What Does It Take To Survive Long Term In The Wilderness.

What Does It Take To Survive Long Term In The Wilderness.

I have been out bush with hunters using modern firearms & muzzle-loading arms, & for this day & age I would say that they would be classed as reasonable hunters, well some of them anyway. But in a SHTF situation where you may have no idea how long you will have to live in the bush, frankly these hunters don't cut it.

People ask me what does it take to live long term in a wilderness situation, & my answer is always the same. First you need to be as one with nature, you have to realise that you too are an animal. All animals have a name, fox, dingo, roo, deer, etc, & the most dangerous of all animals is called human. Once you realise this, & start acting accordingly, then you are on your way. Next you need to be proficient in many primitive skills, some you may be really good at, others you may perform but not be an expert. That is okay, that is the way it is.

Next you need to have the right equipment, & this too NEEDS to be mostly primitive. If you have enough members in your group that you can afford to have two or three carrying modern firearms, all the better. But these should be kept for defence only, & they are never to be relied on long term. Instead, arm the majority with muzzle-loading arms & bows, but not compound bows. Compound bows use special arrows & special bow strings, & these are NOT sustainable long term.

Next you need to think about clothing. Modern clothing will have a short lifespan in the bush, but primitive clothing can be made. Learn to make & wear woodland Indian moccasins, & if you do wear modern footwear, at least take a pair of moccasins with you tied to your pack. 18th century woodsman clothing will last you a long time, it is hard wearing, practicle & has no stress points. Following is a list of skills that the woodsrunners (men & women) in our group are expected to be proficient in.

Woodsrunner's Skills.

This is a list of basic skills in which I personally would expect an 18th century woodsman or woods-woman to have some experience with.

-           Flint & steel fire lighting

-           Wet weather fire lighting

-           Fire-bow fire lighting

-           Flintlock fire lighting

-           Flintlock use, service & repair

-           Marksmanship with either gun or bow.

-           Field dressing & butchering game

-           Blade sharpening

-           Tomahawk throwing

-           Making rawhide

-           Brain tanning

-           Primitive shelter construction

-           How to stay warm in winter with only one blanket

-           Cordage manufacture

-           Moccasin construction and repair

-           Sewing

-           Axe and tomahawk helve making

-           Fishing

-           Hunting

-           Evasion

-           Tracking

-           Reading sign

-           Woods lore

-           Navigation

-           Primitive trap construction & trapping

-           Open fire cooking

-           Fireplace construction

-           Clothing manufacture

-           Drying meat & other foods

-           Knowledge of plant tinders & preparation

-           Knowledge of native foods & preparation

-           Knowledge of native plants in the area and their uses for other than tinder and food.

-           Scouting/Ranging.

-           Basic first aid.

-           Finding and treating water.

-           General leather work.