| When hunting in the snow take special care of | | | | I suffered no ill effects from this night in |
| the kind of cloths that you put on. It is | | | | the snow, but I would not advise anyone to |
| important for a hunter that he must know the | | | | camp in this manner except as a last resort. |
| correct clothes and equipment when he goes | | | | I was in good physical condition and |
| hunting. In this article you will learn on | | | | adequately clothed and I had been working out |
| some tips on how to survive in particular | | | | of doors and sleeping in a tent for the past |
| weather if you get lost in the forest. | | | | month, so that I was thoroughly accustomed to |
| | | | the weather conditions of the area. Since I |
| I had started to hike over the Continental | | | | was not completely exhausted when I went to |
| Divide in the later part of January. I do not | | | | sleep, shivering was sufficient to arouse me |
| recommend such a hike as a pleasure trip. | | | | before any portion of my body could become |
| Night overtook me where there were no human | | | | frost bitten. The average deer hunter would |
| habitations and I had a strong wind to face. | | | | have trouble in surviving such a night. He is |
| This combination of cold and wind, together | | | | usually clothed adequately for daytime |
| with the altitude (over 10,000 feet) made it | | | | temperature, but not for inaction during the |
| imperative that I find shelter of some sort. | | | | colder nights. This is why a fire is almost a |
| I was following the tracks of the now defunct | | | | must. |
| Colorado Midland Railroad and I tried to camp | | | | |
| in a snow shed which covered the tracks, but | | | | After the lost hunter has spent the night in |
| this shed acted as a wind tunnel and the | | | | the woods, he should try to orient himself in |
| temperature seemed to be lower there than in | | | | the morning. This should not be hard to do if |
| the open. Beyond the snow shed, I could see a | | | | the sun is shining. He should not trust to |
| few scattered trees a short distance from the | | | | instinct, but should reason things out. Even |
| tracks. I tried to reach them, but the snow | | | | if the sun seems to be somewhere else, it |
| was at least six feet deep and was not solid | | | | must be in the east, so there is one sure |
| enough to walk on. I managed to flounder to | | | | direction. The other points of the compass |
| the nearest of these trees, but there was no | | | | should be easy to figure. This information is |
| dry wood for a fire. I trampled a trench in | | | | of no value unless the lost person knows the |
| the snow about three feet deep and six feet | | | | direction in which he left camp or the |
| long, placed a few branches in this trench | | | | direction of the road which runs by the camp. |
| for a bed, and prepared to spend the night. | | | | If these things are not known, it is best to |
| This trench was considerably better than the | | | | remain in the temporary camp and wait for |
| open country, but too cold for comfort and I | | | | aid, keeping plenty of damp wood on the fire |
| decided to imitate the partridge, who dives | | | | as a signal to searchers. Any shots which are |
| into the snow in order to survive during | | | | heard, should be answered by a single shot. |
| exceptionally cold weather. I burrowed into | | | | If these shots are made by searchers, one |
| the snow at my back until I was completely | | | | shot is all that is necessary and more will |
| into it and the bank had caved in so that I | | | | be a waste of valuable ammunition. |
| was covered. I was comfortable enough so that | | | | |
| I alternately slept and dozed for several | | | | This means that it is always good to be safe |
| hours until excessive shivering, nature's | | | | in the woods at night when you are lost and |
| method of warming the surface of the body, | | | | you have nowhere to go for any kind of |
| forced me from the bed. A few minutes of | | | | shelter. It is more harsh hunting deer in the |
| exercise started my blood circulating and I | | | | winter. And always prepares yourself even |
| was soon comfortable. It was nearly daylight | | | | when you are in the camp when hunting deer in |
| and I resumed my hike instead of returning to | | | | the winter and save your ammunitions as |
| the snow for more rest. | | | | possible for better use. |
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