get a ticket for fishing without license, will buying a licence make my ticket go away? [closed]
I live in Oklahoma where a relative and I were fishing.
We are new to fishing and didn't know you needed a license. We got stopped and the game warden gave us two options: buy a temp license or get ...
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8
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2
answers
255
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How should I position my hummingbird feeders to attract the most birds?
I'm trying to increase the hummingbird population in my yard in Northeastern United States. I grow certain types of flowers specifically designed to keep them happy, and have often found them drinking ...
10
votes
1
answer
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Bypassing river fords in Maine's 100 Mile Wilderness
I am considering hiking 100 Mile Wilderness in Maine with my son. He would be 7 at the time. My biggest concern as we are thinking about this are the river fords since some of them can come up to the ...
- 10.7k
5
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1
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What species of bird is in this recording from Bethesda MD?
Recorded in September 2015 in Bethesda, MD.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8sb5jjx3maeuk4o/Birdcall_Sept_Bethesda.m4a?dl=0
The recording was created at 1:00 PM on Sept 24th. I didn't see the bird, but I ...
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9
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2
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295
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Are pets allowed to thru-hike US National Scenic Trails?
In the US, National Scenic Trails span many different land types (state/federal parks, forests, etc). While these all have different rules on pets, I was wondering if the National Trail System ...
- 7,210
9
votes
1
answer
842
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Small mushroom in Massachusetts Identification?
When researching for my field journal, I found this mushroom but I can't identify it. I was in Northeastern MA.
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3
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630
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How to get weather information in the backcountry
In many areas of the U.S. it is very difficult to get any weather forecast:
Radio broadcasts generally don't have useful weather reports
NOAA weather radio is very useful, but large areas are not ...
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11
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3
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Can you tell the gender of a chipmunk from a distance?
We have a large number of chipmunks, probably mostly Eastern Chipmunk, Tamias striatus, in our yard in Massachusetts. There are different sizes and a large variation in markings. The behavior appears ...
8
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2
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Is camping at Zion National Park in mid-December feasible?
A group of four family and friends including two senior adults is contemplating about camping at Zion National Park in mid-December.
I wonder:
How cold (in terms of real feel -- sometimes past ...
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9
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1
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What is a safe distance for large, non-predatory wildlife?
When visiting areas with free-roaming wildlife such as American Bison and Texas Longhorns, there are numerous signs warning about keeping a safe distance. They don't, however, actually specify the ...
- 7,210
9
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1
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What is the best time of day to view Bison in Oklahoma?
I'll be visiting Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma which is known, among other things, for having free-roaming American Bison. I've never seen any in the 'wild'. Is there a specific time ...
- 7,210
9
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1
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What are the dangerous animals in Southern Nevada
I'm from Florida and I've only ever hiked in the Southeast US.
I don't know if I'm blind, but I can't find a listing of dangerous animals and their profiles. I tried Nevada Dept of Wildlife and ...
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