doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com In The Big Woods

Ok--its late winter and theres more time to BS than shoot. Ill say that I think much of the allure of grouse hunting is in the fact that it takes place in some pretty serious wilderness. I must confess that I have got lost in the forest pursuing this bird they say you hunt once for sport and the rest of your life for revenge. This bird is in places where a step off the two track could set you on a walk that wouldnt cross another road for twenty miles. And the track you stepped off of is so curvy that even having a compass could leave you in trouble. Im sure you guys have some stories. Been lost? How did you deal with it? Is it part of why Ruffs are so special?

I was caught in an unexpected snow storm in N Minn and had left compass in vest when switching to coat. Followed a bird deep into woods, sky goes gray, snow starts, I reach for compass and then got a terrible feeling in my stomach. I was lucky to cross a logging road becasue otherwise I was screwed.

OK, I have one of those "moments" for myself. I lived in Alaska for 30 years and hunted on skis, snowshoes at 20 below , and other times. But the hunt I remember most was when I was hunting alone. It was in the Black Hills of South Dakota. I had driven my 1965 Ford sedan into the hills. They had lots of accessible fire and logging trails there then. I saw a whitetail buck run in front of me, just as it was starting to snow. I got out of the car and started following the tracks . I saw the buck several times, but never had a shot. After about 1 1/2 hours, the snow was building up to mabye six inches and I realized I was probably never going to catch up for a shot. "Better go back", I thought. Maybe I can follow my tracks, but they were rapidly filling. I went maybe 20 yards ahead and there was my car. The car I had left an hour and a half ago. My heart stopped for a moment , thinking I could have gone back, maybe getting lost. I got in the car and got out of the Hills. Built a fire at home, which had never felt more comfortable.

Sky going dark and losing the suns help with directions is always a rush for me. I could almost feel your experience.

I wasn't lost but while deer hunting when I lived in Illinois it was alway good practice to stay on stand as long as there was enough light left for legal shooting. It had gone past that point and I was gathering up my stuff and getting ready to hike out. All of a sudden a realized I was surrounded by a howling pack of coyotes. That's an errie feeling.
Jim

The season before last my friend and I took a December hunt on a mountain near home. I have been a compass man for years, but as we stepped into the woods my friend drew his GPS and set it for our return. I just put my compass back in my pocket assured we'd be back without problem. Several hours later friend clicked on the GPS and we followed the arrow back and forth over the ridge for an additional hour in search of the truck. It was only after I suggested we build a fire for the night and that I would regale him with my many stories that he began to recognize landmarks and we found the way to the vehicle.

I was about 15 and quite confident about all things in general not to mention orienteering. Spring Gobbler season in the mountains of West Virginia can be beautiful but the weather changes quickly and this day Mother Nature rolled in a thick fog that blocked vision beyond 30 feet. That was a unique feeling in the gut, wandering around for three hours, listening for banjo music! I did find a nice antler shed as a momento.

If you hanker to revisit what it feels like to be lost in Siberia with night and a snow storm coming on, get the movie called "DERSU UZALA" directed by Akira Kirusawa. It is a masterpiece about a Mongolian sable trapper guiding a Russian mapping expedition. It's gonna be shown on TCM the 30th of March. Just my 02 worth. Chops

Spent a cold night in the Canadian "bush" in 82,..hunting with a couple of buddies, both since past away, myself and one of the guys got chasing woodcock in unfamiliar territory and before we knew it we were walking in circles,...funny how your mind plays tricks and everything looks the same,..late November darkness came quick, a bit of snow on the ground, had no choice but to bunk down light a fire and spend the night,....long night when you're cold and wet, took turns keeping the fire going till the morning. I remember waking up cold and stiff all over,..we chose a direction and started walking straight,...14 miles straight through swampy ground until we came out on a farm, the old couple cooked us breakfast and then the fellow drove us back to our car,..wouldn't take any money for his trouble.
Funny I'd forgotten all about it,..... today it would have never happened, with all the gadgets available

CJ

My brother and I were hunting in a new area and decided after wandering around most of the afternoon it was time to head back to the truck. He started one way and I headed the other. I ask him where he was headed and he replied to the truck. After a heated debate about the direction we were to take, I decided to humor him and walk with him knowing he would soon give up in exasperation...... I've never figured out how we found the pickup walking in the wrong direction.