- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
There are a lot of seasoned hunters on this forum, many I've known for years.
This is really not aimed at them, rather a little help for the novice. Hopefully, after a little thought the old timers will chime in with a few gems of wisdom that they've been using as second nature for years.
Firstly, the topographic map/
This is an important tool, not only in picking likely spots, but noting such things as the direction the ridges run, the water courses, hydro lines, roads etc, in relation to where you will be.
For example, if I get turned around, what's the right direction to go to find the closest road.
Second the compass
Now all those with the GPS will chime in here, however, the compass is cheap, light, requires no batteries, and is very reliable.
It's also pretty useless (but not absolutely) without knowledge of the terrain, as noted in the topographic map section above.
If you'd put the compass first, I don't give a ####. They are both important.
Other tools
The GPS
These are wonders. The best have colour topographic maps, that show your position, your track, roads, swamps, everything. Hard to get lost with these, but, if the batteries go, you'd best know a lot about Compass and map.
I forgot my compass!
Ok, if you so a quick search on Google, you'll find that there is a method for using an analog watch as a compass.
But here's a few other tricks.
If you set up a stick, and mark it's shadow at the top, wait about fifteen minutes, and mark it again. You've got an east west line between the two marks.
One of my most useful friends, is the sun. in the morning of a late fall hunting day, it's in the south east sky. In the afternoon, it's in the south west.
No sun? Maybe you have a shadow anyway. The shadow will be to the north west of you in the morning, the north east in the afternoon.
Note the position of your shadow as you walk, it will keep you from walking in circles.
Flat light? (Damn I hate flat light)
Here you can use natural indicators. Moss does indeed tend to grow on one side of a tree better than another, Not necessarily the north side as the old wives tale states, so you need to know which side it grows heaviest on in advance.
The prevailing wind has an effect on tall trees like white pine on ridge tops. Their top branches tend to be largest on the lee side, so if you know the prevailing wind. (west in most places) then by looking at these top branches you can get an idea of direction. (avoid using trees along lake shores, that may be effected by low level lake effect winds.)
The ridges in the area I hunt all tend to run in a north west to south east direction, I can use that as a direction finder, because I studied the map.
Same for water courses, or other features. Know which way to turn, if you reach one, by studying that map.
People
I can't say enough about having good people to hunt with. Folks that will save your butt if need be. I've been lucky, in that I have the very best with me. Some are CGN's, recruited from this very forum.
Communications devices, whistles etc.
A cell phone, if it has coverage, a radio if your people use them, will at least tell people that you don't know where the hell you are, so they can start looking.
A loud whistle, and an understanding amongst your people as to what it's for can be a really big help. It will let them zero in on your position.
The Fox 40 is good, and has the advantage of no pea to freeze up. The standard police, or referees whistle has a sound that carries further in the bush. The loudest by far, (IMO) is the ACME thunderer but it's damned expensive. I've carried the same thunderer for four decades.
Stupid damned tower lights
Much as I hate those blinking bastards that destroy my sense of wilderness, If you know where they are in relation to your hunting area, you can use them to help you set out in the morning.
This is really not aimed at them, rather a little help for the novice. Hopefully, after a little thought the old timers will chime in with a few gems of wisdom that they've been using as second nature for years.
Firstly, the topographic map/
This is an important tool, not only in picking likely spots, but noting such things as the direction the ridges run, the water courses, hydro lines, roads etc, in relation to where you will be.
For example, if I get turned around, what's the right direction to go to find the closest road.
Second the compass
Now all those with the GPS will chime in here, however, the compass is cheap, light, requires no batteries, and is very reliable.
It's also pretty useless (but not absolutely) without knowledge of the terrain, as noted in the topographic map section above.
If you'd put the compass first, I don't give a ####. They are both important.
Other tools
The GPS
These are wonders. The best have colour topographic maps, that show your position, your track, roads, swamps, everything. Hard to get lost with these, but, if the batteries go, you'd best know a lot about Compass and map.
I forgot my compass!
Ok, if you so a quick search on Google, you'll find that there is a method for using an analog watch as a compass.
But here's a few other tricks.
If you set up a stick, and mark it's shadow at the top, wait about fifteen minutes, and mark it again. You've got an east west line between the two marks.
One of my most useful friends, is the sun. in the morning of a late fall hunting day, it's in the south east sky. In the afternoon, it's in the south west.
No sun? Maybe you have a shadow anyway. The shadow will be to the north west of you in the morning, the north east in the afternoon.
Note the position of your shadow as you walk, it will keep you from walking in circles.
Flat light? (Damn I hate flat light)
Here you can use natural indicators. Moss does indeed tend to grow on one side of a tree better than another, Not necessarily the north side as the old wives tale states, so you need to know which side it grows heaviest on in advance.
The prevailing wind has an effect on tall trees like white pine on ridge tops. Their top branches tend to be largest on the lee side, so if you know the prevailing wind. (west in most places) then by looking at these top branches you can get an idea of direction. (avoid using trees along lake shores, that may be effected by low level lake effect winds.)
The ridges in the area I hunt all tend to run in a north west to south east direction, I can use that as a direction finder, because I studied the map.
Same for water courses, or other features. Know which way to turn, if you reach one, by studying that map.
People
I can't say enough about having good people to hunt with. Folks that will save your butt if need be. I've been lucky, in that I have the very best with me. Some are CGN's, recruited from this very forum.
Communications devices, whistles etc.
A cell phone, if it has coverage, a radio if your people use them, will at least tell people that you don't know where the hell you are, so they can start looking.
A loud whistle, and an understanding amongst your people as to what it's for can be a really big help. It will let them zero in on your position.
The Fox 40 is good, and has the advantage of no pea to freeze up. The standard police, or referees whistle has a sound that carries further in the bush. The loudest by far, (IMO) is the ACME thunderer but it's damned expensive. I've carried the same thunderer for four decades.
Stupid damned tower lights
Much as I hate those blinking bastards that destroy my sense of wilderness, If you know where they are in relation to your hunting area, you can use them to help you set out in the morning.
