Hunters And Search And Rescue.

This might not be an abuse story, but it involves dogs. It may save a life.

If you are a hunter, this post might save your life someday. And, it is a tribute to the SAR (Search and Rescue) volunteers. Search and Rescue isn't just a dog and its handler. It is a group of highly trained volunteers that come to the aid of people in trouble. There are pilots, group coordinators, chaplains, dog handlers, radio operators and posse leaders. Each of these talented people come together at the touch of a button to help save a life or lives.

If you are a hunter, having these items might save your life and the lives of anyone with you. Always make sure that people know where you will be hunting. Before you start into the woods, make sure someone see where you start from. Whether it be someone at a roadside store or gas station, or just someone else that is hunting the same area. Introduce yourself. This might save your life.

If you get lost, build a fire with green boughs to create a smoke signal type fire. This will be able to be seen by a search plane. Pack extra orange vests to hang on trees and in the snow for a signal. Using logs to create an SOS signal can save your life. Make sure the logs are 10 ft. or longer. I know you have seen people in movies using a mirror to make a flash to attract a plane. This is not just a movie stunt. Practice at home with a mirror. You can also use a pot or even a credit card. This works, don't laugh!

Use a headlamp instead of a flashlight. This frees up your hands to do other life saving duties. Gathering wood, as much as you can, will keep you warm all night. Remember to take kitchen matches, several lighters and butane with flint to keep them going and kept in a plastic bag. Keeping everything in a plastic ziploc is a must.

Did you know that air flows downhill? Pitching your tent in a lee (a valley) with the opening of your tent parallel to with the wind direction, will keep the smoke out of your tent. Insulating yourself from the cold can be done by using a square cut, closed cell sleeping pad. This will insulate you from the ground. If you don't have that, sit on your pad. Hypothermia is a big threat.

Take a whistle with you. Yes, I said a whistle. Blowing 3 blasts at 5 min. intervals, will alert any SAR volunteers in your area. Remember, panic will lead to death. It also leads to dehydration. Using a pot, preferably titanium, weighing less than an ounce, can melt snow for warm drinking water. If you didn't think to bring a tarp, a quick shelter to build is a lean-to using a tree branch for the ridgepole. Always have a small camping saw. This can be used to saw branches for shelter purposes, or fires. Go to the library before going hunting and look up how to build a lean-to. Or, go on the Internet. This small inconvenience could save your life.

Getting a space blanket, the silver looking type blanket, will save body heat if you need to wrap up at night. You can find these online at Cabelas.com. Remember, when you build your shelter to have the branches pointing down to direct the runoff. Use snow, if there is any, to insulate your shelter by banking it up against the sides. Once you build a fire, get out of your blanket and tuck the sides under the shelter edges. This will create a reflecting wall. It provides warmth and light.

SAR volunteers work hard to save lives. You can make their jobs easier if you just think before you start out. Believe me, we want to find you alive, and not have to bring in the cadaver dogs to finish the job. Be smart and you will live through any ordeal in the woods.

Use branches to insulate your body from the ground. Make sure it is about 8 in. thick. Placing a retaining log at the opening of your hut to make a seat and keep the heat from melting the snow under your branch bed. Logs can be used to direct the heat of your fire to the shelter you have made. Remember, if you are wet, take your clothes off, put on dry ones, if you have them, if not, wrap up in your space blanket, and hang your wet clothes by the fire. Hypothermia happens very quickly if you stay in wet clothes.

When you are found, don't forget to thank the people that find you. They are volunteers and give up their lives to help find you. Stop and think before you leave for you hunt. It will save your life.