How to stay calm in the woods!
- Thread starter Wiseguym70
- Start date
And up, up, uppity up.
I just wanted to add:
It's real nice to see all my fellow gun nutterz put their interwebs bravado away for a bit, and offer some supportive words to a young member of our community. I love you guys! <awkward group hug>
Happy Canada Day Everyone!
It's real nice to see all my fellow gun nutterz put their interwebs bravado away for a bit, and offer some supportive words to a young member of our community. I love you guys! <awkward group hug>
Happy Canada Day Everyone!
The things called Faith and Love are good to have with you when life goes sideways.
The psych needs of a person who is alone are much greater than the need of having lots of gear handy. If you know that you are loved at home (and above), it gives you and your survival greater value - making survival not just a selfish thing, but an act of love. When a man who is hurting and alone may give up, a man with a cause greater than himself will soldier on.
(Um - I guess that was meant to be preachy - kinda like "don't leave home without it.")
I think that country folk - men and women who spend time alone are more at peace - and comfortable to be around, than over-socialized types. Recently, I was at a farm supply store in a small town and it was refreshing to see the country women coming in with open, happy, honest, guileless faces. No makeup, no airs and enjoying a few minutes in town to pick up gardening or calving supplies.
Thank God for Country Folk.
Really great tip is to get a compass that you wear on you wrist. My father bought me one many years ago, it is convenient and has never failed me.
One time while elk hunting I got turned around big time, I had to crawl through rabbit trails to find my way out it was so thick, but I was always paying attention to my wrist compass and crawled/walked out on the road I walked in from. You can search them online and the last one I bought I found in Vermont USA of all places. They are well worth the price and the effort to locate one.
When you don't trust your compass, that is when you should trust it the most!!!!! In the end the more time you spend in the bush now matter where, the more comfortable you will feel.
Happy Canada Day and Happy Hunting!
One time while elk hunting I got turned around big time, I had to crawl through rabbit trails to find my way out it was so thick, but I was always paying attention to my wrist compass and crawled/walked out on the road I walked in from. You can search them online and the last one I bought I found in Vermont USA of all places. They are well worth the price and the effort to locate one.
When you don't trust your compass, that is when you should trust it the most!!!!! In the end the more time you spend in the bush now matter where, the more comfortable you will feel.
Happy Canada Day and Happy Hunting!
Well I'm sold. You give the absolute worst advice I've seen on CGN in 10 years.
OP I wouldn't go hunting alone. I really enjoy disappearing into the woods for a few days and getting away from everything but the more and more I think about it, having a young family, the more I see how irresponsible that can be should something happen to me.
If you insist on hunting alone be humble, come up with an plan and let someone know.
What time you're leaving
What time you're expected to be back.
What time you need search and rescue sent out to find you.
What area you'll be hunting in.
I would include a list of what you're bringing with you.
Navigational aids and comms are vital.
I've seen a seasoned hunter get turned around in a few feet of woods, think he knew where he was then proceed in the absolute wrong direction and get lost for 7 hours.
Weird accidents happen too, try to always have a radio or phone. Just had a very fit very woodsy friend get bit by some mysterious bug. His lips swelled up and throat started to close and he was rushed out of the woods and to the hospital. It's only a 15 minute ride but the ambulance had to pull over half way and give him adrenaline.
My advice for anyone who doesn't wanna plan and prepare for this stuff is to at least make sure their stuff at home is neat and organized in case they die. That way family members don't have too much of a mess to sort through.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
A lot of this is flat out inexperience IMO. Hunting alone, a lot can happen, and it's normal to be jumpy at first. You will get over it. Think it through, go through the 'what if' scenarios, be prepared so there is nothing to worry about.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
So today I got Canada day off! so I decided to do a solo hike up to a remotish lake (not many people go there) I started off around 12 and had my day pack and my rod. I was skittish at first and then I thought about it and calmed down and was able to enjoy the sounds. the sights and the whole experience! while I was fishing I heard a cracking sound across the lake which I assumed was probably Canada day hikers from lake louse or Banff. but to my amazement it was a mature black bear. first I had the oh no feeling in my gut but then it looked at me and just stared and then it decided to work its way along the side of the lake away from me. always looking back ever minute or so. all in all I caught a few fish had a nice dinner then hiked out of there. I just arrived home and I feel so much safer and more experienced after this! this thread honestly has helped me so much. THANK YOU ALL!
Ever notice how the sound of silence in the woods id deafening?
How about those tree rats, man it sounds like a Grizzly Bear is going to Land on you from above if one has been taking in the Natural Beauty of the Environment
Rob
How about those tree rats, man it sounds like a Grizzly Bear is going to Land on you from above if one has been taking in the Natural Beauty of the Environment
Rob
Since I moved away from the city to well off the beaten path, visitors are seldom, lots and lots of personal time.
I actually am running a machine fabricating job down on the coast and having a real hard time relating to and conversing with the city folk LOL
Maybe I've just become "too much" of a recluse these days
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
In this case. expanding on Sunray's point, knowing where North is, does you little good, if you don't know which direction to take after that.
The number of hunters each year that venture into the woods with a compass in their pocket expecting it to miraculously save them, is legion. Same for a GPS!
Before you start into the bush you need to take that compass out, note the direction you are traveling, the reciprocal direction to get back, and the direction to roads, trails, lakes and rivers or other land forms you can use to get out should you need to. Also taking further note of land forms, the ridges where I hunt tend to rum NNE to SSW. Using that knowledge, and the sun, i don't need the compass at all. Does a road, or river pass near your hunt? What direction does it travel? What direction do I need to go to get to it? Which way do I go when I get there?
Learn the area! If it is new to you, get a top map and study it. Know where you will be, and where you are in relation to other land forms that can help you.
If you have a GPS, learn to use it! Practice! It can save your bacon, but not, if you have no idea what it does! Keep it charged, or batteries fresh!
I always tell someone were i go... and always carry my satelite phone, with a sling rifle over my shoulder...
2 times in my life i spended the night in the wood because i was lost and while being aware of my situation, those were not scary, i always was full calm, a huge fire goes a long way for security, those were enlightning experiences... JP.
2 times in my life i spended the night in the wood because i was lost and while being aware of my situation, those were not scary, i always was full calm, a huge fire goes a long way for security, those were enlightning experiences... JP.
Man is basically a social creature. You don't say what part of the continent you're on, but if you have normal good common sense any unaccustomed solitary experience like that is going to make you nervous, it's a hardwired survival instinct. When you get used to being there alone, the nervousness will pass.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
The more time you spend alone in the bush, the more comfortable you'll become with a solitary existence. Most people are unaccustomed to being truly alone; its not so much that you're in the bush, its that when you're in the bush the fact that you're alone is suddenly, and startlingly very evident. Begin with going into the bush for solo walks, then as times passes, get in the habit of stopping to build a fire for lunch, and take time to become comfortable with your surroundings. There is something calming about alone time with only a fire for company. Fire and shelter are great confidence boosters, and when you know they are always at hand, a major emotional obstacle has been overcome. Once you've acquired a comfort level with daytime solo adventures, work on overnight trips. At first you'll want to camp beside your truck, but soon you'll be wanting to see what's on the other side of that hill, or around the next bend in the river, and you'll forget all about being alone.
Don't rely too heavily on the modern technology like GPS, or cell or sat phones. If you do and can't get a signal because they can't see the sky, your comfort level will take a hit. If you have a topographical map or a set of air photos in a plastic sheath, and a decent compass, and know what the offset for magnetic and true north is, and if you can find points of reference in your field of view, that appear on the map, you'll know where you are, what's around you, and where you need to go to reach a destination. Knowledge of your location relative to what's around you, has a calming affect if you're feeling anxious. I like carrying a rifle, but the fact of the matter is that most of the time a light axe is more useful. Keeping busy, with collecting firewood at the end of the day, making camp, and preparing a meal, will keep your mind from going to a dark place, and if you're bone tired, sleep will come easily.
Don't rely too heavily on the modern technology like GPS, or cell or sat phones. If you do and can't get a signal because they can't see the sky, your comfort level will take a hit. If you have a topographical map or a set of air photos in a plastic sheath, and a decent compass, and know what the offset for magnetic and true north is, and if you can find points of reference in your field of view, that appear on the map, you'll know where you are, what's around you, and where you need to go to reach a destination. Knowledge of your location relative to what's around you, has a calming affect if you're feeling anxious. I like carrying a rifle, but the fact of the matter is that most of the time a light axe is more useful. Keeping busy, with collecting firewood at the end of the day, making camp, and preparing a meal, will keep your mind from going to a dark place, and if you're bone tired, sleep will come easily.
Have a good understanding of your area before you go in, and of course bring with you a compass. Example, you went North into the bush from your car on the highway. Further west side is a railway track, to the East is a river. So no matter what, if you go South you'll get back to the highway, and the East/West boundaries will keep you boxed in.
Travis Bickle
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Upper Lower Middle Alberta
To the OP, I know people I would consider "hard as nails" that get jumpy in the deep bush alone during the day.
Anyone on here pretending to be a tough guy saying they walk out into the woods alone without so much as a hair on their neck standing up is full of horse s**t. Especially at night.
It's a natural feeling. The feeling of isolation from everything you are surrounded by 99% of your life. All your subconcious physical and emotional safeties are now gone and far away. And again, that's during the day. Add total darkness which limits your vision, movement, speed etc and it multiplies the feeling of isolation and exposure ten fold easily even for experienced persons regardless.
Anyone on here pretending to be a tough guy saying they walk out into the woods alone without so much as a hair on their neck standing up is full of horse s**t. Especially at night.
It's a natural feeling. The feeling of isolation from everything you are surrounded by 99% of your life. All your subconcious physical and emotional safeties are now gone and far away. And again, that's during the day. Add total darkness which limits your vision, movement, speed etc and it multiplies the feeling of isolation and exposure ten fold easily even for experienced persons regardless.
Wing shooting jumpy Eastern grouse, which is something that requires maximum alertness, late in the season if I start getting a little blasé and burned out and start needlessly missing flushes, then while hunting I pretend that something is also hunting me. Sharpens the senses and tunes the mind wonderfully- especially when I was younger and had a stronger imagination.
