How to Take a Bearing

A bearing, as the Boy Scout book defines it, is the number of degrees between an object in the field and north on your compass. That definition seem a little compacted, but its important to know how to take a bearing, you will use this skill many times in the outdoors. Taking a bearing is easy.

To get a bearing, take the compass in the palm of your hand and put it at stomach level. Point the direction of travel arrow at the target. Now turn the compass housing until the magnetic north needle moves exactly over the doghouse. Now read the degree that is over the direction of travel arrow. You now have a bearing.