Have you ever been REALLY lost out in the woods?

[7 Lakes]

Got to spend the night in Greens Swamp down east in NC.  Shot a doe in the evening, followed the trail by flashlight, mostly on my belly in the poccosins.  (Poccisins is a word for brush so dense you can stick your hand into it and can't see your hand.) I finally found the doe and started back but just couldn't break thru the poccosins.  Map and compass of course pointed the right way but I just couldn't get through.

I built a small fire and roasted a hunk of backstrap and had a nice evening.  In the morning I found myself within 15 yards of open savanna, I had come within 15 yds of the end of the poccosin run.

Next time I bring salt, pepper, coffee and more water.

[Widow's Son]

Never been truely lost myself but my Dad was before I was born. He got turned around in the White River bottoms of southeast Arkansas. He ended up spending the night out there and was found the next morning by the search party. He had been hunting with his brother-in-law and I can tell you my Mom was pretty pissed at my Uncle. I really believed my Dad paniced and started trying to walk out. If he would have just sit still my Uncle could have probably found him. My Dad lost his eyeglasses that night and the next afternoon they went out and found them. Dad said he was surprized that he was never that far out in the bottoms. This episode really messed my Dad up for the rest of his life and he would never hunt a area unless he was very familiar with it.

Ross

[Tom Leemans]

Never. I carry a compass, but only for following topo maps in unfamiliar territory. You can keep your GPS.