LOST

[leatherneck]

A good Marine never gets lost! A bit disorientented at times, but never lost.

Was out in Colorado this past year elk hunting and me and my partner were following the GPS when we realized it wasn't working properly. We turned it off 3 times and everytime we turned it back on it showed us somewhere else. With dark approaching I pulled ouut my trusty lensatic compass from the corp and did a little plotting. We headed up a ridge and I told my partner that if the trail wasn't up here, we might as well get ready for the night in the bush. Well the old compass was true and got us back to the trail. GPS is good but remember, it's a machine. The compass never lies. Glad I payed attention in land nav class or instead of eating ribs over the fire I would have been eating raman noodles.  

[adeeden]

Here's a secret for help when your lost.

Carry a deck of cards with you at all times, when and if you get lost sit down and start a game of solitaire. It won't be long and some butt hole will sneak up behind you and tell you to play the red queen. When he does ask him how to get back to civilization!

[Outwest]

I have been temporarily misplaced on more than one occasion while elk hunting in everything from fog to snow and unfamiliar territory. I have found the best thing to do when the lost feeling comes is to sit down and think about it.
I also carry a gps and two compases, one in my pocket tied to a string on my belt loop. I pull it out every couple hundred yards and take a look. The spare compass is in my pack.

John

[JAG]

I spent a week one night in the woods!  Less than a mile from the camp, but dark caught us.
My buddy walked guard duty all night (city boy) I beded down as best as possible.  Next morning got to the top of the ridge and could see smoke form the landowners house.  Just walked to it.

[cahaba]

Daniel Boone said "I never was lost but was once a might bewildered"

[Brian Krebs]

Hawkeye: I call them 'death marches'. I remember one in particular; where a buddy of mine and I parked at 'dumbflat parking lot' ( might of had another name - but that one seems appropriate). So we got into some elk and chased them all day. Started getting dark; and we found a road; and after a piece; we saw a wooden sign post. It said on it: 'dumflat parking lot - 13 miles >>>-----> '. That was a hike back to the truck !!!
 yep 'death marches'.  

[Young Buck]

Great thread, tks for the info.  I'm a new hunter and have a compass but I will go buy a GPS.  Tks.

[Kingwouldbe]

The main thing is be cool, if you don't know where your at and you don't think you can find your way back by dark "STOP" get your self ready to spend the night, you won't die, you might be uncomfortable but if you get ready early enough it'll be OK.

Find some kind of shelter, that could be a brush pile or lean-to or anything ells.

wood, wood, & more wood, get enough to last all night, you don't want to run out before it gets light, make a bed next to the fire or just stay up all night.

The next day back track your self, look for boot prints and scuff marks made buy you.

Again the most important thing is be cool, keep your head.