Hugh - thank you for the input.
I know I'm complicating things - but so very conscious of how typed words can be mis--interpreted; without intonation, facial expression etc. So if I may caveat that read your comments entirely without rancour and hope my response is received in the same manner.
Its very useful to have balancing views rather than group 'love-in' or 'trial by forum' type posts so prevalent elsewhere. Think I'm at risk over -using the phrase refreshing!
As in life, I find much we agree on, something we agree on for different reasons and some differences to an extent worth note.
Stalking is a sub-division of both shooting, wildlife observation and outdoor pursuit - as such its a gear fetishist paradise!
And as is often the case, what really matters is the person rather than the gear n gadgets. I've reached that stage in the game where I ( by no one's bigger surprise than my own ) find myself entering the province of being an 'old fogey'. Conversations with peers become rather repetitive ( but its ok because we never remember them
) and the subject of newcomers trying to buy their way into experience & skill is common. In that context, wholeheartedly agree with your opening sentence.
But my first variance is with your second. There are lots of caveats such as mobile reception, people around etc etc. But incidents happen anywhere. I would suggest that with very few exceptions, it is a rare day when you can predict exactly where you are, what you are doing and what will happen - and the availability of assistance. If I have the correct information, the gentleman in the USA that was found in October was within a few hundred feet of a major and heavily used highway, in an area with general mobile reception - just not where his vehicle landed.
Risk and its assessment is a broad pew. A key tenet is freedom - both of choice and to accept responsibility. I don't know the exact nature of your station walk in the woods - so cant comment. I fully respect your assessment and choice. There's an element we agree on - technology should never be a replacement for common sense. Its a negative aspect of human nature. I was doing some Police based driver training in the early 90's as airbags where coming into general use. Emergency services noted a more cavalier attitude from drivers in airbag equipped cars. Instructors discussed a similar issue with students. Almost subconsciously they felt that the airbag rather than make existing behaviour safer gave a 'license' to push the envelope. It was very interesting - a similar mindset had not really occurred with mandatory seat belts, was the gadget/ technology aspect that was the root difference?
I do not carry a PLB because I expect an incident to occur. But having thought through the things I do and the places I do them it represents a valid personal choice. Others will be different. But very closely allied to that personal circumstantial need is responsibility to others. As I've mentioned I carry a PLB as much as a duty to others as for my benefit. That is in terms of people that may come out to look for me. But wider, taking people - often inexperienced of the outdoors - out professional there's a further layer of obligation upon me and a strong practical element.
Picking up on your lowland comments. A friend and long served professional stalker around the Central belt had a foreign client out. They had a long day out and were returning with a stag in tow. He misplaced his step on a down gradient and the stag collided with him. One of those instances where you couldn't make it up - the stag's antlers pierced his sleeves ( but not him ) and effectively pinned him in place! With his hands locked, the slope and weight of the stag he couldn't move. The client was able to help free him. But it set him thinking - if an antler had pierced him and them pinned him what could have happened? The client spoke little English and would be hard pressed to describe the situation or the location. If he sent the client for help how would he fair? There was no mobile signal.
As it happened, their outing had been a circular one - they were in fact less than 200 yds from a layby on an A road where their vehicle was. But out of sight and sound of the road.
The PLB makes sense for me - but isnt a panacea by any means. I think we are solid on that!
Your final sentence strikes a chord as well - my view is that PLB have been spectacularly poorly marketed. In the fieldsports world they are virtually unheard of, few of the bushcraft 'guru's every acknowledge ( in 'character' ) their existence. So I totally agree too much gear is promoted with a capital P and there is way to much advertising 'puff' about generally. But iromically the PLB remains unsung in my view!
Hope that makes sense and is read in spirit intended Hugh - friendly discussion.
Appreciate getting long here - but brief update. Spent two days out with a client who has just got a Delorme In Reach - the new model with integral screen. So had the chance to see it in action. I'll post some pics etc when get the chance.
For the client it made a great deal of sense - the text function is essential to him. Close second his brother loves to stalk with him, but cant always get away. With the track function he was vicariously enjoying the outing from the discomfort of his office - simply by following the plots. Stalking the next spectator sport? Probably not
BUT - lots of functions and buttons. OK SOS mode was a simple ( though quite small ) lock button and single activate button. But cold, tired or stressed, it was a lot to navigate/ follow. The main point was that on checking the unit at intervals it seemed to be getting only about 80% of the waypoints transmitted. This was in quite thick commercial forestry at about 300 metres with some steepish slopes - but no deep gullys etc. What if you were pinned at a location with no signal?
Nothing scientific at all but felt worth using up one of the full Ranger PLB test cycles - we found a spot with no In-reach signal and I activated full self test on the PLB - it obtained GPS lock in about 50 seconds.
On flip side - there has been an instance of a stalker dying - through a pre-existing medical condition - and it taking several days to find him. They would not likely have had chance to activate a PLB, but Inreach set to tracking would have either marked their location or at least the path they were following.
All of which leads back to Hughes contention about 'enjoying' the outdoors whilst carrying 40 kilo's of electronics!
