What woodsmanship skills do you use

As we live in an era of modern conveniences, the need to survive off the land is a lost skill.
But, as Bowhunters who spend time in the woods and forests we hunt, some are nessesary to us.
What woodsmanship skills do you use, feel are important/nessesary, needed, etc...

Seem to always carry
compass
map
Mora knife
flint fire starter
folding saw
snakebite kit (warm weather)
pocket notebook/pencil

I may have answered your question incorrectly.

It all depends on how you look at it...
The knowledge and experience of what to take into the woods is definatly important.
I actually was thinking more in terms of what skills were used to be able to live off the land. It seems that more and more we have let go of being able to provide oneself with the ability to, as I mentioned earlier, "live off the land".
We live in a society of modern conveniences, with everything we need right at our finger tips that woodsmanship is a lost art.
I could take my step daughter out into the woods and tell her to "make it out alive" and she would probably die of exposure before the night was over....
While I realize most of us just enter the woods early in the morning, maybe make a day of it, or leave for lunch, not really needing to live off the land. But, what if it came to that? Or, what skills make it easier for you in the woods while hunting?
What skills do you possess that you use in the woods (woodsmanship)?
Maybe even what would you like to learn that maybe you don't know?

When I was 9 years old growing up in south florida near the everglades, my dad took my brothers and I out into the Everglades National forest for a week with nothing but an endless supply of .22 rounds, cane poles a tent and earthworms.  No food to speak of.  Plenty of bottled water but no food.  I thought he was insane. I must say, we made it.  I quickly learned to be very accurate with my nylon 66 .22.  I learned to not let fish steal bait and set the hook at the proper time.  I learned a lot from that trip.  I got sick of eating squirrels and catfish but the lessons learned were priceless.  I'm positive that one trip my dad crazily put together has made me a better hunter and a better man.

There is nothing in the woods at night time that isn't there during the day time. It always amazes me how skittish some hunters are when it is time to leave the truck 1.5 hours before daybreak. I really don't have a problem being in the woods in the dark...its the same woods, you just can't see anything really well without a flashlight.

Also, I may not know exactly where I am at times, but I would never consider myself lost. I've seen guys get worked up and hastily run off in the completely wrong direction because they lost their wits when they couldn't figure out the best way to get back to the truck!

NanookOdaNorth wrote:There is nothing in the woods at night time that isn't there during the day time. It always amazes me how skittish some hunters are when it is time to leave the truck 1.5 hours before daybreak. I really don't have a problem being in the woods in the dark...its the same woods, you just can't see anything really well without a flashlight.

Also, I may not know exactly where I am at times, but I would never consider myself lost. I've seen guys get worked up and hastily run off in the completely wrong direction because they lost their wits when they couldn't figure out the best way to get back to the truck!

I have heard of some hardcore gents who walk in without a flashlight at all! Not me  

I think being in the woods at night and being comfortable depends somewhat on where you are.
Here in the Northeast, in Central NY, there is not much to worry about in the dark.
Some other places you might get Lions and Tigers, and Bears, Oh My!
Okay, maybe not Tigers.... 

I am always going in complete darkness and coming out in complete darkness.  I can see if one is claustraphobic (sp?) the dark woods can be intimidating.  When in thicker woods, the light gives a sensation of being in a confined area.

And I agree, it depends on where you are.  Lions, bears and yes tigers could be a concern.

I do not have to worry about those animals; but I am concerned with dogs or a  rabid critter that I cannot see.

I compliment my hunts with the available modern conveniences. That said, I think one should be able to scout, find a stand site, and be able to successfully take a deer from that site without the use of trailcams, bait, gps to get you back and forth, or any of the conveniences we have all become used to, and have the skills to accomplish a hunt in that fashion.

I will be on day hunts.
Sometimes all day, sometimes only part of the day.
Mostly in areas I know pretty well from growing up, or scouting.
I know I can
-find/make shelter
-Build a fire (lighter, matches, fire starter tool) in all kinds of weather
-Pretty good with directions, and always carry, and can use, a compass. Got GPS on my phone if needed.
-Know first aid and how to apply it
- know some basic plants (should learn more)
These are what I can do. Could I survive? I think so. For how long? That is another question....
I know for my situation I am capable to get by. I grew up in the woods. Spent most of my free time there,Got in trouble/grounded many, many times for not getting home until after dinner from losing track of time, just never hunted until now.

I have more skills than I will ever use in the areas I will hunt. I'll never be further than 1/2 mile from a house or busy road. But aside from not having to survive in a distant, far area I still will use basic hunting skills if not survival skills. Reading maps, drawing maps, knowing all the food sources, picking a good ambush site/building the blind, etc. Meat and potatoes basic hunting I guess you would say.