Piss them off and bring it in, they would rather have it then not. You never know how long they are out there but if you don't bring it in it might be years or a ranch takes it to hang on hush shop wall. If it is still hot and smoking then you know someone is on their way but if its been there for a while bring it in.

The only real reason someone should be mad if you pick their rocket is is if they are mapping all of their recoveries. In this case you can show them where it was. Just do not turn it off if it is still on unless there are still live charges. In that case you might leave it and go see if you can find the flier but then if not, turn it off only to safe it before bringing it.

Joe is right, I was thrilled when twice I had lost a rocket and another flier found it and brought it back to the LCO table. One was MIA for three months. When I find another fliers rocket I of course look for someone in the vicinity and flag them down but if no one is in sight I bring the rocket in. But one time I brought one in that had a rough landing and the owner was glad I found it but then he asked if I had seen the altimeter. Well I did not see one but i could not tell him exactly where I found it so he could look. Maybe some type of identifying sticker with a number on it or a name and color coded, red meaning do not recover and green meaning bring it on in.

I have made it a habit to always have pen, paper, and my smart phone with me (I am not trying to brag about the type of phone, but describing it, and it is a Droid O/S and has a compass application on it.) With this, I can record the coordinates of the location where I have found the rocket or the pieces, and I can take notes. I can also photograph the location if necessary. I can even write down where landmarks are in relation to the discovery location so someone can get back to almost the exact spot, and then I am likely to bring the rocket back in to the LCO table unless I see someone out there looking for something and can direct them to my location. Again, from a previous post, it would help to have identification on the rocket such as owner's name, e-mail address, and cell phone number. If they have their phone on, I can call them immediately or send them an e-mail with the notification, and getting it done in real time. And as I also said before in a previous post, Verizon and T-mobile both work out there at both sites.

I like the reference of a smart phone, I use one because I am not;-)

Yeah, right. Not smart, so your phone is. Ha Ha. I like your post on the TRA forum about TAPs being vendors and conflicts of interest. I think most people are trying to further the hobby and would not push you towards their product, exclusively. All in all, rocketeers are pretty decent people. (there is one that I have observed who appears to have a pretty intense ego issue who might push his products relentlessly. I have never met the person, only from observations, and I could very well be wrong. You might know of whom I am writing by his initials, KM.)

Sorry, way off topic, but honestly haven't heard anything of KM since the outhouse. So true about the ego. I've never come across anyone even remotely like that in our area. We definitely seem low-key across the board. The wild and crazy big-mouthed folks may grab the spotlight, but that's not where I want to be, nor how I'd like our club to appear to the public. Our members consistently come out (quietly) with the coolest projects, the records, the new products, and incredibly reliable research motor work. Keep it up guys!8)

-Ken

There are a few across the country that are flamboyant and looking for attention and but that is not the majority. That is really the only problem that I have had with some of the shows that have been about rocketry. The want the people that are wild and crazy like Tim and Jim. They both have been nice to talk to and everything but not sure having then as our poster children is a good idea. Just my opinion.

I agree, James and Ken. The last show really did not show what we do or who we are. IMHO, too. Even I recorded over it. And, to point, the only reason I can think of, besides the obvious reason for NOT turning off someone's electronics for altitude, is IF there are still charges left on, then don't touch someone's rocket at rest. The most rewarding thing about retrieving someone's rocket, however, is when Bob Messner picked up a record-setting rocket of JW's and shared the reward with JW.