Jacobson - Wilderness Survival Guide: A Complete Wilderness Survival Guide

Congratulations on deciding to learn one of the most useful crafts any person can have. Whether you are deciding to venture out into the wild for an extended period of time and live off of the land, or just going camping for the weekend with your family it is always good to have a firm grasp on how to survive in the wilderness without the fancy camping tools sold at your local wildlife store. This book will delve into the essentials of surviving just like our ancestors did thousands of years ago.

In todays modern world we tend to turn to new and easy tools built in factories to get through our everyday lives, becoming more dependent on technology, and leaning further from our hunter/gatherer instincts. Our ancestors were forced to be masters at bushcraft since there was no technology and to them, bushcraft was no more than everyday survival. The people of the past were able to live off and with the world around them and were completely at one, with their surroundings.

As we leave our large homes, swimming pools and concrete jungles, our disconnect from the nature around us increases exponentially. Therefore, it is not a good idea to just throw yourself into the wilderness without the knowledge and know how to back you up out in the harsh environment. Wilderness skill is something that is originated from Americans but is now being replaced by the term Bushcraft, originally coming from the Australian Less Hiddins, who was also known as The Bush Tucker Man.

What Is Bushcraft?

Bushcraft can be described as simply the skills you will need to survive, live, and succeed in a wilderness environment without outside amenities. These skills can only be achieved by educating yourself and gaining experience in real wilderness situations. However, it is not recommended that you simply read a book and drop yourself off alone in a remote area without a little bit of practice under your belt.

Bushcraft, however, is not just about survival; it goes deeper than that. Bushcraft is about creating a world around you that is sustainable and comfortable and will allow you to live a life that is one with the natural world around you just like our indigenous ancestors from long ago.

This skill, the ability to naturally and sustainably live off of the land, can be one of the pleasant things you ever do and your connection to nature will grow your body and mind in ways that nothing in the modern world could compare to. Bushcraft is a skill that is learnable by anyone at any age but takes time and determination to follow and understand fully. However, once accomplished you can use it in both leisure and emergency situations when you and your family discover the wonder of the natural world.

There are several different areas we will cover in this book, and they are the most relevant sections of Bushcraft. There is more to wilderness survival than just reading a book so make sure to take in each section slowly and follow up by practicing what you learned in your living room, yard, or on a day hike with someone else. It is never advised to go out in the woods by yourself if you are a novice in case of emergency or injury.

We will begin by focusing on forming your camp, home, or site. This section will include information on starting and maintaining fires and building shelters. This section is a foundation for your Bushcraft experience and will provide you the ability to stay warm, heat food, have shelter, and get a good nights rest which is imperative when you are living in the wilderness.

Next, we will give you the knowledge and understanding of how to obtain your food source while you are out in the wilderness. Food is crucial, and you cannot live off of berries for very long, nor do you want to. This section will give you vital information on hunting, trapping and snares, and fishing; all great ways to ensure you are eating what your body needs to maintain health while you survive the wilderness.

Then we will cover preparing and cooking the food you just learned how to catch. It is important to remember to cook food thoroughly so that you dont contract any food born illness. The last thing you need is to be out in nature and get severely and dangerously ill. The topics discussed in this chapter will be gutting and preparing fish, butchering and preparing game and cooking and preserving methods.