Woodsmanship

Arkansaslongbow · June 07, 2012, 03:19:00 PM

Do you use all of the lastest electronics gadgets (GPS ECT) or do you just use the ol' compass? how do you rate your woodsmanship?

elknutz · June 07, 2012, 03:29:00 PM

Compass is kinda newfangled for me. I like to wander around and look for moss on the northside of trees. My woodsmanship is ok but I run out of food before I get home alot.

meathead · June 07, 2012, 03:40:00 PM

My pack is heavy enough without any electronic crap in it. Never had compass batteries go dead yet either.

PeteA · June 07, 2012, 04:02:00 PM

Does a compass on an iphone count?

Mike Vines · June 07, 2012, 04:07:00 PM

Only GPS I have is in the truck. I rely on a compass, and ARMY training.

smokin joe · June 07, 2012, 04:08:00 PM

I always use a compass. There are so many buttons and functions on a GPS that I get confused and can't remember how it works.

ron w · June 07, 2012, 04:09:00 PM

Even with a GPS, I carry at least 2 compass and a map of the area!

jimmerc · June 07, 2012, 04:19:00 PM

Maps and compass for hunting,hiking or scouting
The gps I use only for fishing on lakes!!

straitera · June 07, 2012, 04:24:00 PM

(2) compasses

Bear Heart · June 07, 2012, 04:32:00 PM

Two compasses, map, and GPS. I have even thought about buying a SPOT. In unfamiliar mountain terrain an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

YORNOC · June 07, 2012, 04:34:00 PM

Compass, but I am guilty of using Google Earth maps.

Hot Hap · June 07, 2012, 04:51:00 PM

I carry two compass and just bought a Bushnell "Trackback".

Hap

June 07, 2012, 05:02:00 PM

ive never been lost just missplaced a few times, it would be hard to get lost in the places i hunt.

ChuckC · June 07, 2012, 05:05:00 PM

I feel pretty comfy in the woods. . during the day. Woodsmanship is a fleeting term and can mean a lot of different things. The levels of knowledge, skills and abilities varies greatly depending upon where you are and what you do.

For a person who never leaves the local woodlot, one level is needed. To the person that includes a mountain range, well, bump it up.

Camping in the wild bumps it up even more and now add some critters. Big bears or cats bump it up a whole lot more.

I have a cheap GPS, but only use it in the mountains to mark a site. Then I use the compass the rest of the time.

ChuckC

Basil_K · June 07, 2012, 05:38:00 PM

I recently lost my compass and was trying to figure out which one to buy next.

Anyone have a good recommendation?

Bowwild · June 07, 2012, 05:43:00 PM

I'm a retired forester and wildlife biologist. Also been a bowhunter for 45 years. I rate my woodsmanship as very good (except when I drop my emergency back-pack off for a quick jaunt).

I use a compass but have a GPS. I use a range-finder to determine yardages from my treestand. I use very high-tech hunting clothes because I like the fit, feel, and design. I won't buy scent-controlling clothing even if I could resale and double my money.

Stone Sheep · June 07, 2012, 06:01:00 PM

If you hunt the back country out west a GPS is a must in my opinion. It enables you to hunt untill dark and still be able to find camp. It lets you mark your dead animal so on subsequent trips you dont spend hours searching for your animal. The GPS that I use also lets you see where your hunting companions are if they use the same gps (a great safety feature). I primarily use the map and compass for 90% of my daylight hours navigation. I have been in situations in the past that i litterally would have killed for a gps!!

Igor · June 07, 2012, 06:13:00 PM

Mainly compass but I do carry a GPS to mark my vehicle location.....haven't had to use it yet....but I bought the GPS after I had a compass reverse polarity.....made for an interesting afternoon...but I did have the opportunity to see some country I've hadn't seen before....:^)
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Glenn

traditionalman · June 07, 2012, 06:19:00 PM

I use a compass would use a I Hunt if I had one but still carry a compass which don't take batteries.

Gil Verwey · June 07, 2012, 06:37:00 PM

I mainly use a compass and topos for navigation, but I do take a GPS now also.

I use the GPS to mainly get to an exact spot like a tree stand or area I want to hunt or when I am tracking hit game. The GPS makes life easy when tracking and lets me concentrate on the trail.

Both my hunting partner and I are getting older and it will let us notify someone where we are if one of gets in trouble. At least they will know where to bring flowers!