Glad everything worked out OK for you.

I won't get on a trail without backup lights and backup batteries. Even in these woods I know REALLY well....I've been turned around.

Again....glad you're OK.

Glad you are ok, but are you going to keep looking for the deer and try to figure out what happened?

I had to sleep most of the day due to the fact that I got about 15 minutes sleep while keeping the fire going. I got out about 3 this afternoon and couldnt find anything but where he bedded down and a pool of blood. Not sure if the coyotes drug him off or he got a second wind.

I am still thinking the Lord that I had a lighter in my pocket and a ton of friends that cared. My wife called my best friend about 9pm last night and he and two others looked until about midnight and then called the authorites.

I couldnt believe the resources that they put in. 3 tracking dogs, about 2 dozen men on foot, 2 helicopters with FLIR and had a staging station set up at my truck. I kept my cool, knew I had no chance on getting back last night so I hunkered down and built a fire waiting for the sun to come up so I could tell where East was. Once the sun came up I got my gear on and headed back to where I last saw the trail. On the way I ran into two K9 officers and asked if I was trespassing....they laughed and gave me a hug and warned me of the crowd waiting at my truck.

As embarassed as I was, it was good to see that our county has those kind ofresources and I had that many friends that cared. Each one had searched all 6 of my stands and searched since late last evening and didnt give up until I was back at my truck.

Lesson I learned is, no matter if you get a signal or not they can use GPS and track a cell phone. I also learned to bring a backup light, and even a flare. To be honest with you, it was quite interesting sitting there all night listening to all the action in the woods. I actually had an arrow nocked waiting for the sun to come up and anxious to get a shot at all the deer I heard moving at night.

Just dont take everything for granted! Im happy, lucky, and glad to be sleeping in my bed tonight!

Makes me think of Survivorman or Bear Grylls man, lol.

Glad everything worked out. I'm not sure how I'd handle hunting the big woods that you hunt. Here in Illinois you can see lightsand hear traffic, or even dogs for that matter,from pretty much anywhere in the woods.