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One of the tricky parts of navigating with a compass is that magnetic north isn't the same as true north. The angle between the two--known as the declination--varies depending on your location.

How to Use a Compass. Understanding Declination. FAQs. Final Thoughts. Parts of a Compass. ... The north-seeking arrow should stay pointing to magnetic north as the compass moves.

If magnetic north lies directly between you and true north, then you’ll have a declination of zero. But in most areas, you’ll have to add or subtract to what your compass reads as north.

Now when the compass needle is inside the orienting needle, the compass bearing that you read off your compass will be in relation to true north instead of magnetic north. If you have a fixed-ring ...

In Maine, magnetic declination currently varies between 14-1/2 and 17 degrees west of true north, depending on your location. Spread your map out on a table and let’s do a quick exercise.