Lost While Hunting

rral22 said:
Well, no. A GPS (and I mean a real GPS, not the iPhone version) is a fantastic tool for any hunter. A good GPS will save you time and energy, and it is a great safety device. A compass and a map must also be in the pack because they never just quit working, but I never hunt without my GPS any more.
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Well , NO. You totally have it wrong. My compass can sit at the bottom of my pack for 60 years and still work as good as the day it was designed. I still use my Grandfather's compass from WW1 dated technolgy. It can get wet, submerged, work in +50C or -50 C. Your GPS batteries are good for what? a week? Two weeks? You have a boat anchor when the batteries run out. What then? I hope you can find someone who has learned how to use a compass. BTW, thats at least anyone who has been in the Canadian Armed Forces in the last 100 years.

You have a good argument only for a group of people who have never learned how to use a proper compass and map. Its so pathetic that i often wonder how people's toilet paper can find their a$$ without a GPS. Its a modern day technology with HUGE point of failure in an emergency or survival situation. Compass takes effort to learn, but is lifesaving resource. GPS takes little effort to learn , and offers nothing when the batteries go out.
 
I got lost in the wilderness twice in my career. The first time was many moons ago and I found my way out two days later. I was totally unprepared and it was an experience I never forget.

The second time was 6-7 seasons ago when we were chasing an injured bull moose. We were moving pretty fast in the deep woods when I got lost. I found my way out after two hours.

When you got into that situation, it is utmost important that you don’t panic and think before making any move.

My suggestion to you is simple, study the terrain before heading out into the woods. Carry a compass (round you neck), a topo map and a whistle. A two-way radio and GPS is nice but in rough terrain and heavy covered woods, your electronics may not work well.

These days, I always carry a backpack with flash light, fire starter, extra betteries, first aid kit, emergency blanket… Always be prepared!
 
I took my girlfriend bush wacking one time to show her how good I am in the woods and then I had no idea how to get back to the trail.

I know the panick feeling of not knowing where to go or what to do, but imagine trying to pretend everything is ok while you try to get out of the jam!

"Its ok, dont worry... I'm just taking the scenic route"... meanwhile the girlfriend wants to go home NOW!!!!

One thing worth mention is trying to be aware of your surroundings. When I bush whack I try to keep aware of features. Is there a hillside I am following, a creek bed to the right of me, a lake I can follow?

Keeping in mind that the sun moves, it doesnt move that much per hour and you can use it as a general guide. If its on your right and you hike for an hour then hike back with it on the left. Remember it moved clockwise so adjust accordingly. I would recommend learning about , testing and using various navigation techniques in a safe environment so that you arent learning them for the first time in the woods... getting lost again.

Also as mentioned, at least always carry matches in your pocket. You can be pretty happy with a fire in February or you can be dead with out one in August.
 
We were going out for a stroll north of Langley (BC) on some Crown land and got lost coming back and it got dark. Fortunately we had a Husky dog with us who always knows where his food is and we let him lead (pull) us back to the camper. Still took an hour to get back.
 
fiddler said:
Well , NO. You totally have it wrong. My compass can sit at the bottom of my pack for 60 years and still work as good as the day it was designed. I still use my Grandfather's compass from WW1 dated technolgy. It can get wet, submerged, work in +50C or -50 C. Your GPS batteries are good for what? a week? Two weeks? You have a boat anchor when the batteries run out. What then? I hope you can find someone who has learned how to use a compass. BTW, thats at least anyone who has been in the Canadian Armed Forces in the last 100 years.
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Well... no. You missed my point completely. I agreed that a compass and map are the most reliable tools. I am just trying to make sure that people see that a GPS is a really neat tool as well. I do not advocate using a GPS alone (re-read my posts). But to ignore the usefulness of a GPS is just a bit Luddite.

I think you'll find that the Canadian Armed Forces also agree that GPS is pretty neat. They still use maps and compasses, but only as backup to the first navigational tool for everything from infantry to jet fighters and cruise missiles. If a GPS is working, nothing can beat it.

You have a good argument only for a group of people who have never learned how to use a proper compass and map. Its so pathetic that i often wonder how people's toilet paper can find their a$$ without a GPS. Its a modern day technology with HUGE point of failure in an emergency or survival situation. Compass takes effort to learn, but is lifesaving resource. GPS takes little effort to learn , and offers nothing when the batteries go out.
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That's just silly. I know how to use a map and compass - did so for many years. Now I always carry a GPS as well because it is accurate, simple, fast, and gives information you cannot get from a map and compass. It's BETTER (when it works). Truth is, it has never failed me since I started using it. I carry extra batteries too, just in case the batteries "go out".

Why do you need to react with such disdain? GPS is a great technology that was INVENTED by the military precisely because it is so good at what it does. Why does the fact it is easy to learn make it less valuable? Why would you think someone who knows how to use a GPS is "pathetic"? Perhaps you should take the time to learn how to use one; you might change your mind.
 
Compasses still work, just in case you forget to buy new batteries for your GPS. NEVER hunt by yourself without a small daypack packed with kit to help you get out of trouble.
 
Buy a roll of that hunter orange miners tape to mark your trail every fifty feetnand collect iton the way out.......never fails
 
And that is one of the most useful features of a GPS. You don't have to go out the same way you went in. You can easily navigate an entirely new route to an old location.

It is also very useful once an animal is down to mark it with a GPS, return to the vehicle, and then work the vehicle as close as possible to the downed animal using, if necessary, a completely different, more vehicle friendly route. I LOVE being able to get the vehicle as close as possible, even in country I don't know well.
 
rral22 said:
And that is one of the most useful features of a GPS. You don't have to go out the same way you went in. You can easily navigate an entirely new route to an old location.

It is also very useful once an animal is down to mark it with a GPS, return to the vehicle, and then work the vehicle as close as possible to the downed animal using, if necessary, a completely different, more vehicle friendly route. I LOVE being able to get the vehicle as close as possible, even in country I don't know well.
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agree completely. GPS is fantastic, but as you said, you still need a compas and map as a backup and need to know how to use it. Not sure why people are so against a GPS. But your a fool if it is your only tool. No different than if your using a compass for 100% of your navigation and don't have a backup compass. Dead batteries in a GPS is no different than a broken compass. You got to have a backup plan.
 
I've never actually been lost, but I have had my tent play hide-and-go-seek a few times. In hunting, as in everything else, chance favours the well-prepared. How much effort is it to carry a few items, just in case, and let somebody know where you are going to be and when you are planning to return?
 
I routinely travel long distances in the bush--most of it uninhabited Boreal Forest. I use a GPS every single day. I currently use a Garmin 76csx but have many others--most of them cheapies like the E-Trex. Any modern gps is hard on batteries--always keep a couple of spares in pants pocket.
For years I always carried a compass also--prolly didn't trust the new technology--not so much anymore. Find myself more and more without a compass. I refer to maps constantly before and after but rarely carry one into the bush. I used to bear hunt hounds some so have spent many nights in the bush whether I wanted to or not. I was always a little more careful in inclement weather.
Here's a tip I haven't seen much but have had a bad experience with--don't carry spare batteries in the same pocket as your back-up compass. It could change the polarity.
I have met several people with an inate sense of direction--I know I don't posses that particular attribute.
Archie talked about keeping his game face on with his girlfriend--theres something to that. You ain't really lost if theres 2 of you--camp is lost is all. Its much easier to panic all by your lonesome.
Keep your wits about you and nuthin in the bush gonna hurt you.
I have a very real fear of traffic in a city--don't go there often but have been about runned over several times.
 
Never leave camp without your backpack and be sure you have the gear in it that you would need for shelter and to start a fire, I carry an 8' X 10' tarp from Walmart, a survival blanket, fire sticks, waterproof matches, flashlight and an extra set of batteries, 50' of small rope, a machete and other little odds and ends, plus food and water, and all around 8 to 10 pounds or less, point is don't leave your camp and assume you won't get lost many hunters and outdoors men die in the woods every year because they didn't have the basics to set up a shelter and start a fire to keep warm and dry.

Hopefully you'll never need any of the things that any of us mentioned but don't take chances, it's to easy to be prepared and it's also to easy to become a statistic, good luck in your future journeys.
 
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