What Do I Need To Survive in the Wild?

Wagner was just another spammer. His/her/it's reading skills are suspect.

Dang it! Now I don't get to give a test.

https://media1.tenor.com/images/8d23...temid=15681046

It's okay. It was a Brasilian Terrier.

Drats, Rick...I couldn't wrap my mind around that one even as a joke...or a stick figure cartoon. Overactive imagination, I guess.

As an aside:
So underwhelemed at the quaality of spammers we get as of lately. Dumb, unimaginative, no staying power. Unlike those legends of the past years. Why, you could get to pg 5 before you realize that something ain't right. Then you'd cut them off and carry on for months withouut them. Remember those good ol' days?

We're just wiser in our older age. Five to ten a day is the normal.

B, just who does that guy remind you of? Subtle humor....subtle.

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Originally Posted by Ken

Good post. No, not good, EXCELLENT POST! :thumbup:

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Muito bom esse conteúdo. Obrigado!

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Originally Posted by wagnernewline

Muito bom esse conteúdo. Obrigado!

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y su capacidad de enviar spam a este sitio ha terminado.

Yea. What he said twice. So there!

A good pair of running shoes...............joking, Start with this group/forum survival quiz and ask questions about what you are not clear on. ( Do hope your, not one of them SPAMMING this Group ), folks here know a lot more than me and you won't last in here or out in the wild if you don't pay attention to the details).

The sticking point for me is still primitive fire starting. In theory I can make and use a bow drill. In practice I've managed to produce smoke, and smoke alone. As a result I wear a fire steel pendant style necklace as a part of my everyday, and typically carry a flip lighter. Everything else on this list I'm comfortable and reasonably experienced with, but primitive fire starting? Nope. Give me a single match or a fire steel and I'm golden, but I still need something at this point.

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Originally Posted by crashdive123

We're just wiser in our older age. Five to ten a day is the normal.

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What, women?

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Originally Posted by Dropship

What, women?

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No, idiots. You looking to audition?

None of your pictures are showing.

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Originally Posted by crashdive123

..None of your pictures are showing.

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Thanks, that's odd, they look fine to me.
Can't all the other WS members see them either? Is the field blank or are people seeing some kind of error message?

I'll try a different image insertion method, let me know if you can see this pic of Amundsen and his quote, he's a role model for all survivalists..:)

Attachment 12042

PS- Amundsen looks very small to me but enlarges if I click on him, do we have to click on all pics in WSF to make them bigger?

Depends on how you post them.

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Originally Posted by Rick

Depends on how you post them.

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Okay let's try again, here's one I'm posting from the IMGbb image-hosting site in which Al gives us good advice for staying alive in a post-apoc world-

"If sumbody messes wid me, I'm a-gonna mess wid him!"

https://i.ibb.co/Kmz3cRX/Alphonse-Gabriel-Capone.png

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and here's the same pic posted with the WS forums 'Insert image' button; are any of them showing up?

Attachment 12043

Nothing that you post with your image hosting site is showing. I can see what you entered if I select editing your post, but the image is not showing.

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Originally Posted by crashdive123

Nothing that you post with your image hosting site is showing. I can see what you entered if I select editing your post, but the image is not showing.

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Can you see the small Al Capone pic that has to be clicked to enlarge it?
If you can tell me how to post pics fullsize I'd be glad to know..:)

I can see both Capone sizes.

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Originally Posted by madmax

I can see both Capone sizes.

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Crashdive can't see my ImgBB pics but you can, so that's only a 50 percent success rate!
It'd be a waste of time me posting any more if only half the forum can see my sensational pics.
I get a 100% success rate in other forums..:)

Apparently others can see your pics and the problem lies with either my computer or provider.

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Originally Posted by crashdive123

Apparently others can see your pics and the problem lies with either my computer or provider.

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Perhaps other people can't see my pics either, for example I posted a pic of a deer in rifle crosshairs and asked in the next post if the hairs were centred on its heart, but nobody's replied (sniffle)
http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...543#post522543

Or.......maybe just nobody responed.

i see them all.

I just pooped in the woods. With nothing, Guess that solves that eternal question.

But every answer creates more questions, for instance, are you really a bear?

Dad's nickname for me. Doesn't fit. But if I fart in the woods and nobody's there to hear it... did I really fart.

I went out and tried it. Doing laundry now.

It depends on if we are downwind or not. Hearing doesn't really matter in some cases. This be one of 'em. Skunks be another. Six of one I guess.

I have had the displeasure of cleaning skunk sprayed dogs many times in 63 years. There is nothing that sticks with you like the stank of a sunk soaked dog in a truck driving 60 miles in FL in the summer. BTW I didn't shoot him.

"Many times"

You must love that dog.

Yeah. 12 years and counting. He's a keeper. That 2 yo puppy heeler though... we may take a walk and only one comes back. He's a ****head. And won't tolerate a bath. tick tock.

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Originally Posted by crashdive123

Apparently others can see your pics and the problem lies with either my computer or provider.

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I just love me some SPAM.

You will need a Swiss army knife, a knife, a compass, a map, fire-starting equipment, a first-aid kit with bandages and toilet paper, a flashlight, a waterproof matchbox, and a whistle.

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Originally Posted by Zachary66

You will need a Swiss army knife, a knife, a compass, a map, fire-starting equipment, a first-aid kit with bandages and toilet paper, a flashlight, a waterproof matchbox, and a whistle.

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I live on privately owned land in the Chattahoochee NF. Do me a favor and don't come here because bodies stink as they decay.

Ok, so I understand those having a Rambo Fantasy, or those that feel like they have to prove something to themselves out in the wild. I think pretty much every guy on the planet could relate to this at some point in their lives. What people do not think about is the consequences are of 'Being over your head' in a survival situation. To outright place yourself in a 'Live or Die survival situation' is crazy, outright dangerous to say the least. Realize even experienced hikers, hunters, mountaineers have met their maker in the wilderness; Look at that movie star from Warlock franchise that still hasn't been found after a couple months now.

Those of us that have actually gone into the wilderness with only bare essentials can tell you something: Yes, it is nice to know that you can survive under these circumstances, but damn, does it require a crap load of physical exertion, you will burn a crap load of calories, and your whole body is going to feel it when you get back home.

I am not even 50 yet, and even I will say that I would like some luxury items to make the experience more comfortable. Sure, I can make cordage using what I find in my surroundings, but do you have any clue how long it takes to make cordage? Do you know how long it will take to make a bow and drill with your knife, and how long it will take you to make an ember? Your arms are going feel like you have been lifting furniture all day long. Not to mention your back from being in the position you have to be in to use the bow n drill.

So yea, Rambo, way cool concept, doing it though, been there done that, now give me that self-inflating air mattress, and that ultra thick mattress pad, as this guy wants to be able to enjoy the outdoors, instead of working my *** off all day long.

With that said, I still think it is a good skill to have under your belt, and it is better to test your survival experience in your own backyard, or at a campsite, so that you can hone in on what part of your skills needs advancement.

Whoopsie, after reading everyone's post I neglected to read the title of the thread

What Do I Need To Survive in the Wild?

not what do you need- as in general info

Will, desire, fortitude, & stubbornness: to never give up.

I think the above says it all. We can say that there are things we have to have for survival, and yes, all of those items are extremely beneficial, but are they truly a must to have? The fact is there are countless stories of immigrants that have had nothing but the shirt on their back and an empty water bottle trekking across the continent.

There are also numerous native villages that live in clay huts, with handmade tools, that have found a means to survive without the luxuries that we have here in the USA.
I think that we as human beings tend to get accustomed to a certain level of luxury in our lives, and that has geared us to where we are now, pun intended.

I know for me, what I need to survive in the wild includes music. a very comfortable hammock and mattress pad, and a warm enough sleeping bag that I don't freeze my @$$ off. My brain says I need a certain type & style of knife, but truth be told, I am sure I could make do with practically anything, I just would be 'beachy' about it.

I guess there is a difference between tribesmen that live this ultimate survival way of life daily compared to us weekend warriors.

Here's his thread.

Looks like this can be a roadmap on which one should be learned first in order of importance - they are all important though. I found this app call SAS survival guide in the playstore and it has lots of guides on reading a compass, starting a fire, figuring out your current position etc basic signaling, first aid etc.

However, one thing I noticed that is most important is having the mindset to survive, the willpower.

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Originally Posted by Rick

It’s a question we receive all the time on the forum. Generally, the person asking the question wants to do it with as little gear as possible. If you are reading this sticky then there’s a good chance you’ve been directed here because you just asked the same question.


I suppose it’s a romantic notion to think you can survive in the wilderness with few tools. A lot have tried. Most have failed. Some have died doing it. So let’s think about survival as a life style. That is, after all, why you are here. No one would consider computer programming as a lifestyle with no training or experience and they would never consider becoming a stock broker with no training or experience yet folks seem quick to place their safety and their life at risk with neither training nor experience. The reason they are willing to do that is they don’t understand the risks inherent in being in the wilderness with few tools (yes, experience and knowledge are tools). When that happens, they often give up and go home dejected and disappointed or, as is often the case, they put the lives of Search and Rescue folks in peril trying to save them.

I should also point out that no one "practices their survival skills" unless they are in a strictly supervisored environment. No one should intentionally place themselves in an environment where survival skills are required. If you do you need to understand that the opposite of success is a SAR rescue, severe injury or death. Do you really want those options on the table? You can practice camping, hiking, wilderness skills, first aid and/or navigation but you should never think you can test your "survival skills".

That aside, let’s start by having you answer a few simple questions.

1. How much knowledge do you have? You should know how to perform the following tasks in all kinds of environments.

1a. How to build expedient shelters.
1b. Create fire with no tools or tools you create yourself in the wilderness.
1c. Know where to find water and how to purify it.
1d. Basic land navigation.
1e. Basic psychology of survival.
1f. Basic first aid.
1g. Be able to identify plants in your area. Both poisonous and edible.
1h. Understand weather signs.
1i. Basics of trapping and snaring.
1j. How to build expedient tools and weapons.
1k. Basics of signaling.
1l. How to prioritize needs.

2. How much experience do you have? You should be proficient at the items listed above. You will be called upon to deal with each of the items on the list at one time or another. Some of them frequently if not daily and your ability to handle them may determine if you live or die.

3. What do you know about the geography of the area you intend to survive in? You should know and understand the location you intend to call home. You will need to know the flora and the fauna. You’ll need to understand the climate and terrain. You will need to know where the closest town or settlements are located just in case and you will need to know how to resupply yourself. You’ll need to know if the land is government owned, tribal owned or privately owned. You’ll need to know the laws governing each. Being arrested for trespass your third day out is probably going to be depressing.

4. What items do you need to take with you? It is better to have gear and not need it than to need it and not have it. Those are not my words but the words of EXPERIENCED outdoors men and women. If you do not know what items are appropriate for you then you have neither the knowledge nor the experience to attempt what it is you want to do.

So how do you gain the knowledge and the experience? There are many roads you can take to arrive at the same place. Joining this forum is certainly a step in the right direction. There is an abundance of information to be found within the threads of the forum. There is also an abundance of information seasoned members are willing to share. Try searching for the answer to your question by using the Search tool at the top of the page. You’ll be surprised how much information has already been covered and the chances are very good you’ll find your answer. If you don’t find the answer then feel free to ask.

Read. There are a myriad of books on survival, camping and hiking. There is a sticky on the forum that lists a variety of excellent books. You can visit it at:

http://www.wilderness-survival.net/f...ead.php?t=5483

Read the stickies under each of the headings. They discuss things like the best knife, multi-use items, saws and axes and a whole lot more.

Practice, practice and more practice. If you have no experience then begin by picking one item at a time from the list in number 1 above. Research as much information as you can about it and begin practicing even if you have to do so in your own back yard. Learning how to make a fire bow or fire plough, for example, can be done quite easily at home.

Find a mentor. Someone that has outdoor experience is a treasure beyond words. Their experience is often location or region specific, which is something that will be hard to find in any book. You can find a mentor by joining a group; hiking, camping, reenacting, Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts or your local Community Emergency Response Team. There are any number of group activities that are occurring in your area. You just need to investigate what is available and participate. I’m sure you’ll find opportunities within those groups or individuals that will be interested in helping you.

Take a class. Survival and first aid classes are offered through private, civic and charitable organizations. Find one close to you and see what they have to offer. And don’t overlook local colleges and universities or parks programs.

Just Do It. Go to a local, state or federal park and camp out for a week-end. Start by car camping. That way if you have forgotten something important you are not putting your life at risk. Test out things you’ve tried, like fire starting, following local rules and regulations, or course. Make a list of things you needed but didn’t have and things you had but didn’t need. Each time you go out you can adjust your gear accordingly.

Finally, no one on the forum wants to dowse your dreams or desires. There are folks on here that do exactly what you seek to do. At the same time, we don’t want you to wander off and wind up another statistic. Instead, we want you armed with the knowledge and tools that you need to survive in the wilderness. And forget the notion that you can live off the land. It is not a sustainable life style. Everyone requires some basic staples to remain safe and healthy and to enjoy the lifestyle they have chosen.

If it is truly something you want to do then it is worthy of your best time and talents. And remember, you are investing in yourself. Aren’t you worth that much?

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Great post! All of these are essential but what stood up the most to me is your will to live - it's really the deciding factor among other things. Slowly building up your confidence and knowledge to survive is key to increasing your chances of really surviving in the wild.

I am new here and I am looking forward to enjoying the forum with you guys. I loved it when the first post I see is this one.

Please not fight