Thread: GPS?

Originally Posted by sakokid

Try plugging your compass into your PC.....

Oh that's right you can't !!

Why would you want too?....that is not its intended purpose....i dont plug my GPS into my PC either...

i dont need to know where ive been i need to know where im going!!!!!!

I was using my gps the weekend the us dealt to Osama bin laden. I could not get a signal! Yes I resorted to my back up compass, missed the road end by about 10m. Finally got back but a sobering reminder that sometimes the simple technology of compass and observation are vital

While we are talking about not getting lost.. While you're out there having fun honing your compass skills, don't forget to keep looking behind you, make mental notes about stuff you're looking at etc. @Aly I hope you're watching this thread too, girl!

For me and a lot of new hunters, being alone in the bush is the most frightening thing about the new skill.

Keep looking around and keep going for it. Practice makes perfect. And you don't always need to be in a hunting area to practice nav, sometimes it can be good to work on one skill at a time (leave rifle at home, take map and compass for an arvo!)


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I have a few GPS units but tend to navigate mainly using the sun, time and mental image of the map (photo/video graphic memory help me here). I always carry the map and compass and will sometimes refer to those. As Dougie said above be observant, look at features around you, and very importantly behind you, particularly at forks in rivers and streams and ridge lines as you go. When you really know how to read a map and convert the contour lines into 3D images in your head you can normally get a very accurate position from just looking around and holding a map.

Yes I am more than up to date with modern technology but I also learnt the old school stuff. The old tech drawing at school helped a lot to with a lot of map and trig work involved so I know it very well.

Originally Posted by Dougie

While we are talking about not getting lost.. While you're out there having fun honing your compass skills, don't forget to keep looking behind you, make mental notes about stuff you're looking at etc. @Aly I hope you're watching this thread too, girl!

For me and a lot of new hunters, being alone in the bush is the most frightening thing about the new skill.

Keep looking around and keep going for it. Practice makes perfect. And you don't always need to be in a hunting area to practice nav, sometimes it can be good to work on one skill at a time (leave rifle at home, take map and compass for an arvo!)


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Well I am now... haha!

I'm definitely all for the compass and map, on top of a GPS investment (might be my bday/xmas pressie to myself ) - compass skills are pretty invaluable!
Something goes wrong and you lost your GPS/it spazzes out/runs out of battery, with the right compass skills you can get your exact bearings and walk yourself in a straight line to where you wanna go.
Something some mates and I did in the middle of the night, rain pouring down we spent 3 hours walking from one side of Lees Valley to the other just by calculating our bearings to make sure we walked right on top of a clue we were looking for on a map had our team captain making us stop every 50 m to readjust our angles!
Plus they help tell the time, too.

That being said my compass skills are shoddy but you can get a NZ instruction book offline simple as

Originally Posted by Aly

Well I am now... haha!

I'm definitely all for the compass and map, on top of a GPS investment (might be my bday/xmas pressie to myself ) - compass skills are pretty invaluable!
Something goes wrong and you lost your GPS/it spazzes out/runs out of battery, with the right compass skills you can get your exact bearings and walk yourself in a straight line to where you wanna go.
Something some mates and I did in the middle of the night, rain pouring down we spent 3 hours walking from one side of Lees Valley to the other just by calculating our bearings to make sure we walked right on top of a clue we were looking for on a map had our team captain making us stop every 50 m to readjust our angles!
Plus they help tell the time, too.

That being said my compass skills are shoddy but you can get a NZ instruction book offline simple as

I have an old etrex you can have.

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Stand in an open paddock, put a bucket over your head, and then try to walk in a straight line. I would be very surprised if anyone can do it.
Then repeat the process but using a compass to track a bearing. This is a good way to train yourself to have faith in the compass, as using one in whiteout conditions with no ref points is a mind numbing experience.

@Dougie and @gadgetman are on to it here. Sun and Watch will get you through most stuff if you've studied the map/google earth well - check the time, say 10:00am and then where is the sun? The sun should be between North and Northeast, real simple and effective. Looking behind you is a great concept to, have this mental picture of where to go if you need to backtrack from a bad situations - trees and hills look different from the opposite direction. I use a watch that has a Compass, Barometer and Altimeter on it. a quick glance to check the direction or elevation while sidling around a hill is pretty easy.

Just like a aircraft pilot or ships captain, knowing the direction and route to the nearest "safe harbor" and basic knowledge of what direction is up will nearly always get you home each day, with the exception of injury. In this case, provided you a coherent enough, pop the PLB, climb into you survival blanket is a clear area and clam the f*%k down.

If you do even end up "location challenged", clam down. Take a five minute break, take in a little water, maybe a snack. After this, get the map out (or GPS) and have a bit of a review of where you think you are and then work out where you actually are.

One thing I've found with some GPS gear (including smart phone apps) is that this often use buffers of the last known positions to calculate your speed and direction. If the device has been in you you backpack or pocket, this buffer of last know points can get corrupted and report you in the wrong position - where the previous good position was (Backcountry Navigator running on a Samsung S4 is a classic of this). You will know it has happen when you walk, the position doesn't update. To fix, turn the phone or GPS off and back on. This should clear the buffer, if not, reset the Stats page if using a Garmin.

Also, the Mountain Safety Council run low cost navigation and other outdoor skill training. If you are new to the outdoors, or need a bit of a refresher, look them up in your region. Also, most SAR guys are always keen to help folk out.

I did a little thing where you walk blindfolded for 100m on flat and see how far off straight you go, it can tell you what your bias is (I've conducted this test again with a day pack on and overnighter pack on too, the bias changes with weight for me anyway)

This can help you to consciously go around trees the opposite way to your bias to hopefully keep you straight.

Always great to "aim off" - @Aly girl do you have a Bushcraft Manual? If not, I'll post you my one. Man this sucks you are here this weekend when I am away, go figure but we'll catch up soon enough.

I was donated an older eTrex which is cool to get the hang of and I do take it with me but need to get to clear, high land for any signal so can mean a little extra walking

Uhhhhhhhhhhh what else was I gonna say...

Oh Gadget reminded me, if can be a fun game to try to guess stuff before you check it. So really work hard to figure out where you are on your map, then check with GPS. Also think about where north is, then check with compass. Estimate time, then check your watch. Distances are another great one to estimate then check, as well as the time it will take you to cover ground.

Ah, isn't hunting fun

I usually reckon on a max travel speed of 500 metres per hour if hunting.

Good advice about "aiming off" Dougie

Yes Uplandstalker keeping calm is good. When I did my MSC training to train others in outdoors skills/safety they suggested you should always carry a packet of cards. If you are lost calm yourself and to help take out the cards and have a game of solitaire. Within 5 minutes someone will look over your shoulder and tell you where to play the next card.

I've got a couple of older Garmin GPS (non mapping ones) if anyone wants one. No cost - actually, maybe shipping. Might have the Bushcraft and Mountaincraft manuals floating about too. Would rather see this stuff in the hands folk that will use them and learn from them.

Originally Posted by Pengy

I usually reckon on a max travel speed of 500 metres per hour if hunting.

Good advice about "aiming off" Dougie

It was a concept not known or embraced when I was in the army, really did my head in...straight line Nav. Dumbest idea I've ever heard.

Handrails and aiming off were sworn against, apparently it's "cheating"??? Um, work smarter, not harder. And of course our loggy motto, why walk when you can drive? /rant over

I usually reckon on a max travel speed of 500 metres per hour if hunting.

Doctrinal patrol pace for a close country patrol.

A good thing for people to do is to measure 100 metres and mark it with two cones. Walk the 100 metres several times and count the number of paces it takes you at a normal walking gait. You'll soon figure out how many paces you average per 100 metres. If you use this enough, you'll get surprisingly good at estimating distance covered using only your paces.

Whilst you're at it, put a bucket over your head (Or just close your eyes if you want to look less strange) and walk the 100 meters between the cones. Do this several times and you'll establish what your bias is.

Does anyone here know how to do a resection using a compass and map? One of the best open country navigation techniques.

Real good navigators can map to ground everything.
Every bump in a contour no matter how small is info.
Flat bush can be challenging but if the sun is out, piece of piss.
Compass is useless unless you no how to use one properly.
Having the ability to set declination is a must as well.
NZ has to be one of the easiest places to navigate in really.

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