Thread: Tips for beginners on not to get lost in the woods?

Firstly I would like to apoligise if this has already been covered.

I am keen to start hunting goats and pigs and would probably start with single day trips near Auckland. I have read a good amount of information regarding advise for beginners but still have some questions I am concerned with.

The biggest worry I have is getting lost, I assume Phone GPS won't be any good so how would I know which way to go back after 4-5 hours of walking/hiking in random directions and with multiple random turns?

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks
Alex

It's folley to rely solely on electronic means for navigation.

I'd strongly suggest learning how to read a map and use a compass. That's the bread and butter of finding where things are.

Get hold of and read the Mountain Safety Council Bushcraft Manual. It has a wealth of information on navigation amongst other essential skills.

I just bought this for my Android phone. Has the DOC hunting areas and huts. I've found the GPS in the phone to be very good. It does not require cellular coverage to operate and to prolong battery life switch to aircraft mode so the phone is not constantly searching for a distant tower. You can always grab a power bank to recharge the phone or spare batteries for many phones. https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ztopo50s&hl=en

General rules:

Have a printed map and compass and know how to read and use them together. Printed map should be in a sealed plastic bag as mush as possible.

I like to set the magnetic offset on an orienteering compass and place it on the map with the base plate parallel with the true north lines on the map. Then rotate the map with the compass on top till the needle lines up with the north offset. This then orients the map with the lay of the land.

Stop often and look behind you to see where you have come from. This can make it much easier for the return journey or if you have to backtrack.

Walking streets the rule is 6km/hr, in the bush 3km/hr when travelling. Much, much less if stalking of course. This allows you to plan the timing of your trip.

Of course this version of the software is probably better for you. https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...ztopo50n&hl=en

Originally Posted by Ryan

It's folley to rely solely on electronic means for navigation.

I'd strongly suggest learning how to read a map and use a compass. That's the bread and butter of finding where things are.

It,s 2018 He,d probably have to pop into the rsa & shout a few beers to learn that stuff now ! crazy I no but how many young fellas even carry a compass let alone no how to use one , I always found studying maps the best way mostly in mountainous country its pretty easy not to get lost , pic a water catchment & stick to it , its been repeated before but cell phone gps app,s seem popular I took a young fella out last year he showed me his , luckily I only took him to a shit spot iv now got the same (more of a plan b) but stuffed if I can work them properly , iv got 2.. Topo GPS & NZ Topo Map & neither of them are very good not sure if its where the satellites are during the day or what but they seem to have pretty limited use down here , iv got a garmin 64 it works fine but sucks to use doesn't take long to flatten the battery's either if I where to pick another gps it would be the alpha100 the one you use for tracking dogs its awesome touch screen no silly buttons & basic , mark your truck , drop pins & be guided to it wish I only sold the collars now & kept the unit.

To use a map and compass you need to know where you are. If you know where you are you’re not lost

Study and take a map
Start on a track and peel off a short distance then back to the track. Do this and your confidence will grow
Many great explorers traveled great distances and never had a map

Originally Posted by sako75

To use a map and compass you need to know where you are. If you know where you are you’re not lost

Study and take a map
Start on a track and peel off a short distance then back to the track. Do this and your confidence will grow
Many great explorers traveled great distances and never had a map

Hansel and Gretel used a trail of breadcrumbs to mark their way, so you can have a snack on the return trip unless the birds get them first.

Also when you're absolutely hopelessly lost remember water runs downhill, keep following water and you will eventually sort yourself out

try the local orienteering club.

Be constantly aware of your surroundings land marks ridges streams rock formations etc dunno what it is but some young guys I've been with are totally oblivious the whole walk to anything around them also just go as far as your comfortable going as part of the exercise is getting back out again if I'm in a new area for the first time I'll pick a long ridge or creek and just walk up and back not really expecting to shoot anything more to get a feel for the area a ridge is good as you can check both sides of it and stay off your phone and concentrate

The cell phone map apps are very good these days, if not better than a garmin gps. The trick is to cache the information prior to going by doing a virtual tiki tour on your phone of the area you'll hunt. Zoom in/out and scroll around on the screen...your phone will cache this information in its memory and will remember it even without reception. However if you don't pre cache...you'll only see the map on a ridiculous scale, unusable in the Bush.

Start small, use nature's handrails like streams, ridgelines, farm boundaries...then cut between them. All of this is done firstly on the map, then put it into place by giving it a go in small blocks to see if you can put in into practice. Once again, set a goal, start small...work up to bigger as you gain confidence.

30 years ago I was terrified of getting lost, but now you could blindfold me, drop me into the middle of anywhere and I'd have the time of my life without a care in the world about getting lost. But I only got to this point by starting small and working up.

Once you realise the Bush is just lots and lots of triangles then navigation becomes very easy.

Also some people seem to have a good natural sense of direction

Check out this post
https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co....hniques-22505/

I think this link will work otherwise use advanced search and search on using compass.

Always take a map and compass, learn to orientate the map and take compass bearings. Start small in a small area of bush with open features on most sides (farmland, lake, road) then if you get lost just take a compass bearing to the (hopefully) nearest open area and head out of the bush. There is probably a area near you where you can go after work (no gun) just to get the feel of being in the bush and meet some unfriendly bush. Bush Lawyer, supplejack, blackberry. A patch of bush with footpath / nature walks through it is ideal, just go off the tracks. Most of all enjoy.

Originally Posted by kimjon

The cell phone map apps are very good these days, if not better than a garmin gps. The trick is to cache the information prior to going by doing a virtual tiki tour on your phone of the area you'll hunt. Zoom in/out and scroll around on the screen...your phone will cache this information in its memory and will remember it even without reception. However if you don't pre cache...you'll only see the map on a ridiculous scale, unusable in the Bush.

Start small, use nature's handrails like streams, ridgelines, farm boundaries...then cut between them. All of this is done firstly on the map, then put it into place by giving it a go in small blocks to see if you can put in into practice. Once again, set a goal, start small...work up to bigger as you gain confidence.

30 years ago I was terrified of getting lost, but now you could blindfold me, drop me into the middle of anywhere and I'd have the time of my life without a care in the world about getting lost. But I only got to this point by starting small and working up.

Once you realise the Bush is just lots and lots of triangles then navigation becomes very easy.

My Mrs on the other hand still drives the wrong way out the driveway to go to town which is five minutes away, in the opposite direction...