“Primitive shelters ain't all they're cracked up to be. If you've studied many "survival tips" websites or quick reference guides, you get the impression that simple debris huts are all you need to stay warm and dry in any conditions. If you've ever slept in one, though... well, that's a different matter.”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip - Toggles, Pt. II
“Last week we showed you how to use a wooden toggle as a quick-release system for hanging your tarps... but that's just the tip of the toggle iceberg. Like a shemagh, or a poncho, a wooden toggle is a blank canvas that is only limited by your imagination.”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip 5/21 - Toggles, pt. 1
“Tarp, ponchos, and emergency blankets are three of the most crucial elements of modern, fast-action shelters. And for those shelters to be effective, they need to be built correctly. But hanging them can be a pain if you don’t have much experience with it.”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip 4/30 - Ranger Bands on Fire
“They won’t catch a spark, but if you have an open flame, they’ll burn easily. Lighting one is like starting a mini tire fire. Even the small ones will burn for 10-15mins in all conditions, including rain and high winds, and they're virtually impossible to put out.”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip 4/23 - Why We Baton
“While processing firewood this way is more work on the front end than just gathering it up and trying to burn it, the rewards are well worth it. You’ll be blessed with fires that are easier to start, less likely to die, don’t smoke as much, and put off more heat.”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip 4/9 - The Possum's Dump Pouch
“But you only have so many pockets, and your pack is usually full of stuff already. So like any good marsupial, you need a pouch. The solution to this is to carry a military mag dump pouch (or a carpenter's nail pouch) with you so you can easily collect resources as you go.”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip 3/26 - Calculating Magnetic Declination
“When we’re kids, we know that down is south and up is north. Where a compass points is where Santa lives, and it’s at the top of the map. Life is simple. But when we become men (and women), start doing land nav, and put away childish things, it gets a little more complicated.”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip 1/29 - Reflector Wall
“Regardless of what shelter I set up, one of the first things I would do to try and give myself an edge in the battle against freezing to death would be to build a reflector wall.”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip 1/15 - Carving with a Hatchet
“One very common question we get (usually from those new to the bushcraft world) is, how do you carve with a hatchet? And if you’ve never seen it done, I can see how this wouldn’t make sense.”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip 1/1 - The Overlooked Candle
“…if you’re wondering where I got the one on the right in the photo… I definitely didn’t snatch it from a candlelight Christmas Eve service, if that’s what you think. The Possum Mentality never sleeps.”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip 10/23 - The Original Pocket Multi-Tool
“Today we’re going to talk about the granddaddy of all pocket multi-tools, and one that still puts most of today’s offerings to shame. We’re talking, of course, about the legendary P-38 can opener.”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip 10/16 - Laying a Fire
“If you’ve ever had a fire that started out alright, flamed up, and then quickly died, this may well be one of the reasons why.”
Read more#WildEdibleWednesday 6/27 - Blackberry
“Although they grow all over the world, blackberries are about as all-American as it gets. They’re a part of our culture, especially in the South. I have many fond memories of picking blackberries with friends and family, and then enjoying a cobbler fresh out of the oven with vanilla ice cream that evening.”
Read moreInstructor Corps Pro Tip 6/19 - Treating poisoning with charcoal
Is it as good as activated charcoal? No. But could it potentially save your life in a survival situation? Absolutely.
Read more#WildEdibleWednesday 3/21 - Common Blue Violet
Violets have a long association with the coming of spring in various cultures throughout the world, which is not surprising as they’re one of the first flowers to brave the cold and bloom out in late winter.
Read moreSurvival Time Machine: 5th Degree
"Most survival kits recommend a mirror for signaling. I like to look at my eye when I get something in it. At any rate you can look at your teeth while you pick the meat out after killing the bear with one of the many options the ultra handy multi-tool has to offer."
Read moreSurvival Time Machine, Part 1
Imagine if you could go back to the past. What would it be like if you knew back then what you know now? What would you do differently? What decisions would you change? Would you take a different approach? Would you take another path? Would you change anything at all? Well, I discovered a way to do just that. If you find that interesting, buckle up and hold on. I found a time machine and I know how to hot wire it.
Read moreYou Don't Rise to the Occasion...
I vaguely remember Chief Strobl telling me that I was killing my patient – I’d missed a major bleed stemming from her brachial artery and she was going into irreversible hemorrhagic shock...
Read moreA Round of Positivity
It doesn’t matter what book you read, what video you watch or what famous survival celebrity you follow. You will learn the same thing from all of them- Your attitude determines your altitude. However, how to keep and maintain that positivity is very rarely addressed. Shelter, fire, water, first aid, signaling, food and rest always get elaborated on. Shouldn’t the most important priority get more attention? I certainly believe so. Here’s how I do it…
Read moreAll Hail the Squirrel
Redneck boys don’t get together and talk trash to each other about who’s going to get the season’s trophy squirrel. I think this is a crying shame. Allow me to explain.
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