Lost

February 28, 2007

For many of us the areas we hunt we know well or the area is small enough that getting lost is not a major concern. However rescue teams attempting to locate lost hunters and hikers use countless man hours to locate those who have gotten lost. Being lost for the most part is not that big an issue but it is a stepping-stone to many other potential problems. Often those who are lost become injured or suffer from exposure to harsh conditions leading to medical emergencies.

Pre planning will help you avoid some problems by studying maps, talking to folks who have knowledge of the area, and looking at aerial photographs of the area you plan to hunt to get a good understanding of the land. Even with pre planning you can still get yourself turned around.

You should have a map and compass and know how to use them. This is a dieing skill and I’m surprised at how many “outdoorsmen” can’t use them. I won’t claim to have great proficiency with them but I can use them to find my way around. If you need to learn this skill and/or brush up on it look for an orienteering club. I’ve gone to some orienteering events sponsored by the local parks department and brushed up on my map & compass work. Now if you think because you have a GPS unit you’ll never need this skill think again because trust me stuff breaks and dies at the most inopportune time.

GPS Unit is a great tool and if you know how to use it you can get places and for the most part avoid getting lost. There are some limitations, weather can effect them, tree canopy can block them, their electronic and countless things can go wrong, and they also have some accuracy issues. The longer they sit in one spot the more accurate they become as they hone in on the satellites. If you pull up at a spot jump out of your truck turn it on quickly mark the truck and then trek off for a day of hunting it may bring you back to within a 100 ft or so of your truck which may not be a big deal. However if you get caught in a snowstorm and it’s dark and you can’t see more then a few feet in front of you then that maybe a different issue. Just like the map and compass you got to get out and practice with them to be proficient for when the time really comes that you have to be.
Equipment you carry with you is very important you should always have some survival equipment with you. Water or way to make it safe to get your own, a knife, a compass, a first aid kit, a signaling device like a whistle, and some way to make a fire. Now depending on where I’m going and the level of risk I may carry additional items. Most of my hunts these days are less then a mile from the nearest road and there is always at least one person who knows the area I’m hunting and my expected return time. When I lived in Maine a lot of my hunts were back in the big woods and you could find yourself 10-15 maybe even 20 miles from the nearest paved road and you had to plan accordingly. If your in an area like that you have more of a potential for getting caught out over night and you may want to add items to aid in shelter construction as well as food. One other thing I do that has been very helpful over the years is I try to get all of my equipment I carry in my pack to run off the same size battery. My GPS works off AA so does the flashlight I carry, my camera, and occasionally I’ll carry a small walkman style radio to keep up on local weather reports.
If you get lost the most important thing is to recognize it admit it and start thinking. Now is not the time to panic most of us should be able to survive a few days on our own if we took some basic precautions before we set out. Staying put is usually the best option unless there is an overwhelming need to move from the location you’re currently in. Sit down and take stock and really think through your predicament if you relax and think about it the answer you need maybe right in front of you. If your confident that you know where you are and you can safely get un lost then go for it. But if you’re truthful with yourself and you can’t find a way out begin preparing for your rescue. You may also realize you know where you are but you can not safely make it out before dark then spending the night in the woods maybe a wise move so you don’t get hurt stumbling around in the dark.

You owe it to those who’ll come out looking for you to make it as easily and safely for them. Set up camp near an open area and try to find some way to signal rescuers. If safe to do so building a fire is a good thing it helps give you peace of mind, warms you and both smoke and flame are good signals. Prepare some form of shelter to protect you from the elements. Some of those elements are; rain, snow, sleet, wind, sun, cold, insects, etc.

I’ve never gotten caught out overnight while I’ve been hunting but I’m confident that I could hold my own. I took a hunter safety class when I lived in Maine a good portion of that class was about getting lost and what to do if it happened to you. Like the post from yesterday about falling with a little pre planning on your part you can reduce the likelihood of this happening to you.