Group Survival 101.

We don't need to see you to know you're out there. Everything leaves signs and if I've spotted them (hell yeah, some might get past me, I"m human, but I'm also good at knowing what looks out of place) I'll have reported other human presence. And I don't think you dropped that deer silently (it can be done, but you tell me how you did it if you did it :) )

Also, at this point, I want to add, if you're a hunter I welcome the help. The other guys in my camp can obviously hunt too, but they have jobs. Everyone should be aware that as a hunter we are furthest afield from camp, therefore the first "newsbringers" and the first possible line of defense if there are "unfriendlies". We are also, by nature of the job, the most likely to p### off somebody else's camp if it becomes a competition for meat.

If you're going to join us as a hunter (and my vote to the group is welcome the guy in) then you and I need to discuss dividing up territories and times for hunting. We can hunt together or split up, lots of times splitting up is better. What's the rifle btw? and what else are you carrying in besides it and venison? Just to keep inventory up to speed.

Well we should be starting on the roof of the cabin tomorrow. Today 2 are heading back to the trucks to get the rest of the stuff we buried cause we could not load it up. So you guys will probably see us passing through. Don’t shoot. Thinking about sending them back to the gas station also to see if the looters left anything behind. Could use some glass for windows in the cabin.

There are some nice stands of oak near by I think we should be able to gather a few gallons of acorns very easily. Deer all through there too. Cut some hickory and it is seasoning for smoking meat. Fishing has been good.

We have a latrine plenty far enough away form the water. Trying to decide if we might want to start on a fence around our new homestead. Maybe fence off a couple of acres. Almost like starting a fort

[QUOTE=trax;6097]We are also, by nature of the job, the most likely to p### off somebody else's camp if it becomes a competition for meat.

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Trax,
I know I am not in your clan but we are both hunters. One way of stopping the above for both parties is for the two off us to have a sit down. To talk about where we are spending time, what we are seeing. Heads up on the geese they are starting to assemble at the lake for the push south. Also there is more then 1 cat and I seen some bear sign down by the river mouth. I will meet you by the River where it bends around the big rock it is about half way Let me know what time you want to meet.

Double Post

My ancestors, traditionally, would name someone as "captain of the hunt" It worked well for them and I'd recommend it to my group. It doesn't necessarily have to be me, but I'll take it on if the group wants. The responsibility is for exactly the kind of thing RiM and I are talking about right now, and for organizing the group hunting activities. Makes for more productive hunting. It also speaks to the issue of the council meetings. That individual can speak on behalf of the group hunters instead of having to listen to three or four hunters yammering on about the same things.

If the group is agreeable, and I see the sense in it, I'll meet with RiM, alone, at noon tomorrow. I mentioned yesterday as well, the possibility of trade between the two groups. I'm going to meet RiM about hunting, but if the group wants me to broach any other subjects, I require that direction from council/CO.

Based on the info that I've received just in RiM's last posting. Do we have anyone willing to, wanting to and capable of, dressing out furs and hides? Does anyone have the sewing skills to make decent clothing and moccasins?

I don't normally shoot bears, but is there anything on the bear that group cooks, doctors etc want? Or the fur?

Smaller furs (just as warm, easier to manipulate) will be found in that lake and river, if needed. Beaver, muskrat, otter. Beaver and muskrat are both edible too, I've never tried otter.

Same goes for the mountain lions. Other predators in the area don't bother me unless they're a threat to the humans, which they seldom are. By the way, the lion(s) will more likely act threatening to humans than any of the others. The bears right now just want to fill up and go to sleep.

Owl-girl's root cellar idea is one I think we should act upon, immediately. Do we even have shovels? I kind of don't remember seeing them in inventory, I know I didn't bring one, but I know how to use one, that's for sure.

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Originally Posted by trax

Owl-girl's root cellar idea is one I think we should act upon, immediately. Do we even have shovels? I kind of don't remember seeing them in inventory, I know I didn't bring one, but I know how to use one, that's for sure.

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Actually it was volwest’s idea

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Originally Posted by owl_girl

Actually it was volwest’s idea

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whoops, sorry vol, either way, let's get at it.

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Originally Posted by trax

Based on the info that I've received just in RiM's last posting. Do we have anyone willing to, wanting to and capable of, dressing out furs and hides? Does anyone have the sewing skills to make decent clothing and moccasins?

I don't normally shoot bears, but is there anything on the bear that group cooks, doctors etc want? Or the fur?

Smaller furs (just as warm, easier to manipulate) will be found in that lake and river, if needed. Beaver, muskrat, otter. Beaver and muskrat are both edible too, I've never tried otter.

Same goes for the mountain lions. Other predators in the area don't bother me unless they're a threat to the humans, which they seldom are. By the way, the lion(s) will more likely act threatening to humans than any of the others. The bears right now just want to fill up and go to sleep.

Owl-girl's root cellar idea is one I think we should act upon, immediately. Do we even have shovels? I kind of don't remember seeing them in inventory, I know I didn't bring one, but I know how to use one, that's for sure.

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I've got a NATO folding shovel as well as a couple of garden spades, axe, bowsaws (sm. & lg.). BTW, I'm not sleeping in the bus, I donated that to the females who are gonna need the privacy. I've got my hammock, sleeping pad, lt. wt. (for now) sleeping bag, mosquito netting, & camo Marine Corps poncho to put over the whole thing. I'm near the bus to be ready if anything goes South. I pitched one of the large cabin tents to be used for storing all the stuff I brought, but I like to be able to see what's comin'. Gotta be careful, SM dug one of his "pungi-pits" about 5 feet behind me. I got him and his two young helpers chopping wood and storing it to dry so as to keep the smoke down when we burn it. Owl-girl says she wants to go looking for herbs and edible plants soon, somebody's gonna have to go with her to watch her back. Kinda glad we're not going to the lake right now, mosquitos carry West Nile Virus and other bad stuff. I think Nell's gonna use the bus as a 1st aid station as well if it's needed. Have it do sort of double duty. Who was that who wanted to know where that old logging road was? I can show them or loan 'em my Topo map that points it out. Gotta look hard though.:cool:

WIth that and DEET probably coming in, I could really use a roll call, have to keep track of who's here and not.

I’m going to go look for some rose hips, dry them, and store most of them for winter. I think rose hip tea is a tastier way to get vitamin C then pin needles. I’ll pick anything ells edible I see along the way. I need a bucket Anyone got one I can use?

WE, VW, FVR, and Sarge....probably have a good idea what I'd do/vote for in most situations. I'm gone for awhile, don't kill me off guys, LOL

First council, I'd request FVR helping out DEET and I with hunting, report on any game activity that RiM and I share. Other than that, carry on tribe, I shall return (has that line been used already?)

VW we have made no indication that we are violent. I am the one that asked to have regular meetings between hunters, I am sharing knowledge. I offer my knowledge of building in the event you would like it in building you perment structures. I have no qualms about being your camp alone as long as you feed me with I am there..

There are to things that will force us to be in contact with each other weather we like it or not. 1. The lake and 2. the way out. I am at the lake and you are between me and the only way out. I would prefer friendly encounters as to aggressive ones. I would think you would agree to this as well.

Your comment on the fence has made us reconsider. Thank you

Ummm where in US are we? How far north? That would give me a better idea of what foods are available and when.

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Originally Posted by volwest

The lake is a mile away to the west of us.
The RIM clan is 2 miles to the north west...on the north side of the lake.
Our retreat is 3 miles to the south west where Trax found a little cave.
We have 3 main fox holes one facing west, one facing north west, and one facing north where this damn bus is...to the east of us is thick brush and hard terrain...and to the south there is nothing for miles but wild.
I am adding a fox hole to the south side in case we need to lay down some suppressing fire while the group retreats...
The main road is 30 miles to the north.
The lake looks like a potato going east west. Probably 1 mile in width and 2 miles long.
A river meets the lake at the north west corner of the lake and flows to the north west.

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While a nice description. It does not follow the story line up till now.

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Originally Posted by owl_girl

Ummm where in US are we? How far north? That would give me a better idea of what foods are available and when.

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Anywhere you want say around 45 degrees north. Hilly country.with bluffs and swamps

Description of where we should be based on the beginning of this,

180 miles west to the nearest town, dead end logging road 10 miles long. (Where our trucks are. You are 15 miles north of where my truck is. We are at the lake 15 miles further north on the north side. I will agree to tighten this up for communication purposes, Also the river needs to flow to the south allowing Trax and I the agreed upon meeting place. To the north of me is nothing but wild

This is how the story line has developed and should kept as close as possible to that.

Ok so rose hips aren’t ready quite yet. Are the trees mostly evergreen? That would pervade good cover in winter.

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Originally Posted by owl_girl

Ok so rose hips aren’t ready quite yet. Are the trees mostly evergreen? That would pervade good cover in winter.

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A mix of hard woods and Cedar swamps. stands of pines. here and there

Back a little early.

Sarge, here are some berries. 3 gal of hack, 2 of blue, and 4 gal of black berries. Notice at the bottom of the pack, there is a small goose, yeh I know but hey. The mallard is a bit larger, nice flock, took them with the bow. Did not want to scare them away.

I found a few spots where someone had been watching us. One spot NE of the camp, guy must have had a spotting scope or something. When they left they did not cover there tripod marks. Def. was not a tripod on a rifle as the person seemed to be sitting.

Trax, saw about 6 does, did not want to shoot them as I figure you have us covered. Hate to see meat wasted.

Came upon those two dead bodies, nasty. critters got to them, the lion did not. Funny, that lion's tracks are all over yet he did not touch the carcass'. I felt bad, rolled them up in a tarp they had, after I found the body parts. Buried them and covered with rocks. Don't want to talk about it.

Agree with RiM, more than one cat. Found a dead dog that had a collar, no tag. Shame, cat got him, you can tell from the swipe and rip.

When you butcher the deer, save the heads. I will take the brains and we can brain tan the hides. If you don't know, I'll show ya how to do it. It's gross but makes good leather.


Also, if someone wants to collect those acorns, if brains gross you out we can tan the hides with the tanin from the acorns. Going to need to make a small pit with water, hardwood coals to soak the hides to get the hair to slip.