5 Navigation Techniques Every Woodsman Should Know

[@adameater]

I never knew the terminology for these navigation skills, but developed them nevertheless from all the time I've spent in the woods. It's amazing how that happens. Man and nature communicate..Thanks Dave!

[@JanetWilham]

65 year old grandma's from West Virginia but live in Ohio now. I love your videos Dave!!! One thing I use to keep me from getting lost as I still hike the mountains is what I call the"sun shoulder method". And what I do is when I start a hike I make sure which direction the sun is on my shoulder and turn a bit till I can adjust it on my left or right shoulder and remember that.....then as I want to return I know that the sun must be on the opposite shoulder on the way back. Hope this helps someone. God bless and keep you and family. Grandma Jan

[@battleofarmageddon1366]

65 years young an even i need a refresher to build up my confidence. You did a superb job, without a bunch of hoop lah and thank you for no music!

[@beansmalone1305]

ive always used the aim off method when returning to my truck at the end of the day because if i try to go straight to the truck and hit the road it becomes a 50/50 shot if i can't see it. this method means alot less back tracking. another great video dave.

[@wa9neu]

Very well presented! thank you. I am 67 and love to hike alone. this info gives me more confidence! great job!

[@CallumDoyleDarling]

Came back to this video 7 years later, Dave you're a legend and your knowledge is invaluable mate, love it!

[@hiromikami]

You've made so many good points during this video! I was a scout for the majority of the 1990s, and this was a great refresher course all these years later. Thank you for what you do.

[@kskbeast]

Great Video Dave, I was a Cav Scout in the Army. I was a good navigator. we never used these terms but spoke about the same concepts. Terrain Association is key. Most people spend all their time looking at the map instead of the terrain and do not navigate well. Have you done a video on terrain features? Great awesome stuff Love your Videos KEEP THEM COMING!!!!

[@kkingquad]

This video was crystal clear for me. That’s how I hike and ride atvs. I rarely look at maps, but can still walk or ride as long as I long without being lost. Great video!

[@legendoflongbrew]

Just completed a compass and navigation course a week ago and followed up with a bushwhacking navigation pace counting in field course yesterday, in the rain, and the real field conditions, made it all come together, “Trailbound Project” based in Northern New Jersey, great guys, great instructors, NJSAR members.. good job with the video,…

[@BackEmUp76]

Dave I finally made an account just to thank you for everything you have taught me brother. I enjoy your traditional approach and all your knowledge.

[@48plaster]

great informative video - Dave Canterbury has got to be one of the best all round outdoorsman and contributes a lot of very useful information in straightforward way.

[@maxiwildadventures]

Massive thanks for this video Dave some of techniques are things I employed instinctively but never realised where actual methods used

[@Ron5topable]

The amount of knowledge you have about the woods just blows my mind!

[@learningbushcraft]

Many of these skills are forgotten with common compasses, and navigation devices. Good video, thanks for sharing

[@kellyzabriskie7332]

Thanks Dave, I always like the simple way you explain things like this. It makes more sense that way.

[@goldog2816]

I've spent a good amount of time using a map and compass, I appreciate your simple approach to some important basics.....

[@MrJedral]

That's tricks which everyone can find in any book of terrain navigation, but my point is you have a big talent to explain it in very ease way, even despite of any effort against , everyone can understand that from your lectures.Well done David

[@sashafrancione2775]

I've watched several videos that explain these 5 techniques and didn't really understand them. But, Dave makes it very simple and easy to understand in this video. Thanks, Dave.👍😊

[@lfodffi]

Dave, you are simply one of my hero's. The info you put out, technique's you share, & methods of survival & self-reliance are a blessing to all who study your vids. You channel is by far the best bush craft channel on youtube! Thanks for all you do brother! Keep them coming!

[@crfairless]

Very good info Dave. Aiming off reminds me how people used to sail before longitude came about, sailors would choose a Latitude line to travel on above or below the intended river mouth they wished to enter. Once they reached the coast they would take a right or left (port or starboard for you trolls) to reach it. Thanks for all the knowledge.

[@MultiRusty111]

The hand rail i use to get to my camp is a creek I follow until i reach the back stop(a large puddle on the trail I followed by the creek) where i make a right turn onto a beaten trail.Then I use that small trail to reach my camp about 100 yards away.

[@dariend6368]

Without a doubt, one of the best survivalist to date!! And one hell of a teacher.

[@kenneth6847]

The old ways are what make the new ways understandable. Its like the first time you cut grooves and attach two pieces of galvanized pipe in your ceiling. The confidence you gain makes stringing pex all over your house a breeze.

[@finishstrongdoc]

Could you do a video on how to land navigate where there are many unmapped logging roads? People get lost up in Canada a lot because there are so many unmarked and uncharted logging roads. Some of the mapped trails, on the other hand, are overgrown while the old, disused logging roads are still pretty open. What land nav techniques (old school) can best be used in situations like that? I'm guessing it would be to dead reckon constantly and be pretty sharp in knowing pace to always "stay found," so to speak. That way, when you get to an unmapped but distinct old logging road, you will know not to follow it. Thanks; your videos are great and you are a great teacher. Side note: I once owned a copy of "Camping and Woodcraft" by Kephart, but somehow it got itself lost. I also talked to a lady many years ago in Gatlinberg TN who knew him. He was a pretty interesting character, she said. Very intelligent and personable. He liked his "shine."

[@louisianapatriot5818]

Excellent! I'm an outdoors MawMaw and I like to teach my grandkids valuable survival techniques when we are out in the woods. Of course I am enjoying your videos tremendously myself!

[@HonestDoubter]

I was taught all of these things in the Military. However, for people new to navigation, this is awesome Dave. Thanks for your dedication.

[@Electronicpoacher1]

Hey Dave you are a wealth of information which is simple yet easy to learn from you.You are worth your weight in Gold my friend.Wish ya were here in the uk especially when the preverbial hits the fan.

[@YaddaYaddaWarden]

Great information! I've always been amazed at the number of people who have no idea how to do basic navigation. These skills are basic common sense, but common sense is, in reality, an uncommon virtue. It is often quite lacking in many people.

[@mariojuarez6914]

Thank you for your teaching methods. I have learned a lot from you.

[@ncprepper1]

Thanks for sharing this with us. You can never soak up enough of this type of info.

[@Roarmeister2]

Most people tend to drift to the left or right depending on their personal physical attributes. For example, I drift a fair bit to the right because my left foot is about a full shoe size larger and I take a slightly larger stride with my left. If you KNOW your tendency to drift either to the left or right you can compensate by changing your bearing a couple of degrees in the opposite direction.

[@dphil1976]

Dave your videos are no nonsense, to the point and very educational. These are skills they tried to teach me in the scouts but I was not interested at the time. Thanks

[@jacquelinebarnard649]

The rails or backs stops makes more sense to me than a compass... not saying I wouldn't learn a compass.. played a lot in the woods as a kid.. thankyou I would like to test myself with thoose maps ... as long as I understand at least one way that makes me comfortable 😊 I love the woods ❤

[@lowcard1]

Great video. Your a good teacher.I like the way you explain things. Thanks for your time.

[@ParadoxdesignsOrg]

Dave Canterbury!! Glad I found this channel. You know your stuff.

[@TheVeloHobo]

Great video, I learned a lot. When I bushwack I tie orange tape to clothes pins, out makes it ready to remove them on the easy back out and resort to reuse the tape. It's also quicker than tying if you have a bunch made up. Thanks for your videos. If love to take the course someday. It's on my list of things to do.

[@vthunda]

Great video Dave. You explained the techniques clearly and the situations that these would help. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@YankeeWoodcraft]

Dave, I have to say without a doubt, you make things so easy for me to understand. You cut to the chase and just focus on what's important and I really appreciate that. Question: "Aiming off" would be useful for getting around a direct path that would more difficult to go through? For example, avoiding a steep climb and trekking along moderate ground so then you can come back to your target area once you've reached that backstop?

[@TexasUrbanHunter]

Very old video Cantebury but still effective. I learned these skills as a very young boy back in the 60's exploring and scouting through the Sam Houston National Forest. I never knew these navigation terms but it is good information for me to associate to these techniques. One thing though, I didn't have maps.

[@GEAUXFRUGAL]

I've got a Suunto core watch, packed full of functions IF you keep your mind sharp on how to use it. Im still getting a mirror hiking compass. Strangely enough where I live I'm at 0° declination right now.

[@EatCarbs]

Great stuff Dave,, There is a place I day hike at that offers maps at the trail heads. I've been using those tricks when I'm out hiking so I don't get turned around, but I didn't know what they were called until now. Thanks for the great videos.

[@asaprocky8195]

You mentioned "Drift", but I did not hear an explanation for it in this video. Yes, it depends on a person's dominate side favoritism, Right Handed vs Left Handed, will cause us to "drift" in a direction while we try to walk in a straight line on unmarked or featureless territory. Missing, is the reason(s) for this "Drift". Even one foot larger than the other will cause us to walk in a circle given enough open space and time if no other markers or clues for our progress are available. Imagine walking in a barren desert, or blizzard snow field, as we walk with our eyes pointed at the ground to shield our eyes from blowing sand or blowing icy snow, we are unable to view any feature ahead of us to warn us that we are not traveling in a straight line. One leg that is stronger than the other because of muscle dominance due to being Right Handed or Left Handed, will push us away from that straight line. Same with one foot or leg that is longer than the other, will cause us to pivot on the short foot or leg and lead us into a circular path, again drifting away from the straight line. Given enough space, and enough time, one could complete a very large circular path back to the starting point. Just like following the edge of something round, like the top edge of a coffee cup with a finger, always moving toward the right or left ("Drifting") on an arc that eventually joins with the beginning of that circle. Drifting off course, be it on land, water, or air travel, is very dangerous. We might run out of survival supplies like food and water, or fuel for a car, boat, or airplane along the way. Drift can be caused by water currents when on water paths. By wind currents when flying or sailing. Understanding the causes of "Drifting off course" is something to really be paid attention to as a matter of life and death. It gets even more complicated when dealing with a magnetic compass and having to offset true north from magnetic north. Unless properly calibrated for that geographic magnetic bias, a compass can lead a traveler far off course due to compass drift. A small angle of difference, run out over miles of travel, can result in serious missing of the target destination. So... Yes, using and understanding Back Stops, Hand Rails, etc as pointed out, are crucial when dealing with "Drift". Happy trails, folks!

[@michaelmarziotto8105]

Great vid.. Thanks. I understand the concept of lateral drift. As you progressed through the on-map section, I thought lateral drift with be more a factor of terrain than anything else. If I were traversing a hillside, and the peak was on my right, as it would be on your map if we were traveling along the trail that connects the old-town-road and the pipeline, the terrain would cause my to drift to the left, north, or, down the face of the hillside. However, later in the vid you said you naturally have a left lateral drift because you are left-handed. What's the connection between later drift and ones dominant hand?

[@teveler]

Brother it was a great class...However I would beg (because of your great teaching skills ) doing a rudimentary class on basic sun and star navigation in the Northern Hemisphere. I understand it, but for the life of me I can not explain it to people. I have been turned around before, but never lost (truly lost). Making anyone understand anything beyond a GPS these days is tough.

[@rmachayes]

Mostly which ever side you are dominant with will dictate your lateral drift, but as Dave pointed out below, not always. For instance, our legs are not exactly the same length, so.........you will drift with the shorter leg side if this is clear enough. Also, muscle mass comes into play as well, though probably not as much as the dominant side issue. There are probably other issues as well, but by and large I go along with the dominant side taking precedence.

[@eatmorenachos]

It never fails to impress me how you keep coming up with so many useful videos, like this one.

[@Gamble2185]

Totally off topic, but was wondering if you can give a demonstration on how to make black powder from scratch... Its a very old art and I think could be a good survival tool for mussel loaders. If not I understand. I know this information could be dangerous but still interesting and useful for the self reliant folks

[@1stFlyingeagle]

A bit over my head as of yet. But I will get this yet.

[@joelcrmt]

haha yes "Roach Stoner" I think your blaze is different then Dave's! based on the video my best guess is that blazing is putting something bright along your path and then off to one side of a trail to indicate that this is where you are to turn... but that's just a guess

[@Idibergu]

Great reminder, very educational, thanks Dave.

[@Zankaroo]

Were did you get/print maps of your property of at?

[@Grimes1245]

Awesome Guide !!! Easy to learn. Dave You explain the class so that it can understand by everyone. Thats a gift !!! Awesome skills, awesome teaching. I wish you much fun in the wilderness this summer :) And I hope you make some videos out there :P Thanks again and greetings from germany :)

[@MrQuinnd]

and moss grows on north side of trees . good basic skills video.

[@chrishanson3499]

Thanks, Mr. Canterbury.

[@75925mike]

dave, normally isn't the dominant hand also the dominant side? if so, and you aren't right leg dominant, you would circle around to the right, correct?

[@albertmorgan9021]

Good to see you again Dave miss that old ugly mug glad to see you moving on and ahead 👍

[@TrevorBdavis]

Wow this was extremely helpful thanks!

[@FacetsOfTruth]

Is it true that almost all trees that are growing on flat ground in the Northern Hemisphere, tilt toward the East/S.E. ? It seems like it to me.

[@GISELLE377]

Thanks for explaining that so well. I've tried to communicate all that before, and never had much luck.

[@buckshot9654]

Great info, Thanks Dave

[@sh1701-A]

Would you wear camo in the woods? If not, what color would be best or does it matter?

[@matthewrandall9833]

Great video very useful info

[@evilfish456]

When you travel you must "zigzag" trees that come directly to your path. This way you move more straight than just passing the tree from left (or right) side. Dave, do you know this "technique" and does it work? My grandfather tough this to me when I was young.

[@stepitup5409]

Dave!!!! you are the best!!!! thanks

[@jondoe-ki6rv]

Test your skills in the Everglades. Paddle your canoe a few miles past places that look like wide paths in a tree line that looks exactly the same no matter which direction you're facing, to find a piece of 1" unpainted wood that marks a 12 foot wide path that's hidden in the trees. I solo paddled my canoe to the Everglades from Minnesota, and learned how to use a compass on the way from books. Not having a human teacher... finding that piece of wood was the only A I ever received in navigation class. Please show us how to navigate in the Everglades without a good compass.

[@MrOracK6183]

I've watched this video and questioned? Is more about techniques around base camp or methods to scout for your next site? I understand it's basics but between navigation, base camp/supply's and weather judgment now that would be a episode maybe challenge for everyone?? Can you make it for a month on your kit?

[@countrywild434]

I enjoyed this and learned a lot thank you

[@nickcruz7677]

thanks like your video its helping me to get the idea how to use a compass and map I'm a very slow learner thanks again :)

[@iamsabian]

Great ! Really informative and useful, many thanks ...can't wait for more....thanks

[@AllanShak]

Hmm.. nice video Dave. I've learnt a lot in this,

[@jamessmith8617]

Great video pard.

[@Irrox83]

I like it commparred to sargefaria`s and nativesurvival nav u cant cent wrong ...day or nigt

[@chimarudder2010]

Exactly how the aboriginal people in rural would navigate,,, along with the stars etc...

[@markd5067]

Good stuff! Thanks!

[@CAPMADZ]

can u show us with the compass and the extra things on the clear or neon compass plates. also where do you get your topo maps? another thing is what do you use or do for ticks to prevent n etc? what other things can u use for fixin wax?

[@hermanboing8489]

Nice job! Very helpful.

[@hickok1096]

Who makes that leather setchel type bag? he's using in the first part of this video?

[@VanishingNomad]

Very good vid! Although some of the terminology is different than what i was taught, this is a really solid explanation of the most essential fundamentals!

[@futuresonex]

Animals that are accustomed to travelling in the same area a lot, saddle horses & sled dogs for example, will often know the way home even if you don't. As a general rule however I wouldn't depend on an animal, especially if you're exploring a new area!

[@shidoshirayne]

Dave! Where do you get such good maps at, especially with color and vegetation type stuff?

[@TheKodiak72]

Fantastic video. Thanks!

[@scotmeyer6961]

Great info reminds me of boy scout training

[@bluewaterpines8323]

my sisters husband is a direct descendant if Daniel.his name is Daniel and his mother was Dana Boone!True!

[@TheLordsxdad]

Thank you Dave

[@neilcastell6951]

excellent lesson, well explained, ... thanks for it,

[@vicentemaldonado2268]

Great vid DC

[@xRoachX420x]

You didnt explain what blazing is... i mean i blaze but im almost 110% sure its a diffrent type, please explain

[@lisafisher5440]

thank you

[@Jon6429]

Allways remember "the map is not the territory". Whilst we live in an age of satellite imagery and terrian mapping radar sometines the features actually on the ground can be woefully different to those shown on the map.

[@Ryker_One]

Hey Dave, also, last question! Could you please make more knot tying videos? I loved that recent one you made, that was such a big help.

[@YankeeWoodcraft]

Thanks.

[@DarthVato2010]

As always...an excellent video!!

[@DivergentDroid]

What causes lateral drift and why in your example is it always to the left? I assume lateral drift means you drift off left or right from your intended line of sight target.

[@VRCM_Skywarn_XUSA]

We were called a township, where I live....we founded the area.....ship implying access to water, especially a navigable river....and now they call it a city. I still live in a part called Friendship. But, no one even knows its here. So, It depends whose map, and what yer lookin for. No one even knows where here, and if they do see us they think were trespassers. But we founded the area, and have the original maps. They all stated those were no longer deemed valid. So we have to learn survey...reading, and the older maps are different because of the poles moving since we did the early settlers surveys....might have us of their course, cause no one takes that into consideration.....I think they call that inclination or something related to that....?

[@jfilm7466]

How would an EMP or solar flare mess up our compasses and our magnetic field?

[@pe003]

In England we have a some great maps produced by ordinance survey. however I spend a lot of time in Alaska and was wondering who produces maps in the US and where can I get them

[@TheRobq7]

Just so I know I have my head wrapped around this, does that mean a right side dominant person will eventually walk in a clockwise circle? In other words I will miss my target to the right?

[@lencost1]

Hi Dave, I am fascinated with the old township road that you have mentioned in a couple of your videos. What is left of the township? What is transported in the pipeline?

[@stephenrichardson5237]

Hey Mr Canterbury love your vids what do you think obout a compound bow for survival it has cables instead of Flemish strings so it is more bullet proof you might like my channel I hunt fish trap and I am a bushcrafter hope I can make it to one of your classes