In continuing with our “What to take with you” theme, this time we’re going to look at food gathering.
First and foremost, let me state for the record that we are talking about bushcrafting/survival/bugging out vs a planned hunting or fishing excursion. Laws differ in every state and jurisdiction, and we are NOT talking about a regular season hunt situation.
Like our Mountain Man/Longhunter ancestors, we are looking at providing food at the moment. Let’s start with the quickest & easiest food gathering method. Firearms.
There is no single, perfect firearm or setup in what we do. Needs and resources vary greatly. In our Truck Gun series, we talked about different truck guns for different needs. Same principle here. If simply putting small game or birds on the table is your need, a .22 or .410 shotgun rig may be the perfect thing for you. If larger game is on the menu, you’re going to need something slightly bigger than those options. Whatever you need, in combination with what you have or are willing to get will determine your set-up.
Let’s take a look at what I think is an all around great set-up for Angela and I.
I prefer a single shot break open 12ga shotgun as my base platform for woods running/bushcraft.
Light, durable, easy to use. 12ga shells are among the most prolific and easy to obtain rounds out there. (Current ammo & component shortages not withstanding)
I started with a straight from the factory New England Firearms single shot shotgun (12ga, 3in chamber). I left the original barrel length alone, opting for sight radius accuracy vs canoe gun maneuverability. The one modification I did make was adding rifle sights to the shotgun to aid in aiming slugs or using the sub-caliber adapters.
Angela uses a 12ga SxS. Slightly heavier but definitely capable of the same stuff the NEF is.
Ok. Now that we have a base platform, let’s look at some options.
Having a shotgun in 12ga gives me a huge range of options. Bird shot for birds and small game, buckshot for medium game and defensive use, slugs for large game and defensive use, any number of sub-caliber adapters to bridge any gaps in use coverage. (.22 is my go-to).
Oh, did I mention that there are adapters available to basically turn that SS break open into a muzzle loader? This idea really turns my crank, in so far as that if I for some reason find myself without 12ga rds., I can break out the BP or Pyrodex, some 209 primers and get to work. There are methods for reloading spent shotshells, or you can even get full length brass hulls for modifying to use the 209 primer and BP. With a supply of BP/Pyrodex and some round ball, I am even able to take on larger game with pretty reasonable accuracy.
With a handful of assorted shells, along with my sub caliber adapter (and a few of those rounds), I can engage in a hunting foray, run a trap line, or flat out scrounge for a few days until I find 12ga rounds to continue the intended use of the shotgun.
Need a bag to carry all this stuff? Check out this one over at Field Supply.
Stick around guys, as next week we’re going to dig into the Cutting Tools aspect of bushcraft.
*As an Amazon affiliate, I will receive a small commission when you buy through these links. FYI, it doesn’t cost you anything extra, but it does help fund our site.
It’s pretty much a foregone conclusion that if you’re reading our stuff, you’re into this lifestyle or you’re getting ready for it. I spent my life (up until the past few years) learning a lot of this stuff through trial and error. That being the case, I decided to compile a lot into a much more easily accessible format, and share information I’ve collected and learned from others.
So, what do you need to take with you on your bushcraft excursions? The first part of the answer is determined by the purpose of the excursion (trapping, camping, etc.) and the second is more of a budgetary consideration.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH HOMEMADE OR SECOND HAND ACQUIRED GEAR!
When I first got into Scouting, I used the BSA equipment Dad handed down to me, and I built a lot of my kit from stuff we had around the house.
Now that we have that out of the way………..
One of the best resources I’ve come across in years is the series of books (and YouTube videos) by Dave Canterbury. Links to these books are included in the blog.
Let’s begin with the 5 Cs of survivability.
- Cutting tools (knife, axe, hatchet, hawk, saw, etc)
- Cover elements (clothing, shelter material, etc)
- Combustion (multiple methods for making fire)
- Containers
- Cordage
A good knife (or 2) is an absolute must. No need for the “Rambo” survival knife, your belt knife doesn’t really need to exceed 5”-6”. Your knife will perform a multitude of tasks, from preparing material to skinning and cleaning game to carving other simple tools on your trip. The same goes for your camp axe (or tomahawk) and a folding saw.
The clothing you wear plus what extra take with you are the foundation of your cover elements. Durable clothing (wool socks, leather boots) is a must, as repairing clothing out in the woods can be difficult not to mention annoying. The whole idea of Bushcraft is to simplify & streamline, so we’re not looking at heavy or cumbersome tents and other pre-made shelters. A heavy duty tarp in conjunction with your cordage can provide an immensely effective shelt.
I recommend at least three methods for making fire. Personally, I’m a huge fan of ferro rods, followed by a butane lighter, then stick matches and lastly flint and steel. The more primitive forms of fire making are fun and a valuable skill to have, but let’s face it, when you NEED fire you really don’t want to be goofing around trying out new techniques!
You will need containers for water, and for storing/collecting food items.
Cordage is a biggie. #550 cord, tarred bank line and jute rope all have a place in my kit. #550 cord by itself can be broken down into components for fishing line, clothing repair, etc., While tarred bank line seems at times to be nearly indestructible. Jute rope is not the strongest cordage out there, but small sections of it can be fluffed out to aid in fire making.
It’s all about versatility and multi-use.
Ready to get started? Check out a few of the suggested items here.
*We will receive a small commission when you buy through the links found in our blogs. FYI, it doesn’t cost you anything extra, but it does help fund our site.
I’ve never been great at weekly meal prep. I try to make out our dinner menus for the week but that’s about it. Actually prepping as in cutting veggies, cooking for lunches for the week, things like that…yeah, not really my thing.
But breakfast works better for me if I have some done up ahead of time. Like overnight oats or these egg muffins.
I’ll be adding more variety over time. So be sure to come back often and check. Or better yet…subscribe to our email list and we’ll be sure you have it in your inbox when it happens!
Ready to up your game in healthy eating? Check out my Healthy Eating Program and see if it’s right for you.
Ingredients
- 10 eggs
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Wisk together and proceed to your preferred additions below.Once all ingredients (from chosen recipe below) are combined, divide into 12 muffin cups (sprayed or lined with silicone liners).Bake at 400 for 15 minutes.
Ingredients
- 1 base recipe
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 2/4 cup grated cheese
- 3/4 cup cooked ham
Instructions
- Wisk garlic powder, onion powder, and mustard into egg base. Stir in cheese and ham.
Ingredients
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/3 cup buffalo sauce
- 1/3 cup chopped green onions
- 1 cup chopped cooked chicken or turkey
Instructions
- Wisk garlic powder and buffalo sauce into egg base. Stir in green onions and chicken/turkey.
