What's your top primitive items for survival in the woods?
April 29, 2022 9:38 AM Subscribe
I've been taking a Wilderness Survival Course and it is culminating in a four night trip in the woods. We're allowed to bring our knife, water container, and a few other things here and there, but the instructor is also allowing us to bring anything that we make out of natural material.
This is a question for survivalists/preppers/people with knowledge of primitive surviving. What items would you make to bring in this situation?
I'm planning to make a bamboo basket/backpack, possibly a clay pot, possibly bow and arrow, although most our food source will be fish. We will have fishing line, possibly hooks, so I may make some primitive hooks too. Interested to see what other folks think will be useful.
We will have tarps, paracord, ferro rod, and gill net. Location is east Texas.
This is a question for survivalists/preppers/people with knowledge of primitive surviving. What items would you make to bring in this situation?
I'm planning to make a bamboo basket/backpack, possibly a clay pot, possibly bow and arrow, although most our food source will be fish. We will have fishing line, possibly hooks, so I may make some primitive hooks too. Interested to see what other folks think will be useful.
We will have tarps, paracord, ferro rod, and gill net. Location is east Texas.
How are you with sun? I might want a hat to shade my eyes and prevent my nose from burning off.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 9:53 AM on April 29, 2022
posted by nouvelle-personne at 9:53 AM on April 29, 2022
A way to make fire...
posted by Windopaene at 10:15 AM on April 29, 2022
posted by Windopaene at 10:15 AM on April 29, 2022
A clay pot is heavy! I would make and bring a wooden bowl.
posted by Too-Ticky at 10:23 AM on April 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Too-Ticky at 10:23 AM on April 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: we got fire covered!
posted by monologish at 10:25 AM on April 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by monologish at 10:25 AM on April 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
Char cloth and/or fat wood. I was going to say make a lot of cordage but if paracord is allowed then that's kind of a waste. But you should know how to make some and practice anyway if you're interested in this kind of thing.
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:26 AM on April 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by SaltySalticid at 10:26 AM on April 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
OP says right in the question that they've got a ferro rod.
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 10:30 AM on April 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 10:30 AM on April 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
I know you say you’ve got fire covered, but I think people are suggesting char cloth and other forms of tinder because a there’s a big gap between sparks made from a ferro rod and fire, and that gap is filled with char cloth or other forms of bone-dry, readily ignitable tinder.
posted by hhc5 at 10:41 AM on April 29, 2022 [11 favorites]
posted by hhc5 at 10:41 AM on April 29, 2022 [11 favorites]
how to win a surival situation (i.e. live)
assess the risks: injuries, likely environmental illness, traumas, animal and plant threats.
know the maximum duration (how far to the mearest travelled rd etc)
make an asset inventory that you will bring
make an asset inventory that you will collect, make
know your survival plan
be prepared to abandon shit ideas and useless supplies.
summer e. texas. - could be swamp, desert, sparse forest. be ready. it'll be hot. might rain a lot. or NONE.
sunburn. SUNBURN.
cuts, scrapes, burns.
low prob, high consequence - rattlers and cottonmouths. just stay away.
it's only four days. 500-1000 cal/day UNLESS you have required travel or exertion.
IT'S FOUR DAYS - 16 quarts of water min. water, enough and sanitary.
how are you going to sanitize water? there's only three ways. heat, filter, chemicals. you are going to boil 4 quarts of water per person per day? how's that gonna work?
Heat injury - dehydration, heat stroke, heat exhaustion
Cold injury - not likely, but stay dry w that tarp.
fuck a bow and arrow. that's a ridiculous waste of time. a few chipped knives and spearheads. a spear rod? knife handle?
fish hooks might be useful, but a jig and a fish trap are the ticket. think a lot lower on the food chain. insects, turtles, bird and reptile eggs. hunting will burn way more calories than it provides. you are prey. keep a low profile and forage.
- dedicate one of those tiny 1/3 cup clay pots for hot coals.
- collect 99 kinds of dry tinder and keep it in dry places.
- flint is 1000x easier than a bow starter. don't even make a bow starter unless you've been using one of five years.
- straw/grass hat
- loin cloth
- something for your feet
- can you stitch and cure a bota from a few rabbit skins. if you don't know how to tan/cure it, don't do this. you will get sooo sick.
- how are you literally and mentally going to prepare for the mosquitos?
posted by j_curiouser at 10:45 AM on April 29, 2022 [9 favorites]
assess the risks: injuries, likely environmental illness, traumas, animal and plant threats.
know the maximum duration (how far to the mearest travelled rd etc)
make an asset inventory that you will bring
make an asset inventory that you will collect, make
know your survival plan
be prepared to abandon shit ideas and useless supplies.
summer e. texas. - could be swamp, desert, sparse forest. be ready. it'll be hot. might rain a lot. or NONE.
sunburn. SUNBURN.
cuts, scrapes, burns.
low prob, high consequence - rattlers and cottonmouths. just stay away.
it's only four days. 500-1000 cal/day UNLESS you have required travel or exertion.
IT'S FOUR DAYS - 16 quarts of water min. water, enough and sanitary.
how are you going to sanitize water? there's only three ways. heat, filter, chemicals. you are going to boil 4 quarts of water per person per day? how's that gonna work?
Heat injury - dehydration, heat stroke, heat exhaustion
Cold injury - not likely, but stay dry w that tarp.
fuck a bow and arrow. that's a ridiculous waste of time. a few chipped knives and spearheads. a spear rod? knife handle?
fish hooks might be useful, but a jig and a fish trap are the ticket. think a lot lower on the food chain. insects, turtles, bird and reptile eggs. hunting will burn way more calories than it provides. you are prey. keep a low profile and forage.
- dedicate one of those tiny 1/3 cup clay pots for hot coals.
- collect 99 kinds of dry tinder and keep it in dry places.
- flint is 1000x easier than a bow starter. don't even make a bow starter unless you've been using one of five years.
- straw/grass hat
- loin cloth
- something for your feet
- can you stitch and cure a bota from a few rabbit skins. if you don't know how to tan/cure it, don't do this. you will get sooo sick.
- how are you literally and mentally going to prepare for the mosquitos?
posted by j_curiouser at 10:45 AM on April 29, 2022 [9 favorites]
also, a purely personal opinion...
survivalists? preppers? philosophies based on two central principles.
1. i can buy/own everything i need to survive via a checklist.
2. i am the king of the land.
what really helps people survive?
1. a survival attitude: hope and unrelenting persistence.
2. knowledge.
3. an open mind that creatively improvises against the materials and circumstances at hand.
4. an essential humility that puts us into a low profile, wary stance against the vast power of nature.
5. caring for each other on the 'raft' multiplies the chance of survival.
6. the bare minimum of tools for food, water, shelter, first aid.
posted by j_curiouser at 10:57 AM on April 29, 2022 [7 favorites]
survivalists? preppers? philosophies based on two central principles.
1. i can buy/own everything i need to survive via a checklist.
2. i am the king of the land.
what really helps people survive?
1. a survival attitude: hope and unrelenting persistence.
2. knowledge.
3. an open mind that creatively improvises against the materials and circumstances at hand.
4. an essential humility that puts us into a low profile, wary stance against the vast power of nature.
5. caring for each other on the 'raft' multiplies the chance of survival.
6. the bare minimum of tools for food, water, shelter, first aid.
posted by j_curiouser at 10:57 AM on April 29, 2022 [7 favorites]
surviving the extremes
wilderness first aid
the fieldbook
tx edible plants
find your own for fire, water, shelter, self rescue
posted by j_curiouser at 11:12 AM on April 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
wilderness first aid
the fieldbook
tx edible plants
find your own for fire, water, shelter, self rescue
posted by j_curiouser at 11:12 AM on April 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
So the two main strategies for thinking about wilderness preparation are the Five C's and the Ten Essentials. You've got the Five C's covered already:
Cutting (knife)
Cordage (paracord)
Cover (tarp)
Container (water container)
Combustion (ferro rod, presumably with char cloth, tinder, etc.)
The Ten Essentials are trickier:
Hydration (water, especially making it safe to drink)
Nutrition (food)
Sun protection (clothing, tarp, sunscreen)
Insulation (mostly via your clothing)
Illumination (primarily via fire)
Fire (ferro rod, etc.)
Shelter (tarp)
Navigation (will you stay put or need to travel?)
Repair (???)
First aid (???)
Of those ten, the ones that you don't have covered already (nutrition, navigation, repair, first aid) are pretty hard to prep for in advance from natural materials.
Of the others, j_curiouser is correct to point out that the single most critical one will be water: for a timespan of four days (and especially in east Texas in summer), you will need LOTS of water (like, a gallon a day). Since you mention fishing, I'm going to assume that acquiring the water itself won't be a problem. But you will also need to make it safe to drink, the importance of which I cannot overemphasize. That means either boiling it, filtering it, or treating it, and since you don't mention filters or water treatment in the list of gear you're allowed to bring, I'm going to assume you're going to need to boil it. That makes fire critical, and it means your water container must be metal (not plastic).
If this were me, I'd be doing everything I could to learn about the landscape, plants, animals, climate, etc. of the area where this is taking place, and I'd also be thinking about the specific scenario very carefully: am I working with a group where we're all trying to survive together? Am I being dropped off alone in a random spot and picked up four days later? Dropped off in a random spot and expected to make my/our way to safety? All of those require vastly different approaches to planning. And I'd expect the instruction leading up to the four days to cover all of this information, with particular attention to the specifics of the local area, in detail and with time to practice before the trip. A good, responsible wilderness survival course will set you up to succeed.
posted by spamloaf at 11:18 AM on April 29, 2022 [8 favorites]
Cutting (knife)
Cordage (paracord)
Cover (tarp)
Container (water container)
Combustion (ferro rod, presumably with char cloth, tinder, etc.)
The Ten Essentials are trickier:
Hydration (water, especially making it safe to drink)
Nutrition (food)
Sun protection (clothing, tarp, sunscreen)
Insulation (mostly via your clothing)
Illumination (primarily via fire)
Fire (ferro rod, etc.)
Shelter (tarp)
Navigation (will you stay put or need to travel?)
Repair (???)
First aid (???)
Of those ten, the ones that you don't have covered already (nutrition, navigation, repair, first aid) are pretty hard to prep for in advance from natural materials.
Of the others, j_curiouser is correct to point out that the single most critical one will be water: for a timespan of four days (and especially in east Texas in summer), you will need LOTS of water (like, a gallon a day). Since you mention fishing, I'm going to assume that acquiring the water itself won't be a problem. But you will also need to make it safe to drink, the importance of which I cannot overemphasize. That means either boiling it, filtering it, or treating it, and since you don't mention filters or water treatment in the list of gear you're allowed to bring, I'm going to assume you're going to need to boil it. That makes fire critical, and it means your water container must be metal (not plastic).
If this were me, I'd be doing everything I could to learn about the landscape, plants, animals, climate, etc. of the area where this is taking place, and I'd also be thinking about the specific scenario very carefully: am I working with a group where we're all trying to survive together? Am I being dropped off alone in a random spot and picked up four days later? Dropped off in a random spot and expected to make my/our way to safety? All of those require vastly different approaches to planning. And I'd expect the instruction leading up to the four days to cover all of this information, with particular attention to the specifics of the local area, in detail and with time to practice before the trip. A good, responsible wilderness survival course will set you up to succeed.
posted by spamloaf at 11:18 AM on April 29, 2022 [8 favorites]
Belatedly, and with much chagrin, I just noticed the first two words of your post: "I've been..." which means you're already well into the "instruction" portion of the course, so hopefully the instructor(s) have emphasized the importance of all the things I just mentioned.
With that in mind, I think the basket/backpack is a great idea: something to help you carry things (fish, firewood, rocks, etc.) from one place to another is always good. The clay pot is a good idea for food preparation if you can fire it and thus make it waterproof; otherwise I'm not sure what you'd do with it. Other than that, I'd work on tinder, tinder, tinder: fine, dry, fluffy stuff that will catch a spark. Charcloth. Birchbark, if the right kind of birches grow in your part of the world. Fatwood. Cattail fluff, if you can get it. Lots and lots of tinder. More tinder than you can possibly imagine using. Test your tinder with the ferro rod to see if it'll ignite on its own or if you need charcloth to get it going. Then collect more tinder.
posted by spamloaf at 11:30 AM on April 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
With that in mind, I think the basket/backpack is a great idea: something to help you carry things (fish, firewood, rocks, etc.) from one place to another is always good. The clay pot is a good idea for food preparation if you can fire it and thus make it waterproof; otherwise I'm not sure what you'd do with it. Other than that, I'd work on tinder, tinder, tinder: fine, dry, fluffy stuff that will catch a spark. Charcloth. Birchbark, if the right kind of birches grow in your part of the world. Fatwood. Cattail fluff, if you can get it. Lots and lots of tinder. More tinder than you can possibly imagine using. Test your tinder with the ferro rod to see if it'll ignite on its own or if you need charcloth to get it going. Then collect more tinder.
posted by spamloaf at 11:30 AM on April 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
I am assuming the "it has to be made out of natural materials that you make yourself" thing is to lean into the you could make it in a survival situation idea so that eliminates a lot of things. A clay pot that could hold water needs to be fired in a kiln and is heavy so not sure if that meets the spirit of the instructions. I'd suggest a container made out of a gourd. Much easier to make, use and carry and more in the spirit of things you could make in the wood. Gourds can be used to make water bottles, bowls, eating utensils and in Texas in summer the more water you can carry the better.
A thick wooden bowl can be used to boil water by dropping hot rocks into it if you need to make the water safe or to cook without having a metal pot.
I'd bring snares before I bought a bow and arrow unless you are already proficient with the bow. I usually make a snare from copper wire but it can be done with handmade cordage, people did that for millenia, you could even make a trigger for it by whittling wood if trying to hunt is something you really want to try.
Having said that for 4 days and if you have a supply of fish & water I'd worry more about getting a fire going to boil water, cook the fish and keep the bugs away and I'd be making sure I had a good supply of tinder of many types. However much you think you'll need pack double it.
Also read up on the edible plants in the era that will be in season while you are there, hunting is all good in theory, but plants don't run away.
posted by wwax at 11:43 AM on April 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
A thick wooden bowl can be used to boil water by dropping hot rocks into it if you need to make the water safe or to cook without having a metal pot.
I'd bring snares before I bought a bow and arrow unless you are already proficient with the bow. I usually make a snare from copper wire but it can be done with handmade cordage, people did that for millenia, you could even make a trigger for it by whittling wood if trying to hunt is something you really want to try.
Having said that for 4 days and if you have a supply of fish & water I'd worry more about getting a fire going to boil water, cook the fish and keep the bugs away and I'd be making sure I had a good supply of tinder of many types. However much you think you'll need pack double it.
Also read up on the edible plants in the era that will be in season while you are there, hunting is all good in theory, but plants don't run away.
posted by wwax at 11:43 AM on April 29, 2022 [2 favorites]
There are some videos on making little traps for fish and other animals. The ones I've seen use plastic bottles, etc., but it might be worth it to look for more natural ones.
posted by amtho at 11:49 AM on April 29, 2022
posted by amtho at 11:49 AM on April 29, 2022
Also: any kind of twine, rope, or string could be very useful.
posted by amtho at 11:49 AM on April 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by amtho at 11:49 AM on April 29, 2022 [1 favorite]
All of the Survivorman content is on Youtube if that gives you some ideas.
posted by Crystalinne at 11:49 AM on April 29, 2022
posted by Crystalinne at 11:49 AM on April 29, 2022
For four days, water is the biggest concern. You're planning to boil it? Is your water container something that allows for that easily? That seems like the first thing. (I am very surprised that paracord is allowed but a metal cooking tool is not.)
posted by eotvos at 11:57 AM on April 29, 2022
posted by eotvos at 11:57 AM on April 29, 2022
Please don't make a bow unless you're already a bowhunter and can pull sufficient weight to actually kill an animal and not just wound it.
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:43 PM on April 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 12:43 PM on April 29, 2022 [3 favorites]
A basket lined with clay can also do the boil-with-hot-rocks trick, if you aren’t allowed to bring or scavenge something you can use to directly boil on the fire.
posted by janell at 12:57 PM on April 29, 2022
posted by janell at 12:57 PM on April 29, 2022
If we assume your water container is metal/boil able, then I think your problems are water (assume ok), shade (tarps and paracord), then probably boredom (and mosquitoes) might rank higher than food for just four days. So I would make some natural bug goo for your skin a/o some natural material entertainment. Carving? Making cordage? Basketry? Save up a bunch of cleaned antlers or bones and make then play dominoes or dice?
posted by janell at 1:05 PM on April 29, 2022
posted by janell at 1:05 PM on April 29, 2022
I can't imagine this didn't get covered in your course, but for completeness' sake:
boiling water for sanitizing = rolling boil for at least 10 minutes
posted by j_curiouser at 7:47 AM on April 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
boiling water for sanitizing = rolling boil for at least 10 minutes
posted by j_curiouser at 7:47 AM on April 30, 2022 [1 favorite]
Rule of Threes (survival)
Three minutes without oxygen equals suffocation.
Also -- several minutes of uncontrolled bleeding equals exsanguination.
Three hours without adequate shelter in brutal conditions equals death by hypothermia.
Three days without liquids equals death by dehydration.
Also -- a number of days without adequate rest can result in lethal mistakes.
Three weeks without nutrition equals death by starvation.
The take-away in survival situations is to prioritize activities that will not result in illness or injury.
Starving to death is overrated. The long-term effects of cryptosporidium and giardia should not be underestimated.
Don't drink unpurified water. Don't eat unfamiliar vegetation. Don't break a leg climbing a tree to get bird's eggs, or to scout the surrounding area. Don't cross a deep, fast-moving stream just to get to the other side. Don't wander around in the dark (locate your cathole nearby to avoid getting lost). Don't risk injury by trapping an animal (which you may not have the training to kill, prepare, and cook) just to have something to eat.
Instead, concentrate on activities that have a reduced risk.
If the allowed water container is suitable for boiling water, excellent. This takes time, flammable materials, and suitable storage containers. The weather may not cooperate (rain, wind, wet tinder, less-than-adequate location to build a fire).
You will get thirsty. You may need to travel (can you transport sufficient water for the rest of the day?) Invest your time and efforts here.
If there are no constraints, I would suggest carrying two ways to start a fire, two ways to purify water, two cutting tools, and two light sources (flashlight, headlamp), as part of the Ten Essentials.
Hauling in and keeping track of a bunch of stuff is not practical. Practice using that ferro rod. Use the knife to make a wooden gig and practice spearing... what you can spear by the shore (animals need water). Eat what you hunt. I would not risk losing my only knife attaching it to a branch as a spear.
Practice sleeping under the tarp and cordage. Your clothing is your portable shelter, including shelter from sun, bugs, cold, wind, and water. Choose clothing wisely.
posted by TrishaU at 11:16 PM on April 30, 2022
Three minutes without oxygen equals suffocation.
Also -- several minutes of uncontrolled bleeding equals exsanguination.
Three hours without adequate shelter in brutal conditions equals death by hypothermia.
Three days without liquids equals death by dehydration.
Also -- a number of days without adequate rest can result in lethal mistakes.
Three weeks without nutrition equals death by starvation.
The take-away in survival situations is to prioritize activities that will not result in illness or injury.
Starving to death is overrated. The long-term effects of cryptosporidium and giardia should not be underestimated.
Don't drink unpurified water. Don't eat unfamiliar vegetation. Don't break a leg climbing a tree to get bird's eggs, or to scout the surrounding area. Don't cross a deep, fast-moving stream just to get to the other side. Don't wander around in the dark (locate your cathole nearby to avoid getting lost). Don't risk injury by trapping an animal (which you may not have the training to kill, prepare, and cook) just to have something to eat.
Instead, concentrate on activities that have a reduced risk.
If the allowed water container is suitable for boiling water, excellent. This takes time, flammable materials, and suitable storage containers. The weather may not cooperate (rain, wind, wet tinder, less-than-adequate location to build a fire).
You will get thirsty. You may need to travel (can you transport sufficient water for the rest of the day?) Invest your time and efforts here.
If there are no constraints, I would suggest carrying two ways to start a fire, two ways to purify water, two cutting tools, and two light sources (flashlight, headlamp), as part of the Ten Essentials.
Hauling in and keeping track of a bunch of stuff is not practical. Practice using that ferro rod. Use the knife to make a wooden gig and practice spearing... what you can spear by the shore (animals need water). Eat what you hunt. I would not risk losing my only knife attaching it to a branch as a spear.
Practice sleeping under the tarp and cordage. Your clothing is your portable shelter, including shelter from sun, bugs, cold, wind, and water. Choose clothing wisely.
posted by TrishaU at 11:16 PM on April 30, 2022
Not sure if this will be inspiration or the opposite, but we've watched a lot of the oddly compelling Naked and Afraid series.
Mostly warning examples, but some of them (especially the returning winners) seem to know what they're doing. Bugs and sun are the most immediate concerns for most people. (The bugs!) Food is farther down the list behind clean water and a warm(ish) place to sleep.
That said, what seems to happen to a lot of the people who drop out is that they get little to no sleep, due to bugs or cold or whatever, and then after days with no food, their energy plunges and it becomes really hard to just stand up and go out and do survival stuff.
(Also, it's always astonishing how few of them think about footwear as they stumble through rocks and thorns barefoot. We're always yelling at the TV, "Make shoes!")
posted by gottabefunky at 9:24 AM on May 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
Mostly warning examples, but some of them (especially the returning winners) seem to know what they're doing. Bugs and sun are the most immediate concerns for most people. (The bugs!) Food is farther down the list behind clean water and a warm(ish) place to sleep.
That said, what seems to happen to a lot of the people who drop out is that they get little to no sleep, due to bugs or cold or whatever, and then after days with no food, their energy plunges and it becomes really hard to just stand up and go out and do survival stuff.
(Also, it's always astonishing how few of them think about footwear as they stumble through rocks and thorns barefoot. We're always yelling at the TV, "Make shoes!")
posted by gottabefunky at 9:24 AM on May 2, 2022 [1 favorite]
Just stumbled upon this and would love to hear how it all went in the end.
posted by Ahmad Khani at 8:38 PM on March 18, 2023
posted by Ahmad Khani at 8:38 PM on March 18, 2023
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