Hoyt_Viper

Im not sure if I posted this but 10/29 I was in stand and shot a decent buck at twilight. I climbed down, went to my truck and got my spotlight and hat light. It was during the cold snap just before Halloween so I waited in my truck for 45 minutes and headed back the 600 yrds to the stand. I found the arrow with good blood, and instantly saw the blood trail. I started tracking and an hour into the tracking my spotlight started to fade. I knew the field was to my east, so i thought I was parralleling the field. When the light went dead, I turned on my hat light (LED) and went about 100 yrds and it went dead. I walked to where I thought the edge of the field was...and I was WAY off...it was a swamp. I have only seen the swamp from aerial photos and knew I was a mile and a half at least from my truck.

It was pitch dark, and the woods were full of fallen logs, fox holes, creeks, and a ton of briars I wasnt about to walk through blind. I sat down and built a fire trying to get my bearings. Wasnt happening so I decided to stay the night and wait til the sun came up. My cell had no signal so i couldnt call anyone. I slept about 2 hours by the fire, and the rest of the night listened to howls, growls, and movement in the woods.

As the sun started to rise I was on the move towards the area I thought to go. 20 minutes I ran into a Hanover Deputy and two dog handlers. They has bloodhounds tracking me, 30 friends and family that have been searching since 10 pm the night before and about a dozen law officers. They had just called the state police helicopter with FLIR but hadnt gotten off the ground when they found me at 7:15 AM.

I didnt think it would have brought these kinds of resources out, but it is nice to know. Anyone ever had to spend the night in the woods? Man was I overwhelmed with the response.

MO_Bowhnter

Wow, that is quite the story. I have been turned around before in the dark but mostly going into a new spot in the morning.

I try to always keep fresh batteries in my pack and a compass is a good idea too, if you know the general directions in your area.

Glad you made it out safe though, and your community came together like that.

piney

Yea, I've been lost. I was lucky enough to pick the right direction to the road and not walk in circles getting there. I have asarcastic sense of humor and it would have been funny if you asked the deputy "Whats going on? Somebody lost?" or "you guys did'nt happento come across a deer have you? I've been looking all night.". Seriously you did the right thing staying put and building a fire. Thats what I really should have done. Glad your ok.

early in

I've never really been lost, just turned around would be the way to describe it. It is a scarey feelingnone the less.

Redskin_Archer

wow...(all that fuss) you weren't lost...just taken your time. jk I got lost on public ground once squirrel hunting. I didn't even realize i was lost until i came out of the woods nowhere near where i thought i was.

stealthycat II

twice

once on a prairie on a cloudy day - I missed by about 3 miles where I was going, but general direction I had
one in a swamp on a cloudy day - the swamp was luck we got out by dark, I was seriously messed up

magicman54494

Wow, what a story! I hunt big woods areas a lot. I have always made it out. There were a few times I thought I might have to camp out. Like the night that I forgot my flashlight and it was one of those pitch black nights. I used my lighter to see my compass and walked very slowly with one hand out in front of me so I would'nt smack into a tree. There have been many times that my GPS would not find satalites. I always carry a compass. I like to memorize the lay of the land so I know whatever way I head I know what I should run into.

I'm happy to hear you made it out safe!

Simp

If I were you I'd start working overtime because you might just be getting a bill in the mail!

1shotkill1993

Wow that sucks

Texgrebby87

I went i at 6am to a 50 acre patch of woods in a 75acre pasture, with 100acres of corn all around it.... I tried stalking deer and scouting. then at about 9 I started to get worried about getting back intime for class. So I started trying to find my way out. well I found my way out of the woods alright but I ended up 100yards to the south of my jeep and I came out between the corn and the woods. and I walked a good mile and a half in full gear in 80degrees. and i didnt have any water and I didnt even have my smokes or dip. and so I had to walked untill I hit a road and walk that road a mile and then another mile and then another mile in a square to get back to my jeep. and that cigarette never tasted so good and water never was so wet.