Hitting the Books

It can be advantageous to utilize books as a means of acquiring knowledge. Fortuitously, there are numerous exceptional books available to us that offer valuable insights into surviving in the wilderness.

In his book “98.6 Degrees”, Cody Lundin effectively introduces readers to the primary physical and psychological hurdles that one might face during a survival scenario. Lundin emphasizes utilizing one’s knowledge and modern resources to overcome potentially hazardous situations. The author, who is best recognized for his participation in the TV show “Dual Survival”, is located in the southwestern region of the United States.

The Outdoor Survival Handbook by Ray Mears is an exceptional reference material as it emphasizes the utilization of contemporary and primitive survival abilities and tools. It is presented in a seasonal format which identifies the necessary survival skills required. The book is rich in design, incorporating numerous great illustrations with less textual content in comparison to other survival manuals. Mears, a notable English bush-craft specialist, has visited several regions worldwide to acquire survival knowledge from indigenous communities.

The Wilderness Survival Handbook authored by Michael Pewtherer is a great book that highlights primitive skills for achieving short-term survival and long-term comfort. Pewtherer presents these skills in a simple and understandable manner, using well-crafted descriptions accompanied by photos and illustrations. His book is based on his personal experience and includes cautionary sections that provide guidance on avoiding common errors. Pewtherer is located in the northeastern part of the United States.

It can be difficult to learn from books alone as they only provide static words and images. While some may find a series of drawings or photos sufficient for tasks such as setting up a deadfall trap, starting a friction fire, or building a shelter, others may feel confused and discouraged. Even if a book is helpful, trying to learn a new skill while reading can be a challenging task.

Outdoor Survival Training Videos

When produced effectively, instructional videos can educate and motivate viewers. An added advantage is the convenience of not having to simultaneously read instructions and practice a new skill. Additionally, viewers can observe a skill being demonstrated from beginning to end and follow audio instructions, engaging multiple senses and promoting better retention.

The “Art of Nothing Wilderness Survival Video Series” by Thomas J. Elpel is a wonderful resource worth exploring. By documenting his experiences of living off the land for various days in different places, Elpel imparts his knowledge of wilderness survival skills. He proves that these skills are achievable and can be learned by anyone with a willingness to do so. The videos are peppered with wit and provide tips for enhancing one’s abilities.

Ron Hood offers an excellent source of outdoor survival training with his series of survival videos. He incorporates contemporary and traditional survival techniques into his approach. His military experience and practical approach lend to his no-nonsense style, making him a highly regarded and admired authority in bushcraft.

Even though the videos mentioned here are fantastic, the problem is that if you encounter any difficulty and have a query that is not covered in the video, there is no real-time assistance available to address your concern.

Wilderness Survival Classes

It’s hard to find a better option than attending a high-quality wilderness survival course for intensive outdoor survival training. With experienced instructors, you can gain more knowledge than reading books or watching videos. Having a real person to consult with and guide you through the learning process is invaluable. You can delve deeper into certain skills by getting their advice and insight on specific aspects.

The methods for outdoor survival training differ according to your desired outcomes.

Pose the subsequent questions to yourself:

Which outdoor survival skills are you most interested in?
What is your end goal(s)?
Do you want to learn skills to be prepared for emergencies, or do you plan to utilize the skills you learn on a daily basis?
Are you interested in only particular skills, such as: fire-making, shelter building, flint-knapping, etc.?
How much time do you have to devote to your goal(s)?

Queries such as these can significantly assist in limiting your objectives for training in outdoor survival.

Top 5 Primitive Survival Skills

1. Lighting a Fire

What makes it essential? Because fire not only provides warmth but also assists in cooking, water boiling, and gives some illumination in darkness. Moreover, fire protects you from dangerous wildlife.

Overall, starting a fire is the most fundamental primitive ability and incredibly essential for staying alive!

Below are a few pointers and techniques to assist you in commencing your own private bonfire!

Pick the right spot : The perfect spot should be dry, at the center of your camp, close enough to where you will sleep but far enough to ensure you don’t accidentally roll into the flames!
Dig: Clear your chosen spot of any debris and dig a small hole roughly around the size of the fire you intend to light.
Top Tip: Surround your fire site with smooth stones to act as a neat boundary to contain the flames.
Collect wood : Look for pieces of dry bark, dead leaves, and twigs to use as kindling, and larger, thicker pieces of wood to sustain the fire. Make sure all the pieces you collect are bonedry.
Top Tip: If it’s raining and you are finding it difficult to find dry wood, search under large shrubbery and boulders for areas that may have been shielded from the dampness. Read Starting Fire in the Rain to get more cool ideas & tips.
Use what you have: Besides wood, many other materials may be used to light a fire so use whatever you have. Things like paper, dead leaves, even tampons/sanitary napkins may do the trick!
Make a star: Set the larger pieces of wood in the shape of an inverted star, with the heads joined together at the center and the ends jutting apart. As the fire consumes the wood, you can easily push the logs inwards one at a time to keep it going.
Light it up! Now use matchsticks or a lighter to light the kindling and as soon as you see embers glowing and thin smoke coming out, cover it up with logs, fan it, and voila! You have a campfire!
Top Tip: If you are out of matches or don’t have a lighter, go primitive and try rubbing stones or wood together at a fast pace over the kindling. The resulting friction will create sparks that you can gently coax into a fire.

2. Building a Shelter

It is crucial to ensure that you shield yourself from the elements, whether it be heat, cold, wind or water. Additionally, it is wise to create a secure hideout from any potential threats, although this is simply a jest!

Putting humor aside, an ideal shelter should offer both protection and safety. Although finding a shelter made by nature would be incredible, constructing one becomes necessary if fortune is not on your side.

Find a good spot: A good shelter should be on high ground, near a source of running water, should provide natural shade during the day, and shield you from wind and rain during the night.
Go foraging: Gather branches of different thicknesses. The base of the shelter should be strong; therefore, thick wood is needed. You can use large coconut leaves or palm leaves and break them into long strips which can be used to tie the wood together. These leaves can also be used to build your shelter’s roof, which will protect you from rain and sun as well.
Top Tip: Here is our post to read up on 3 easy-to-build survival shelters and the tools you’ll need.
Cozy up! Now that you have protected yourself Robinson Crusoe style, you deserve a break! Use some soft shrubbery and foliage to fashion a makeshift bed. Make sure it is a good 6-inch thick minimum. Cover it with a cloth or preferably a space blanket and snuggle in!

3. Finding Water

It is crucial to have the ability to find potable water as a fundamental aspect of basic survival skills. It is important to remember that although one can survive without food for a week, they cannot survive for more than three days without water.

Finding a reliable source of potable water should be one of your top priorities.

Collect it: Use whatever utensils you may have to collect at least a gallon of water. If you don’t have any, see if you have any ziplock bags, or can find bowl-shaped wood/clay. Worst case scenario, you can even use your cap/jacket/a large leaf to collect some water.
Top Tip: If you cannot find a clean source of water, collect water when it rains with either a container (if you have any) or uses your jacket/blanket as a collector.
Boil it: No matter how fresh the water may seem, never ever make the mistake of drinking it directly! Always boil it over the fire you just built so that all microbes are killed and let it cool. Only then will it be fit for drinking.
Top Tip: Read Purifying Water in the Wild to get some more ideas on how to quench your thirst in the wilderness without ending up sick!
Ration it: Limit your water intake and ration your use. Water is a hot commodity in the wilderness, so it must be spent wisely.
Top Tip: Try to drink more in the evenings to avoid losing it all in sweat during the day.

4. Hunting for Food

You may be considering why not just search for food yourself? However, we strongly recommend against it. This is because unless you possess the knowledge of a wilderness specialist or a certified botanist, it is improbable that you would accurately distinguish between edible plants and poisonous berries.

We encourage you to opt for the safer, though slightly more challenging, choice of hunting to avoid the risk of getting food poisoning.

We will be discussing two hunting methods that are suitable for beginners from a variety of options available.

Traps/Snares
A traditional technique for primitive survival is to create pitfall traps by digging small holes in key locations and covering them with leaves and plant matter. This method can result in catching tasty small game. Alternatively, you can use a wire or cord to set snare traps and catch an innocent rabbit by surprise.
Fishing
It would be ideal if you have contemporary fishing equipment. However, if you don’t, don’t hesitate to resort to traditional methods like your forefathers and catch fish with primitive tools. The following suggestions may assist you:
- Use a net: See if you can find some netting (some backpacks have netting on one side which you can rip off or you can cut some mesh off a used parachute, if possible). You can then use it in a shallow stream to trap some fish.
  Pro Tip: You can even use a thin chiffon/muslin-type cloth (like the fabric on a lightweight skirt) to use as a net in a shallow stream to catch fish!
- Spear it! If you are feeling particularly primitive, then you can fashion a spear out of a long sturdy branch and file its tip to a sharp point or attach a blade to one end. With your spear ready, wade kneedeep into a stream, pick a spot that’s riddled with fish, aim and plunge! It will take more than a few attempts to be successful, but don’t worry; you won’t end up hungry.
  Top Tip: When aiming, always plunge your spear much deeper than where you think the fish is. That’s because the refraction of light often distorts the actual position of your target, making you miss!

5. Navigation

There are two possible reasons why you might require primitive survival skills in the wilderness.

Option A: You are on an outdoor excursion for either camping or hunting purposes. Option B: You have found yourself unable to navigate your way to your intended destination.

Navigation is a useful skill to have if the situation is the second one.

Use the Sun: If it’s morning, then from where the Sun would be rising would be the East, and from there, you can estimate the other three coordinates. If the day is drawing to a close, then where the Sun is setting would be West.
Use the Stars: If it is nighttime, then try to spot the North Star and use it to get a general sense of your bearings.
Use Landmarks: Try to follow landmarks like rivers/streams, mountains, or even natural pathways to guide you when navigating through the wilderness. This will prevent you from getting lost and running around in circles!
Top Tip: If you’re worried you won’t find your way back to camp, use a sharp stone to mark trees with an ‘X’, and follow the marks to come back.