A Limb Supported at an Angle over the Fire Is Another Means of Hanging the Pot
While shooting and fishing and camping out are chapters in the book of woodcraft, the word is generally defined to mean the knack of using the compass, the map, and in making use of the natural signs of the woods when traveling in the wilderness. If the camper keeps to the beaten paths and does not stray far from the frequently used waterways, he needs no compass, and sufficient knowledge of the ways of the woods may be acquired from the previous articles, but if the outer ventures into an unknown region the value of more intimate knowledge increases as the distance to civilization lengthens, because it will enable him to keep traveling in the desired direction and prevent the “insane desire to circle,” should one discover he has lost the trail.
The Emergency “Snack” and Kit
The woodsman well knows that it is an easy matter to stray farther from camp than he intended to when starting out, and that it is a common enough occurrence to lose one’s bearings and become temporarily lost. To prepare for this possible emergency and spend a comfortable night away from the camp, he carries in his pocket a little packet of useful articles and stows away a tiny package containing a small amount of nutritious food. When leaving camp for a day’s hunting and fishing, the usual lunch is, of course, included, but in addition to this, the woodsman should carry a couple of soup tablets, a piece of summer sausage, and some tea. Wrap this in oiled silk, and pack it in a flat tin box. It will take up very little room in the pocket.
The emergency kit is merely a small leather pouch containing a short fishing line; a few fishing hooks; 1 ft. of surgeon’s adhesive plaster; needle and thread; a few safety pins, and a small coil of copper or brass wire. These articles, with the gun and a few spare cartridges, or rod; a belt knife; match safe; compass; map; a little money, pipe, and tobacco, make up the personal outfit without which few woodsmen care to venture far from camp. In addition to the above, I carry a double-edge, light-weight ax, or tomahawk, in a leather sheath at the belt and a tin cup strung to the back of the belt, where it is out of the way and unnoticed until wanted.
The Compass
A small pocket compass affixed to a leather thong should be carried in the breast pocket and fastened to a button of the shirt. An instrument costing $1 will be accurate enough for all purposes. Many of the woodsmen as well as the Indians do not use a compass, but even the expert woodsman gets lost sometimes, and it may happen that the sun is obscured by clouds, thus making it more difficult to read the natural signs of the wilderness. The compass is of little value if a person does not know how to use it. It will not tell in what direction to go, but when the needle is allowed to swing freely on its pivot the blue end always points to the magnetic north. The true north lies a degree or more to either side. In the West, for instance, the needle will be attracted a trifle to the east, while on the Atlantic coast it will swing a trifle to the west of the true north. This magnetic variation need not be taken into account by the woodsman, who may consider it to point to the true north, for absolute accuracy is not required for this purpose. However, I would advise the sportsman to take the precaution of scratching on the back of the case these letters, B = N, meaning blue equals north. If this is done, the novice will be certain to remember and read the compass right no matter how confused he may become on finding that he has lost his way. The watch may be used as a compass on a clear day by pointing the hour hand to the sun, when the point halfway between the hour hand and 12 will be due south.
The compass needle is attracted to iron and steel, therefore keep it away from the gun, hatchet, knife, and other metal articles. Hold the compass level and press the stop, if it has one, so that the needle may swing free. Note some landmark, as a prominent tree, high cliff, or other conspicuous object lying in the direction of travel, and go directly to this object. Consult the compass frequently when making a detour, or when the landmark passes out of sight. When this mark is reached, select another farther on and continue the travel, always picking out new marks along the line indicated by the compass. When making camp, consult a map, study it, and so gain a good general idea of the surrounding country; and when leaving camp, take the bearings from the compass. By so doing a person will know in what direction he is traveling, and when the course is changed, keep the general direction in mind. When climbing a hill or making detours, take a mental note of the change in direction and the bearings will not be lost.