Does anyone here carry a compass while turkey hunting? Just for general navigation, setting a line on a gobbling bird to move to him or keep track of him while moving around him, etc. If so, what brands do you recommend? Thanks
I use the one on my iphone a lot and carry one of those extra charging sticks in my pack. Those charging sticks are great and will recharge you phone several times. I should of said i do have one of the old school compass in my pack if the iphone fails. A compass is just important as a first aid kit, knife, bottle water, couple snack bar's or peanut butter crackers and your gun, shells and calls etc..don't forget paper also..
Always carry one, and I use it every day for every reason you mentioned. It's helped me kill more birds (even on property I know very well), and it's helped me get in and out of some places I didn't know at all.
Did have one go haywire one day in a huge expanse of woods I'd never been in before. It was a cloudy day, and when I realized it was taking me in circles, I started lining up trees and walking to them to at least go in a straight line. I knew no matter which direction I went (as long as it was straight) I'd come out somewhere I could get my bearings. I was parked in the SW corner of the woods, and there was a highway on the eastern side. Once I got where I could hear the hum of traffic, I was able to turn and use the same method to get back to my truck. I've gotten temporarily turned around while duck hunting in big flooded woods, but that's the only time I've ever been "lost" in dry woods. Never was worried because I knew I'd get out, but it sucked having to walk almost four extra miles.
Never go without a map and a real compass. Technology can fail. I have been carrying a Brunton for over 20 years. The distance markings are worn off as well as the distance markings.
And the model number.
For turkey hunting, no; however, I started carrying a compass years ago when I lived in Southeast Alaska and had walked over three hours in the woods with another hunter. When we got ready to return, neither of us agreed on the direction and had to wait until an airplane came over that headed toward the village in which we both lived in order to get our bearings. Fast forward 50 years later, I now live in Illinois, and I especially have one during deer season since tracking a hit deer after dark can become confusing, even in areas in which you are familiar.
I carry a couple of "Silva" compasses with me
there is a place in western Md. I hunt where I have had the haywire experience happen regularly in this one area, not sure if there is iron ore in the ground or what, the second compass does the same in this place
Have used the Silva's from Tn to Maine and never a problem anywhere else
Yes, for all of the reasons mentioned. I carry a flat Silva one that I can lay over a map if needed. Never have to worry about a battery going dead either.
Yes sir! Batteries die. That ever pointing needle never does
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I have one in my duck bag,deer pack and turkey vest. We had a couple of big storms several years ago and in the dark you can get turned around pretty quick. I have only needed one once(when I didnt have one) and bought 3 the next day.
I carry 3 and prefer Suunto. Never know when your going to need one, and I sometimes hunt large tracts of land.
Yup.
I carry one in my vest at all times. If I switch out to my lightweight vest, the compass goes in it as well. Hardly every use it, but if I need it, I will really need it.
I still have the one I used in the military from 1990. I carry it with me and on a couple occasions used it to shoot a azimuth on a gobbling bird.
Thanks for all the feedback. How do you normally use your compass while hunting? For instance, if you want to circle around a bird, how would you use it then? I'm fairly new to compass reading
Quote from: TRG3 on May 05, 2016, 12:07:07 PM
For turkey hunting, no; however, I started carrying a compass years ago when I lived in Southeast Alaska and had walked over three hours in the woods with another hunter. When we got ready to return, neither of us agreed on the direction and had to wait until an airplane came over that headed toward the village in which we both lived in order to get our bearings. Fast forward 50 years later, I now live in Illinois, and I especially have one during deer season since tracking a hit deer after dark can become confusing, even in areas in which you are familiar.
When I was in college a friend and I were in some big woods at dusk getting ready to head back to the truck, neither of us were familiar with the area so I slipped a compass in my pocket before departing. He decided we needed to go one direction(opposite of the compass reading) I said well have fun I am following the compass, he decided to follow as well and we made it back 2 hours after dark but landed right back at the truck. Had we trusted our gut, we might still be walking, I always carry a compass now...lol
I still have and use the same compass I had when I was a Boy Scout.
Quote from: StruttinGobbler3 on May 05, 2016, 01:09:42 PM
Thanks for all the feedback. How do you normally use your compass while hunting? For instance, if you want to circle around a bird, how would you use it then? I'm fairly new to compass reading
There's all kinds of information on the net on learning to use one properly. That said, when moving on a bird, I get a fix with the compass on the bird's location and choose the bearing that would take me as wide as I wish. Then I pick out a landmark in that direction and walk to it. Continue until I'm as far around as I want. Not really needed if a bird is gobbling frequently on his own, but it's priceless when moving on a bird that isn't saying much. Gives you confidence to finish your move without calling to make him gobble.
Some of the military folks, and scouts too, can give you a lot better answer than me. It's truly amazing what a person really versed in navigating with a compass can do. My father was one of those people, and I regret not having him teach me when he was younger and able.
Quote from: StruttinGobbler3 on May 05, 2016, 01:09:42 PM
Thanks for all the feedback. How do you normally use your compass while hunting? For instance, if you want to circle around a bird, how would you use it then? I'm fairly new to compass reading
If you have a quad map, or a copy of one, this. First know where you are. Take a heading to the gobbling turkey. Determine from the map where you wish to call from and go there. You know where the turkey is unless he has moved and you can re-determine that with your map and compass. I generally use the "Topo Maps" app on my iPhone for my maps (I also carry a battery stick in case I use up the battery in my phone); the app has given me all I could want with the exception that it does not allow me to draw property lines. If I need to know property lines, I just place named waypoints at the corners.
As for someone new to the use of a compass, there are probably many websites that describe the use of a compass. Tom Kelly has a chapter in his book, "A Fork in the Road" that gives the best tutorial of the use of quadrangle maps and the compass that I have seen anywhere. I bought a copy of the book for one of my grandsons and read his copy. I was really impressed with Tom's explanations. I didn't learn anything new, but I sure wish I had had that book when I first started; it would have saved a lot of on the job training.
Quote from: fallhnt on May 05, 2016, 01:40:35 PM
I still have and use the same compass I had when I was a Boy Scout.
I still have my trusty metal Boy Scout mirror that I can take out and see who is lost.
I carry two in the turkey woods. I carry a flat Silva and I always have a backup ball compass pinned inside my pack.
+1
Quote from: Bill Cooksey on May 05, 2016, 01:52:05 PM
Quote from: StruttinGobbler3 on May 05, 2016, 01:09:42 PM
Thanks for all the feedback. How do you normally use your compass while hunting? For instance, if you want to circle around a bird, how would you use it then? I'm fairly new to compass reading
There's all kinds of information on the net on learning to use one properly. That said, when moving on a bird, I get a fix with the compass on the bird's location and choose the bearing that would take me as wide as I wish. Then I pick out a landmark in that direction and walk to it. Continue until I'm as far around as I want. Not really needed if a bird is gobbling frequently on his own, but it's priceless when moving on a bird that isn't saying much. Gives you confidence to finish your move without calling to make him gobble.
Some of the military folks, and scouts too, can give you a lot better answer than me. It's truly amazing what a person really versed in navigating with a compass can do. My father was one of those people, and I regret not having him teach me when he was younger and able.
I carry one just in case. Got turned around in national forest about 20 years ago and didn't have one and it skeered me a bit so I make sure one is with me now. iPhones are nice but like others have said batteries die!
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Smart phone, hand held gps with extra batteries for me. Learning to use a compass is a skill I wish I had learned. If I'm going where I'm familiar, just the phone.
I carry an old Silva huntsman from the 1960's , still works great and has a sun dial also. It has saved me a couple of times.
My iPhone gets no signal where I hunt. I do use a GPS as well there. It has predownloaded satellite images and it has saved me several miles of walking when I am down in a swamp.
I have never been lost, but I got turned around for a week one time. :)
Always have it with me.
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I've never owned one. Never learned to use one. I don't even own a gps. But I don't hunt very many places that I don't know as well as I know my own house.
Funny this topic came up. My compass finally died? Ordered a new one from Bass Pro today.
Left the boat landing early one morning going trout fishing here on the bay in NW FL. Now I was raised on the water here so I know my way around pretty well. It was a little foggy, but no worries. Well, to make a long story short we rode around in circles for 2 hrs ( the spot we wanted to fish was only 15 minutes away) within 300 yds of our fishing ho!e. Since then,(that was 40 yrs ago) whether I go to the woods or on the water I have a compass on me!!
Even if a guy knew nothing about using a compass, it's pretty easy to just come out the opposite way you went in. All you have to do is hit the road and your safe. Learning how to get back directly to your truck is nice, but not necessary. Not knowing how to use a compass is a poor excuse to not carry at least one IMHO.
I carry a silva ranger, never go into the woods without it.
Always have one.
I never carried one. When I get lost I just walk until I find familiar ground again. I look at the sun if it's shining, look at the ridges and creeks; usually I have a good idea which way they run. I'll listen to the sounds I hear or look for moss as well to help guide me.
Never used a compass unless I turn it on while using the maps or arcGIS apps on my phone.
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Used to hunt the Adirondacks n other big woods as a kid. Guess I've gotten used to having em. I carry two, one a military one the other a cheaper silva. Never to navigate to birds, to navigate home
iPhone...
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Quotelook for moss as well to help guide me.
are you for real? You say some pretty wild stuff and think you are just looking to get people to react. Maybe in your world moss only grows on one side, but not where I live, nor anywhere I have hunted. That is something wickerbills say.
So you don't need decoys, compass, blinds. What else is outlawed as not macho in your world? Toilet paper? Thermacell? Bug spray?
I usually use bread crumbs :funnyturkey:
On a serious note.. Yes on a compass and also use a GPS go to.
Of course it is real. I don't rely on "devices", "gadgets" or modern technology much. They can fail or you may lose them or whatever so I don't bother with them gain not wanting to get reliant upon something that may not be there when you need it most.
BTW- Moss does grow on both sides of trees but most people know which side it grows thicker on. You don't have to believe it is a fact.
Never said anything about macho. You obviously have an inferiority complex; good luck with that. To satisfy your burning curiosity, I do not carry a thermacell or bug spray or toilet paper while turkey hunting. I am a minimalist when it comes to gear.
People got lost way before compasses and found their way out using nature's signs. Works as well now as it did then.
Quote from: Ihuntoldschool on May 06, 2016, 01:51:10 PM
Never said anything about macho. You obviously have an inferiority complex; good luck with that. To satisfy your burning curiosity, I do not carry a thermacell or bug spray or toilet paper while turkey hunting. I am a minimalist when it comes to gear.
People got lost way before compasses and found their way out using nature's signs. Works as well now as it did then.
Your just old school all the way. Do you wear camo or clothing or do you just walk thru the woods naked and afraid. Just LMBO....
Quote from: Terry on May 05, 2016, 10:38:25 PM
Even if a guy knew nothing about using a compass, it's pretty easy to just come out the opposite way you went in. All you have to do is hit the road and your safe. Learning how to get back directly to your truck is nice, but not necessary. Not knowing how to use a compass is a poor excuse to not carry at least one IMHO.
Lol! Wasn't trying to make an excuse. Just saying that I have no need. I rarely walk a straight line from my truck. If I don't know how to use one then why carry one. It's like saying not knowing how to use a mouth call is a poor excuse not to carry one! If you don't know how to use it then neither will help you and if you try to use it without a clue it could hurt you! I'm not saying it's not a good skill to have or a necessity for some but for me it would be extra baggage.
A compass is great on getting a line on a bird... that way, you can crawl with your head down and hidden behind the fan. ;D
Quote from: Farmboy27 on May 06, 2016, 07:35:54 PM
Quote from: Terry on May 05, 2016, 10:38:25 PM
Even if a guy knew nothing about using a compass, it's pretty easy to just come out the opposite way you went in. All you have to do is hit the road and your safe. Learning how to get back directly to your truck is nice, but not necessary. Not knowing how to use a compass is a poor excuse to not carry at least one IMHO.
Lol! Wasn't trying to make an excuse. Just saying that I have no need. I rarely walk a straight line from my truck. If I don't know how to use one then why carry one. It's like saying not knowing how to use a mouth call is a poor excuse not to carry one! If you don't know how to use it then neither will help you and if you try to use it without a clue it could hurt you! I'm not saying it's not a good skill to have or a necessity for some but for me it would be extra baggage.
I wasn't directing that towards you or anyone else, just a general statement. Sorry if you took it that way. But honestly all that one needs to know to make a compass useful, is what end of the needle points north.
My truck isn't always north of me! Lol
Quote from: Farmboy27 on May 06, 2016, 08:06:39 PM
My truck isn't always north of me! Lol
I just use a hickory board with a nail and magnet it always points north...
Quote from: Ihuntoldschool on May 06, 2016, 01:26:35 PM
Of course it is real. I don't rely on "devices", "gadgets" or modern technology much. They can fail or you may lose them or whatever so I don't bother with them gain not wanting to get reliant upon something that may not be there when you need it most.
BTW- Moss does grow on both sides of trees but most people know which side it grows thicker on. You don't have to believe it is a fact.
MMmkay. We are talking about a compass right? A compass. The thing that has a needle on it that points north. The thing that was invented hundreds, if not a thousand years before the original incarnation of the firearm you carry? The thing used by settlers of this country in the 1600s to find their way here and later find their way across this country and back again? THAT compass is a "device" or a "gadget". You know they don't work on batteries right? They work on the magnetic pole of the earth.
Oh trust me woodsman, I know what side moss grows on a tree - the shadiest side. 100% of the time.
Flipping kids and their new fangled inventions like compasses. It will never catch on. Probably taught to sail by a sextant too. I'm telling you, that is the type that is gonna sail right off the edge of the earth. Next thing you know, these kooks will tell us the earth revolves around the sun. DUMMIES. I can see the sun moving, plain as day. Crazy mixed up kids.
I still think you are messing with us. A 2000 year old device is "modern technology". If you are not, you, my friend, are comedy gold.
Now y'all leave old school alone, if he wants to walk around in the woods aimlessly looking for Moss and what ever old tactics that brings him out of the wood's, I'll be killed his Gobbler.
Quote from: TerryLNanny on May 06, 2016, 08:41:23 PM
Now y'all leave old school alone, if he wants to walk around in the woods aimlessly looking for Moss and what ever old tactics that brings him out of the wood's, I'll be killed his Gobbler.
Lmbo...
I always wear a small Silva compass on a lanyard around my neck when hunting unfamiliar property
Quote from: fallhnt on May 05, 2016, 01:40:35 PM
I still have and use the same compass I had when I was a Boy Scout.
X2
I carry a military issue flip open compass , never runs out of batteries ....... And doesn't lie to you like politicians , lol
Quote from: Old Gobbler on May 07, 2016, 04:13:44 PM
I carry a military issue flip open compass , never runs out of batteries ....... And doesn't lie to you like politicians , lol
How can anything run out of batteries if you have a charged phone or charging stick. Now i do agree with you that you have to keep them all charged. How money times out in the field have you walked around with a dead cell phone. I do carry a old back up compass but with my cell phone i've never need it..I agree about the politicians.funny...
Quote from: Greg Massey on May 07, 2016, 04:36:49 PM
Quote from: Old Gobbler on May 07, 2016, 04:13:44 PM
I carry a military issue flip open compass , never runs out of batteries ....... And doesn't lie to you like politicians , lol
How can anything run out of batteries if you have a charged phone or charging stick. Now i do agree with you that you have to keep them all charged. How money time out in the field have you walked around with a dead cell phone. I do carry a old back up compass but with my cell phone i've never need it..I agree about the politicians.funny...
Interesting, I just helped a backpacker few weeks ago out of a state forest who spent the night with a broken foot. His phone and his charged stick both DOA over night looking for tower signal.
It happens. Be prepared.
I never go into the woods without my compass. Never really needed it to get to a bird.
I've done some pretty stupid things out there, especially around creeks and rivers. Stepped across a little branch once a couple years ago chasing a Gobbler, stopped to look around and thought to myself, this looks like a good place for a treestand for deer hunting. Well started looking for a tree and found one, it already had one of my stands in it. Wasn't lost just a little turned around. Always carry a good pocket compass.
Carry an old silva compass. Only thing I use it for is a bearing out if I get turned around. Like west to the road. I have always been gifted about getting around in the woods and have a good sense of direction. That being said anyone can get lost and I am not so naive as to believe I am above it.
If I hear a Gobbler, I'm going to him, of course listing for other hunters, I'll worry about getting out latter.