What item is crucial to carry when hunting to ensure safety?

Carrying a compass while hunting is crucial for ensuring safety. A compass helps hunters navigate through unfamiliar terrain, especially in dense forests or remote areas where landmarks may not be visible. It provides a reliable means of determining direction and can prevent a hunter from getting lost, which is a significant safety concern in the wilderness. Understanding how to use a compass correctly enhances situational awareness and supports safe navigation back to camp or the vehicle.

While a mobile phone can serve as a navigation tool, its reliability can be compromised by poor reception in remote areas or dead batteries. A camera and a book on animal behavior, while useful in other contexts, do not contribute to immediate safety in the same way that a compass does.