The delorme atlas and gazeetter for each individual state runs about $20 and any good sporting good store should carry one. They show logging road, trails, elevations, streams, and what is accessible by truck and what isn't. You don't want to carry the whole atlas in the woods so photo copy your area on write in the rain paper and keep it with you. Also learn to plot your latitude and longitude. Latitude is north and south and longitude is east and west.. Also take a gps course but also carry a compass, using both of these together you will always know where your at and will never get lost.

And practice when you have free time. I bought my father an etrex last christmas and he loves it. His problem is that he sometimes forgets his glasses so he can't see the screen. Now he carries a cheap spare velcroed into his hunting jacket.