Survival kit challenge month

[rebel]

This "challenge" is a chance to try out your skills with your kit. You can use as much or little of a kit that you want. The duration is for as short or long as you want.

The minimum requirements: Identify two different edible wild plants. Make a trap or snare (dismantle when finished). Start a fire without a match or lighter.

Any bushcraft items can be used for subsequent challenges.

Please post pictures and/or descriptions of your experience.

[crashdive123]

Good idea Rebel. Not sure if my hiking days will return this month, but I like the idea.

[rebel]

Thanks Crash. Sorry hear about your disability.

My hope is, with a little practice and experience we can develop some confident survivalist.

I hope no one worries about failure in these challenges. Such as starting a fire without matches or a lighter. Someone may be able to offer a good suggestion. We are here to both learn and teach.

[Rick]

So....is there a consolation prize if we don't survive?

[Ken]

So....is there a consolation prize if we don't survive?

Yes. I'll come and visit you for a week.

[crashdive123]

So....is there a consolation prize if we don't survive?

There will be plenty of matches, lighters and fire - lots of fire waiting for you at your final destination.

[Rick]

Oh well that's good because I.....hey....wait a minute.

[Julie362]

Hehe. So silly. I'll try this!

[trax]

I'll go for this, some time this fall. Seriously, if I was any busier there'd have to be two of me, so....not getting out much this summer.

[hoosierarcher]

As I walk up to where I will set up I see dandelion greens young and not yet send up flower stems. I pick some. I then see some wild sorrel and pick some of that. Make a salad with the wild greens, salt, pepper and lemon juice in a small plastic pouch I pocketed at a restaurant. Fire started in under ten seconds with one of my tinder cups, a ferro rod and the awl on my SAK Farmer model. Fire was in my pocket cooker, water boiling in under 6 minutes. Stout cup of tea then used emergency fishing kit with a grub dug out of a rotting log on the lake shore. Caught a legal sized crappie in under 1 minute, and another 3 minutes later. Scaled, and filleted and cooked over coals in the pocket cooker on wire mesh. Half hour and bush breakfast done. Set a trot line to catch more fish (not baited as it was just to fulfill challenge requirements, pulled it back out 5 minutes later.) This all done within 100 yards of my backdoor. Not actually my backyard but close.

[rebel]

As I walk up to where I will set up I see dandelion greens young and not yet send up flower stems. I pick some. I then see some wild sorrel and pick some of that. Make a salad with the wild greens, salt, pepper and lemon juice in a small plastic pouch I pocketed at a restaurant. Fire started in under ten seconds with one of my tinder cups, a ferro rod and the awl on my SAK Farmer model. Fire was in my pocket cooker, water boiling in under 6 minutes. Stout cup of tea then used emergency fishing kit with a grub dug out of a rotting log on the lake shore. Caught a legal sized crappie in under 1 minute, and another 3 minutes later. Scaled, and filleted and cooked over coals in the pocket cooker on wire mesh. Half hour and bush breakfast done. Set a trot line to catch more fish (not baited as it was just to fulfill challenge requirements, pulled it back out 5 minutes later.) This all done within 100 yards of my backdoor. Not actually my backyard but close.

Excellent Hoosierarcher! You are a survivor.

[hoosierarcher]

Today from a cold start I took my longbow & put an arrow through the head of a squirrel(target/paper) at 20 yards. Then another arrow into the heart/lung area of a rabbit(target/paper) at the same distance then a third arrow between the eyes of a raccoon(target/paper) at a slightly longer distance. Three arrows, three kills, 30 seconds. I doubt I could see that many real critters that close together in time or place but having the skill to put an arrow where it needs to go gives one a warm and cozy feeling deep inside.

[Sarge47]

I've started a fire before using the Magnesium block, but had never used my "Strike-Force" flint & Steel firestarter(http://www.wisementrading.com/firestarters/flint.htm) as I felt that I would just keep it in reserve if I ever needed it. So yesterday I took it outside, along with some "dryer lint" & tested it; here's the results:

EXERCISE: fire-starting using only the Strike-Force Flint & Steel with some un-prepped dryer lint.

WEATHER CONDITIONS: Sunny & dry. No fuel used as the idea here was to simply set the lint on fire. If I can do that I will have a fire.

GROUND CONDITIONS: Moist from all of the rain we've been having.

PROGRESS REPORT: I quickly discovered that you have to hit the flint very hard with about 5 or 6 rapid strokes to create a shower of sparks. However. once this was done the lint flared right up.

SUMMARY: Success with minimal effort. I like this tool & will replace my mag. block with it immediately! The Mag block is now my "back-up!"

Hope this helps some of you!

[rebel]

dandelion and cattail

twitch-up snare

Fire-steel with lint.

later...

[Sarge47]

"The minimum requirements: Identify two different edible wild plants." Id'd 2 plants of wild berries & even consumed them! Mulberries & Wild Rasberries; yum!

"Make a trap or snare (dismantle when finished)." Made a "box trap" & caught a mother cat with her 5 kittens. The kittens would hardly make a mouthful but "mom" was fat enough!

"Start a fire without a match or lighter." See the above post on "matchless fire-starting...I merged it with this thread."

That's it for me!

[rebel]

Nice going Sarge.


Has anyone named the cats?

[Sarge47]

Nice going Sarge.


Has anyone named the cats?

The mother is feral & won't come close at all. The kittens are getting use to me as they rotate from hiding under our house to under a large hedge right near-by. They're young enough to catch & I'm trying to get them used to me by feeding them tuna & such...we'll see.

[bulrush]

I'll just add the wild edibles I have in my yard:
- Sheep sorrel (not a real oxalis, but edible, and it tastes lemony)
- Wood sorrel (i.e. oxalis, do not eat if you have a history of oxalic acid kidney stones)
- Mulberry (so many berries it makes a big mess)
- Onions
- Chives

[rebel]

I spotted some blackberries today. MMmmm!