LOST IN DEER COUNTRY

Equipment For When You Become Lost

EDITOR'S NOTE: Probably every outdoorsman who has spent hours hunting in unfamiliar places has at some time in his life been lost in the woods. To enable you to navigate more effectively and safely through deer country and to get into these remote locations where big bucks stay, the Night Hawk internet team interviewed some of the nation's leading woods navigators and survivalists.

John Street, president of Woods Walker, Inc., is a nationally known survival expert whose company made the original space blanket. Patrick McHugh is the general manager of Outdoor Safety Products Division of MPI Outdoor Safety. A woodsman and outdoor safety expert, McHugh and his company have designed products not only to prevent you from getting lost, but also to aid you in the event that you do become lost. Al Kavalauskas is a veteran woodsman, an expert navigator and a well-known outdoorsman. Bill Wildprett is division manager of the Silva Company, which also makes and sells compasses worldwide.

Our authorities emphasize that you need some type of survival kit, including a good knife, a light, a compass, a map, a reflector with which to signal, a space blanket and an emergency pocket survival kit.

If you want to consistently bag your buck every season, if you hope to find the bigger, older trophy bucks that are deeper in the woods and well away from hunting pressure, and if you want to prevent getting lost in deer country for any length of time, then study these woods navigation skills and strategies, learn to use survival equipment and tactics and plan your hunting trip before you leave the house.

* Never forget that your brain and your ability not to panic are your most important survival tools.
* Make sure your survival kit is waterproof, compact, and fairly lightweight.
* Know how to use each and every item in your kit.
* Make your kit fit the appropriate outdoor environment (i.e. cold, heat, mountains, and desert).

Have these components in your survival kit.
* Aluminum foil (cooking, signalling).
* Heavy plastic bag (water, food storage).
* Emergency Space Blankets (shelter, signalling).
* Flares (signalling).
* Whistle (signalling).
* Compass (navigation).
* Matches, candle (fire-starting).
* Boullion cubes, salt (cooking).
* Spark light, magnesium fire starter (fire igniters).
* Sewing kit (repairing clothes and equipment).
* Knife (general tool needs)
* Water filter or purification kit (potable water).
* Fishing kit (line, hooks, lures).
* Signal mirror (signalling).
* Wire saw (shelter building).
* Ground to air signals (signalling).
* Rope, string (shelters, snares, repairs).
* Insect repellent.
* Small first-aid kit.
* Personal medication, etc.

TOMORROW: IMPORTANT SURVIVAL INFORMATION