Tips for using a compass....

[PistolCity]

About a year ago I joined the Military Book Club. As a "free" gift they sent me a compass. By the time I received this gift I had already been lost several times in my hunting woods and found my way out. Im not scared of those woods any longer. But since I recently moved and have to find some new hunting ground(I hope). I think it would be a great idea to learn how to use a compass. I know GPS units are becoming the way to go. But my finaces wont allow that and I wouldnt use it enough to justify the purchase.

Can anyone help?

J.

[LarryO1970]

FM3-25.26 TABLE OF CONTENTS

[Wingwiper]

Get a good and recent Topa graphical Map of the area. Know the Declination. I use to take a straight edge and put declination grids all over the map, so when I placed the compass on the map, I would be able to sync map to compass.
Larry I think gave you a good starting point for learning, just remember to add 180 to all readings on your waypoints for finding your way BACK.......

[mym1a]

back to basics map and compass only way to go!!!!!! I have never used a GPS so my opinion on them may be in accurate but, I have a guestion for those more knowldgable then I! what happens, for what ever reason those satelites are rendered un operational?

can the government shut down those satelites to civilian use? can some one with a GPS be tracked??? LarryO your very knowledgable whats your take on this if you are at liberty?

[neophyte]

mym1a: Sir; add to that; batteries go dead.

Any outdoors person should recognize his weakest link.
Carry a backup compass to your use compass.

I have a GPS, and am learning to trust.

PistolCity; Sir; GPS's are all they are cracked up to be. Downside: Sir; there are three main ones.
Shut down satellites, batteries and human error.

Down side to 1 compass, break it and find out.
Always have a backup.
Reading a map and trusting what you read.

Spend the time to learn your equipment.

When your behind is on the line; prepare
wisely.

[JBS]

Originally Posted by Wingwiper

Get a good and recent Topa graphical Map of the area. Know the Declination. I use to take a straight edge and put declination grids all over the map, so when I placed the compass on the map, I would be able to sync map to compass.
Larry I think gave you a good starting point for learning, just remember to add 180 to all readings on your waypoints for finding your way BACK.......

To get your Back Azimuth...If the azimuth you're navigating on is MORE than 180 degrees, you SUBTRACT 180 from it. If your azimuth is LESS than 180 degrees, you ADD 180 to it. Like this...You're traveling on an azimuth of 140 degrees, to get your Back Azimuth, ADD 180 to your 140 degrees and you have 320 degrees. That is your Back Azimuth. If you're on an azimuth of 277 degrees, SUBTRACT 180 from your 270 and you get 97 degrees. That is your Back Azimuth.

That's the way it's done.

[mym1a]

okay maybe i should carry 2 compasses???

[neophyte]

JBS: Sir; spot on

[just_a_car]

I simply learned how to use it in Boy Scouts of America when I was younger. You can pick up a BSA handbook that tells you how to use one at a basic proficiency. Just make sure you get one that's before around 1995 or so. That's when they changed over to a 'Politically Correct' Handbook that many people in Scouts absolutely hated.

[Bravo]

Originally Posted by mym1a

back to basics map and compass only way to go!!!!!! I have never used a GPS so my opinion on them may be in accurate but, I have a guestion for those more knowldgable then I! what happens, for what ever reason those satelites are rendered un operational?
can the government shut down those satelites to civilian use? can some one with a GPS be tracked??? LarryO your very knowledgable whats your take on this if you are at liberty?

This is a Surveyor's point of view:

I trust GPS very much so...I use it on the job. Today's surveyor grade GPS can measure to a 10th of a foot or better under the right conditions.

The US Government can shut down their satellites if they want, but that's extremely unlikely, since they are being used ALL the time for aircraft and precision guided bombs/missiles.

If in the event that some other country were to shoot them out of the sky, we have backup, so to speak...

While handhelds currently don't do this, Land Survey grade GPS does: We can pick up GLONASS, which is the Russian system, and soon we will pick up Galileo, the European system.

But everyone should know how to use a compass. Technology is awesome, but we have to be aware of how we got to it, so we can fall back on older stuff.

[mym1a]

Originally Posted by neophyte

mym1a: Sir; add to that; batteries go dead.

Any outdoors person should recognize his weakest link.
Carry a backup compass to your use compass.

I have a GPS, and am learning to trust.

PistolCity; Sir; GPS's are all they are cracked up to be. Downside: Sir; there are three main ones.
Shut down satellites, batteries and human error.

Down side to 1 compass, break it and find out.
Always have a backup.
Reading a map and trusting what you read.

Spend the time to learn your equipment.

When your behind is on the line; prepare
wisely.

lol forgot about the batteries

[OldTimer]

I've never used GPS and I've had a couple of compasses "go south" on me over the years. But If you have a watch, you have a compass: Weeno: How to Use your Watch as a Compass and Related Info
60 minutes to the hour on a watch, and 360 degrees on a compass; therefore 1 min=6 degrees, 5 mins=30 degrees. Always remember to adjust to local standard time. Good enough for government work.

[mym1a]

Bravo i'm sure for your line of work GPS is the way to go!
sounds like some rather expensive equiptment ?

Oldtimer has a realy valid point tho

[Wingwiper]

Originally Posted by OldTimer

I've never used GPS and I've had a couple of compasses "go south" on me over the years. But If you have a watch, you have a compass: Weeno: How to Use your Watch as a Compass and Related Info
60 minutes to the hour on a watch, and 360 degrees on a compass; therefore 1 min=6 degrees, 5 mins=30 degrees. Always remember to adjust to local standard time. Good enough for government work.

Almost OLDTIMER

What you do is put a stick in the ground and trace its shadow, look at your watch, wait 15 minutes and trace the shadow again, now disect the the shadow down the middle and you will have a line facing Due North, line it up to the 12 on your watch and shoot your azimuth from there, be sure to add the declination for mag North. Your three shadows traces will look like and arrow and the point will facing due South and the shaft or third shadow will be facing Due North.

Now oldtimer, remember these young pups have digitial watches, makes it a BIGGER challenge.


JBS

I have always just added

277 plus 180 equals 97. 360 is the Zero. so 83 plus 277 equals 360 and now you have 97 left of the 180. 140 plus 180 equals 320.
Your rule works too, it is just an extra step that needs to be remembered. 180 degrees from wherever you are on a 360 degree circle is always the opposite. I have a Military Compasses and a Silvo and I use the Red line and just dial it. Piece of cake. Either way, just remember to adjust for back azimuth.

[JBS]

Originally Posted by Wingwiper

Get a good and recent Topa graphical Map of the area. Know the Declination. I use to take a straight edge and put declination grids all over the map, so when I placed the compass on the map, I would be able to sync map to compass.
Larry I think gave you a good starting point for learning, just remember to add 180 to all readings on your waypoints for finding your way BACK.......

I musta missed the 360 thin and all the other stuff. I coulda swore, you only said ADD. But, whatever works for you good to go.
My way is the way I was taught in Artillery Fire Direction School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Either way...Anyway. Your way, my way, the other way, the highway, byway, flyway, gettaway, Bombay...There's a lotta ways, huh?

[Mooseman684]

I'm still using a Magnetized needle on a cork floating in a cup of water...I guess I need to Upgrade...LOL

[Kale]

Originally Posted by Mooseman684

I'm still using a Magnetized needle on a cork floating in a cup of water...I guess I need to Upgrade...LOL

On the plus side, I imagine that's pretty hard to break. @:-)
Tech is great, but you should always know a simpler method as a fall-back: The fancier a piece of tech is, the more there is that can go wrong with it.

[Lng Rng]

I use my GPS unit a lot, simply because it can do so much more than a compass.
But, I think it would be a bad idea to walk into the woods with only a GPS, just in case something happens to it. It is always good to know how to use a compass.

BTW, I have had a compass give me bad readings when I was up in the Iron Range, but my GPS was dead on.

[Wingwiper]

Originally Posted by JBS

I musta missed the 360 thin and all the other stuff. I coulda swore, you only said ADD. But, whatever works for you good to go.
My way is the way I was taught in Artillery Fire Direction School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Either way...Anyway. Your way, my way, the other way, the highway, byway, flyway, gettaway, Bombay...There's a lotta ways, huh?

I did only say ADD. You didn't miss where I said it, I did say it.. I think I assumed that Pistol City would know that a circle had only 360 degrees in it. My fault for assuming. Sorry.

No BIG deal.. USMC taught me that way, too many years ago and it is the way I have always done it. No big deal, your way works well and gives the same answer. No problem...

with a 360 degree circle, you can ADD 180 or SUBTRACT 180 or do it your way, you will get the SAME answer. No problem here..... With Military Compasses and and the Silvo it is really easy, lead out on Black and lead back on Red or vice versa, whatever works for you. Same with the Aiming Circles when you shoot back azimuth, to aim the guns, but you are dealing with 6400 mils versus 360 degrees.

Pistol City
When I plot my course on the map, I write the "TO" reading and under it I write the "RETURN" reading, for each waypoint. With a good Top, the Declination for Mag North from TRUE North is posted at the bottom of the Map. Hold the map facing True North and Draw your Mag N Grids on it (use the line from the Declination symbol to start with the First line). Now plot your courses and look for the Identifiers, cliffs, brooks, ponds, etc. After you have done it a few times, it comes very easy. You may also go by the idea that MOST but NOT all bodies of water flow South. And the Moss is on the North side of trees and rocks. Also at Night the NORTH star is the ONLY star that does NOT move in the sky...... It is also HIGHLY recommended that you familiarize yourself with the geographics of the area you will be in. Know the directions of the roads and towns etc. DO NOT try to continue when it starts snowing, many good outdoorsmen have and many have perished. Also know which foot is your DOMINANT FOOT, for you will take a BIGGER step with your Dominant and after awhile do a circle. So shoot azimuths from an object or known terrain feature, get to that object and shoot another etc etc. Never assume you are the first human that can walk in a straight direction.

[Bravo]

Originally Posted by mym1a

Bravo i'm sure for your line of work GPS is the way to go!
sounds like some rather expensive equiptment ?
Oldtimer has a realy valid point tho

Just a little expensive ($8,000-$14,000).

Old Timer has the right idea though. With an accurate watch (this was the biggest problems for sailors back in the 1700/1800's) a compass, and a good map, you can pretty much figure out where you are on the earth.

Something to measure Polaris' (Northern Star) angle above the horizon also helps.