Something's Fishy Around Here...

***THIS AREA IS CLOSED FROM DUSK TO DAWN! PLEASE RESPECT THIS STIPULATION AND ONLY HUNT FOR THE CACHE DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS OR THE PERMISSION FOR THE CACHE WILL BE REVOKED AND IT WILL HAVE TO BE REMOVED***

This cache is located south west of Hotchkiss, Colorado at the Hotchkiss National Fish Hatchery. Here is a brief history of the fish hatchery:

Charles Roberts and Jeremiah Clavenger obtained the land first in 1893. In 1937 springs on the land were leased and a small hatchery and rearing ponds were built. In 1948 the land was sold to the State of Colorado. An apiary owned by Tommy Dowell soon became the site of the North Fork Unit fish hatchery. In 1967 the two properties became a national fish hatchery as part of the Colorado River Storage Project Act. The hatchery is located on 58 acres along the banks of the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The clean water supplied to the hatchery comes from the Tommy Dowell Spring on the hill north of the hatchery. The water remains at a constant temperate of 56 degrees and flows 2,200 to 5,000 gallons per minute which is ideal for trout production. The facilities include 24 inside nursery tanks and 40 concrete raceways in which to raise fish.

To calculate for the second stage:

To find the coordinates to the second stage, you must solve the following puzzle using the informational signs located at the posted coordinates:

N (Killdeer) (Six-lined Racerunner)° (Great Blue Heron) (Cottontail Rabbit). (Belted Kingfisher) (Mule Deer) 0

W (Broad-Tailed Hummingbird) 0 (Mule Deer)° (Great Blue Heron) (Cottontail Rabbit). 0 (Six-lined Racerunner) (Six-lined Racerunner)

To solve for the numbers to complete the puzzle, start by assigning a number to each of the animals on the information signs. The numbers will start at 1 and end at 8. The boxes will read left to right, top to bottom. For example, the animal in the upper-most, left position would equal 1.

To calculate for the third stage:

If you correctly solved the puzzle, you will be standing near another set of information signs. You will need to use the information on those to solve the second puzzle which will lead you to the final stage and the cache container.

N (Bufflehead) (Merlin)° (Common Merganser) (Bald Eagle). (American Wigeon) (Barred Owl) (Barred Owl)

W (Northern Pintail) (Canada Goose) (Barred Owl)° (Common Merganser) (Bald Eagle). (American Wigeon) (American Wigeon) (Barred Owl)

To solve for the numbers to complete the puzzle, start by assigning a number to each of the animals on the Waterfowl information sign. The numbers will start at 0 (zero) and end at 4. The boxes will read left to right, top to bottom. For example, the animal in the upper-most, left position of the Waterfowl sign would equal 0 (zero). However, you will skip the Green-winged Teal and NOT assign it a number. Then move onto the Birds of Prey information sign and assign a number to each of those animals. The numbers will start at 5 and end at 9. The boxes will read left to right, top to bottom. For example, the animal in the upper-most, left position of the Birds of Prey sign would equal 5. However, you will skip the Red-Tailed Hawk and NOT assign it a number.

If you correctly solved the puzzle, the coordinates will lead you to the final stage where the container is hidden. After you have found the cache explore the hatchery more if you like. There is a Visitor Center when you can see the inside nursery tanks and learn more about the fish.

The cache is placed with permission from the hatchery employees. They are aware of the location of the cache.

Happy Hunting!

Congrats to Team kekj on the FTF!!

Additional Waypoints