Your first choice?

Ok The scenario is this:
You are out on the lake by yourself. You are alone with your thoughts when bang! you hit a dead head! Your boat is filling with water fast and you need to get out! There is shore about 400m away where as the nearest house is out of site.

You make it onto the shore and rest for a bit. It will take you 1/2 a day to walk to your rescue but it is already 4:30 and you dont want to walk through the dark.

You decide to set up camp for the night and because you are drenching wet you need to dry off by starting a fire which is no problem since you have a match and bunch of softwood all around. Now the only thing left is food, your energy is
low from the swim and boat ride.


What is your first choice for food? And how is that obtained?

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when bang! you hit a dead head!

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What is Jason Montana doing in the middle of the lake????

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Now the only thing left is food, your energy is low from the swim and boat ride.

What is your first choice for food? And how is that obtained?

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I'm not concerned with food. If I'm a bit tired after a 400 meter swim, I'm going to rest a bit to regain my energy. If I'm spending the night, in addition to the fire to dry my cloths (it accomplishes much more) I'm going to focus on shelter. Remember - I know where I am, and plan on walking out in the morning.

1st, I never go out into the wild without an MRE in one of the cargo pockets of my BDU's, which is what I always wear in the outdoors.

2nd, if I don't have an MRE then, like Crash says, I don't worry about food, I can go days without eating if I have to, & you said I'm only 12 hours away from rescue.:cool:

Crash, Jason is standing on top of his sled whistling for his dogs!!!!!!!

As said rest, shelter for the night and walk out tomorrow.

I get to eat that can of sardines I put in my pack

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Originally Posted by tsitenha

Crash, Jason is standing on top of his sled looking for his dogs!!!!!!!

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I thought he was headed to the Dead concert.:D

I’d eat that dead head, as long is he isn’t to rotten, ummm brains…

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...S/DEADHEAD.jpg

WAhhh look at the dent in that head....Jasons going to be madddd.

Run, Crash, for the love of God runnnnnnnnn

all im trying to ask was what is your first choice when you are looking for food? I was just thinking of more creative way to say that.

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Originally Posted by Tracker

all im trying to ask was what is your first choice when you are looking for food? I was just thinking of more creative way to say that.

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Cool. Now that I understand what you're looking for....I would try several methods, expending the least amount of energy possible (no point in using more than you will gain). Not sure what "stuff" you want me to have, so I'll go with what I usually have in my pockets. I'll set some snares, make a fish wier, set up a trot line, look for some wild edibles (my knowledge of wild edibles is not that strong).

Start by scanning the waters edge for cattail,if its there you'll see it right away,and since most of the plant is edible,not much energy is spent gathering it.

Cattail is one that I (I think everybody) am familiar with...good stuff.

yup.can't go wrong with cattail.

ya that is what i would tend to do, depending on the season i would get some cattail and eat the parts in season, as well i would probably set some pencil snares, i find them the most effective.

Yes, cattails for sure. Water lily roots too. If the lake was clear enough you may see minnows near shore. Set up a fish dipper with a tripod and a long pole, T-shirt and cordage. Toss some grass seeds or other stuff out or spit in the water for bait, push down on the lever and take the fish out of the shirt. If there was a creek nearby and you found an eddy you could dip there and probably catch all you could eat. It depends on how clear the creek or lake is and what spot you pick. We've caught lots of them, at times, with a towel and two people. Shallow creeks are easier to find minnows and crawfish. Sometimes there's duck eggs.....it's best if you can tell the difference between a fresh egg or an old one...haha. I've ate all of them, but the only ones I enjoyed were the raw duck eggs (and turtle eggs).

Again, another scenario with limited information.

What time of the year?

Is it cold, below 32 F?

Are you duck hunting in the cold, if so, you will die. Is it summer and hot, spring and cool, is the water cold enough to cause hypothermia?

If you are freezing cold and wet, and already suffering from hypothermia, try to make a fire.

Do you have life preservers?

When you were in the boat, what were you doing, fishing, going for a row, hunting, or just floating.

Is it a river with an undertow?

Is it a lake?

How much energy did you use on the swim in.

Did I have any fish in the boat? Frogs around the lake? Are the Morals out yet?:rolleyes: Don't forget my MRE! So, okay then, now how far are we from rescue? Anything over 72 hours is pretty unrealistic given the scenario you just laid out! However, I'd never get into a boat without a waterproof floating bag of stuff, including food. The bag would be tied to my belt with 550 cord & could be towed along with me. Again, it's a dumb Question.:rolleyes:
BTW, what do you want to snare pencils for?:confused: Aren't they hard to dress out?:D

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Originally Posted by FVR

Again, another scenario with limited information.

What time of the year?

Is it cold, below 32 F?

Are you duck hunting in the cold, if so, you will die. Is it summer and hot, spring and cool, is the water cold enough to cause hypothermia?

If you are freezing cold and wet, and already suffering from hypothermia, try to make a fire.

Do you have life preservers?

When you were in the boat, what were you doing, fishing, going for a row, hunting, or just floating.

Is it a river with an undertow?

Is it a lake?

How much energy did you use on the swim in.

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what region of the country, north, east,south,west, or any combination.?

a couple of things to pay attention to folks - he said open water 4;30 pm and you had to swim and don't want to walk in the dark so if its getting dark close to 4:30 then we assume it is fall you are wet and need to build a fire and get dry and to stay warm thru the night, second,is in all the open water that i have been to around ontario i have yet to see any cattails, lilly root yes, but no cattails they are more in swampy areas bogs marshes what have you, also if it is getting close to dark do you want to be foraging around and risk misidentification?
tracker most of us here would have had a bag in the boat with at least 72 hours of food and a spcae blanket (large) i also have change of clothers in a water proof bag which also floats so i can just hang onto it and flutter kick my way in saves lots of energy, i personally only kayak or canoe can't stand them motorized gidgits(boats quads snowmachines)hard to be in touch with mnature on them loud stinking smelly foul things.
but i hope the first part answered your questions, to the rst of you pay attention to the details, always makes me laugh when i see folks just type "well i'd start a fire go hunting and fishing and be great" ya ya thats allot easier said than done and if you are that good come up here to my place and i'll drop you off in the middle of a lake film ya swim back and get a fire going with enough wood for the night then let you film yourself all night after all that see if you have the engery to go foraging
just keeping it real folks

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Originally Posted by FVR

Again, another scenario with limited information.

What time of the year?

Is it cold, below 32 F?

Are you duck hunting in the cold, if so, you will die. Is it summer and hot, spring and cool, is the water cold enough to cause hypothermia?

If you are freezing cold and wet, and already suffering from hypothermia, try to make a fire.

Do you have life preservers?

When you were in the boat, what were you doing, fishing, going for a row, hunting, or just floating.

Is it a river with an undertow?

Is it a lake?

How much energy did you use on the swim in.

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frank i just stick with what he gave us, see my above post 4:30 and close to dark up here means fall, also good point on the PFD they are mandatory here in ontario

Paying attention to details is cool - that's why he got some of the initial responses that he did. He went on to clarify what he was looking for with

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all im trying to ask was what is your first choice when you are looking for food? I was just thinking of more creative way to say that.

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which is why he got the latter responses.

Yup,and I assumed he meant in your local area,and here cattail grows around most bodies of water,and since some parts of the cattail are pretty startchy,it's a good way to get some quick energy without expending much more if you see it.

well keep in mind he is new and we no nothing about age and experience, by his first post that is the way i answered, now his second post tells me that if i am out foraging what is my first picked food, my answer to that is what ever is around, i'm not going to pass up one thing to try and find another

he also said 400 meters from shore in any direction thats at least 800meters wide then thats open water and allot of swimming

Wellllllll, he really didn't say it was 4:30 and close to dark, but rather

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You make it onto the shore and rest for a bit. It will take you 1/2 a day to walk to your rescue but it is already 4:30 and you dont want to walk through the dark.

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So if it takes half a day to walk to your rescue, then it could be getting dark and 9:00, which would be during the summer.

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Originally Posted by FVR

Again, another scenario with limited information.
What time of the year?

Is it cold, below 32 F?

Are you duck hunting in the cold, if so, you will die. Is it summer and hot, spring and cool, is the water cold enough to cause hypothermia? I dont duck hunt on a lake

If you are freezing cold and wet, and already suffering from hypothermia, try to make a fire Already said that
Do you have life preservers? They are mandatory

When you were in the boat, what were you doing, fishing, going for a row, hunting, or just floating.
Is it a river with an undertow?
Cant be its a lake

Is it a lake? yes

How much energy did you use on the swim in. 400m swim in street clothes

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I answered all the Questions in red without any additional info being added.

I would probably take my clothes off and wring them out then put them back on. Rest for a bit, then start walking. After all its a lake, if I follow the shore I can't get lost in the dark. The walking will increase my body heat drying my clothes. I'm just not one to sit around waiting for a rescue that might come if I can get myself out. Food would be the last thing on my mind!

The try to make a fire comment was scarcastic. Have you ever tried to make a fire while wet, cold, and shivering. Hands don't work all that well.

Well, assuming that I made it to shore and I was not yet nekked, take off all my clothes and wrap myself in my wool blanky. My wet wool blanket will keep me warm. At that point, I guess I will start hoofing it until I can get a bar or..................


400m swim, many may drown if they try it fully clothed with shoes on.

But hey, it's your scenario, really does not matter what I would do, what would you do.

Alot depends on the water temp, a river with undertow, you may make it to the shore and be completely whipped. Unless you are in good shape. If the water is too cold, it changes your whole scenario.

I'm thinking, since I grew up in NJ swimming in the Deleware, 400 m, wow. You may start swimming and depending if there is a tide like the Del., you may end up a mile or two from where you want to be. That's if you make it by swimming with the current, if you fight the current, you're dead.

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Originally Posted by FVR

The try to make a fire comment was scarcastic. Have you ever tried to make a fire while wet, cold, and shivering. Hands don't work all that well.

Well, assuming that I made it to shore and I was not yet nekked, take off all my clothes and wrap myself in my wool blanky. My wet wool blanket will keep me warm. At that point, I guess I will start hoofing it until I can get a bar or..................

400m swim, many may drown if they try it fully clothed with shoes on.

But hey, it's your scenario, really does not matter what I would do, what would you do.

Alot depends on the water temp, a river with undertow, you may make it to the shore and be completely whipped. Unless you are in good shape. If the water is too cold, it changes your whole scenario.

I'm thinking, since I grew up in NJ swimming in the Deleware, 400 m, wow. You may start swimming and depending if there is a tide like the Del., you may end up a mile or two from where you want to be. That's if you make it by swimming with the current, if you fight the current, you're dead.

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Most of my boating is done in Prince William Sound in the winter (normal winter water temp is 34 - 37* F). So if I found myself in the water 400 meters from shore I think I would just drown myself to save me the suffering. Even if I was in a survival suite, the chances of making it to shore are slim and none. I wear a life jacket while on the boat out there but it is in case I slip off the bow while jumping to shore or back to the boat.

This pic is me with what I typically wear while trapping. If I wear a coat, I wear it over the life jacket.

In the pockets of the life jacket I have:
1 Coastguard wistle
1 Laser flare
1 really good fire starting kit

Else where on my person I have:
1 leatherman supertool 2000
1 3 wat led flashlight
1 Benchmade 2 3/4" folder
1 S&W 629 worn cross draw on my belt left side w/ 18 extra rnds
1 Wetterlings wildlife hatchet

Klkak,

I use to duckhunt the Del. river in late Dec. and Jan. and the Ches. in Md in my younger years. 400m, I'd have died, water that cold, all the clothes. If I did get to shore I'd probably by past spent and have to very lucky.

I've spent many a night and day in the Pacific swimming and doing ops in the USMC. 400m may not sound like much, but depending on conditions, it could be a death swim.

Pacific, Jan. night operations, 1 mile off shore, by the time you reach the beach and have to make the assault, it was hard and we were all in top shape.

the scenario in my case would be a bit different because I always have a drysuit with me, plus a complete set of extra clothing and hiking boots in a dry bag, and food for 3 days. So I would not be wet, I'd be well-fed and have no trouble hiking home.
Generally in the north, it's the under-equipped people who need to bailed out. Certainly, when out in the back country with a vehicle, boat or otherwise, there can be no excuse for not bringing the gear to save your own azz.

If Sir Grills is going, there would be room service.... :D :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

Only 400 m to shore? He is my plan. Bamm hit something boat is going down. Me oh no the boat is sinking. Grab my bag of chips throw it in the cooler with what is left of the beer and bologna. I better put my cigs and lighter in there to or they will get wet. Grab the fillet knife throw it in. Lay on cooler paddle to shore. Open beer light cig, holy cow that sucks. I think I build a fire drink the rest of this beer, eat my chips and bologna and walk out tomorrow.

You take beer when you're out hunting RiM?

I'll go with author's intent, but couch that getting dry is priority one, shelter is priority two, and there's a chance starting a fire is necessary for priority one (usually priority two). Getting food is well down the list, however, since that was the intent of the questions, I'd drop a few lines with baited hooks if I had them with me while going out to forage for some food. I'd focus on what I know, which in Colorado in high mountain lakes is going to be cattail roots, dandilions, canadian thistle, wild raspberries, wild strawberries, pine nuts, and maybe some spruce needle tea to warm me up.

From my luck, 95% of the time I'll come back to empty fishing lines after an hour of foraging and the odds of getting something in a snare in short order is far worse than that (at least in my limited attempts). Being able to identify edible plants in your area is an invaluable tool for summer outdoor activities. I'd like to learn more plants that are out there, but don't really hang with folks that have the experience to share.

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Originally Posted by trax

You take beer when you're out hunting RiM?

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The OP said nothing of hunting. I assume I was enjoying a afternoon of fishing. In which case. I am sure there would be some of the following on board along with fish. Cooler, Cigs and lighter, Beer, and some ring balogna or venison sausage, and some chips. I am sure there other things but knowing I only have 1/2 day hike to help, well screw everything else I am going to make sure I at least enjoy what I have left. Why do I need flairs when I clearly know exactly where I am and know where I need to go in the a.m.. It wouldn't be the first ti me I said screw it I think I will stay out all night. The part about losing the boat and having to pay to have it brought out of the water by salvage sucks. The thought of spending the night on the beach by a fire with everything listed above is pretty cool in my book.

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Originally Posted by ryaninmichigan

The OP said nothing of hunting.

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You are right, sir. I stand corrected.

Ya one guy threw in duck hunting somewhere... ryaninmichigan you carry all that stuff every time you are in a boat? why a fillet knife? and can you even drink in a boat? well you can i guess but thats pretty close to being illegal....

That was me, I asked if you were duck hunting. Basically, what the he ll were you doing on the water.

Your scenario is a little like, I'm walking down the street and trip and fall on my face, how do I get up? What made you trip? did you get hurt during the fall?

Next time, put us in a real situation. Tell us what you were doing, where you were going, what the weather was like, etc. Or maybe you are the type of person who just does things on a whim and ends up dead in the end.


I would expect your next thread topic to be, "what's the best survival knife?"

A fillet knife is to bleed fish. Drinking? Nothing illegal to have a beer or two. Driving a boat drunk is not legal or a good idea. But most people assume when you say drinking you mean doing keg stands. a beer or three does not make a drunk person...