Duration 24:42

HOW TO USE A COMPASS WITHOUT A MAP

by STOKERMATIC

62 384 watched

2.1 K

Published 6 Apr 2020

In this video we'll walk through how to use a compass without a map. Maybe you're trying to create your own map of a bug out location or personal property. Maybe you're hiking through back-country and don't have a detailed map. You could be day hiking and want to explore the area you're in. Whatever the scenario - you have a compass, no map -- and need to know how to use it to roam around and return back to your starting position! Check out my Amazon Storefront for great bushcraft, survival, and tactical virtue lists and items, it costs you nothing yet supports the channel: https://www.amazon.com/shop/stokermatic To further support the channel, check out https://www.patreon.com/stokermatic In this video, I'll demonstrate how to use a Cammenga Lensatic Compass - it's the compass used by the US Military, and the one I've trusted for decades. It all begins with the idea of exploring a hunting, bug out, cabin, off grid, or backwoods location. There's an area that you need to scout out, and don't have a map. I'll take you to multiple spots at different distances and then how to work your way back to your starting point! First Disclaimer - Be Careful when exploring! This is one of the primary ways to get lost. There are countless of potential dangers if you journey off trail. Snakes. Bears. Cougars. And that's the beginning of dangerous animals. But you also have the hazard of getting lost or lower extremity injuries. So - PLEASE - do not journey off trail if you do not know what your doing. * Disclaimer notice: links to Amazon products are affiliate links. This means that if you click on the link and order a product, I may receive a small commission to help support the channel. Hey - yes you! If you enjoy the content of the video, make sure you subscribe so you can stay up to date on future endeavors. And don't forget to leave a comment below so we can continue the conversation. BTW - you're awesome, thanks for hanging out with me here for a few minutes.

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Comments - 252

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@STOKERMATIC4 years ago Thanks for watching friends! Make sure you hit the like button and subscribe to stay up to date on future content. You can find gear on my Amazon Influencer Page ... 7
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@ithinkimarealboy2402last year People have gone for a 'quick' hike and ended up dying only several hundred feet from their car or the trailhead. This information is incredibly valuable. Thanks man. 22
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@jasong59134 years ago I always say 'tis a lucky man who learns at least one thing every day'. Today l learned something. Thank you and well done. 20
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@user-vg2om4xb4j2 months ago I'm 62, why did it take me so long to become interested in Navigation?A lot to digest looking at the big picture, but even I can understand this.Very informative. Thank You! 1
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@ninjagaming20364 years ago Excellent video man. I am a scout in the National Guard and the rabbit hole goes deep when you have to start calculating the radius of a curve and heaven forbid you come onto a bridge. Thats where the engineers handle it lol! The thing I believe is important to have no matter where you go is a write in the rain handbook. Ive used those things for years. ... 18
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@ThimbelinahRandomGirl4 years ago That was so cool! The way you played out where you had traveled and figured out how to get back without having to backtrack your steps....this was so helpful! I am just getting into survival and prepping for possible bugout. ... 27
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@jameschancey2513 years ago Quickly becoming my favorite channel. I live in the Ocala National Forest in Florida and am way into compasses,maps,and GPS. Love to pick a spot on a topo map and try to find it.Thanks for your excellent info. 15
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@kevindaniel70754 years ago I’m amazed! I learned reading a compass when I was younger, now that I’m older, it still amazes me on how to get home. The 550 cord trick, ( my younger day’s was nylon string), got me out of a big jam.
Good job! 7
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@artistocracy4 years ago I wanted to know how to use my compass and you spelled it out better than anyone else I've see so far! Hey, from Australia where we always look where we step! 14
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@JohnMichael-to8cb5 months ago Mr Stoker, that feeling that you are feeling is the need to feel like a person who is on a beautiful planet, not a hamster living in a box! I have felt it my whole life. Thanks for all your educational videos. Great stuff. Have been binge-watching your channel for two straight days. ...
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@thatsthewayitgoes9last year My Grandfather was a timber cruiser. Lumber companies hire them to walk land and come back with accurate information on tree types & board feet of lumber yield. Area could be a section or 100 sections. He often mentioned a “compass man”. So, I guess on those big 100,000 acre cruise’s, one of the men would keep track, and probably map the area. Besides cruising the timber, he recommended where roads best go for economical timber harvest. You’d be a good timber cruiser or a good compass man. Thanks for passing on your knowledge ... 1
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@karhukivi7 months ago I got lost a few years ago in a Swedish forest, having left my backpack (compass, GPS, torch, knife, food etc) in the car before returning along a 2km trail to retrieve one piece of equipment left behind. I thought it would be a matter of fifteen minutes or so. It was getting dark and began to snow lightly, covering the tracks. I managed to get back to the car 2 hours later thanks to the pages of a notebook, which I used to mark breadcrumb trails until I found some of the flags we had left on a few trees. Since then I always carry a compass, knife and torch on my person as well as a Rite-in-the-Rain notebook & pencil. ...
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@matthewmillis51414 years ago Super helpful with a good practical example on how to continue to expand compass skills. Really appreciate your time in prepping these videos. Always looking for advanced land nav instruction. Thanks 9
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@cashroyale90012 years ago Very, very informative. This is a life saving tool to have! As an avid backpacker I will be using this technique. Thank you for sharing. 3
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@gregp93509 months ago Good stuff. This is good knowledge to have when out and about in the field , wherever that may be. Very practical skill to use & enjoy the great outdoors with. Thanks for the refresher & it's also a good confidence builder too. Trek on my friend. ...
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@davidnickell93817 months ago I've been working on map and compass skills since I was working on my Eagle Scout back in the 60s. I'm still working on those skills and your videos help.
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@Donnie86125 months ago Thank You Very Much! This is exactly what i could not figure out on my own.
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@pengiethebird4 years ago Thanks a lot for the info. I love the idea of recreating the hike with direction and pace notes on the ground with para-cord and sticks. This could come in handy. 5
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@joeljbean2 years ago I'm just now getting into learning this stuff and I must say I appreciate your enthusiasm my good man. You would make a great teacher if you aren't already one. Subscribed! 3
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@johnbernstein2034 years ago ...........it's just a thing! Hadn't heard that since Vietnam and you can add to that......don't mean nothing!
Excellent job and continue to march......all the way! 6
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@clarkbarayuga99892 years ago Awesome tips! Definitely a great reference to utilize in teaching my kid how to conduct general navigation. Thanks for the video. 2
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@paulc2454 years ago Hi, I’m learning about bushcraft, wild camping along with general map and compass navigation but in this video without the map! I liked the way this all came together with the visual representation with stakes and 550 towards the end. Great video. Keep it up... from Paul in Plymouth England. ... 3
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@armwrestling_nerd4 months ago If you have a notepad you can have it as a map for your tracks. Paces/meters representation in millimeters (1:1000 scale when using meters ) and bearing is sketched right from the compass.
When scouting for good berry & mushroom places, you can just sketch "as you go & scan" , then in retrospect you can optimize the tracks on your notebook by connecting/removing/lines in the noteoad depending on your findings. ...
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@beverlymorey1545last year Thanks for the help! Looking forward to seeing what is out in the state park’s hiking.
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@charliereyes12054 years ago Awesome video! Lots of important life saving information for sure. Well done! Thank you for the video!
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@caseykelso13 years ago Best video ever. I'm using your Technique in the deserts of Southern Nevada and it works perfectly. We've been going out an 8th mile ,quarter mile ,and a half mile points and then coming back and it works. Going to start zip zagging and criss crossing and see how close i can get with that also ...thanks for sharing ... 1
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@LiliumBosniacum19214 years ago Your videos are so informative and the way you present it is so amusing... keep it up and thank you!
Stay safe sir! 2
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@ndreyah11603 years ago This was very helpful! Thank you for putting this together 1
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@nickdantzlerward85674 years ago PERFECT for every occasion, thank you sir 1
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@rickm42955 months ago I didnt realize how good your land nav videos were until i tried to watch a few others....DAMN !!!! Thanks for all of the land navigation stuff , it really has unlocked a ton for me. I have my Compass, I ordered a ton of maps ( I mean a ton), I have my protractor and Lord knows I have the Eglin Reservation and surrounding outdoor areas to practice. Since I have I-10 , HWY 85 and HWY 87 as barriers , I know I cant get too lost, lol. Im having fun and a lot of success with land nav now. I bought so many maps that link together , I could walk to Tennessee if I had to....might buy some Arkansas routes , that place is awesome off the beaten path. ...
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@caborico0677last year Great video. Mapping out using paracord, protractor and sticks on ground w/compass pretty cool.
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@mkmulin134 years ago Awesome video! Just added more knowledge to my arsenal. Thank you!!! 1
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@sparkymyrl4 years ago Well spoken and all knowledge. Now I have to get a compass and get it a try. Thank You. 1
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@ericballard92013 years ago Best detailed info on how to use a compass I've seen not an expert compass reader just a bowhunter used it for years to go in and out but the paces and laying out a map and measuring the distance badass I like it
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@Martinezz53Steeen-id8lu9 months ago Thanks you lerning me a soo much ! , will put and try it
😄
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@mikeshea3984 years ago Enjoy your vids. My health is pretty much done and I'm an old military guy. People like you remind me of the Green Mountain Boys of Revolutionary lore - America is safe and sound. Airborne!!! 1
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@jcnme20204 years ago Excellent Video Brother !
Thank You Sir.
It's been decades since I was in the Boy Scouts. 1
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@NinjaHempKnight4 years ago Thank you Stoker for another great video. This is a great response video to the hunting scenario I presented.
" I'm out deer hunting and park my truck (point Alpha). I leave and hit points bravo, charlie, delta. I recorded my asmuth & pacecount, but do not want to backtrack to hit my truck."
I can see with this technique that having a proper pace count and an accurate bearing is super important when creating our map. The further we are away from our truck, the more accuracy matters! if we're off by 3 degrees that's going to be amplified over a greater distance. ... 1
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@charlesmckinneylast year Good Ole cammenga. My favorite. Has been since 1970-74. You mentioned reasons why people get out in the woods. Whatever the reason do it while you're young. It's damned hard at 71 with severe spinal stenosis and a bum ticker. Doctors told me don't do it. I say I'll do it till I can't. Four years in the Seabees taught me to rest when the job is done, not when I'm tired. ...
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@rkovalik3 years ago Thanks for this! Love real world examples. Subscribed!
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@ericdee68024 years ago Awesome and very informative video, thank you very much.✌️🇺🇸
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@louisroy93484 years ago Hello, very good explanation and easily understood. I learned something from this video.
Thanks,
Shine on
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@usualsuspect51732 years ago Great video.. This is what I like about using a compass
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@jeffsmith.35164 years ago Great video packed with great information! Well done! I've seen this method on other YouTube channels & they refer to it as the "PAUL" method (Positive Azimuth Uniform Layout). You are right, if this is used correctly you can find your way back to not only your starting point but to any of the other azimuths previously taken. The only thing I would add to what you showed so well, would be azimuth accuracy. In your video the longest distance you traveled was 225 meters, with the other azimuths being shorter. The azimuth accuracy in the shorter distances doesn't matter to much, you would probably be close enough to see where your trying to go. But on longer treks, each degree off could put you way off course & miss your destination altogether. I would be proud to tag along with you in the wilderness any day! Thanks again for a great video!! ... 2
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@Rickflairshair4 years ago Very useful man. I like the protractor too.
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@ampini2124 years ago Tried out a little bit of land nav based on a simpler state park map with a small tape measure and a cammenga. Tried cutting through the terrain from node point to node point of the main trail intersections. Not bad for the first time out. Very difficult to keep a pace count when the kids are asking questions while attempting to walk through a field of thorn bush. Hahaha
Got the overall understanding. Can't wait to go and try this method.
Thanks ... 1
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@weserwin34309 months ago I remember as a child getting lost on a wooded lot, probably a little more than an acre in size. I knew what side the road was on and which direction from the road back to my house. So not a big deal but it does show how you can get turned around and lose your sense of direction even in a small patch of woods. ...
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@KirstenBayes3 years ago Another excellent vid. Worth saying that if you get turned around / lost, this is how you get un-lost: as you expand your scouted area, you will find trail or signal ;). If the environment is permissive, coloured flagging tape (or as we call it here, mine tape) can help mark camp and waypoints. ... 2
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@charlesadamski_1974 years ago Absolutely value your wisdom.
I grew up in forestry and marine areas and never been lost but I know pure talent when I see it.
I was never as good as you.
Much respect sir.
I'm watching closely to learn better skills. ... 2
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@kenshinkarate34632 years ago Thank you, the map on the ground to nav back to your jump off point was great.
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@lewisward43594 years ago Nice that you finally got to the point. Good job
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@waqasjohar28514 years ago Sir it was very helpful.. Keep on adding up this informative stuff it's very helpful.. Thankyou..
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@seventhsonswainlast month Thanks so much. I recorded your examples of degrees and distance as a training method EXAMPLE for my own land navigation in the near future. I noticed i had the same note book you used. That was cool. The plotting distance of degrees on the ground was so very cool. You’re the first ever to show me that. I really enjoyed your video. Do you have a video specifically showing how to know one’s pace count? ...
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@cosnniran4 years ago great job. I learnt something today. thanks
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@nightlight76544 years ago Great guide, thank you very much for that.
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@deathb4digital3 years ago This was a fantastic demo. Nice Subaru too. 1
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@MA-lq6eb4 years ago EXCELLENT👌!
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!👍 2
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@ronvonbargen84113 years ago When I was 18 me and a friend were on a trip. We stopped at a place called cat creek. I decided to go for a quick hike before it got dark took nothing but my compass. This is in Montana plains. When I was traveling back it seemed like I had gone farther than I should have. And like you said the panic started in. And I was doubting if I read my compass right had direction of travel right ect. Had to stop. tell my self to take a breath. And trust your compass. So once I did that. (instead of running in circles like a scared rabbit) I had to walk about another 200 yards when I crested a hill. And there was the fire rd and the car about 75 yard away. And a big sie of relief. Ever since then I make sure that I and my compass are oriented correctly. ... 2
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@jelsener1004 years ago I live in New Hampshire. I gohikikingbut often you end up on switch back and squirreltrails thru the mountains. What you do seems to work good and whew I grew up in Nebraska but not so much here. Not complaining. Love your videos. Good advice in the right Terrance. ...
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@nlee24923 years ago Awesome explanation!! Very easy to understand… 1
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@PaulHVAC14 years ago Loved it!!! Great example of fieldcraft. Cheers from Alberta!!!
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@CiceroSapiens8 months ago Great video. Would love it if you explained it like you would to a 13 year old that didn't know about it
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@marktownsley43134 years ago Brother man, wished I had some cool places in Nebraska to do some hiking. Things are pretty flat and boring, mostly farm land and golf courses. Thanx for the cool vid! Semper Fi Brother! 💪 3
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@plowboy0064 years ago Awesome I learned to do that last spring I haven't had the chance to use it yet but it's good to know if I'm somewhere unfamiliar.
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@trooper22213 years ago Thank u, I can navigate pretty good, but this techinque u showed with the paracord, and the sticks was always kind of a mystery to me, I never looked in to it much. but thanks , I got it now 1
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@larrybushman13 years ago Very impressive many thanks and greetings from the Uk 1
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@Nepomukje2 years ago Enjoyed the vid. Would have been complete with one example of circumventing an obstacle on your trail line and picking up the correct azimuth again.
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@tbrown1352002last year Awesome video! I particularly like how you recreated your travel on the ground with the paracord and sticks! Super helpful. Does it matter what the scale is on the protractor you used to measure the ground distance on your way back to your SP? Thanks!!! ...
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@ricksilver739811 months ago You cought yourself when you should have tied the compass off to yourself at the same time I thought the thought. And nice job using and showing the paul method on the return. ❤
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@jcnme20204 years ago I will add your video to my Favorites.
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@jasonmashburn12804 years ago Damn brother I love that little map with Paracord. 2
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@gweedo35784 years ago That was pretty damn good man makes perfect sense to me awesome
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@donaldburton6869last year You are right about believing in your compass. I was hunting one time and I was at least 1 mile in from my truck when I decided to sit down and rest. Of course I fell asleep. I was in a big stand of white birches all about 4-6” in diameter. It was an overcast day so I couldn’t look at the sun. I pulled out my compass and took a bearing and of course I didn’t believe it. The next thing you know I was running through the woods with a loaded gun in my hand. Luckily I came out to my truck about 2 miles down the road. I even fired my rifle 3 times and no one responded. That was very scary! ...
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@caseykelso13 years ago 2nd time watching this one. Excellent content, invaluable in fact. I just added 10 , 6" nails . One nail has 5 feet on heavy back line wrapped around it.😉 No map needed to hike around ,or tree stand hunt ...and find the car at the end🤣......Perfect ! Wish they taught us this in boy scouts,but that was 40 years ago...... Now I have to look up the local bsa , make sure they are teaching this type of land nav.🍻 P.A.U.L system right? ... 1
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@MrJeronlewis3 years ago I love the outdoors. Never been lost but sometimes wish it would happen. 1
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@matthewburden94033 years ago Yo! This is probably THE best on-hands demonstration in practical compass usage. AGAIN, not using a map or adjusting magnetically. If you can present more complex applications of compass usage in the same manner, serious students as myself would greatly benefit by your supurb instrction. Thanks! BM3 Burden USCG ... 1
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@alexblue69913 years ago A few years ago my wife and I went for our usual Sunday forest walk with our dog we were so confident that we knew our way we didn't take compass or mobile phone but on this occasion heavy snow storm started everything look so different covering all the paths back to the car we got lost for a few hours Alec from Scotland ...
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@isshinryu11last year I've done some land now through the military but I've never seen this technique used before. Great knowledge. What about dropping protractor out, and use the side of the compass for distance.
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@mikebordner38205 months ago Great video, seems like simple and potentially life saving info to get you back to your starting point without a map. How are we saying the full length of the protractor is scaling fifty meters or are you just using the length of the protractor as a general guide? ...
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@shopsteward62923 years ago Good lesson, I'm going to try it out soon. Have you ever thought of using a Fitness Step counter, for distance, if not do you think it would work? 1
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@happytrails85953 years ago Really good video. Do you have a video for obstacles in the way when traveling? 1
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@LetsTubetalk3 years ago Great shortcut to find back azmith called Move the 2. If the first digit is a 0 or 1, ADD a 2 and then SUBTRACT a 2 from the second digit. If the first digit is a 2 or 3, SUBTRACT 2 and ADD 2 to the second digit. For example: the reciprocal of 040 degrees? As the first number is 0, add 2; and then subtract 2 from the second digit. The result is 220 degrees. ... 1
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@404errorpagenotfound.63 years ago That's fine for hiking etc, what happens when you are searching around or chasing something, you can't count paces or get bearings.
My solution is I just tell my dogs to jump in the truck and they go straight to the vehicle. Keeping up is the only problem but they come back and find me. Works in the dark as well with an led on them. I don't use collars because they get hung up in brush ... 1

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HOW TO USE A COMPASS WITHOUT A MAP

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