Finding the Obvious

For many outlaw treasures out there finding that elusive clue may be as simple as opening your eyes. For the most part, outlaws were lazy when it came to making clues. They didn't reshape rocks or spend a lot of time moving mega stones into just the right place for their map.

Outlaws liked to use what was already there and make their maps to fit that terrain. In a lot of instances they would use something very distinct in the area to get their attention. You have to remember that if they were successful, outlaws put down more than one treasure and used several areas in a state or even the country as hide-outs so they used areas that they knew they would be able to find again.

Natural land marks that jump out at you were the most used things. Names of places can also give you a clue to the possiblitly that there might be treasure hidden in the area. I can't tell you how many times I have been driving down a side road in the country and have seen a natural rock outcropping or small hill or canyon that just screamed; "hey, over here, there's treasure here!" I always make note of those spots so I can check them out when I have time.

Outlaws would sometimes incorporate these landmarks or formations into their maps. You should keep in mind that these formations (and other clues/markers) can be drawn on a map in different ways. They may be depicted in a shape that you will see only if you are coming towards them from a certain direction, they could be depicted as a shape the formation reminded the outlaw of such as an animal or bird or they could be dipicted as a word. It could be a word that only the outlaw would associtate with the formation, something he thought it looked like or reminded him of so he named it. There are a multitude of different variations on how something can be depicted on a map. Just keep in mind that the map wasn't made for you or I, it was made by an outlaw for that outlaw and gave him the information he needed to return to the cache. This is very important, the map was made for that outlaw or his gang and not anyone else. It's all about what would remind the outlaws about where they hid that treasure.

At the beginning of this article when I stated that outlaws were lazy, I didn't mean to imply they were stupid. They knew of and used lots of different ways to hide treasure and mark it's location. Even though they didn't move big things or dig really deep holes (for the most part) that doesn't mean they weren't smart enough to make it difficult for someone else to find their treasure.

Once you have that map you are going to have to look at it closely and be prepared to find many tricks, deceptions or misdirections in it.

If you are looking for a place to hunt for treasure and don't want to use a published story then keep your eye out for those odd looking or eye popping land formations. Take the time to stop and look around (with permission of course). These odd looking spots or eye catchers may very well have a carved map on or near them that will lead you to that treasure.