I read an article last year about this (This may be a "sticky" for Field and Stream). The psychological effects are mind-numbing. The story I read rotates around two men lost, together.....and how fast they turned on one another. It also highlighted how RAPIDLY one can get off course......even with a compass. The author started looking at his compass after every 5 minutes (or so). Way off. Every minute. Way off. Every 20 steps. Way off. Every 10 steps. Off. He couldn't believe it. He couldn't bring himself to believe that he could get off course in 5 steps.....but he could. With his light and his compass.....he was watching it unfold. The two men who hunted together for years were almost at each others' throats.....literally. They were lost for a very short time, too.

I don't hunt anywhere I think I might could get lost. I'd run into a road in short order (within 30 minutes) in the places I hunt. I hunted VA once last year ....12 degrees and snowing. I got down and out before it got dark, too. I won't say I was intimidated.......I was just VERY respectful. OK...I was intimidated.

Jeff