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Sarge..... Something so simple yet so complex as well i would have never thought about attitude. But it makes excellent sense. Without the proper attitude it doesn't matter how many classes you take, no matter how many survival "tools" you have you can't/won't get very far without the proper attitude. Plus admitting you don't know it all and ask questions can't hurt. Am I getting the right Idea?
You're getting it OS; check out this story that I posted on my Blog:Quote:
Originally Posted by oldsoldier
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...=recent&page=2
Start out with "Survival Story Story #1", then #2, then go to page 1 & read #3 & you'll see what I'm talking about! I didn't make these up, they really happened!:cool2:
Sarge... thx for the link these are amazing stories, I'm beginning to see the light. It all makes a lot of sense.
Why not visit our Introductions section and tell us a bit about yourself.....or was this just your advertisement post?
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...splay.php?f=14
Well DUH!:sneaky2:Quote:
Originally Posted by chrisrich
Such eloquence! THIS, ladies and gentlemen, is the reason I am here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sarge47
Hi there, long-time lurker here but this will be my first post and it is really for the benefit of Sam ~ that would be the young 12 year old with a passion for the outdoors and survival.
I'm sure the 'experts' who replied to your initial questions didn't really mean to pile on you, they are older and therefore wiser than you are and sometimes they forget what it is like to take the first steps at the beginning of a journey. I hope this didn't dampen you spirit, not everyone on these forums has such an attitude and as I'm sure you have realised there is a wealth of excellent information here, regardless of age or experience.
As you will learn, survival kits are always a 'work in progress' and I'm sure as you gain experience your kit will evolve in relation to your knowledge, skills, requirements and environment. Remember that your survival kit is like your survival insurance policy for if things go wrong, choose the items carefully, make sure the items are good quality (the wrong time to realise that something doesn't do what it is supposed to do is when your life depends on it) and make sure you know how to use each item under realistic conditions! Remember the Royal Marines saying: By Failing To Prepare You Are Preparing To Fail. I'm pretty sure that your present survival kit would hold its own against most members survival kit on this forum, let alone their kits when they themselves were 12!
The mention of 'Attitude' in a previous post was, I believe, a bit of a trick question and I'm sure had more than yourself wondering what the answer was. As far as I am aware, a survival kit cannot have an 'attitude' (per se), the user of the kit can have an attitude (positive, negative or neutral) and this will of course have a direct effect on how he/she puts the kit together and subsequently uses it ~ just like knowledge, skills, and the will to survive ~ they are an element of 'you' and not your kit.
As someone else pointed out in a previous reply, use these forums to add to the knowledge you gain 'in the field' as there is no substitute for getting out there and 'doing it', finding out yourself what works, what doesn't, why something works and why something doesn't. It would be great if the amount of posts someone had submitted directly reflected their own knowledge, skills and attitude but unfortunately it doesn't always work like that.
That's good information, Baton Rouge. Why not make your way over to our Introduction section and tell us a bit about yourself?
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...splay.php?f=14
Rick, you know what gets me? BR states having been a "long time lurker". If so, I'm sure he's read how we "encourage" new members to go to the intro section.:cool2:
You'd think. He offered good advice but not knowing anything about him (her?) you don't know if it was offered from a book or from experience. (shrug)
Without reading back through the 900+ posts does anybody know which Sam he was referring to? I mean since their was a mild reprimand, I'd like to know what (or if) I'm being reprimanded for.
Oops. Never mind. Thought the least I could do was go back one page. Found it.
I would just like to say I have read most of the posts on this thread and have gained a great deal of ideas I hadn't heard or thought of before. I am from the very deep south of Louisiana and am going to be doing a good bit of hunting in Northern states this yr. Mainly South Dakota. Anyone have any area specific advice for the areas just east of the Missouri river in the southern part of the state ? Looks like some of the trips may be just east of the Bad Lands... Thanks in advance.
Hey Deep South, why not make your way over to our Introduction section and tell us a bit about yourself?
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...ead.php?t=7813
Hi there it is sam!
So does anybody have a survival kit list for a bergen 35 litre???
I made a survival kit several years ago for my nephew who was just starting to hunt on his own. Since I live 200 miles away I couldn't spend the time with him to teach him, so I wrote the following to give him a few pointers.
SURVIVAL TIPS
At one time or another everyone who ventures off the road gets confused, turned around, disoriented or just plain lost. This happens most often on an overcast day when the sun cannot be used as a visual reference point. It can happen anywhere from a large wildlife management area to the woods behind your house. Anyone who says he has never been lost has never been in the woods much or is lying.
The manner that each person deals with the situation depends on his training, preparation and/or mental attitude when the situation occurs. With a little preparation getting lost need not be frightening and certainly not a life-threatening situation, it will only be a minor inconvenience. By following a few simple steps it will only be a matter of time before someone can find you and get you to safety. Remember lost means - Lean On Survival Training. If you follow the hints listed below getting lost is nothing to worry about:
I. Always let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return. This can be as easy as leaving a note on the kitchen table, or on the windshield of your vehicle. Preferably you can tell someone where you are going and when you will return.
II. Learn how to use a map and compass. Never go out into the field with out a compass. Even if you have a GPS, a map and compass can make the difference between spending the night in the woods and making it out on your own when the GPS batteries die or you cannot get a signal. In fact knowing how to use a map and compass (Orienteering) will make it easier to use a GPS to the best of it’s capabilities. There are several good books on the subject and following their instructions and practicing a little will make all the difference. You might find Orienteering Books in the library, if not they can be ordered from a Cabella’s Catalog.
III. Carry a survival kit every time you go out. If you carry a small one it will not be an encumbrance and can change things from an incident into an experience. (More on survival kits and their use later)
IV. Once you realize that you are lost stay calm. Getting lost does not cause injuries or accidents, but getting scared and running through the woods until you are exhausted can lead to hypothermia (hypothermia is a critical loss of body heat due to cool, damp conditions and the body not having enough energy to maintain it’s temperature properly). Find a relatively high and dry spot then sit tight. If possible, stop in a clearing or relatively open spot and build a fire (even if you don’t have a survival kit you should always carry a supply of matches every time you go into the woods). Once you have a fire and a good supply of firewood, collect a good amount of fresh or green vegetation to put on the fire. This should be added to a well burning fire to provide an ample of smoke for searchers to see and pinpoint your location. A fire will also give you a sense of security and can keep you alive in cold and wet conditions.
Building a fire is not always easy, especially if it has been raining and every thing on the ground is wet. Take the time to learn what type of fuel burns best and where to find it. Gather plenty of fuel and kindling materials (Kindling is material which will ignite easily such as; dry leaves, bird’s nests, small dead limbs still hanging on a tree, or the bark from the underside of a fallen tree) before striking a match. Once all the materials are collected, try to build a fire with only one match. Remember, in a survival situation you might have to maintain a fire for a long period of time. So try to use no more matches than absolutely needed..
V. Food and water are not an immediate concern. A person can survive three days without water and three weeks without food. In most cases people who get lost are found in twenty-four to forty-eight hours so don’t worry about water. Furthermore, there are very few, if any, sources of water which would be safe to drink without treating it first. So avoid that “clear water” which looks so inviting; giardia and other water borne pests can be debilitating and/or fatal. So never drink water from anything that is not known to be a safe source.
VI. The old adage of hunters firing three shots to signal for help is not reliable. A string of three shots is common and will be ignored by most people. The only time it might be noticed is after dark (at least one hour after full dark). So, if you want to try this method be sure to wait until there should be no hunters left in the woods and then fire. Wait at least thirty minutes before firing again. Do not exhaust your supply of ammunition the first night signaling. You might need to fire off a few rounds when you know searchers are in the area.
VI. If the weather is threatening rain and/or if it is below fifty degrees, shelter of some sort may be needed. A lean-to may be the simplest shelter to construct. However, it is hard to make a waterproof shelter with limbs and leaves from a hardwood tree. However, most wooded areas have trees, which have fallen and can be used as the basis of a structure. The trunk of the tree can be used for one side of the lean-to. Start approximately four to five feet from the root wad (the large mass of dirt and roots which stand upright after a tree falls is a root wad) then lay branches or limbs on the tree trunk for the roof. Use the root wad as a reflector for your fire. The root wad will shelter your fire from wind and reflect some of the heat into the shelter.
You might want to practice building shelters before you ever need to use one for real. Go into the wood and look for the materials to build a shelter, then try to build one.
VII. The most important survival tool is your brain. Stay calm, build a shelter if needed and build a fire for signaling and wait for help. With a fire and shelter you can wait for help to arrive in relative comfort.
SURVIVAL KITA survival kit should be small (2 pounds or less) so it is easy to carry. A pouch that attaches to your belt is the best way to carry survival equipment, it is out of your way while walking and you will not mind taking it with you. Every survival kit should have most if not all of the following items.
1. Back up compass. Your primary compass should be carried on your person.
2. Knife. Preferably a “Swiss Army” type knife, but any knife beats no knife.
3. Waterproof matches in a waterproof container. The best in a survival situation have a whistle, compass and fire starter strip (you can never have too many compasses) built into the container.
4. Space blanket. A space blanket can be used as a blanket to retain body heat or as a shelter.
5. Water container and water purification tablets. You must have some way to carry water. The Platypus Collapsible Container is best because it can be rolled up and carried in a small survival kit. As mentioned above, there are very few if any safe water sources left in the wild. Therefore, always carry water purification tablets and follow the directions on the bottle when using. These tablets make the water taste bad, but it will be safe to drink. Remember to rinse some of the treated water around the spout to wash off any bacteria which may have come into contact with the spout.
6. Candle stub. A short piece of heavy candle can be very helpful in starting a fire with a minimum of matches. You should not need it for light, because you will have a fire.
7. Magnesium match or fire starter. If the you cannot find enough dry kindling or tinder, pieces of the magnesium can be shaved off the magnesium block to help start a fire by throwing sparks onto the magnesium.
8. Fishing kit and line. Take a 35 mm film container and wrap it with 50 – 100’ of 15 – 20 pound test line. Secure it to the container with duct tape. Put a couple of dry flies and a popping bug into the container along with a couple of split shot. This can allow you to catch small fish if it becomes necessary. Remember, most survival situations are over before finding food becomes necessary. The extra line could be used to help build shelter or a multitude of other uses.
9. Wire Saw. This can be used to cut limbs for building a shelter, cut green limbs with leave for signal fires or to quarter a deer to help carry it out of the woods.
10. Survival Cards. The survival cards have information to help you deal with virtually any situation, which might occur. Read them before going to the field, but keep them in the kit because no one can remember everything.
Other items can be added to the kit, but remember to carry only what is necessary. This keeps the kit lightweight and easy to carry. Some items which, might be added are commercially prepared fire sticks and a butane cigaret lighter. These can be bought at Wal-Mart and will aid in building fires. Another might be a waterproof container of aspirin, chap-stick, band-aids, and antiseptic cream. These could come in handy at anytime.
Try to save the waterproof matches (they are waterproof and wind proof and must be special ordered) in the match container for emergencies. If you want to practice building fires, use regular kitchen matches. You can make your own waterproof matches by using the small kitchen matches and dipping the first quarter of in inch of the match in melted wax. If you cut a quarter of an inch off of these matches they will fit in a 35 mm film container and carried in the pack for general use.
Good basic advice for a situation when you get lost. There was some little parts that I feel that I must comment on.
Ok, here I need to just specify what you meant, cause there is a risk of death..Quote:
The trunk of the tree can be used for one side of the lean-to. Start approximately four to five feet from the root wad (the large mass of dirt and roots which stand upright after a tree falls is a root wad) then lay branches or limbs on the tree trunk for the roof. Use the root wad as a reflector for your fire. The root wad will shelter your fire from wind and reflect some of the heat into the shelter.
You don't say, that one should make his shelter to the spot that was under the root wad before the tree fell, or do you? That is because I know of many cases and personally one person who has died being there. The thing is, that If it has been snowing and windy the snow has packed on the trees branches, added weight and the weight and wind together have fell the tree. Few days later there is kids playing under the roots, or a camper sleeping there, weather is nice and sunny, the snow that pressed the tree down is melting. When the mass of the snow on the branches reach that critical point where it no longer can keep the tree down, it springs back up and crushes the poor person that was playing/sleeping under the root wad. This has happened, more than once. I know a 9yo kid who died this way.
As secondary knife, maybe yes, but proper fixed blade on your belt beats swiss knife any day. You can use real knife for so much more, like cutting those branches that would take ages to cut with wire saw.Quote:
2. Knife. Preferably a “Swiss Army” type knife, but any knife beats no knife.
A really great post Swamprat. A lot of information. Like NCO, I have to offer up a couple of items.
1. Never leave your information on the windshield of you vehicle. A thief would love to know that you won't be back to your truck for 2 days. That would give him plenty of time to take everything in it....and the truck. Instead, leave the information with someone you trust.
2. Personally, I don't like a wire saw. I have a couple but I don't like them. There are better alternatives. The wire saws work so so when you don't need them and tend to break when you do need them. A better choice would be a sportsman saw that folds or collapses. Again, that's just my opinion.
3. I don't think I could build a shelter against a root ball. It seems like every time I check one out some critter has decided it would make a good home for him and I don't relish the idea of waking up in the middle of the night with a wolverine, camel or hippo sharing my lean to....but, hey, that's just me.
Rick and NCO
A couple of clarifications.
1) The SAK was included in the kit I gave my nephew, along with everything else mentioned in the text. His primary knife would be the 4.5 inch fixed blade custum made Jimmy Liles knife my father gave him.
2) The place he was to build a shelter was against the bole (trunk, stem) of the tree with the root wad as a reflector for the fire, not in the hole left by the stump. Here in the south the hole left by a tree falling wojuld be full of water!
4) I don't think any critter (except a snake) would come near the tree with a fire burning and the scent of a man around the area.
5) I am not a fan of wire saws either, but this was included in a kit or pouch which measures 6"x9"x2" and was designed to be carried on his belt eveerythime he goes to the field. Most of the items in the kit were chosen for the practicality of something small enough to fit in the pouch, yet still provide for basic need in a short term survival situation. I haven't ever seen a folding small which would fit in the pouch and still have room for the rest of the gear.
6) It is possible that leaving info on the windshield could tell someone you were gone and might make them want to steal the vehicle. In this instance it was meant to be for day hunts when no one was around to leave the information with (like on a spur of the moment hunt).
As I said this was for short term survival in an emergency and had to fit in the small pouch attached to his belt. I have carried an exact duplicate of the kit for almost 20 years (I replace the water purification tablets annually). Fortunately I have never had to use the kit, but I feel certain that it would be helpful, and could possibly save your life in an emergency situation.
Thanks for the clarification. I'm sure the kit would save a life. It's a well thought out kit. Something Cody advocated in one of his books and I've incorporated is to use a piece of aluminum foil to make a boot imprint and leave it on your dashboard. That way if a SAR effort is undertaken, they know what your boot print looks like. Sort of made sense to me. Again, nice write up!!
All fine and well then. I hope you understand that I had to make sure about the fallen tree. The kid that died was relative of mine..Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick
I would have done the same thing if I was in your shoes. I am sorry to hear the kid who was killed was related to you.
Thats life. It always involves the end of it. Sometimes earlier than the average. Oh well, it has been years now, so it's ok..
I must confess I had never heard of that occurring. I can certainly understand how it could happen, however. We don't have that much snow here so that's probably why it's an uncommon occurrence.
Sorry for your loss NCO and thanks for passing it on to us. Dad taught me in the woods to never even go under a root mass, he warned us it could stand back up and we were never in a snowy climate at the time. Not sure where he got the scenario from but we were taught.
Dad warned us (and still does) about widow makers - trees which have fell but are hung up in other trees. The trail I was on yesterday passed passed under one. there was no other route to get where we were going and I was cringing when we went under it going in and coming back.Quote:
Originally Posted by COWBOYSURVIVAL
Absolutely right, SR. They are called "widow-makers" for a very good reason. I've had three close calls and countless ones I avoided.Quote:
Originally Posted by Swamprat1958
In my BOB's I have a small bottle of carex, The stuff that kills 99% of germs. It may come in very handy, yet i rarley see it included in peoples BOB's. Its stuffed into my first aid kit along with a 12 hr lightstick.
I'm not familiar with carex. What is it? Hand sanitizer?
I would like to apologise to everybodies comments on this forum that I should of listened to more clearly about my survival kit and I am going to re - post my new survival kit, so I would like to start a fresh.
regards
Quote:
2. Knife. Preferably a “Swiss Army” type knife, but any knife beats no knife.
Or just use the saw on your SAK.Quote:
Originally Posted by NCO
Knives are funny things. Getting a consensus on what is "best" is a totally futile exercise as opinions are always strongly held and widely divergent.
Personally, my SAK (a Victorinox Fieldmaster) is my primary knife. Fixed blades (if I choose to carry any) are always secondary.
The one thing I think we can/will all agree on is that HAVING a knife is the most important (followed perhaps by the caveat that it be kept sharp.)
I have to agree with lucznik - I have a SAK which is similar to a Victorinox Hunter and again this is always my primary kine and yet again if I do bother carrying a fixed blade it is always my secondary. ( Thanks for the advice lucznik )Quote:
Originally Posted by lucznik
Heyy Guys,
I've come back to the forum after one long break! I would like to apologise to any body I annoyed with my arrogance before and I would like to start a fresh. I will be posting about my new and updated survival kit.
Thanks guys.
The basic kit, here it goes.
Signalling Mirror.
Commando Wire Saw
Non fuming/toxic firelighters.
Snare Wire
Cotton Wool
Sugar and Salt
Oxo cubes x 4
Mini Sewing kit
Photon/LED mini light
Mini Multitool
Painkillers
Flint and steel
Fishing kit
Vaseline
Bags
Antiseptic Wipes
Plasters.
Impressive list! Much better than "just my knife" that some people post. My PSK is always in a state of flux depending on where I'm going and for how long. There are some items, however, I always carry/take/wear when I'm in the woods no matter what:Quote:
Originally Posted by samfranklin
Waterproof matches in a bright orange water-tight container.
2-6 Bandanas.
2-4 4 mil. 55 Gal. trash bags.
Victorinox "Rucksack" SAK.
Swiss Army card.
35mm film can of dryer lint.
Strike-Force for fire making.
Tilley T-3 hat.
Fox 40 whistle.
Coughlin's Trek 1 1st aid kit. (small)
Hat band made from braided parachute cord.
1 qt. size Nalgene wide-mouth water bottle with matching steel cup.
Sportsman's space blanket.(Grommets.)
1 pink lady candle.
Mini-mag flashlight.
Star-flash signal mirror.
Rite-in-the-Rain small notebook with Fischer Space pen.
Tea bags w/sugar packets.
(If going farther afield some or all of these items may be added or subbed:)
Mora fixed-blade knife.(attached to lanyard made from braided parachute cord around neck.
Atwater-Carey 1st-aid kit.
Military Poncho.
Esbit stove & heat tabs.
Snare wire.
Emergency fishing kit.
Several other types of fire-starters.
Military tempered glass signal mirror, 3"x5"
Water-filter straw.
Small bottle with 8 grams of iodine crystals.
2nd Nalgene bottle with duct tape wraps, Cody Lundin style.
Silva Ranger Compass.
Topo map of the area.
Small cook-kit.
Tube tent.
Small digital camera.
Small pair of Bushnell binoculars.
Rite-in-the-Rain Field notebook with Fisher Space-Pen.
MRE food packs.
Hard candy.
Paperback novel.
Pocket Survival guide.
Extra reading glasses.
There's more, but again, it all depends. :cool2:
Actually, I disagree with that. I consider a good, sharp knife a luxury. A good 1st aid kit & training is the most important. A knife cannot reduce a high fever, treat concussion, mend a broken bone, stop arterial bleeding, or restore beating to a heart that has stopped. So, are you saying that if you lose your knife you are dead? You can make a knife out of a sharp-edged stone if you know what to look for; medical knowledge & items are a lot harder to come by in the bush! :cool2:Quote:
Originally Posted by lucznik
Heyy Sarge,
I'm liking the additions :)
Just wanted to know what you would use some of them for!
2-6 Bandanas.
? Shelters, Wounds ?
2-4 4 mil. 55 Gal. trash bags.
Victorinox "Rucksack" SAK.
Swiss Army card.
Is that one of the credit cards with the knife and nail file type?
35mm film can of dryer lint.
Strike-Force for fire making.
Tilley T-3 hat.
Fox 40 whistle.
Coughlin's Trek 1 1st aid kit. (small)
Hat band made from braided parachute cord.
Hat band?
1 qt. size Nalgene wide-mouth water bottle with matching steel cup.
Sportsman's space blanket.(Grommets.)
1 pink lady candle.
Mini-mag flashlight.
Star-flash signal mirror.
Rite-in-the-Rain small notebook with Fischer Space pen.
Tea bags w/sugar packets.
Thanks
No problem. I wasn't sure if you were referring to the bandanas or the 55 gal. Trashbags in your post so I'll answer to both:Quote:
Originally Posted by samfranklin
BANDANAS:
These are really great for many things like 1st aid, cooking(pot mitt), clean-up(wash cloth, dish towel), filtering debris out of water, making an ear cover during cold, windy weather(like the cowboys do when they wear their Stetsons. Learned that one in Colorado), sweat band, soak it in cool water and cool down your face & head, put it under your hat & let it hang down in the back & you'll protect your neck from the hot sun...etc..
55 GALLON, 4 MIL. TRASHBAGS:
Using duct tape you can make a nice sized, tough tube tent out of 2 of them, emergency tarp or ground cloth, stuff them with leaves & make blankets(aka Ron Hood) or a mattress. Raincoat of course, etc..
Swiss Army card.
Is that one of the credit cards with the knife and nail file type?
YEP! It also has a small pair of sissors, toothpick, tweezers, And a ball-point pen.
The hatband was an idea I took out of John D. McCann's book: "Build the Perfect Survival Kit." You can never have too much cordage!
Hope this helps, If I need to clarify anything else please let me know. :cool2:
For all the work people put in creating lists they are personalized to the individual and his skills and environment. The list a person should start with is basic back packing gear and then let experience determine what he carries from there. If you don't use it leave it behind on next trip and If you don't have what you need bring it next time. Let your own experience build your kit. I want to make a distinction between experience and practice. Practice is doing the same thing over and over again, experience is doing different things until you find one that works. I look at most kits and my experience tells me people are carting around a bunch of garbage but there is no need to get into specifics because experience will convince you better than me and more accurately to your specific need and environment. For all the time and effort I have put into my kit it would not impress many because it is geared to my needs not thiers but I have absolute confidence in it because I have used it and know its capabilities and limitations. A bag full of stuff you made up off a list on the internet will not give you confidence but on the other hand if you have done it before with the gear you have then it doesn't really matter what the experts say.
Cheers Sarge :)