Ever been lost?
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The only time I've ever been lost was during my Cadet days at Purdue University. I got lost while on a land nav course at Camp Atterbury, IN. The kind of lost where you thought for hours you knew where you were only to find out you have no idea.
It got dark and someone had the bright idea to drive Deuce and a Halfs around and honk their horns. After I got found, the Commandant of Cadets gave me a hug, and then said a few sentences mainly containing the F-word. My nickname after that was "Panic" after the navigational term Panic Azimuth.
It got dark and someone had the bright idea to drive Deuce and a Halfs around and honk their horns. After I got found, the Commandant of Cadets gave me a hug, and then said a few sentences mainly containing the F-word. My nickname after that was "Panic" after the navigational term Panic Azimuth.
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Having a minimal sense of direction (on sunny days if I'm in sight of the vehicle :rotf: :shake: ), I have briefly gotten lost in the woods several times. Not a good feeling! So I bought one of these to hide in my traditional shooting bag or pocket
http://www.bushnell.com/products/g...e6b425566-820D9A3C-0383-CBDA-DC85BAC99AB53351 Also helps me find my treestand in the pre-dawn hour without walking all over!
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paulvallandigham
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Carry a compass you know how to use, too. GPS isn't much help if the battery runs dead, or if you are hunting at the bottom of some very steep mountains, where that satellite has to be darn near over your head to get any kind of signal, and there is NO chance that you can get signals off 3 satellites. There are many places in many states out west where you would need to climb some very tall, steep mountains to find a place where you can get a signal with any gps unit. Its like getting cell phone service in other parts of the country: When you need it the most, you can't get a signal. :shocked2: :haha: :surrender: :thumbsup:
Robert Egler
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Yeah, but not overnight. Was on an unfamiliar mountain and went to walk out. Thought I knew the way back so I didn't bother looking at my compass. Ended up at the bottom of the mountain, looked kinda like I remembered on the way in, but not quite, and I couldn't find my truck. Finally looked at my compass and realized I'd come down the wrong side. Felt pretty dumb, should have looked at the compass LONG before that, or paid better attention on the way in. :redface: It took a couple hours to get to where I meant to be, but I did make it before dark.
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a squirrel hunter is currently missing since Wednesday of this week at Shelby Forest Management area just north of Memphis. full blown search and rescue no results yet.
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paulvallandigham said:
Yes, Paul, that's a good idea! My "Backtracker" works in those N. Fla. hardwoods, but I keep a good quality compass on hand, too.
I think the worst, most helpless mess I've ever put myself in was about 35yrs or so ago off the St. John's River in Fl. on an Island called The Bird Sanctuary.
Instead of going into all the details I'll just tell the worst part.
Me and a buddy were deer, hog and snipe hunting . We were in his air boat and had deer and hog hunted that morning then walked the marsh flats during the middle of the day shooting snipe. That afternoon we were back on the island deer and hog hunting. He went one way and I went another. lt was overcast and the island was flooded with water. 99% of it was under water. Only a very few hammocks were above ground. Feet were in about mid shin high water almost all the time.
I was still hunting away from an old woods trail that ran from one end of the island to the other. I had gone quiet a ways and was getting a little concerned about finding my way back. I didn't have a flashlight or compass with me, so I kept looking behind myself trying to remember land marks. I was walking the edge of a cypress swamp when I heard splashing way up ahead in the swamp. It was big animals and knew it had to be either deer or hogs running off. I eased into the swamp which was about knee deep and made my way toward the noise. I kept hearing splashing, but couldn't get close enough to see what it was. I'd get about 75ys to it and couldn't see anything...then finally saw a white tail loping through the cypress trees.
I was really getting concerned about it being close to dark and I knew I didn't know exactly how to get out of there..just had a feeling of which way I should go...but wasn't sure of that. The deer sighting kept pulling me in and before I knew it pre-dark was on me. I gave up and turned around, starting my way back out. In no time the water got deeper, deeper than I had walked through coming in. Every direction I went it kept getting deeper and the night kept getting darker. So dark in fact that it was a new moon and I absolutely could not see my hand in front of my face.
I soon found myself in water up to my chin. The swamp was clogged with water hyicents and they were bumping against my nose and face. I was holding my shotgun up over my head, sliding one foot ahead of the other so I wouldn't step in a hole over my head and trying to find shallow water.
This place was full of gators and poisonous snakes and I kept hearing animals or something splashing all around.
Finally, my lead foot slid upwards on the bottom and then the next step also. The water got shallow and I was in mid shin dept water again, but still didn't have a clue which way to go or where I was and it was pitch black dark and I had no light.
It was late enough now that I figured my friend must be back to the air boat so I fired 3 shots from my shotgun. Not long afterwards I hear an air boat start up and said to myself. “ He heard the shots and is coming to get me”, but then I hear another air boat crank up and another and they all heard on off out of hearing. Then a very short time later I hear a fourth crank up and it comes my way and my friend works his way towards me and picks me up.
Instead of going into all the details I'll just tell the worst part.
Me and a buddy were deer, hog and snipe hunting . We were in his air boat and had deer and hog hunted that morning then walked the marsh flats during the middle of the day shooting snipe. That afternoon we were back on the island deer and hog hunting. He went one way and I went another. lt was overcast and the island was flooded with water. 99% of it was under water. Only a very few hammocks were above ground. Feet were in about mid shin high water almost all the time.
I was still hunting away from an old woods trail that ran from one end of the island to the other. I had gone quiet a ways and was getting a little concerned about finding my way back. I didn't have a flashlight or compass with me, so I kept looking behind myself trying to remember land marks. I was walking the edge of a cypress swamp when I heard splashing way up ahead in the swamp. It was big animals and knew it had to be either deer or hogs running off. I eased into the swamp which was about knee deep and made my way toward the noise. I kept hearing splashing, but couldn't get close enough to see what it was. I'd get about 75ys to it and couldn't see anything...then finally saw a white tail loping through the cypress trees.
I was really getting concerned about it being close to dark and I knew I didn't know exactly how to get out of there..just had a feeling of which way I should go...but wasn't sure of that. The deer sighting kept pulling me in and before I knew it pre-dark was on me. I gave up and turned around, starting my way back out. In no time the water got deeper, deeper than I had walked through coming in. Every direction I went it kept getting deeper and the night kept getting darker. So dark in fact that it was a new moon and I absolutely could not see my hand in front of my face.
I soon found myself in water up to my chin. The swamp was clogged with water hyicents and they were bumping against my nose and face. I was holding my shotgun up over my head, sliding one foot ahead of the other so I wouldn't step in a hole over my head and trying to find shallow water.
This place was full of gators and poisonous snakes and I kept hearing animals or something splashing all around.
Finally, my lead foot slid upwards on the bottom and then the next step also. The water got shallow and I was in mid shin dept water again, but still didn't have a clue which way to go or where I was and it was pitch black dark and I had no light.
It was late enough now that I figured my friend must be back to the air boat so I fired 3 shots from my shotgun. Not long afterwards I hear an air boat start up and said to myself. “ He heard the shots and is coming to get me”, but then I hear another air boat crank up and another and they all heard on off out of hearing. Then a very short time later I hear a fourth crank up and it comes my way and my friend works his way towards me and picks me up.
Spent many summers from 7 to 15 yrs old on my grandparents farm in northern Minnesota and for some unknown reason never got lost while pursuing what kids pursue. During haying season my Dad helped out during his vacation and in the evening when the Mesabi iron ore trains would whistle, the wolves would respond. This prompted me to grab the rifle and go after the "howling". A few times I lost track of time and location, darkness was setting in, but my Dad would "whistle" very loudly w/ his hands cupped...this was my "beacon" to the welcome sight of the farm. Today, my biggest concern is finding my car in Menard's or Walmart's parking lots...but pressing the correct button on the key fob again sounds my "beacon" and shortly I'm on my way home....Fred
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The missing squirrel hunter was found in good health this morning after being lost since last Wednesday morning. He was supposedly on his first squirrel hunt in a very thick river bottom area and he was found 2-3 miles from where he entered the woods. I cant wait for the rest of the story. He lived on grubs and used up all his shells firing rescue shots. glad the story ended like this for his family. I cant see a regular trekker having to eat grubs, those woods are full of squirrels, and all kinds of other feathered and furry edibles. He needs a possible bags with a few survival tools.
