Recently, Casper hunter Travis McMahan survived a two-week stint lost in the Wyoming wilderness. He survived because he made a few key decisions, and kept his wits about him.

There are some basic rules of thumb for surviving in the woods, said John Gookin, the curriculum and research coordinator for the National Outdoor Leadership School.

But the most important thing, is to stay calm and keep your head.

Read more on this story in the Open Spaces section of Thursday's Star-Tribune.