For Hunting, fishing, hiking, boating or cycling in all kinds of weather
Communication in the wilderness is a matter of survival, as well as convenience. Before even leaving home, communications must begin. In fact, our first two communications tips do not even require equipment or gadgets.
"Make sure that somebody knows when you leave, when you expect to return (or get to your destination)," advises Chad Brown, owner of Farm & Field fishing and hunting equipment, a website geared to hunting, fishing and farming. "Provide as much information about your route as possible.
Things can happen. Rocks can fall on your head while hiking. Boats can tip over while fishing. Firearms can malfunction while hunting. Somebody needs to know that you are late in arriving...and where to send search parties to go fishing for you. In fact, this is the same advice I used to give drivers in winter weather when I was spokesperson for CAA Ontario.
The second tip is to never head into the wilderness alone. Just as one should never go swimming without a swimming buddy, nor should one go long-distance cycling or hiking, nor hunting, camping or fishing in a remote area without a buddy.
My wife's uncle took the business end of large falling branch on his skull while out in the forest, knocking him unconscious and cracking his skull down the middle. Eventually his skull will heal, but only because he had companions to get him into town. Otherwise, he might still not be found.
Here is another report, this one from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation about a fall from a tree stand: "The subject had no communications equipment with him. No phone or radio. If the subject had left word of where he would be and approximate hour of return, a response may have been quicker. Cause of Death: The subject suffered a broken shoulder, multiple broken ribs on one side, a punctured lung, and a punctured spleen."
This is fishing gear?
Assuming you are still conscious, it helps to have some communications equipment while out hunting, fishing or camping. Of course, there is the ever popular cell phone, which brings instant communications to almost everywhere in the world. Except maybe your wilderness trek.
But there are many places where cell phone range covers your fishing lake or hunting woods. The best part about a cell phone is that, even by your favorite wilderness stream, you can have utterly normal conversations with pretty well anybody.
"Yes, nice weather we are having lately. OK, darling, on my way back into town I'll pick up some milk and peanut butter and...wait! Was that an orca?!? Gotta go." Click.
Not only that, with a cell phone you can even catch up on your email while crouching in your tent or scaling a cliff, with an email to phone service.
A two-way radio is a much surer piece of equipment, because it does not depend on the cellular phone network to connect. The downside is that you get to speak to a much narrower range of people: other two-way radio owners.
"Hi there, Big Bear, do you read me? Can you get a-hold of my wife to see if I have to pick up milk and peanut butter on my way back into town? Do you copy? Oh yeah, you got the weather forecast there, by any chance?"
Before you leave on any outdoors trip, it is wise to check your weather forecast. But the weather forecast can change quickly, so a cell phone or radio serves another purpose.
"Whaddaya mean thunderstorms and hail?!? I just got here, darling, I don't want to come home just yet. Oh...alright..."
Of course, you could just have someone email the weather forecast to you on your cell phone.
Chad Brown also suggests another piece of hunting equipment - keeping a very loud whistle hanging from your neck. If you are trapped under a tree, pinned down by a boulder, or wrestling a grizzly bear, you might not have the reach or the attention span to dial a number. If anybody is within earshot, they will come running...if not to help you, at least to capture the scene for America's Funniest Home Videos.
Our final tip might seem obvious, but make sure you know where to call. Have the emergency number taped to the back of the cell phone (ignore your wife's idea of tattooing it to your forehead; where would you find a mirror in the middle of a ravine?) and make sure you know what frequency to call for help on the two-way radio.
There you have it. You are prepared to go out into the wild and communicate. Make sure to prepare, to have the right hunting equipment or fishing gear for communicating, and know how to use them in an emergency.
And if the animals don't understand what you are trying to communicate to them, you might not be any worse off than in the city.
David Leonhardt is a freelance writer and a website marketing consultant who loves the outdoors.
The next few days in Ohio are supposed to be... Read More
With the fourth of July weekend freshly behind us, I... Read More
Thousands of years ago, the first inflatable boats, made from... Read More
-----SIDEBAR------------------------------------------Older fly fishing classics contain a wealth of knowledge for... Read More
Perhaps the most rewarding element of fly fishing is the... Read More
Like most fishermen my age I originally learned about spinnerbait... Read More
Everyone's an Expert, So Who Has The Right Answers?Have you... Read More
Have you ever been on a lake and thought to... Read More
Many shore anglers avoid fishing rock marks because they are... Read More
Number One Benefit to Night FishingI think the best thing... Read More
In night fishing 95% of success is determined before your... Read More
5 Things To Be Careful of When Night FishingNight fishing... Read More
Night fishing is becoming more and more popular recently, and... Read More
There are several elements that go into creating the ideal... Read More
We can learn alot from kids.Last Friday, which incidently was... Read More
For those of you that don't know this, fishermen by... Read More
When you are going fishing, whether nearby your home or... Read More
I was fishing a small lake in central California back... Read More
When looking for information on how to fly fish, fly... Read More
Great fishing supplies are an essential when it comes to... Read More
Method 2The second method that works really well for me... Read More
It was one of those fishing trips. You know, everyone... Read More
Bluefin tuna are one of the greatest challenges to anglers... Read More
We have a problem in our fish farms, especially Salmon.... Read More
For those who are interested in speckled trout, you will... Read More
Successful Fishing: The mysterious "e" Factor.There has always been a... Read More
There is a fairly new technique when it comes to... Read More
I started fishing a little lake just south of Somerset,... Read More
The true Angler Fish lives in both shallow and deep... Read More
These are busy times we live in.Running a full time... Read More
The fish don't care what you wear.... Read More
Want To Catch More Fish At Night, Watch the Moon!Sounds... Read More
Many anglers who are new to fly fishing consider dry... Read More
When you are going fishing, whether nearby your home or... Read More
Get Rid Of SharksSharks buggin' you? To get rid of... Read More
The wet fly swing sounds like something one does at... Read More
Try doing a web search on the words "fishing lodge"... Read More
Jack Karpawack here.I've taken to the road...Life can be simple,and... Read More
Gyrinocheilus aymonieri Common name: Chinese algae-eater Family: Gyrinocheilidae... Read More
Southeast Florida Swordfishing ? "Purple Fever"Once you have your tackle... Read More
If You Have Never Used A Blacklight While Night Fishing,... Read More
Stopped into The Fishin' Hole the other day, which happens... Read More
Lake trout are a type of fish that are completely... Read More
Do you have a lucky hat?It was a beautiful warm... Read More
There are several elements that go into creating the ideal... Read More
I started keeping a fishing calendar this past year. My... Read More
More and more women are learning to enjoy fishing each... Read More
Rainbow Trout: Few freshwater fish can match the fighting spirit... Read More
Have you ever thought why fishing timbers is so productive?... Read More
Now that we've covered what nymph fly fishing is all... Read More
How many fish have you missed?It is said you could... Read More
We all have used buzz baits and we know why... Read More
Picking a fly fishing rod is a tricky endeavor. Do... Read More
Fishing Gem #1 ? When Is Best?If you are in... Read More
Did you know that there are five species of Pacific... Read More
Fish is one of earth's natural wonders and has satisfied... Read More
Fish Cooking Basics I must admit that I... Read More
Have you ever fished with a Heddon Meadow Mouse? How... Read More
Want to see what's really going on under the water... Read More
Six strategies for a good day's fishing(1) Largemouth Bass like... Read More
Sometimes bass fishing in a big lake can be overwhelming.... Read More
-----SIDEBAR------------------------------------------Older fly fishing classics contain a wealth of knowledge for... Read More
Talk to a professional angler like Kevin Schweder(2003 PWT Rookie... Read More
For the most part, I am an advocate for catch... Read More
Competition between offshore and inshore anglers has skyrocketed within the... Read More
Perhaps the most rewarding element of fly fishing is the... Read More
Fishing |