Are you a fan of wild camping and the opportunity it brings to reconnect with nature? Have you ever considered taking it to the next level? Bivying is a great option, but what truly allows you to strip down to the essentials is constructing your very own shelter using nothing but your hands.
You’re probably only going to build a shelter for fun, but it’s always good to be prepared in case you face a difficult situation. Knowing how to build a strong shelter can be beneficial and might even save your life someday, as the saying goes.
What Is a Bushcraft Shelter?
When it comes to constructing a temporary shelter, such as a bushcraft shelter building or bushcraft earth hut, it is essential to have the knowledge and skills to create a well-built dwelling for yourself and your gear. This ability is crucial regardless of the reason for needing a shelter, as it is an integral part of utilizing learned bushcraft skills, which also include making fire, foraging for food, and finding drinking water.
Entering a forest, nature reserve, or getting lost in expansive and merciless terrain involves the involvement of various factors.
When out in the wilderness, it is important to understand that a bushcraft survival shelter should not be seen as a substitute for a permanent shelter, such as a home or a cabin. The primary objective of constructing a bush shelter is to avoid being exposed and to offer crucial defense against predators. Furthermore, a well-designed shelter also offers a feeling of security in the expansive wilderness. This feeling of safety is highly valuable in survival situations. A bushcraft shelter is a residence constructed using materials found in nature, and with the appropriate knowledge, one can locate these materials. Before expending unnecessary energy to construct a shelter, I carefully consider various factors.
My first defense against the environment is a bushcraft shelter.
Before starting the construction, it is important to first conduct a thorough site assessment. This assessment should involve checking for protective cover in the vicinity and above you, as well as identifying the availability of nearby water sources. However, caution must be exercised to avoid any potential insect nests or danger from falling branches or trees.
When choosing wood, it is important to be careful. Make sure that the main lengthways pole is several feet longer than your own height. Ideally, the timber used should be perfectly straight to maximize stability and minimize any gaps. If possible, try to utilize fallen logs for constructing your structure.
To enhance the strength of the structure and reduce the need for excessive lashing, notch the wood at the points where it connects with other parts of the frame.
When devising your shelter, aim for a small and comfortable space – the lesser volume of air you have to warm up using your body, the more advantageous it is.
Make sure to leave a tag end on your lashing for added convenience in case you need to quickly add another support.
To ensure that water trickles off at a slower rate, bend the branches forward on each cutting utilized for the canopy, making certain the natural top of each leaf is facing downwards.
The Easiest Type of Shelter to Build in the Wilderness
Wilderness refers to a pristine, unspoiled natural setting where individuals can sustain themselves temporarily. It is not synonymous with a utopia abundant in organic produce, roots, and wooden structures for protection. Survivalists excel at utilizing their senses and finding meaning in this environment, which evokes a tranquil sensation.
To make shelter as easy as possible, utilize the natural elements found in your surroundings such as trees, bushes, rocks, and caves, or in more extreme situations, snow.
I will be discussing my process of constructing a survival hut using materials such as fallen branches, trees, and other items I have scavenged, as I talk about bushcraft shelters.
The motivations for designing proper bushcraft shelters:
- To protect me from the elements and nightfall
- To ward off animals, night predators,
- To make me feel secure and provide comfort
- To store my gear
A bushcraft shelter can serve as a basic living space, offering minimal security against intruders like raccoons or minks, but it is not completely effective in preventing entry for bothersome insects, rodents, and reptiles.
When deciding where to build a bushcraft shelter, there are important elements that I take into consideration.
- Scour the surroundings for an elevated and protected area
- Consider wind and sun direction
- Don’t build near streams or other water sources
- Avoid building near dead or weak trees
- Watch for animal corridors
- Don’t choose an exposed location
- Rocks provide a natural wall, but they can also draw water
- Well-used deer beds are a safe location
In order to ensure my safety, it is essential to have knowledge about the terrain I am exploring, especially when considering the consequences of being lost in a national park. Building a basic lean-to can provide temporary shelter and help preserve body heat, which is vital in preventing hypothermia.
I construct my bushcraft survival shelters with the goal of ensuring warmth and comfort. Increasing the size of the shelter enhances airflow, yet it becomes challenging to retain heat.
If you plan on using your bushcraft shelter for camping, it may be wise to enlarge it and create a means of accessing a fire source.
When selecting an A-frame shelter, you can ensure protection from all directions, regardless of leaving the entrance open. Nevertheless, I create a door using portable evergreen branches to prevent the entry of cold, animals, and moisture.
The importance of staying dry cannot be underestimated. Due to this reason, an A-frame proves to be a more preferable option in comparison to a lean-to shelter. It goes without saying that the choice of shelter type also depends on the specific location.
A feeling of security contributes to the overall comfort, in addition to the essential protection from the elements. Having a secure shelter provides peace of mind.
How To Build an A-Frame Bushcraft Shelter From Scratch
It is crucial to begin constructing your bushcraft shelter before nightfall or when the weather conditions worsen.
When making a decision about your shelter, it is important to think logically, as sometimes you can utilize the resources that nature offers, such as fallen trees and tree limbs which serve as excellent materials to begin with.
- Choose a ridgepole. A ridgepole should be a straight limb. It acts as the spine to hold up the shelter’s ribs and supports your A-frame structure. Lean this pole against a tree branch, a rock formation, or fallen logs. Secure it to the base with twine, cording, or rope, or forcefully wedge it into place. I use my height to gauge how long I want the ridgepole to be. I want it to be long enough to stretch out beneath it and be comfortable. Night can be agony if you’re cold and uncomfortable.
- Next, I find the support poles, sometimes called arms. These two post shape the front of the bushcraft shelter into an A-opening. You can also build a double-ended A-frame shelter. These poles should be tall enough to create a tent-like structure that allows you to move inside the cover but not be too tall to waste valuable heat.
- Scour the area close by for the sidewall structure. The sidewall branches are called ribs. I make these ribs from branches or evergreen boughs, depending on how pressed I am for time. If you can, create a frame with straight poles, spacing them approximately 3 to 6 inches apart, then fill them with boughs and moss. For extra support, I jam the bottom end into the soil. The branches should be a uniform length. Get the basic shelter done fast, you can always tweak the shelter.
An A-frame structure is not meant to be permanent; rather, it is designed to offer a reasonably quick shelter.
In case you require assistance, make sure to attract attention to your shelter. Attracting attention to your bushcraft hut increases the likelihood of being spotted by aerial surveillance teams. It is worth mentioning that animals such as bears and wolves are already aware of your presence as they detected your scent upon your arrival.
Moving in dire survival situations could complicate rescue efforts, as it expands the search parameters by three miles for every mile you move away from the target area. In comparison, rescuing a stationary person is less challenging than rescuing someone who is moving.
