Quick Answer
If your GPS fails while hunting, stay calm, assess your surroundings, and use natural navigation techniques to reorient yourself, then try to contact your hunting party or call for help if necessary.
Staying Oriented
When your GPS fails, start by taking note of your surroundings. Look for distinctive landmarks, such as mountain peaks, valleys, or ridges. Take a mental note of the direction you last got a signal and try to recreate that path mentally. This can help you understand your general direction. Mountain goats often inhabit steep, rocky terrain, so be aware of your environment and use the terrain to help guide you. For example, if you’re hunting in a mountainous region, you can use the direction of the sun to estimate the direction you need to go.
Using the Compass and Natural Navigation
If you have a compass, use it to take a bearing and try to get your bearings again. If you don’t have a compass, look for natural navigation aids such as the North Star or the sun. Use the shadow of a stick or a rock to estimate the direction of the sun. The North Star is the brightest star in the night sky and is aligned with the Earth’s axis. It can be used to determine due north. In the Northern Hemisphere, the North Star is Polaris, which is located in the constellation Ursa Minor.
Communicating with Your Party and Calling for Help
If you’re unable to reorient yourself, try to contact your hunting party using a two-way radio or a satellite phone. If you’re in a remote area with no cell service, use a whistle to signal for help. Three short blasts on a whistle can signal for help, and multiple whistles can indicate the number of people in distress. If you have a satellite phone, use it to call for help. Make sure to stay calm and provide your location to the person you’re calling.
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