Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by david pruss on July 31, 2011 at 2:39pm

The more you know the less you have to carry is the way we do it.

Yes, practice does make perfect. 

Permalink Reply by Jim L. "Shots" Hendershot Sr. on July 31, 2011 at 2:44pm

In my humble opinion, a lot of this depends on back woods knowledge plus being in an area that can support you. Lots of areas of our Great Country can not keep you going. Also, will you be the only one hunting? With the small number of game, and fish in my area, if there were just a few doing this, it would be gone fast. But with the knowledge of how to make the best of it, it sure would help one survive.

Permalink Reply by anthony lee laduke on July 31, 2011 at 3:10pm

I HAVE TRAVELED QUITE A BIT IN THE CENTRAL PART OF OUR COUNTRY AND I DONT BELIEVE IVE EVER BEEN ANYWHERE THAT THERE WAS NOT AN ABUNDANCE OF EDIBLE ANIMALS. NOW IM NOT SAYING THAT WE SHOULD INSTANLY STOOP TO THE LEVEL OF BEAR GRYLLS AND MUNCH DOWN ON WHATEVER ROAD-KILL CARCASS WE COME ACROSS AND IM NOT MUCH ON EATING BUGS. HOWEVER, THIS DOES BRING UP A GOOD POINT. MOST FOLKS THINK OF DEER, RABBITS, SQUIRRELS AND FISH TO BE THE ONLY SOURCE FOR WILD MEAT. THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER OPTIONS OUT THERE, SOME LESS APPEALING THAN OTHERS. EVN IF YOU DONT RELY ON WILD GAME FOR YOUR SOLE FOOD SOURCES HAVING THE KNOW-HOW TO PUT GOD'S CREATURES ON THE DINNER TABLE WILL HELP EXTEND THE SUPPLIES YOU ALREADY HAVE. NOTHING LIKE FRESH MEAT TO LIVEN UP THE SAME OL' RICE AND BEANS YOUVE BEEN EATING FOR THE LAST SEVERAL DAYS/WEEKS.

Permalink Reply by 29aied1931xp4 on August 1, 2011 at 12:26pm

My friend, I've lived in the desert, mountains and plains, I assure you with the knowledge of your terrain, there is abundant provision where ever you may be.  The problem is most people don't use their imagination enough.  There are sustainable food sources in things such as different grasses, seeds or otherwise distainable weeds.  Then we have insect which many find discusting, but actually some of which can be very pleasing.  All of this before we even get to the reptiles, anphibions, birds and mamels.  If you check the Montana page you will see account of me mentioning living in the country most of my life and see where I'm comming from here.  What as you call it "back woods knowledge" is nothing more than common sence and imagination.  And every one can do it if they can just let go of their preconcieved notions of survival.

Permalink Reply by Quinian (Scout Grp Ldr) on August 1, 2011 at 5:28am

Well.. while I'd rather not use a bow for hunting I do own a few rather nice ones and I'm not half bad with them. It is also silent. If you plan to use a bow you should learn to fletch and haft as well. If you were in my area I'd be happy to teach you but you can find most of that on youtube. Look up Pine Pitch glue while you're at it. You'll need it to haft the tips.

As for fish, well sittin on your butt all day holding a shiney pole is almost sure to get ya caught. If you make yourself some lines about 2 feet long, bait them, and tie them to something UNDER (this is important) the water like tree roots, you can come back in an hour or so and claim your catch. Where I live it would likely be nasty carp but hey it's a lot of meat.

I don't know much about edible rabbit food other than obvous root plants.. that's the area I'm lacking in. Anyone suggest a good herblore book that's free of any religious reference?

On the topic of books. If you don't have Carla Emery's "Encyclopedia of country living" you should consider getting it. She has all kinds of good info and some off the wall tricks you'd never think of.

Permalink Reply by anthony lee laduke on August 1, 2011 at 7:08am

Yes sir, I agree that use of the bow and arrow would increase my chances of getting game, silently. a nice take-down recurve with q quiver full of arrows and the ability to hit with it should be a fundamental of outdoor skills. I too do not normally head to the woods with archery equipment. I can see myself being out with rifle in hand, hungry, no food and not wanting to alert everyone in the county of my where about. I've always had an interest in trapping cause it is usually less labor intensive and more productive. Besides being silent there is the fact that when placed correctly most traps or snares will remain undetected by the average passer by. I have used what we call throw lines or bank sets to catch quite a few catfish and gar. Gar, like carp, definatly are not fine cuisine, but I imagine I'd scarf it down like prime rib if I were hungry enough.

Permalink Reply by david pruss on August 1, 2011 at 7:14am

Has anyone tryed the 50/80 lb pistol crossbow. With a little practice they are very accurite.

Small light weight and very quite.

Permalink Reply by 29aied1931xp4 on August 1, 2011 at 12:09pm

Hmmm? Who ever told you trapping was less labor intensive?  Trapping and maintaining a trap line can be extreamly laborious.  But very productive.  The problem with running traps in the scenerio we are anticipating is the occasions that one returns to the same location, to check on or retrive your catch.  Where as hunting, bow or otherwise, you get your game and don't have to return to the same location again.  Just something to think about.  I can assure you I will be doing both.

Permalink Reply by 3q53aby2k3cg5 on August 1, 2011 at 8:06am

Quin,this link is for a CD of edible plant life in Mt. and contains a large amount of info.

http://montana.plant-life.org/

Also we have a good discussion on the Mt. page you may like to check out.

Permalink Reply by anthony lee laduke on August 1, 2011 at 9:52am

I don't know if any of you will find this useful but here it is. Nearly 15 years ago one of my uncles past away, but before he left he did his best to teach all of us youngsters what he knew about the outdoors. Maybe I was too young at the time to grasp and appreciate what he had to offer, but one lesson i remember very well. He told us that if we are out in the woods and we already have a meal of some sort, if we sacrificed just one bite of our food and targeted the appropriate critter that we could easily turn that one bite into another meal. He first proved this by putting a small chunk of hot dog on a treble hook. The next morning we had a decent size catfish. He told us that the one bite of hot dog would not save us from being hungry but a whole catfish would. A few days later I watched him put the liver and heart of another catfish on another treble hook and caught a turtle, which he dressed snd cooked for us. We never real thought it to be disgusting cause he made the whole experience fun for us. Later that summer using his trusty treble hook method we watched him turn a piece of peanut butter and jelly sandwich imho a coon, which was really pissed when we found him. Another time he caught an armadillo with popcorn and yet another treble hook. Now, I'm not saying its ok to go after certain animals with this method cause its probably frowned upon by your local wildlife officials and likely to land you in jail. However, it is food for thought and in a true life and death survival situation it wouldn't matter much to me.

Permalink Reply by 29aied1931xp4 on August 1, 2011 at 12:37pm

Anthony, the concept your uncle was teaching you is so true.  In survival you never compleatly depleat your resources with out using them to gain more of the same.  Bait and trap or ambush is in it's self contingent on "bait"

Permalink Reply by 29aied1931xp4 on August 1, 2011 at 11:21am

We have discussed this on the Montana group page discussions.  I try to add a bit as we go along but you all are welcome to add any information as well as garner any from the page.

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