When does brave become foolish?
 

It's the question I'm asking myself right now. I'm heading north to hunt and temps are going to drop like a rock. Lows in the teens below zero are forecast and highs in the single digits. I will be alone and the closest human will be about 5 miles away from where I park. Part of me says"hell, If my truck won't start or if I have problems I can walk out".Part of me says " In those temps, if something happens I could end up like a frozen turd". I feel safe because I have a phone and I'm parked near a road that does get some traffic. I also check in every night. I also know that confidence can kill. I have gotten myself in some dandy situations in the past by being over confident.
What do you think? where do you draw the line between brave and foolish?

Good luck hunting everyone. See ya around Christmas time.

RE: When does brave become foolish?
 

Doesn't sound brave nor foolish magic, your just going huntin and good luck.;)

RE: When does brave become foolish?
 

You know your gear best and what you can tolerate.I myself the coldest I ever went out was -4 below with a little wind.I was cold and out of the woodsby about 9 oclock.I was watching the weather last night and Bismark N Dakota was talking about something near -50 below w/ the wind -15 below without. That is foolish not brave. I wish you the best of luck and make the right desicion. Hunting is always supposed to be enjoyable weather we connect or not.

Don't forget the people that could be put in danger having to come and get you if things don't work out like planned.

RE: When does brave become foolish?
 

Great question.

I know if "I" hunted in places that were well off the beaten path.....I'd get myself one of those GPS things that you can call "911" in the case of an emergency.

I think they're around $200 (not sure, though).....and they have a small monthly fee, for monitoring.

**Edit -- Here's one for $169.00. I'm sure there's a monthly/annual monitoring fee.....but it's not a huge pricetag for total peace of mind you won't freeze to death.

RE: When does brave become foolish?
 

Brave becomes foolish when you do not prepare for a particular endeavor properly.

RE: When does brave become foolish?
 

Ya know, in my years in the fire service, I adopted a phrase. "There is a mighty fine line between bravery and stupidity." The real catch is, it's up to the individual to draw that line. Good luck bro...

RE: When does brave become foolish?
 

Doesn't take long to go from safe to dangerous in weather conditions like that. I see it as theres always another day. Its 8 degrees here with 35 mph winds which makes it about -20 wind chill. So as you can see, thats why I'm on the computer right now.

RE: When does brave become foolish?
 

We talked about this when we went out west. We decided that a night time search would only endanger more people. We decided if anything happened we would wait til light.

RE: When does brave become foolish?
 

I've been eyeballing these for a while. They are a great tool. Maybe if I'm a good boy I'll get one in my stocking:D

RE: When does brave become foolish?
 

http://www.orvis.com/store/productchoice.aspx?pf_id=9G44&dir_id=758&g roup_id=15073&cat_id=15830&subcat_id=15820 &adv=80488&cm_mmc=Become-_-Prod_feeds-_-Prod_feeds-_-80488&bhcp=1

Sorry. Here's the link for that SPOT GPS.

RE: When does brave become foolish?
 

Graet point! most of the times I got into situations it was because I didn't prepare. Example: I do this all the time. I will walk into the woods telling myself I'm only going a little way. A mile later I'm looking for a compass that I didn't bring because "I'm only going in a little way".

RE: When does brave become foolish?
 

Take some basic survival gear (space blanket, waterproof matches,etc) and make sure someone knows what area you'll be in. Check in with someone every night.

I solo hunt a wilderness area in Colorado every year. I take a satelite telephone. I don't find it brave or foolish because I plan it out and do it responsibly.

RE: When does brave become foolish?
 

Todd, you know your stuff. Guy's like yourself, myself and other hunters of the north that have hunted In this stuff many other times have the best experience one can have. You can't buy good experience, all you can do Is learn It and learn from It. In saying that though one can get over confident like you said. Use your melon and keep In touch with someone on a daily basis like you said your going to do. Keep me posted on the hunting as I'll be hunting also this coming week In these fricking cold ass temps. Tomorrow's temps here- 4 degree's for a high, -14 for a low, -30 below wind chills.

Good luck wild man, be safe!!

RE: When does brave become foolish?
 

You only live once.:D

RE: When does brave become foolish?
 

True Dat!!! good luck Magic!! ;)

RE: When does brave become foolish?
 

Hey Todd, Have a great hunt, put a couple of extra fire starters in your pack,couple extra lighters and you'll be fine. Windsor don't freeze.

Hell if you let a little cold skeer ya this year what will next year bring ,tee shirt huntingsouth of the Mason Dixon line?

RE: When does brave become foolish?
 

And here I am getting all excited because our lows are supposed to back into the mid teens and have highs of only 30 the next couple of days.

Us southern guys just don't have a clue......we really don't. Good luck but most importantly, stay safe my friend.

RE: When does brave become foolish?
 

Kind of comparing apples and oranges in this one aren't you. Bravery has nothing to do with proposed senerio. I would say more it''s smart of dumb. You prepare for possible problems, that's smart. Not preparing is stupid. so it's not brave or foolish, it's stupid or smart.[8D]

RE: When does brave become foolish?
 

That makes sense. Brave would be going hunting for grizzly without a back up firearms shooter but being successful. Foolish would be doing the same but being eatin by the bear.