How to stay calm in the woods!

[Boomer]

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.

Its not a matter of being tough, its a matter of being comfortable with your surroundings. A person from the city will typically, but not always, have a tougher time than the guy from a rural area, it all depends on what each is used to, what he can tolerate, and what he's used to. The more social you are, chances are the less happy you'll be are away from people. If you are used to the straight lines of city blocks, the bush appears chaotic, and you have trouble making sense of it. Some people can't handle the quiet; when you're dropped off by a float plane and you listen to it disappear into the distance, the silence can be deafening. In the winter its worse if the wind isn't blowing. But folks who are used to being in the bush alone, think little of these things, unless they see it in other people.

 

[45ACPKING]

I dunno, I guess it's a thing that one gets used to.... Being constantly aware of your surroundings. Not a tough guy thing.
I think of all the things I do out in the bush that surrounds my place (canim lake BC)
Hiking to my claim and panning .... Always with a rifle within grabbing distance and constantly looking around... One gets very absorbed in the pan LOL
And falling trees for firewood... Backpacking my float tube into some of the hike-in only lakes around here.... 95% of the time I'm all by myself. Heck, even my favorite ice fishin lake, with the holes 1.3km across the ice from the truck, I never go without a rifle as I'm often the only guy there
If I was afraid to venture out alone... I'd get nuthin done LOL

 

[MD]

"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. "

What he said.

 

[AP]

I like to look an area over on google maps to find coulees, streams, gulleys, powerlines, or something that I can follow to a road if all else fails. If you find yourself getting excited or nervous, just stop and sit down and listen for a few minutes. Start with short trips and build your confidence. I have spent nights in the woods on my own and it's easy to get spooked and your heart start racing. Don't let these guys put you down, too many "hunters" never get out of the truck.

Completely AGREE!!!! I am a LOT older than you and still can get unsettled in the woods! I have also seen some well trained soldiers for whom I have very high regard get a little spooked in the dark. A dog can be a great companion...and many experienced woodsman wouldn't think of going into the bush without their dog along for company!

 

[sharpsway]

I got used to the bush by doing day trips out alone, exploring areas and steadily expanding my area of comfort to the point where I could go six or seven kilometers into the bush without using trails, just because I'd spent so much time in that particular area. Now, that being said, as good as it was getting me used to the bush it also gave me a false sense of confidence, as I'd never really needed to rely upon maps or a compass before. I know now how to use a compass and map effectively, and it's proven very useful in these last few years.

To echo what others have said, going on Google Maps/Earth, or looking at a topographical map so you can familirize yourself with the area before you even set foot in the bush is very useful, so you can locate other roads, streams, high features, etc. that might help. Another thing that might help is camping in your own back yard. It might sound silly, but setting up camp in your backyard could help you work out kinks that, while minor in the backyard so close to home and electricity, could be detrimental out in the bush. And it might help build confidence, as well as getting used to sleeping outdoors alone.

I personally never carried a firearm into the woods (A lot of my time in the bush was when I was young, and my father wasn't big into firearms), but I always had a knife and possibly a hatchet. Just the feel of those with me put my mind at ease, and as weird as it sounds I actually formed a bond with one particular knife (a grizzly bear cub ran in front of me less than a meter away on a trail, and I pretty much drew the knife and waited for the mother to kill me) that I'm actually carrying on my hip right now. Also a solid knowlegde of first aid (there's never a bad time to practice first aid, by the way), wilderness survival and orientiering should give you the confidence so you can focus on enjoying the trip, and not on worrying what might be in the next set of bushes.

Thank you guys for this thread, I miss the bush something awful and the next time I have the time off I'm going to do a little night trip of my own.

 

[FishHog]

Its not a matter of being tough, its a matter of being comfortable with your surroundings. A person from the city will typically, but not always, have a tougher time than the guy from a rural area, it all depends on what each is used to, what he can tolerate, and what he's used to. The more social you are, chances are the less happy you'll be are away from people. If you are used to the straight lines of city blocks, the bush appears chaotic, and you have trouble making sense of it. Some people can't handle the quiet; when you're dropped off by a float plane and you listen to it disappear into the distance, the silence can be deafening. In the winter its worse if the wind isn't blowing. But folks who are used to being in the bush alone, think little of these things, unless they see it in other people.

agree completely.
If you have watched the series ALONE. The first day the tough cop from OHIO, defeated himself mentally. The bears didn't help, but it was his mind that defeated him. I'm sure in the city, he would be a tough cop. Just out of his element and he was far from comfortable.

 

[Travis Bickle]

I'm just saying.
I'm a full grown man, spent most of my life living in the boonies, grew up playing in the woods.
It still scares the s**t out of me to walk into the woods alone at night, just like every other man wether they admit it or not

 

[Grawfr]

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.

It's the squirrels... those damned spawn of ultimate evil personified that are just watching you from behind every tree. They hate you... They want to hurt you... Each time you turn around suddenly to try to spot one, they still manage to anticipate your every move, hiding and planning your demise... They'll chitter at one another, spreading the word of your every move so they can lay the deadfall traps and dig the pits under the leaves. They'll let themselves be seen briefly to lure you on. Sometimes they move the trails around too, to make sure you remain lost! You have to stay alert, never go in a predictable direction or you'll fall into their traps. And if they get you, they'll take you to their secret underground lair where you'll be their slave for the remainder of your life, busting nuts in their mines...

You've been warned...

 

[45ACPKING]

Ya, fricken squirels, when they run around in the trees droppin pinecones at night to go gather in the daytime.
Used to get me all the time haha

 

[Brutus]

All animals, wild or domestic I believe can sense your fear. The more confident you are, you are in a more sensible place mentally, and perhaps the ciritters can sense you will not be so easy to eat today. I've seen some people removed from camps because they couldn't let go thier worst imagined thoughts, of being attacked my a cougar or bear. A kind of self-vicitmization I call it, whether anyone likes it or not. Even when they had bear spray on hand.

my 2 bits only

 

[John Y Cannuck]

I guess I've been at it a bit longer than some. I love being out in the bush at night. When the stars are out, wolves and coyotes are singing.

However, if you are out on an overcast, moonless night, and you are away from cities, that can really shake you. It's so dark, you can't tell if your eyes are open, or shut. You are totally blind. Luckily, I've only experienced that from camp, not lost. It would be terrible, if you didn't have light in some form with you.

I went to the outhouse after lights out at the camp. The flashlight died while I was there. Getting back was fun. Inch by inch feel the ground with my feet, remember it's uphill, bump into an ATV. Ok, that's near the cooler, feel along the wall, and safe.

 

[FLHTCUI]

I guess I've been at it a bit longer than some. I love being out in the bush at night. When the stars are out, wolves and coyotes are singing.

However, if you are out on an overcast, moonless night, and you are away from cities, that can really shake you. It's so dark, you can't tell if your eyes are open, or shut. You are totally blind. Luckily, I've only experienced that from camp, not lost. It would be terrible, if you didn't have light in some form with you.

I went to the outhouse after lights out at the camp. The flashlight died while I was there. Getting back was fun. Inch by inch feel the ground with my feet, remember it's uphill, bump into an ATV. Ok, that's near the cooler, feel along the wall, and safe.

Good thing you didnt feel any moist fur while you tried to return to the comforts of camp from the latrine..that could have been interesting
Rob

 

[Brutus]

I should really add this to my previous post, that things change considerably when one is within grizzly bear country.

I mentioned cougar and also meant to post black bears, in the same sentence.

 

[tinbird]

Good thing you didnt feel any moist fur while you tried to return to the comforts of camp from the latrine..that could have been interesting
Rob

On the other hand, this could mean you found the exact tent you really wanted to be in

 

[kamlooky]

Yup, that wipe'in thuh butt in the dark leafs one sort oh ponder'in
weather the job wuzz dun till thuh finnish?
Like, oww duzz yuh check?
Sniff, touch and sniff, tuch and lick?

I carry a bore lite.........never seems tuh fail me.
Plus, iff'n ya haff a stumble, unload and have a lewkie-pew.

 

[Big Bad]

I guess I've been at it a bit longer than some. I love being out in the bush at night. When the stars are out, wolves and coyotes are singing.

However, if you are out on an overcast, moonless night, and you are away from cities, that can really shake you. It's so dark, you can't tell if your eyes are open, or shut. You are totally blind. Luckily, I've only experienced that from camp, not lost. It would be terrible, if you didn't have light in some form with you.

I went to the outhouse after lights out at the camp. The flashlight died while I was there. Getting back was fun. Inch by inch feel the ground with my feet, remember it's uphill, bump into an ATV. Ok, that's near the cooler, feel along the wall, and safe.

I've had that experience minus the flashlight, and more than once. Get up on a rainy night to take a leak, stumble around a bit, take a step or two too far, and then can't see the tent to return to. It's the sort of thing that converted me to being a flashlight fan where previously I'd scorned them for wilderness purposes while in a Mr Natural phase. After that, I also got converted to being a fan of reflective guy ropes following another embarrassing incident.

 

[PureShot]

Walking in the Pitch Black Dark is not my idea of fun and is un-nerving especially in predator country, which is why I don't leave home without this. Not to forget that they are great when you are field dressing game in the dark and need both hands to work with )

 

[caramel]

If i lived in predators country, i would surely think differently, but in Quebec at night, the worst is getting cold or bitten by mosqitoes... JP.

 

[Big Bad]

^^^ I had been hanging out with some pros on security details and was persuaded by them that with a flashlight you could only see where the light is pointed whereas without one you can see a lot more and also of course not be seen. That is still more true than not, but also flashlights used to be unreliable basically useless heavy crap items that were marketed to sell batteries, not provide utility. The changeover started with halogen bulbs and nowadays LED lights are like car headlights by comparison. Those pros from the old days would now be using much improved amplified night vision and also shining IR lights everywhere, I know, but I hope they've kept the old ways in reserve too.

 

[PureShot]

If i lived in predators country, i would surely think differently, but in Quebec at night, the worst is getting cold or bitten by mosqitoes... JP.

Not entirely true mon ami! I lived in Quebec for 32 years and was attacked by cougars on more then one occasion in dimly lighted discotheques! So yes there are predators in Quebec, especially on Crescent Street at Thursdays!