Bushcraft and Survival Skills

It makes no difference what you are prepping for, a SHTF scenario, natural or man made disaster, you need to put together a disaster preparedness kit and checklist to give you and your loved ones a greater chance of survival. It is recommended that you prepare your family to be self-sufficient and self-reliant for at least three days to a week - Keep in mind these suggestions are only Bare Minimum!

Some suggested Preps:

Water:

Store one gallon per person per day. Two quarts for drinking and two quarts for cooking.

Food:

You should have enough non-perishable foods on hand that your family can survive on for at least three days to one week.

Your food items should require no:

• Refrigeration
• Preparation or cooking
• Little or no water

Choose foods that are compact, nutritionally dense, and have a long shelf life.

Cooking:

You should also have several alternative methods for cooking -

• Camp stove/ w Extra Fuel
• Barbecue Grill
• Open Fire

Bug Out Bag, Go Bag, 72 Hr Kit Contents:

• Mess Kit: Plates, Cups, Utensils
• Emergency Preparedness Manual / Survival Manual
• Battery Operated /Manual Crank Flashlight & Radio / w Extra Batteries
• Waterproof Matches / Lighter / Fire Steel
• Candles, Battery Operated Lamps, Lanterns /w Extra Lantern Fuel
• Medical Kit / w First-Aid Manual
• 30 Day Supply of your Prescription Medication if needed
• High Quality Vitamin Supplements
• Can Opener / P-38
• Survival Knife & Camp Axe
• Aluminum Foil
• Garbage Bags / Ties
• Important Documents
• Ample Cash
• Tent / Sleeping Bag / Wool Blankets / Sleeping Mat
• Change of Seasonal Clothes per Person
• Multi-Tool
• Duct-Tape
• Compass
• Water Filter / Water Sanitation Tablets
• Extra Bottled Water
• Canteen / w Metal Cup
• Ziploc / Plastic Bags / Plastic Containers
• Signaling Devices
• Needle & Thread
• Heavy Water Proof Tarp / Drop Cloth/ Plastic Sheeting
• Paracord / Rope / Twine
• Up to Date Local Map
• Sanitation / Personal Hygiene Items
• Feminine supplies
• Soaps / Detergents
• OTC Medicines / Pain Relievers / Antacids / Anti-diarrhea
• Extra Pair of Boots or Shoes / Wool Socks per Person
• Work Gloves
• Rain Gear
• Hats / Gloves
• Sunglasses / Extra Prescription Glasses / Contact Lenses and Supplies

You should have all your important documents organized during normal times; during disasters (man made or natural), you will want to make it a priority. Use this checklist to assemble your documents and make sure they're all up-to-date. You may want to keep some documents in a safe deposit box, fire-proof safe or other secure location. If so, keep copies handy for easy access and take them with you in the even of a disaster.

• Financial Statements
• Bank address and phone number (include all account numbers)
• Retirement accounts name, address, phone numbers
• Credit card numbers and expiration dates
• Birth certificates
• Marriage certificates
• FOID Cards
• Divorce decrees
• Passport
• Citizenship papers
• Adoption papers
• Social Security Cards
• Drivers Licenses
• State and Federal Tax Records
• Fire, Homeowners, and Renters insurance policies
• Life insurance policies
• U.S. Savings Bonds, stocks, securities, deeds and mortgages
• Car title and registration
• Automobile insurance Policies / Cards
• Last will and testament
• Extra set of house and car keys

Considerations for your pets

• Names and descriptions of any pets
• Veterinarian's name, address and phone number
• Extra Food & Water for your pets

Considerations for small children & babies:

• Canned or Powered Formula
• Diapers & Wipes
• Bottles & Nipples
• Powered Milk
• Baby Food
• Medications & Ointment
• Entertainment: Games & Books

Other considerations would include:

• Alternate methods of communications should land lines, cell phones, and internet go down, some suggestions might include battery operated walkie talkies / 2 way radios / FRS/GRS radios etc.
• Alternate evacuation routes and modes of transportation.
• Pre-determined Rendezvous points / Meeting Places.

This is just a rough list of suggestions and items, feel free to add / or delete items for your own personal needs.

Its not just could you leave loved ones behind but would you want to survive without them. The Humanity factor is something most don't consider when training for "bug out scenarios". Asking yourself the hard, dark questions. And could your morality allow to do abandon your friends and family only to out survive them alone.

Vacuum Seal a Mason Jar with a Handcrank Pump - Food Storage SHTF Survival Prep

How to seal a mason jar WITHOUT an electric vacuum sealer.

I didnt need a big expensive Foodsaver Electric Vacuum Sealer. This automotive vacuum pump and wide mouth mason jar sealer works well for the one thing i need it for... sealing food for storage in glass jars.

This is also good for disaster preppers and SHTF food storage that works even when the electricity goes out.

survival food storage prep prepper this week shtf survivalist preparedness natural disaster zombie attack dehydrated tomatoes

Tags: shtf survival preparedness preppers disaster survivalist prep

Survival Bow Trap

• A survival bow trap is dangerous to man as well as animals, use and construct with extreme caution!
• To construct this trap, build a bow and anchor it to the ground with pegs.
• Adjust the aiming point as you anchor the bow. Lash a toggle stick to the trigger stick.
• Two upright sticks driven into the ground hold the trigger stick in place at a point where the toggle stick will engage the pulled bow string.
• Place a catch stick between the toggle stick and a stake driven into the ground.
• Tie a trip wire or cordage to the catch stick and route it around stakes and across the game trail where you tie it off.
• When the prey trips the trip wire, the bow will fire an arrow into it.
• A notch in the bow serves to help aim the arrow.

Below are different examples of survival bow traps.

In this video I will be showing you how to make a Bow Trap hope you like it

a bow trap

Tags: * bow * trap * survival * hunt * hunting * hunter * bushcraft * wilderness * trapping

Some thoughts on Bushcraft as part of your skills base of being more self-reliant

Any SHTF Scenario or survival situation will have unique aspects that alter the order in which tasks need to be accomplished. It is useful to think in blocks of time.

Example:

First 24 hours

The first 24 hours are crucial in any survival situation. You must make an initial assessment of your situation. Hostiles, weather, terrain, remaining daylight, and available resources will determine which tasks you need to accomplished first.

They should be the following:

1. Shelter
2. Fire
3. Water
4. Signaling

Second 24 hours

After the first 24 hours have passed, you will now know if you can survive. This time period needs to be spent on expanding your knowledge of the area.

By taking the following actions, you will be able to gain valuable knowledge.

• Tools and weapons.

  By scouting a short distance from your shelter to locate the necessary resources, look for water, edible food sources, and game trails.

• Traps and snares.

  As you move further away from your shelter to set traps and snares, you will be able to locate your shelter area from various vantage points. This will enable you to identify likely avenues of approach into your shelter area.

• OPSEC ( Operational Security )

  Knowing the likely avenues of approaches of both man and animal, you can effectively place noise and casualty producing path guards to ensure the security of your shelter area.

For the remainder of your survival situation. This time is spent on continuously improving your survival situation until you are rescued.

Survival Situations & Natural Reactions.

We as humans have been able to survive many changes in our environment throughout the ages. This inherent and innate ability enables us to adapt both mentally and physically to a constantly changing world that keeps us alive. The average person will have some psychological reactions in a Survival Situation or SHTF Scenario.

Listed here are possible major visceral reactions and emotions you might experience within a Survival Situation or SHTF Scenario:

• FEAR. Fear, also known as "Fight or Flight Response", is one possible emotional reaction to a dangerous situation that we believe may have the potential to cause injury, illness or even death. Fear can have a positive effect, as it has the ability to heighten our senses and force us to be more cautious in situations where reckless actions could result in injury.
• ANXIETY. Anxiety is an uneasy, apprehensive feeling of impending doom we get when faced with potentially dangerous situations. A survivor will reduce his or her anxiety by keeping focused on tasks that will ensure their coming through the SHTF ordeal alive.
• ANGER & FRUSTRATION. Frustration arises when a person feels he or she is continually thwarted in his or her attempts to reach a goal. One result of frustration is anger. Possible causes could be, getting lost, breaking or losing equipment, bad weather, inhospitable terrain, or even your own physical limitations are just a few. Frustration and anger can lead to impulsive reactions, irrational behavior, bad decisions, and in some cases, an "I quit" or "I give up" attitude.

• DEPRESSION Depression is close cousin with frustration and anger when faced with the hardships of survival situations or you find that everything is FUBAR. This can lead to a destructive cycle between anger and frustration, and can continue until the person becomes worn down-physically, mentally and emotionally. At this point, he or she starts to give up, and his focus shifts from "What can I do" to "There is nothing I can do." Which if left unchecked, will ultimately lead to your untimely death.
• LONELINESS & BOREDOM Man is, by nature, a social animal and enjoys the company of others. Loneliness and boredom can be another source of depression. For one to survive, you must find ways to keep your mind productively occupied.
• GUILT Whatever circumstances have lead you to your survival situation can sometimes be dramatic or even tragic. It could have been the result of a horrific accident, or some other SHTF scenario, where there was a loss of life. Perhaps you were the sole survivor, or one of a few, survivors left. While naturally relieved to be alive, you might find yourself to be simultaneously mourning the deaths of others who were not as fortunate. If you are to survive, then it is imperative to muster the strength to carry on. Do not let feelings of guilt prevent you from living.

Discussing some basic Search and Rescue techniques and give out as much information as I feel I can safely and responsibly about "Guard" freqs.

Tags: * search and rescue * survival skills * survival kit * survival radio * hunting * fishing * camping * Survival Skills Hunting

because of your great reaction to my "5 bushcraft myths" vid i thought to make another... enjoy!

Tags: * bushcraft * myths * splitting wood * universal edibility test * body heat * survival * outdoors * wilderness * Survival Skills