Patocazador
Member
If you want to get lost, try duck hunting in a southern swamp in the fog. You'd better hope it burns off by noon if you want to get home for dinner. 
Hunter lost in the woods near here
- Thread starter rcmodel
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Loyalist Dave
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Some folks aren't prepared to spend the night in the woods if badness happens to them. I didn't when I was younger, but I read Horace Kephart's book Camping and Woodcraft, plus heard some horror stories, so changed my ways....
OK great, so you know where you are, but it's sundown and you really FUBAR'd your back when you started dragging your deer so you can't walk or crawl to your vehicle. You weren't really hunting alone, but your hunting buddy had a firearm problem so left really early, and urged you to stay and keep hunting and you thought "Gee what could happen?" You have no idea why your cell phone won't get a signal..., solar flare, an odd place in the woods, or some snot nosed teenage hacker has messed with your cellular provider's system... doesn't matter..., you can't call for help. Your buddy forgets to call to see if you made it home with a deer, and you forgot to tell somebody where you were going OR maybe you live alone and there was nobody to tell....,
This is not a far fetched scenario. I may not have a nice night, but when I go afield I have enough to go through a night if badness happens, and that's just when I am "local". Farther afield I'd probably look to most people like an armed camper, not a hunter who might be on an extended trek...
There is a reason the Boy Scout motto is Be Prepared
LD
OK great, so you know where you are, but it's sundown and you really FUBAR'd your back when you started dragging your deer so you can't walk or crawl to your vehicle. You weren't really hunting alone, but your hunting buddy had a firearm problem so left really early, and urged you to stay and keep hunting and you thought "Gee what could happen?" You have no idea why your cell phone won't get a signal..., solar flare, an odd place in the woods, or some snot nosed teenage hacker has messed with your cellular provider's system... doesn't matter..., you can't call for help. Your buddy forgets to call to see if you made it home with a deer, and you forgot to tell somebody where you were going OR maybe you live alone and there was nobody to tell....,
This is not a far fetched scenario. I may not have a nice night, but when I go afield I have enough to go through a night if badness happens, and that's just when I am "local". Farther afield I'd probably look to most people like an armed camper, not a hunter who might be on an extended trek...
There is a reason the Boy Scout motto is Be Prepared
LD
People sometimes panic and do strange things. I'm part of a volunteer SAR team. We have been called out 6 times in 2013. Found 2 alive, 1 body, and 3 unaccounted for. 2 of those 3 were cold cases where people had been missing for a year or more and we were looking for remains. The 3rd person we think walked into the woods to commit suicide and didn't want to be found. 5 of the 6 were either elderly alzheimers patients or mentally impaired.
People with normal mental capacities often panic and do strange things. Many take off running, get hot even in dangerously cold weather and start taking off clothes.
4-5 years ago my brother and I were camping and hunting in a remote wilderness area here in GA when we heard a single gunshot well after dark no more than 1/2 mile from us. We went outside the tent and listened for a while, to try to get a better idea which direction, but never heard any thing else. Just after sunup a lost hunter wandered out of the woods near our tent. He was fine, but spent a cold night less than 1/2 mile from our camp. If he'd followed up with more than just 1 gunshot we could have most likely found him hours earlier.
Lots of guys let pride get in the way and don't seek help soon enough. Instead they keep trying to find a way out and often just make it harder for searchers to find them.
People with normal mental capacities often panic and do strange things. Many take off running, get hot even in dangerously cold weather and start taking off clothes.
4-5 years ago my brother and I were camping and hunting in a remote wilderness area here in GA when we heard a single gunshot well after dark no more than 1/2 mile from us. We went outside the tent and listened for a while, to try to get a better idea which direction, but never heard any thing else. Just after sunup a lost hunter wandered out of the woods near our tent. He was fine, but spent a cold night less than 1/2 mile from our camp. If he'd followed up with more than just 1 gunshot we could have most likely found him hours earlier.
Lots of guys let pride get in the way and don't seek help soon enough. Instead they keep trying to find a way out and often just make it harder for searchers to find them.
Patocazador
Member
About 20 years ago a guy and his adult son were hunting in a local WMA and the father didn't show up at dark where they agreed to meet. The son finally found a phone (pre cell-phone days) and called the cops. Dad was still missing the next morning so the cops brought the son in for questioning and held him for suspicion of murder.
2 days later an airboater was waved down by the father on a nearby river. He was hungry, thirsty, and covered with insect bites. He had shot all of his bullets trying to signal for help. When he saw a hog or a deer, he was already out of ammo.
He was never more than half a mile from a dirt road or the river.
The cops let his son go.
2 days later an airboater was waved down by the father on a nearby river. He was hungry, thirsty, and covered with insect bites. He had shot all of his bullets trying to signal for help. When he saw a hog or a deer, he was already out of ammo.
He was never more than half a mile from a dirt road or the river.
The cops let his son go.
buck460XVR
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Heavy falling snow with no wind is the worst. Muffles sound so that even close by highway noise is gone. Makes the woods look so different that even familiar areas look strange. Vision is so short that usual landmarks in the distance are gone. Darkness, rain many things will influence how the woods looks. That's why I never hunt any woods, regardless of size without a compass. Most folks look at the ground when they hunt. That's why they miss obvious landmarks that would help them get back. Most folks don't take the time to look around and familiarize themselves with their starting point before they head into the woods, so they don't know what to look for to get out. Folks concentrating on a blood trail or looking for game soon look up and don't recognize their surroundings. A compass is such an easy tool to use regardless of how incompetent someone is in woodsmanship. Enter the woods goin' east, regardless of how many circles you make while in the woods, you still need to go west to get out. Most places in the lower 48 iffin you head in a straight line and don't cross a mountain or water, you will hit a road. I've yet to ever have a compass lie to me. I have had GPSs run outta battery life or unable to get a signal. But, fresh snow, clear sunny weather and your own tracks to follow? I gotta agree with RC.
I can get turned around on well lit city streets, not to mention dark woods, whatever since of direction I have is pretty darn poor. I do carry a compass on my daypak, along with maps of the public hunting lands I hunt. Luckily all are bounded by roads so at worst I might have a long walk back if I get confused.
If the gent got confused and misplaced, but didn't walk himself into further trouble and confusion I'd say he did all right. I'll also hope he's better prepared his next trip into the woods.
If the gent got confused and misplaced, but didn't walk himself into further trouble and confusion I'd say he did all right. I'll also hope he's better prepared his next trip into the woods.
Ranger Roberts
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Come on guys, it's obvious the snow covered his trail of bread crumbs! :banghead:
d2wing
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Panic and disorientation are very dangerous and it can happen to anyone. Twice I was seriously lst in deep woods when I got disoriented on overcast days. One occasion my son was nearby and was able to convince me of the way out. That was educational. The other time I found the trial I came in on, I had to go,back and forth on it until I found something I recognized, I have been more careful since.
clutch
Contributing Member
Thirty years ago I was hunting on family property and got disoriented. I knew there was a stream, that if I walked it as the water flows, that would get me to a stone bridge and a road.
I was pretty happy with how I was thinking my way out of this when I noticed the stream switched directions. Back tracking I saw the trees I skirted and realized this where the stream forked and I was inside the top of the Y.
Gps in a swamp will confuse the heck out of you if the signal is being dithered. The compass is king.
I was pretty happy with how I was thinking my way out of this when I noticed the stream switched directions. Back tracking I saw the trees I skirted and realized this where the stream forked and I was inside the top of the Y.
Gps in a swamp will confuse the heck out of you if the signal is being dithered. The compass is king.
matrem
Member
Finally wised up enough about fifteen years ago to always carry my Silva, but my seven year old Garmin has never failed me either.
I've only "misplaced" myself rather inconvenienly three times, two of those times were in heavy fog and the other was following a guy that I'd assumed knew where he was at on a clear day.(three miles walking a paved road to find his truck is minor, compared to really being lost)
That guy just west of K.C. probably walked enough circles to confuse himself in his own footprint maze.
I've only "misplaced" myself rather inconvenienly three times, two of those times were in heavy fog and the other was following a guy that I'd assumed knew where he was at on a clear day.(three miles walking a paved road to find his truck is minor, compared to really being lost)
That guy just west of K.C. probably walked enough circles to confuse himself in his own footprint maze.
mbopp
Member
As a teenager I got turned around and lost. My dad & I discussed it before going into the woods that day - it was State land in roughly 3 mile squares surrounded by fire roads. All you had to do was walk in a straight line & you'd come to a road. I was 180 degrees off..... After that I carried a compass & took bearings at semi-regular intervals.
Years later I was hunting some new ground and got turned by 130 degrees. It was really hard following the compass since my mind was saying that wasn't where I wanted to go. But I did follow it and came out close to where I went in.
Years later I was hunting some new ground and got turned by 130 degrees. It was really hard following the compass since my mind was saying that wasn't where I wanted to go. But I did follow it and came out close to where I went in.
swampcrawler
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Swamps are always fun as well. Everything looks exactly the same. And I'd rather spend a night with my ex fiancé than in a swamp.
ironworkerwill
Member
You are never truly lost unless you can't be found. Make yourself findable, don't hide under a bluff all day if weather allows.
Panic is your worst enemy. Think!
If a hunter goes alone he should tell some one where he is going and when he is coming back.
Every hunter should know basic ways of knowing direction without a compass.
Know if there are lights there are roads. All cell towers have a road access. All powerlines lead to a road eventually. If a road is found stay on it and don't back into the bush.
Don't go beyond your comfort zone in the woods.
I have all kinds of hunting knowledge in all sorts of terrain except the Rocky Mountains and big swamps. I will never hunt the rockies or swamps alone!
Panic is your worst enemy. Think!
If a hunter goes alone he should tell some one where he is going and when he is coming back.
Every hunter should know basic ways of knowing direction without a compass.
Know if there are lights there are roads. All cell towers have a road access. All powerlines lead to a road eventually. If a road is found stay on it and don't back into the bush.
Don't go beyond your comfort zone in the woods.
I have all kinds of hunting knowledge in all sorts of terrain except the Rocky Mountains and big swamps. I will never hunt the rockies or swamps alone!
herkyguy
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Been lost on a WMA in Florida. Had my jeep's position marked in my GPS, but that was it. so i go walking in to a spot i'd hunted several times with a clear tree line i always followed. well that morning there was thick fog. eventually i got into some swampy part that i shouldn't have been in. powered up the GPS and my jeep was less than 75 yards in front of me. I'd almost done a complete circle while thinking i was walking a nearly straight line.
pulled out my cell phone last week after looking for a blood trail too long in brush so thick you can't see more than 4 feet in front of you. i wasn't worried since it was my land and i knew i'd break out in 100 yards in any direction either to a trail, a creek, or mature timber. but i still used my phone map app to find the quickest way out.
it happens.
pulled out my cell phone last week after looking for a blood trail too long in brush so thick you can't see more than 4 feet in front of you. i wasn't worried since it was my land and i knew i'd break out in 100 yards in any direction either to a trail, a creek, or mature timber. but i still used my phone map app to find the quickest way out.
it happens.
98Redline
Member
I have learned. There is no substitute for a topo map and a compass.
When heading into the woods I keep the map and compass handy and dead reckon where I am every couple of minutes when I am on the move. If there is some topology (hills and valleys) it makes it much easier to locate your position on a topo map but if you don't do it often enough, you can get disoriented in a hurry. A satellite photo of the area off of google earth or one of the the many other sources also provides a good 2nd reference.
It is a pretty well proven fact, people do not walk a straight line when they have no visual reference. It is important to keep your compass handy and continually correct your bearing when moving. Even knowing where I am I find that it is exceptionally easy to get off track when moving through thick growth or up and down small rolling hills and valleys.
When heading into the woods I keep the map and compass handy and dead reckon where I am every couple of minutes when I am on the move. If there is some topology (hills and valleys) it makes it much easier to locate your position on a topo map but if you don't do it often enough, you can get disoriented in a hurry. A satellite photo of the area off of google earth or one of the the many other sources also provides a good 2nd reference.
It is a pretty well proven fact, people do not walk a straight line when they have no visual reference. It is important to keep your compass handy and continually correct your bearing when moving. Even knowing where I am I find that it is exceptionally easy to get off track when moving through thick growth or up and down small rolling hills and valleys.
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