Thread: Navigation with compass and map

Originally Posted by ebf

@Myk, practise makes perfect....

Take a map and compass when you go for short walks. Take bearings off known landmarks, triangulate your position. Try to identify your position by identifying terrain features on the map against what your see in real life..

Self taught lessons like this will always be the best learnt and remembered... nothing beats actual experience...
1)Get a reasonable compass not big and heavy because you need to carry it.
2) Understand how magnetic fields from steel.. like your rifle will affect compass headings... so you do not fall into that trap
3) Understand declination or variation... the difference between True and Magnetic north... NZ varies between 18 and 25 degrees.
4) Go play in an area you are familiar with... you will soon pick up the skills.

Early in my bush whacking days I got fogged in on the Kelly range tops... walked round in circles and got lost.... ever since I have always carried a compass and have had many occasions when I have really needed it to get out of trouble.