Bushcraft and Survival Skills

"Survival in the North Temperate Regions: Living Off The Land"

US Navy training film aimed at downed pilots telling how to hunt or harvest and prepare food, including animals, plants, fruits, berries, and nuts, between 45 degrees and 70 degrees north latitude (although much of the advice would apply anywhere).

"How to survive under emergency conditions in the north temperate regions."

After water, man's most urgent requirement is food. In contemplating virtually any hypothetical survival situation, the mind immediately turns to thoughts of food. Unless the situation occurs in an arid environment, even water, which is more important to maintaining body functions, will almost always follow food in our initial thoughts. The survivor must remember that the three essentials of survival--water, food, and shelter--are prioritized according to the estimate of the actual situation. This estimate must not only be timely but accurate as well. Some situations may well dictate that shelter precede both food and water.

ANIMALS FOR FOOD
Unless you have the chance to take large game, concentrate your efforts on the smaller animals, due to their abundance. The smaller animal species are also easier to prepare. You must not know all the animal species that are suitable as food. Relatively few are poisonous, and they make a smaller list to remember. What is important is to learn the habits and behavioral patterns of classes of animals. For example, animals that are excellent choices for trapping, those that inhabit a particular range and occupy a den or nest, those that have somewhat fixed feeding areas, and those that have trails leading from one area to another. Larger, herding animals, such as elk or caribou, roam vast areas and are somewhat more difficult to trap. Also, you must understand the food choices of a particular species.

You can, with relatively few exceptions, eat anything that crawls, swims, walks, or flies. The first obstacle is overcoming your natural aversion to a particular food source. Historically, people in starvation situations have resorted to eating everything imaginable for nourishment. A person who ignores an otherwise healthy food source due to a personal bias, or because he feels it is unappetizing, is risking his own survival. Although it may prove difficult at first, a survivor must eat what is available to maintain his health...

BIRDS
All species of birds are edible, although the flavor will vary considerably. You may skin fish-eating birds to improve their taste. As with any wild animal, you must understand birds' common habits to have a realistic chance of capturing them. You can take pigeons, as well as some other species, from their roost at night by hand. During the nesting season, some species will not leave the nest even when approached. Knowing where and when the birds nest makes catching them easier. Birds tend to have regular flyways going from the roost to a feeding area, to water, and so forth. Careful observation should reveal where these flyways are and indicate good areas for catching birds in nets stretched across the flyways. Roosting sites and waterholes are some of the most promising areas for trapping or snaring.

Nesting birds present another food source--eggs. Remove all but two or three eggs from the clutch, marking the ones that you leave. The bird will continue to lay more eggs to fill the clutch. Continue removing the fresh eggs, leaving the ones you marked.

MAMMALS
Mammals are excellent protein sources and, for Americans, the most tasty food source. There are some drawbacks to obtaining mammals. In a hostile environment, the enemy may detect any traps or snares placed on land. The amount of injury an animal can inflict is in direct proportion to its size. All mammals have teeth and nearly all will bite in self-defense. Even a squirrel can inflict a serious wound and any bite presents a serious risk of infection. Also, a mother can be extremely aggressive in defense of her young.

Any animal with no route of escape will fight when cornered. All mammals are edible; however, the polar bear and bearded seal have toxic levels of vitamin A in their livers. The platypus, native to Australia and Tasmania, is an egg-laying, semi-aquatic mammal that has poisonous glands. Scavenging mammals, such as the opossum, may carry diseases.

US Navy training, survival training film, survival, food, survival cooking, survival hunting, survival trapping, harvesting, survival food, wild edible plants,

This is a simple fish trap based on the concept of a spring snare but modified to be more effective in more situations. The deadfall can be setup almost anywhere and has many advantages over a spring snare.

Tags: * survival fishing * primitive fishing * primitive trapping * survival school * dead fall trap * fish trap * primitive fish trap * fishing

Survival Spring Pole Snare

The spring pole snare requires a small sapling and cordage to construct. The trigger for the spring pole is the toggle. It is designed to lift the animal off the ground; not allowing predatory animals to take your game. Remember, the trigger can not be so tight that the intended game can not set it off.

SURVIVAL SPRING POLE SNARE

Survival Fishing Spear

If you are near shallow water (about waist deep) where fish are large and plentiful, you can spear them.

(1) Cut an 18-24" long straight hardwood sapling, fire harden if green.

(2) Sharpen one end of the sapling.

(3) Shave two green saplings to serve as prongs.

(4) Carve barbs on the prongs.

(5) Notch main staff to support prongs.

(6) Lash the prongs to the main staff.

(7) Prongs that do not easily flex under the weight of a finger need to be shaved and thinned, prior to lashing.

(8) To spear fish, find an area where fish either gather or where there is a fish run. Place the spear point into the water and slowly move it towards the fish. Then, with a sudden push, impale the fish on the stream bottom. Do not try to lift the fish with the spear. Hold the spear with one hand and grab and hold the fish with the other. Do not throw the spear as you will probably lose it.

SURVIVAL FISHING SPEAR

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SURVIVAL FISHING SPEAR VARIATIONS

Bushcraft Bow And Arrow 2 Part Play List

Part 1
Title:
bushcraft skills: how to make a bow (just a very basic one... yet effective!)
Description:
making bows is a fine art, but one can make a crude bow in a very short time and with little effort. i used hazel, which is imo the perfect wood for this kind of bow: soft enough to be easy to carve, strong (especially if fire hardened) and elastic enough to make a decent bow. i intentionally didn't tiller the bow, just to show that even a not-so-perfect bow can be usable... also, i decided to skip the fire hardening, which would have resulted into a stronger bow. the whole thing took about half of hour an very little effort.

Part 2
Title:
bushcraft skills: how to make an arrow (just a very basic one... yet effective!)
Description:
many say that an arrow is much hard to make than a bow... and they might be right! arrow making requires time, patience, skill, resources and tools. that is, if you have all of the above and you want a really good arrow. but, if you need an arrow "right now", maybe you can settle for a less-than-perfect-arrow, that still works within certain limits. in this vid, i try to prove that a very basic arrow (that is easy to make in a short time with just a knife) can be accurate at a decent range and can deliver a lot of impact/penetration, more than enough to take small game (if you can get close enough). bow hunting is prohibited in Romania, so i never shot an arrow to a living target, but i got in numerous occasions close enough to small game to be able to use even such a crude arrow with a fair chance to a clean kill. even if i prefer a good arrow, it's nice to know that i can make and use a more basic one, too.

Desciption: I demo a simple fishing pole that is built in the wilderness from natural materials and a safety pin. I also show you how to use the pole without the safety pin. Also shown is where to find live bait and how to make a quick fish stringer from local materials.

FOOD
----
MRE (Meal, Ready to Eat)'senough to last 30 days
2 months of food in the pantry (American Red Cross recommends canned food)
Canned veggies (Use water in the can as supplemental drinking water)
Corn, potatoes, peas, canned
Canned fruitpears
Canned tuna
Beans, canned
Beef stew, canned
Chicken, canned white meat
Chili, canned
Milk, canned
Granola bars
Peanut butter and jelly
Crackers
Dried beans, rice, pasta
Warm drinks
Pudding, canned
Juices
Cereals
Nuts, raisins, candy, soups
Dried fruit
Extrascatsup, honey, jam/jelly, salt/pepper
Date the cans and rotate stock
Store non-perishable foods in empty coffee cans
Can opener (non-electric)
o Also about 4 weeks worth of backpacking food, freeze dried & nitrogen packed
o High caloric items to keep up your strength
o Add a supply of good single malt scotch to your stash. (This is no joke.)
Aside from the fact that it makes good trading material, and *maybean OK
field expedient pain killer or disinfectant (don't take my word on the
latter), it's a great way of calming shot nerves. Keep in mind that even
though it may feel like it warms you, it really does the opposite, which
can be bad in cold weather. Also, don't get so squashed that you can't
respond to aftershocks or emergency situations. Guns and booze don't mix.
o cigarettes or pipe tobacco (if you're a smoker, so don't start now) :^)

WATER

50 to 60 gallons of water1/21 gallon/day
Heavy 5 gallon storage containers from Tri-City (about $14 each)
30 and 40 gallon storage containers from Rational Behavior
Hand water filter/pump (They can be purchased at Big 5 and will filter
almost any dirty water into clean). It will also kill bacteria such as
Giardia. It won't take out things unless the molecules are bigger than
2 microns.

CLOTHING

Good solid footwear (with ankle support)
Combat boots
Work gloves
Extra clothing (At least 5 days worth)
Underwear
Shirts
Work pants
Wool & cotton blend socks
Goose-down or Dacron II backpacking clothing
Layered clothing
Windbreaker outerwear (gortex if possible)
Wool medium layerIt stays warm even when wet (Don't forget mothballs)
Cotton or polypropylene inner layer
Silk is also very good

SUPPLIES

Flashlight and batteries (waterproof & explosion proof)
Don't keep batteries in the flashlight; store in freezer
Extra bulbs
Watch or clockbattery or spring wound
Radio and batteries (don't keep batteries in the radio)
Toilet paper (20-30 rolls for sanitation as well as for bargaining)
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Soap
Deodorant
Liquid detergent
Shampoo
Household bleach
Powdered chlorinated limeadd to sewage to deodorize, disinfect, and keep
away insects
Large, plastic trash bags
Towels
Paper towels
Paper plates, napkins/paper towels, plastic eating utensils, plastic cups
Blankets
Sleeping bags
4-8 pack of replacement batteries (rotate stock; keep in freezer)
Knife & razor blades
Garden hose, for siphoning and firefighting
Condoms
Money (at least $100.00 allin small bills & plenty of change)
Scissors
Tweezers
Rubbing alcohol
Sponges
o Pre-moistened towelettes
o Ground cloth
o Candles
o Matchesdipped in wax and kept in waterproof container
o Newspaper, to wrap garbage and waste in
o Large trash cans
o Coleman lanterns
o Stoves
Gasoline stoves and 10 gallons of white gas
Propane stove with an 11 lb propane tank
Weber and charcoal, lighter or sterno stove
Big kitchen matches in a water-tight container
o Potsat least 2
o Chafing dish
o Heavy duty aluminum foil
o 8,000 btu heater that runs on propane
o 12 volt battery backup system
o Medium sized generator to maintain the refrig, provide minimal lighting, and
for power tools
o TentsFour-man dome tent, or regular 9X9 tent
o Set up for at least a week. That's my minimum time
o Fold up toilet seat. (Sure beats squatting.)

TOOLS

Fire extihguisher (A-B-C type)
Shovels, pick, axe, other 'round-the-house tools
Broom
Crescent wrench, screw driver, pliers, hammer
Coil of 1/2" rope
Coil of bailing wire
Plastic tape
Small and large crowbar (18") to help with jammed doors
Small one in the bedroom
Large one out in the shed
Small, high quality, tomahawk or hatchet (useful for opening car roofs, house
doors, and for clearing rubble)
Knifes
A big one (like 8-10" fixed blade) to cut, hack, and to a limited amount,
pry, to make emergency shelters, do emergency surgery, kill alien invaders
A little one (either 4" fixed blade/locking folder, or a large swiss army
knife) to do yet more surgery, as well as more mundane things such as peel
veggies, cut rope, open boxes
New designs of serrated edges that will cut through anything more quickly
than a straight edged knife
Paramedic rescue knife (has an edge and a little bolt which enables it to
be opened with one hand)
Sharpening device
o Trauma shears and pouch (20 times more useful than any knife I've ever had.)
The knife is very concealable as the pouch appears only to hold the shears
o Leatherman (TM) Pocket Multi-Tool
o A cold chisel
o Bolt cutter
o Guns
.22 long rifle semi-auto handgun is nice for small game hunting,
shooting feral dogs (practice!), and for self-defense (practice!)
Larger caliber handgun, primarily useful for self-defense only
"High-powered" rifle, in semi-auto or bolt action
12 guage pump action, or semi-auto, shotgun
Reloading equipment

FIRST AID KIT GEARED TO MAJOR TRAUMA

Sterile eye wash
Any long-term medications for family or pets (make sure they are current)
Large cold packs (disposable)Kwik-Cold is the best brand I've used.
1 space blanket
Bandagesstore in Zip Lock bags
2 4-inch wide roller bandages (Bulk non-sterile)
Not all roller bandages are conforming, or stretch( plain gauze won't
adhere well)
J&J SOF, and the Kendall Conform are the best, both are sold at Med Choice
Can pour Betadine on the dressing before applying it (they do this in ER's)
2 4-inch wide Kerlix rolls (bulky roller bandages)
6 4X4 12 ply gauze dressings
1 Blood Stopper (a VERY multi-use telfa compress dressing)
1 multi-trauma dressing (10X30 heavy duty dressing)
Several packages of vasoline gauze (for sealing sucking chest wounds)
Adaptic dressings (fine mesh dressings for burns and abbrasions)
2 triangular bandages
Bandaids in there somewhere I think, (not real important)
Betadine
Hydrogen peroxide
Hibicleanse anticeptic soap
Safety pins
Pad and pen
o Squirt bulbs (for irrigating wounds)
o 1 unit instant glucose
o Air splints or 1 wire splint (just in case I can't find cardboard)
o Large selection of antibiotics and pain killers (check expiration dates)
o Scalpels, suture kits, and other items to perform minor surgery
o Stethoscope
o BP cuff
Pediatric cuff (sized BP cuff for kids and little old women)
o Latex exam gloves (several pairs, disposable)
o CPR rescue mask (a mask you place on a victim to perform rescue breathing)
o Tape (I hardly ever use tape)
o Steri Strips or butterfly closures
Large open wounds are only to be covered with a sterile dressing and left
to heal/close by themselves. This way, drainage takes place as the dress-
ing is replaced daily.
o Book called "Emergency War Surgery" that outlines the steps to perform
appendectomies, amputations, etc.
o Backpack to carry it all in
o 1 set of 5 oral airways (see explanation below)
Airways are meant to be used primarily in conjunction with ventilation
equipment, resue masks, bag valve masks etc. If used improperly, or with
the wrong size, a patient's airway could be blocked. This especially can
happen if they're not inserted using the correct technique.
o 1 oxygen euipment tubing (connect my mask to supplimental O2,VERY important)
o Surgical scrub brushes (Med Choice has) packaged in betadine or hebicleanse
o Trauma Shears (actually, I carry those on my belt)
o 'Extractor' venom pump kit
o Book called "Emergency War Surgery" that outlines the steps to perform
appendectomies, amputations, etc.
o Fanny pack to carry it all in

SMALL FIRST AID KIT

10 4x4 Dressings*
3 Kling gauze rolls*
1 8x10 surgipad
1 roll wet proof adhesive tape
10 band aids assorted sizes
1 scissors
10 antiseptic wipes*
1 sterile water
1 pocket mask*
1 large trauma dressing
1 instant glucose
1 burn sheet
peroxide*
2 kerlix rolls
2 triangle bandages*
1 rescue or space blanket
1 roll hypo allegenic tape
1 tweezers
1 kwick cold
2 eye patches
2 pair sterile latex gloves
2 erg or gatoade packs
1 pen light
pen and paper
1 syrup of ipecac

STORAGE

Outdoor shed
o Sturdy, decorative footlocker or chest (keep it near the front door or patio)
Keep it filled with as much of the above-mentioned stuff as you can
Water and food being the most important considerations
o Rubbermaid Rough-Neck Totesfood in one tote, blankets in another, etc.
o Enclosed utility trailerready to go should I have to leave the area
Compartments for food storage
One large area for bulkier items such as my generator
5 gallon water jugs
2 5-gallon gas cans on the front
12 VDC battery that can be charged from the vehicle
Fold down shelf on one side for setting up a propane stove for cooking
Ham antennas and lights
1000 lb capacitybuilt small chassis available from Sears or auto stores

EVACUATION KIT

Food
Water
Flashlight
First Aid kit
Clothes
Money (at least $100. in small bills)
Whistle or Police-shrieker
CURRENT pictures of family members (incl pets)
Documents like house deed, insurance, etc.
o A game or two & books

CAR

Keep gas tank full (refill at 1/2 tank)
1 gallon water
High energy protein bars
Keep the food out of direct sunlight, so it lasts longer.
First aid kit
Fire extinguisherCO2
Metalic blankets
Flashlight/siren/radio combination
Sun logo emergency kit, in the SunWear catalogue
Swiss-army knife, or better yet a good folding blade knife with a 3-4" blade
A big knife
Maps of the area
Couple of MRE's (MEALS, ready to eat)
Small backpack to carry it all in
4-5 D-cell Maglite with krypton bulb or 2 AA cells mini-maglite
Extra bulbs
Road flares
Sealable plastic bags
Critical medication
Tissues
Pre-moistened towelettes
Toolsscrewdriver, pliers, wire, knife
Spare Clothing
Poncho
Warm, all weather jacket (A mil-surplus field jacket is great because it's
windproof, has 4 big pockets, a built-in hood, removable insulating liner)
Long sleeve wool sweater
Warm pants
Warm shoes
Rugged gloves (cheap mil-surplus leather gloves and removeable wool liners
are great. For upscale folks, a set of deerskin black leather gloves with
wool liners from Eddie Bauers.)
The nice thing about military clothes and stuff is a) it's rugged and b)
it often is inter-designed to work with other components (Ex: the M-65
field jacket has fold out wrist liners to be cinched down by the military
gloves).
Knit wool cap
Money (small bills/change)
Toilet paper
Tissues
Tampons or pads (useful for first aid, also)
A few large black plastic bags (environmentally incorrect, but very useful)
Vitamins (at least C since fresh food may be scarce for a while)
Spare glasses (if you wear them)
Gas siphonor short rubber hose
o Tow chains, tire chains (4)
o Tent
o Shovel
o Chemical lights (Cyalume)
o Walkman/batteries

HOME

Don't rely on hot water heater for a source of water
Check immediately if the water main has broken
Listen to see if you can hear water leaving the water tank
Close main off to preserve the water in the HW tank
Shut-off valve on the tank
Evaluate home and work-area for their strengths and weaknesses in the event
of an emergency---ie, where are the safest--and not-so-safe--places, know
where the exits are, the location of first aid equipment, best place/s to
store equipment, etc....

EDUCATION

Knowledge of how to use the equiment
American Survival Guide, monthly magazine
Backpacking books
Firearms training

COMMUNICATIONS

Plan how to contact spouses, SOs, children, pets, etc.
o Handheld transmitter (i.e. "walkie talkie")
o CB radio
o Battery operated TV
o Ham radio
o Get involved with a community neighborhood preparedness
Contact the Red Cross disaster services at 408/292-6242
Start by inviting your neighbors over some evening. Tell them that you
are concerned about Earthquake Preparedness and would like to discuss how.
Have some brochures or handouts for them.

COPING

o Major factor in surviving is trying to return to as close a normal life
Eating things you would normally eat
Assigning chores to those who could handle tasks

Survival Fishing with Flowers

In this 1st of a 4 part series Jack from The Survival Podcast
http://thesurvivalpodcast.com takes you survival fishing with a minimalist kit.
Jack's kit in this video consists of...

1. A small assortment of snelled hooks
2. A cheapo one dollar knife
3. A small spool of monofilament line
4. A small hank of parachute cord

In this first video Jack demonstrates how to quickly create a make shift fishing pole, insure you don't loose a fish if the rod breaks and how to turn a flower into a fishing lure.

When TSHTF, one of your top concerns will be finding enough food to sustain you until regular food distribution channels get back up and running. Here's where to find the food you need:

1. The food you have stored in your house.
2. The food you have stored in your car and other locations (ie: bug out shelter)
3. The food in your office.
4. The food in other offices in your building/neighborhood/city (bring a crowbar).
5. The food running around near your home (squirrel, possum, rabbits, etc).
6. The wild food you can gather (berries, cat tails, apples, nuts, etc).
7. The larger food in the forest (deer, elk, bear, etc).
8. Larger food on local ranches (pig, goat, cow, etc).
9. Food in water near your home (fish, shellfish, seaweed, etc).
10. Food on local farms (vegetables, grains, fruit, etc).
11. Food in grocery stores.
12. Food in warehouses/cold storage warehouses.
13. Food in institutions (ie: food banks, schools, hospitals, etc).
14. Food in local restaurants.
15. Food in vacation homes and homes where people have left.
16. Food in your yard (dandelions, vegetables and fruit you have grown, etc.).
17. Food on the way to its destination (shipping containers, refrigerated trucks, etc).
18. Food you can create (quick growing vegies and meat supplies).
19. Food provided by relief organizations.
20. Food that any other day you wouldn't consider food (rats, bugs, pigeon, etc).
21. Food you can have brought in (ie: a contact from an area not hit that could bring you supplies).
22. Food that others may overlook (honey from bees, maple syrup from trees, snakes, etc).
23. Food that takes concerted effort/materials/equipment to get (ie: whale, other deep sea fish, mountain goat, etc).
24. Food that freegans would love (search dumpsters, garbage cans, garbage dumps, etc).
25. Food that isn't people food (dog food, cat food, animal food stored in grain silos, etc).

Obviously most of these sources have drawbacks. Some sources may mean you need to break the law to get at it, some sources have a decided ick factor, and some sources mean you my end up fighting over it with others who are equally hungry. Also, once you acquire food from the aforementioned sources, you will need to hide it/guard it/protect it.

Source

When you become stranded or lost in the middle of the woods it is an encouraging thought that simply by looking around you can easily discover a vast multitude of foods. As a survivalist it is our responsibility to ourselves and to our families to be able to recognize and find these value food sources should we need them.

Granted most survival situations are not serious and are of short duration however it only takes one time to not have the proper knowledge. During these short duration emergencies the immediate demand remains shelter and potable water realizing that you have the knowledge to obtain food in the wild acts as a great comfort when lost even for a short period of time so be certain that you are up on these skills.

When in the wilderness you will encounter several basic different types of survival foods. Determining which type to use will depend upon where you are at as well as what equipment you have to work with.

Wild Berries represents the first group of foods you may encounter. This is also the simplest and easiest of the foods to obtain. Given the proper season you may possibly encounter several different berry selections to choose from. A simple rule of thumb to follow is if the berry looks or it tastes like a strawberry, blueberry or a raspberry then it must be one. For safety reasons most of the other berries that you may encounter you should be able to identify by looking at it. These berries would include June berries, wild currants, bearberries, bunchberries, wintergreen berries, wild cherries, blackberries, thimbleberries, rose hips and cranberries.

The second group of survival foods is those which originate from the water such as fish. It is safe to eat all of the freshwater fish found in North American waters. It is possible with little practice to catch a fish with your bare hands although in most cases this will not happen. Wait patiently as they swim by you and very quickly pin the fish to the bottom of the water with your hands. You may also chase the fish into a shallow pool of water and trap them there. If you happen to have an emergency fishing kit with you it is possible to use worms or grasshoppers to catch your fish.

Fish can be very evasive so in many cases it is easier to try and catch other survival foods within the stream or the lakes such as clams or mollusks which can easily be picked up. These are also easily prepared by cooking over an open fire. Crayfish can often be found crawling upon the bottom of the streams and the lakes or hiding under logs or rocks in the water. Keep in mind that the only usable parts of these craw fish are the tails.

Next we have the Insects And miscellaneous Bugs as a survival food. Be reminded that not all insects are can safely be eaten. If you do not know for sure which ones they are stay with wood grubs and grasshoppers. Grasshoppers can easily be caught by hand in any grassy field while the grubs can be found by opening up a rotting log. The survivalist on TV may eat them raw however you should cook and remove all legs and wings before eating them.

Birds represent another source of survival food in the woods. It is not likely that you will be able to kill or capture most bird unless you have a gun. The birds that nest upon the ground may possibly be obtained with the use of a well aimed rock while they are nesting. The eggs from the ground nesting birds can be a good survival food.

Once again although larger animals will be prevalent it isn’t likely that you are going to bag one without the proper weapon. It is extremely difficult to kill any of the mammals without some sort of gun. Don’t for one moment think that you could use a spear or other primitive weapon to obtain an animal for dinner. It only happens in Rambo films. I personally would not even recommend that you waste your time and energy trying.

The important point here is that you become proficient at finding food when in a survival situation.s

Source

In 1535, the french explorer Jacques Cartier and his men were in desperate condition after a particularly severe winter in Newfoundland. Already 25 lay dead and