Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting Whats the point of a compass

Why do people need a compass when the sun is up? Am I the only one who orients themselves based on a map/ time of year and just understands their place on a map? I mean the sun doesnt change its angle much throughout a 2 week span. Or am i missing something here.

I don't have to drive many miles to be in areas of high flat desert where you can get totally screwed up on a cloudy day. It all looks the same for many miles and if the clouds are low, you can't even see the mountains in the distance.

Thick clouds.

Yes, if the sun is up you don’t need one. However, when you find yourself navigating a couple miles in unfamiliar territory in a driving rain with the sun setting you’ll appreciate a compass. I now have one tied to my pack and a small one on my watchband.

Do you only hunt on sunny days?
What sort of terrain do you hunt 90% of the time?

About 15 years ago my partner and I drew moose tags just west of Yellowstone. One morning we planned to hunt a canyon that paralleled the road about 1/2 mile away. The terrain was almost totally flat, moderate timber, and no underbrush. It was heavily overcast and snowing lightly. My partner took off from the truck on the road and headed for the canyon with me behind him. We'd gone about 1/2 way when things just didn't feel right to me. I pulled out my compass. We were supposed to going due south but my compass said due north. I was just getting ready to tap him on the shoulder when he walked out on the road only 200 yards from the truck. I thought it was a lot funnier than he did. The ol' dominant leg trick proved itself that day.

We were hunting in Wyoming a few year ago. We left in the morning with sunny sky's, by mid morning you couldn't see 10 yds. The fog was so thick. That's why you need one!!

Lots of uses for a compass besides orienting yourself.

The point of a compass is magnetic north. So, there....

Makes me feel guilty, I have never used a compass in the woods. On a boat in the ocean yes, but never in the outdoors.

Anyone who asks that question would probably not understand the answer.


mike r

What's the best lightweight solar charger for your compass?

Obviously you have never wandered into the fall woods on the upper peninsula of Michigan.

I thought everyone knew that you just look on the side of trees for moss to indicate North. This plan requires modification in the desert or above treeline.


mike r

I was waiting for that!!

Yes!

Dammit man, stole my line

+1

I don’t think your experience extends to thick, deep, dark woods where you can’t see the horizon, and might be able to only see 15’ in front of yourself.

Oh, the fog. One time my folks were camping near Port Angeles, WA. Dad took his small boat out on the sound one blue bird morning. He was navy with old habits so he took a bearing when he left the dock. A couple hours later, pea soup fog rolled in. Dad set his compass down on the seat next to him and followed it back. He hit shore only a couple hundred yards from the dock. He could have found shore simply by going south, but he wouldn't have been anywhere close to the dock. Without the compass, though, he could have ended up in Alaska.

I barely know how to turn my GPS on, and do so only a couple times a year and only to see how far I have walked.

Other than that it is all by map and when the fog sets in, in deep timber or when you're hiking somewhere new in the dark, a compass is invaluable.

The point of a compass is the end that points north.