American Survival Guide Vol. 8 Is.10

How-to: Home Gun Range
Vol. 8 Issue 10
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ENGAGED MEDIA, LLC
FEATURES
12
DANGEROUSLY DEPRIVED
What Happens When You are Hungry, Thirsty and Tired
By Will Dabbs, MD
30
PADDLE OUT OF YOUR PREDICAMENT
Consider Canoes and Kayaks
For Emergency Transportation
By Dana Benner
48
PREPARE FOR THE KILLER COLD
Winter is No Time to Be Without a Plan
By Christopher Nyerges
66
REALISM ON THE RANGE
Practice Real Shooting Scenarios
to Become a Better Shot
By Dana Benner
HOW-TO
74
A BACKYARD FULL OF BADASS
Tips For Building Your Own
Shooting Range
By Brian M. Morris
90
GOATS CAN BE HEROES TOO 12
Barnyard Multitools Answer
Many of Your Homestead Needs 82 66
By Brian M. Morris
REVIEWS
22
THE CUTTING CREW
Two Great Slicers From
Bark River Knives
By Jim Cobb
38
BATTLBOX LEADS THE WAY!
Serious Subscription Survival Boxes
for All Levels of Adventure
By Michael D’Angona
82
KLYMIT HAS YOU COVERED
Warm and Compact, Versa
Blankets Serve Multiple Functions
By Larry Schwartz
AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE (ISSN 2331-8937) is published 12 times a year—January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December—by Engaged Media, LLC,
17900 Sky Park Circle, Suite 220, Irvine, CA 92614. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to American Survival Guide, c/o Engaged Media LLC, Cenveo, 101 Workman Court, Eureka, MO 63025. © 2019 by
Engaged Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of any material from this issue in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. GST #855050365RT001 Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement
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4 AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE [OCTOBER 2019]

74 30
22 88 58
48 GEAR
GUIDE
58
PREPARE FOR COLD
WEATHER COMMUTING
INSULATE YOURSELF FROM
WINTER ROAD HAZARDS
By Michael D’Angona
6
FIRST WORDS
8
NEW PRODUCTS
90 38
88
PREPPER PLANT ADVISOR
98
LAST WORDS
Some articles in this issue might

include stock images that are the
property of Getty Images.
[ASGMAG.COM] AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE 5

VOL. 8 ISSUE 10
EDITORIAL
Mike McCourt Brand Manager
Kelly Nomura Executive Managing Editor
Eric Gwinn Managing Editor
DESIGN
Nadezda Sverdlova Art Director
CONTRIBUTORS
Dana Benner Jim Cobb, Will Dabbs, MD,
Michael D’Angona, Brian M. Morris,
Christopher Nyerges, Larry Schwartz, Mike Travis
ADVERTISING
TRAIN
Gabe Frimmel Ad Sales Director
(714) 200-1930
gfrimmel@engagedmediainc.com
Mark Pack Senior Account Executive
(714) 200-1939
Eric Gomez Advertising Traffic Coordinator
ASYOUFIGHT
OPERATIONS
Manish Kumar Mishra Operations Manager
Surajpal Singh Bisht Prepress Manager
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Chandan Pandey Production, Newsstand & Circulation Analyst
Alex Mendoza Administrative Assistant
Victoria Van Vlear Intern Program Manager
T
EDITORIAL, PRODUCTION & SALES OFFICE
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his month’s issue is loaded with inter- certain types of skills as well as physical strength and www.facebook.com/americansurvivalguidemagazine
www.instagram.com/asgmagazine
esting and enlightening articles that endurance. These things happen to all of us at some point AMERICAN SURVIVAL GUIDE (ISSN 2331-8937) is published 12 times a year—
we hope will open your eyes to new and to some extent, whether we want to admit it or not. I January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October,
November and December—by Engaged Media, LLC, 17900 Sky Park Circle,,
information and ways of thinking. While think it’s safe to say that most people who value self-re- Suite 220, Irvine, CA 92614. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO
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that’s always our goal, there are a few liance have a great deal of confidence in their abilities, 101 WORKMAN COURT, EUREKA, MO 63025.
© 2019 by Engaged Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction of
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Dana Benner’s article on realistic practice with firearms able at almost 15,000 locations where magazines are
suggests that range time can and should be used to pre- sold. I can’t provide a complete list of retailers here, but I
MEDIA, LLC
pare the shooter for real-life scenarios, as hunting requires can say that this group adds up to more than 63 percent
ENGAGED MEDIA, LLC
more skill than plinking away at a static target that’s out of our newsstand distribution and may help you find your Scott Hall CEO
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in the open. Rarely will this be true in a real-life situation, next issue: Albertsons, Books-A-Million, Food Lion, Kroger, John Goodpasture Vice President, Sales
Carrie Rubalcaba HR Generalist
so pay extra attention when you read his article. Adding Meijer, Publix, Ralphs, Rite Aid, Safeway, Vons, Walgreens
some stress and other challenges, in appropriate ways, to and Walmart. We’re also available on military bases in This magazine is purchased by the buyer with the understanding that
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range day can pay huge benefits if the SHTF in your living AAFES, MCX and Nexcom stores. no warranty or responsibility by Engaged Media, LLC, as to the legality,
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to have a homestead large enough to accommodate page facebook.com/pg/americansurvivalguidemag-

this feature, he provides a great explanation of many azine and our new Instagram page instagram.com/
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home range can be the ideal location to practice realistic All the Best!
training scenarios.
—Mike McCourt
As I get older, I am increasingly aware of the erosion of Brand Manager

D E PA RT M E N T OF B AT T L B OX FIELD MANUAL
GUIDE TO ORDERING YOUR FIRST BATTLBOX
I. SIGN UP
Signing up for a BattlBox subscription is too easy. First –
report to www.BattlBox.com. We have four BattlBox tiers
available to you depending on your skillset & needs: BASIC,
ADVANCED, PRO, & PRO PLUS.
2. RECEIVE
Once you’ve signed up, you will begin to receive your very
own specialized BattlBox every month – right to your door.
3. SURVIVE
With a steady flow of the very best, hand-picked outdoor &
survival gear each month, you’ll be ready for anything. Use
your new tools for your EDC or save them for the day you’ll
really need them.
G E T 10% O F F YO U R F I R S T B AT T L B OX W I T H CO U P O N CO D E: A S GT E N O F F
V I S I T W W W. B AT T L B OX . C O M /A S G TO G E T S TA RT E D
1 2
3 4
1 2 3 4
Matador Arms Crimson Trace ZipStitch Primary Arms Gold Series
Mag-X P320 LG 422G Laserguard Wound Closure Device GLx4 2.5-10X44 Scope
The AR15 platform is one of the most versatile The name Crimson Trace is synonymous with The ZipStitch provides surgical grade, non-in- Primary Arms specializes in bringing ultra
weapons in the world. Its modular nature laser aiming devices designed for pistols. vasive wound closure for those times when high-quality optics to the market at an extremely
means it can be converted into everything Designed for the massively popular Sig Sauer traditional stitches are needed but unavail- affordable price. The popularity of long-range rifle
from a .22LR to a long-range tack driver. P365, the LG-422G provides a powerful able. The ZipStitch is the most advanced shooting has created a need for more long-range
Until now, pistol caliber AR15s have required green laser while maintaining the compact wound closure device available without a optic options. This new Gold Series scope is
the purchase of a proprietary lower receiver. profile of the pistol. The sight mounts to prescription. Consisting of two 1.5-inch strips of Primary Arms’ medium magnification entry into
Matador Arms has eliminated this requirement the built-in accessory rail and follows the hydrocolloid, pressure-sensitive adhesive and this market. This is a first focal plane optic with
with Mag-X. The Mag-X is an adaptor that contours of the trigger guard to place the four precision zip ties made of medical grade an etched reticle that has been calibrated for
allows pistol magazines to be used in any activation button directly under the user’s polymer, the ZipStitch allows for precise place- use with 5.56, .308 and 6.5 Grendel loadings.
Mil-Spec AR15 lower receiver combined with a middle finger. The sight will provide 2 hours ment and micro adjustable wound closure. Adjustments are made with patented Zlock and
9mm upper. The anodized aluminum adaptor of constant use using a single 1/3N lithium Additionally, the ZipStitch creates a “cage” Zstop turrets graduated for 0.1 Mil clicks. The
locks into the magazine well with the standard battery. The sight is easily installed and ad- around the wound site, isolating and protecting reticle offers illumination and features Autolive
AR15 catch. Pistol magazines are locked and justed by the end user and provides a master the wound from user movement that can pull motion sensing. The scopes feature premium
released using the built-in paddle-style mag power switch for training without activating the wound and disrupt healing. The ZipStitch glass, elevation rotation indicators and rubber
release. The Mag-X has a built-in ejector and is the sight. is FDA-approved, thoroughly tested in over a eyepieces. Choose from 5 reticle options, each
compatible with all Glock-cut 9mm bolts. The dozen clinical trials and has proven its worth in with either smart ACSS or traditional Mil-Dot or
Mag-X is available for Sig P320 magazines. MSRP: $309 hundreds of operating rooms. MOA reticles.
MSRP: $149.99 CrimsonTrace.com MSRP: $29.99 MSRP: $749.99

ShopUSA.MatadorArms.com ZipStitch.us PrimaryArmsOptics.com

W
hen searching for new survival gear, it can be hard to separate quality gear from the gimmicks.
At American Survival Guide, we strive to make the gear selection process easier.
This month we have a broad selection of new items. From knives and saws, to quality clothing,
to medical gear and shooting accessories we have a wide variety of gear to suit your survival
needs. Whether you are looking for something to round out your own kit, or looking for a gift,
the items listed here are sure to serve you well.
5 6
7 8
5 6 7 8
Swayy Hammocks Eira Zero Tolerance Kershaw Antic Folder Outdoor Vitals LoftTek
With hammock camping becoming increas- 0470 Folder The first thing you will notice about the Adventure Jacket
ingly popular, hammock users are looking for new Kershaw Antic is the karambit-styled
Don’t let the good looks of the new ZT 0470 Outdoor Vitals is dedicated to providing
ways to extend their camping seasons into oversized ring. However, unlike the aggressive
fool you. This knife was designed by Dmitry premium ultralite outdoor equipment at an
colder weather. Staying warm in a hammock karambit-style blades, the Antic is all about
Sinkevich to be a highly practical EDC knife. affordable price. The new LoftTek Adventure
brings unique challenges, and putting functional utility. The ring can be used to
The blade is made from premium CPM 20CV Jacket is designed to provide the warmth and
together a system can be confusing and attach the Antic to a keychain or a carabiner.
stainless steel, which is known for its ex- performance of a synthetic jacket with the
expensive. Swayy Hammocks’ all-in-one The end of the ring features a mini pry bar
treme wear resistance, edge-holding ability lightness and packability of a down jacket.
system is designed to keep you comfortable that doubles as a flathead screwdriver. The
and corrosion resistance. The blade is given The jacket features a windproof water-resis-
from 35 to 70 degrees (F) while weighing inside of the ring works with the back end of
a striking two-toned satin and stonewashed tant shell that incorporates elastic hems and
only 3.5 pounds. The comprehensive Eira the handle to create an unobtrusive bottle
finish. It rides on ZTs KVT ball bearing wash- underarm vents. The hood is adjustable and
system combines a hammock body rated for opener. The stainless steel handle is covered
ers and features a flipper opening system. includes a high neck for extreme conditions.
up to 400 pounds, a baffled insulation layer in a blue PVD coating and is set up for a
The handles are precision machined from The insulated pockets are zippered, and the
made with premium, hydrophobic 800 fill tip-down, right-hand pocket clip. The blade
titanium and incorporate the steel-reinforced entire jacket is designed to be zipped into a
power down, an exterior shell that is wind- is just under 2 inches and is locked in place
frame lock and a marbled, carbon fiber inlay. pocket for compact storage. The revolution-
proof but breathable and a zipper to keep using a sturdy frame lock. Weighing in at only
The slim pocket clip is titanium and provides ary new LoftTek insulation is designed to
you enclosed in a warm cocoon. The system 3.1 ounces, the Antic provides a lot of utility in
a secure, tip-up carry. Despite its 3.4-inch mimic down’s extreme weight-to-warmth
includes a premium rain fly, titanium stakes a tiny package.
blade and 7.8-inch overall length, the 0470 ratio while still allowing it to retain warmth in
and a fully adjustable suspension system.
weighs in at only 3.2 ounces. wet conditions.
MSRP: $29.99
MSRP: $499 MSRP: $325 MSRP: $150
Kershaw.KaiUSAltd.com
SwayyHammocks.com ZT.KaiUSAltd.com OutdoorVitals.com

9 10
11 12
9 10 11 12
Nordic Pocket Saw Grim Workshop Centurion Arms Grim Workshop Lock Pick
Having the ability to cut through larger pieces Bushcraft Card Micro Mount and Escape Set
of wood can be a huge asset in the backcoun-
What’s the point of having a tool if it’s not The Centurion Arms, LLC, Micro Mount is Grim's Key card is a specially designed lock dis-
try. There are a lot of saws on the market,
where you need it when you need it? Slip this designed to securely mount a variety of popular abling tool that's great for everyday problems
but most of them are bulky, heavy, fragile or
stainless steel tool collection into your wallet or optics to your flat-top upper receiver, including as well as specialized emergency situations.
all of the above. The Nordic Pocket Saw is
backpack so it’s always handy. Or if you prefer, Aimpoint’s Micro R-1, H-1, H-2, T-1, T-2, Vortex’s This stainless steel credit card-size toolkit
lightweight, compact, extremely strong and
peel the adhesive backing off the tool and stick Sparc I and II, Primary Arms’ Micro Dot and has five picks, two tension wrenches and an
highly effective. The saw utilizes a 25.6-inch
it to any flat inside or outside surface. This cred- Advanced Micro Dot, Holosun’s HS403 or any escape multitool to help you escape most
chain with 33 cutting teeth. It is made from
it card-size tool has 8 fish hooks, 2 arrowheads other optic utilizing the same type of mounting kinds of restraints and open most locks. Easily
heat-treated high carbon steel and can be
and a knife with sawback. Each item is reusable interface. The Micro Mount offers an absolute stored in a wallet, tin, pocket or backpack slot,
re-sharpened with a standard chainsaw file.
and can be returned back to its original position. or a lower 1⁄3 co-witness with your backup it’s always there when you need it. You can
The chain cuts in both directions, providing op-
iron sights. It features an integrated recoil lug also peel the adhesive backing off the tool and
timum efficiency. The handles are made with MSRP: $19.95 between the mount and the optic and utilizes mount it to any flat inside or outside surface.
durable heavy-duty nylon and are designed
a standard ½-inch mounting bolt with a coin Each item is reusable and can be returned to
with comfort in mind. The 4.7-ounce saw is GrimWorkshop.com
slot interface for easy mounting and removal. its original position.
tested and rated to withstand 20 times more
The mount is precision machined from 6061-T6
force than a human can exert, making it nearly
aluminum and is Mil-Spec Type III hard coat MSRP: $19.95
unbreakable.
anodized for durability.
GrimWorkshop.com
MSRP: $63 MSRP: $75
NordicPocketSaw.com/en/ CenturionArms.com

13 14
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MatchPoint USA MantisX X3 Shooting Tenicor Velo Light My Fire Eat’N Drink
Universal Chest Carry Performance System AIWB Holster Kit Bio
System MantisX revolutionized the firearms training The Tenicor Velo is an appendix carry Kydex Eating outside has never been easier, thanks
market by creating a product that will not holster that has been engineered for strength, to the Light My Fire Eat’n Drink Kit Bio. Each
The Matchpoint USA Universal Chest Carry
only track your entire shot sequence, but comfort, concealability and simplicity. The Velo kit contains 4 high-edged plates, one of which
System mates the MatchPoint Ultimate Backer
give you suggestions for how to improve is designed with minimal bulk to aid in all-day functions as a lid that, along with the included
with a 1.5-inch woven elastic chest strap and a
your shooting, provide you with a trackable comfort. The low-profile design incorporates harness, keeps everything together. The kit also
1-inch polypropylene shoulder strap to create a
training program and give you a way to com- Tenicor’s T1 belt clips that are slim, strong and includes 4 Pack-Up-Cups and 4 Spork Originals.
chest carry system that will interface easily with
pete with your friends. The original MantisX fully adjustable. A multi-angled enhanced Each piece of the kit is lightweight, durable and
your favorite Kydex holster. The design of the
was compact, lightweight and easy to use. muzzle wedge is integrated into the body of the easy to maintain. The kit is made from Biobased
Ultimate Backer allows it to interface easily with
The new X3 is now 40 percent smaller, 50 holster. This wedge serves to push the muzzle plastics that are not only hot- and cold-safe, but
a wide variety of holsters, sheaths or any other
percent lighter, has 3 times the battery life away from the body while simultaneously push- are BPA-free and dishwasher- and microwave-
carrier that can be screwed into place. Not only
and provides a 4 times increase in data rate ing the grip toward the body. This enhances approved. Bioplastics are fully recyclable and
does the Ultimate Backer allow for extreme
collection. The new X3 also incorporates both comfort and concealability without adding since they are sourced from organic materials,
versatility when mounting objects to it, but the
a new, low-profile, toolless quick-detach bulk. The sight channel is tall enough to accom- they are also biodegradable.
harness system can be mounted at a variety of
system. The MantisX X3 is an invaluable tool modate most suppressor-height sights, and the
angles for a truly custom fit.
that is guaranteed to improve your shooting top profile will accept most slide-mounted red MSRP: $60
MSRP: $69.95 performance. dot sights.
LightMyFire.com
MatchPointUSA.com MSRP: $169.99 MSRP: $95
MantisX.com Tenicor.com

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE HUNGRY,
THIRSTY AND TIRED
BY WILL DABBS, MD
© GETTY IMAGES

W
hen the world ended,
you were fortunate
enough to get yourself
and your family into
the SUV along with
your bug-out gear and hit the road before your
little suburb descended into hell. It has been
a long rough two weeks. Now it seems there is
trouble in paradise.
There are five of you total, but only you,
your wife, and your 16-year-old son are up
to standing watch. That means everybody
is sleep-deprived. Additionally, you didn’t
really expect this to be an open-ended affair,
so food and water are necessarily rationed.
With each passing day, your stash of supplies
grows smaller and those you encounter want
it worse. It’s time to apply a little science to
the problem.
PROTRACTED SURVIVAL
Nobody knows when or under what circum-
stances you might be called upon to show a
little self-reliance. Our connection to what we
perceive as civilization is tenuous at best. If
you didn’t believe that at least a little bit, you › Above: The lack
of food, water and
“NOBODY KNOWS WHEN OR UNDER WHAT
would not be clutching this hallowed tome.
Many to most survival situations will see
sleep in a survival
situation quickly
CIRCUMSTANCES YOU MIGHT BE CALLED
their resolution in a day or three tops. The
makes a bad
situation worse.
UPON TO SHOW A LITTLE SELF-RELIANCE.
storm will pass, the fire will go out, the power Understanding how
our bodies react
OUR CONNECTION TO WHAT WE PERCEIVE
will come back on, or Uncle Sam will roll in
with trucks and tents and make everything
to these stressful
circumstances
AS CIVILIZATION IS TENUOUS AT BEST.”
can make us more
whole again. However, what if that’s not the capable in a crisis.
While this transition is the desirable end state for anybody who has ever tried to diet, as we all
case? know that is a fairly unpleasant state of affairs. Once those initial glycogen stores are depleted,
It doesn’t take a whole lot of imagination your body starts feeding on glycerol and amino acids.
to conjure some scenario that might demand Eventually, decreased insulin levels along with effects from stress hormones like cortisol and
that you keep your brood above the daisies
for a protracted period in the face of dire ‹ Left: Nature
circumstances. To best prepare for such sordid is beautiful, but
if you cannot
eventualities, one should understand how sustain yourself
these wonderful machines we live in respond appropriately, it can
also be extremely
to hardship. The three major players are food, dangerous.
water, and sleep.
COMESTIBLES
So long as he or she has plenty of water,
a typical healthy adult human can indeed
survive 30 to 45 days or more without food.
However, that oft-reported statistic is terribly
misleading. There is a broad gulf between life
and quality of life. Going without food for a
protracted period will make that difference
patently obvious.
The body’s metabolic response to a lack of
food goes through several predictable stages.
In the near term, the body switches from
carbohydrate metabolism to fat metabolism.

catecholamines drive the body into a state ‹ Left: We think
of starvation as
of ketogenesis. In this period, the body’s fuel something that
needs are derived from ketone bodies and happens across
the oceans in some
free fatty acids. When that tank runs dry third-world country.
things get fairly dark. However, we are
never more than
At this point in the starvation process a few days away
protein catabolism occurs. This means that from a significant
degradation in
your body’s fuel necessarily comes from deg- performance
radation of structurally critical proteins like when deprived of
sustenance.
muscle. This final metabolic gasp ultimately
causes organ dysfunction and death.
Each stage is unique to the individual. Some
of us obviously have more fat reserves than
others. However, the process is biologically
predictable.
PRACTICAL MANIFESTATIONS
OF FOOD DEPRIVATION
The doctor word is “inanition.” Initial
symptoms are irritability (Who saw that
coming?), impulsivity, and hyperactivity. As
the stomach atrophies, the sensation of hun-
ger actually diminishes.
‹ Below: The most
The lack of metabolic fuel then results in common food-related
problem we have in
fatigue and lethargy along with a predictable
America is that we eat
apathy. Apathy can have obvious dire effects too much of it. Some
folks start a survival
on the long-term survivor. This means your
situation with more fat
innate will to live takes a hit. Eventually the reserves than others.

‹ Left: We think
of thirst as being a
problem only in arid
desert areas. However,
dehydration can
be a consideration
anyplace there is an
inadequate source
of drinkable water
available.
› Near right: The

Camelbak is one of
mankind’s greatest
survival tools. This
inspired device
allows you to
comfortably carry
a decent quantity
of potable water
that remains easily
accessible
body grows so weak that it fails to sense ‹ Above: Plan your

thirst, and dehydration ensues. Vitamin water requirements
in advance. Take
deficiencies are frequently concomitant with into account
starvation and result in such stuff as beriberi, environmental,
fitness and exertional
pellagra and scurvy. factors.
Decreased caloric intake results in slowed
reaction times and impaired judgment. Cold
weather demands significantly greater caloric
intake to maintain core body temperature,
so the manifestations of food deprivation
can be seen faster when it is chilly out. For
a typical person the state of starvation is
defined as the loss of 30 percent of one’s
normal body weight. A loss of 40 percent is
almost always fatal. ‹ Left: The way to
beat dehydration
is to stay ahead
DEHYDRATION of the hydration
curve. Drink water
While the typical adult human may indeed regularly when
survive weeks without food, you won’t make stressed. Exertion or
a hot environment
it more than a few days without water. Adults demands greater
range from 55 percent to 60 percent water by intake.

weight, while children are about 65 percent and stage cycle repeats over and over throughout the night.
infants closer to 75 percent. Water is a critical Stage 1 is light and easily aroused. This is the phase wherein you might experience those
component of all of the body’s metabolic hypnic jerks or the sensation of falling.
processes. Stage 2 sleep is a deeper sleep state wherein everything calms down. Your body temperature
Minimum water intake varies greatly de- drops a bit and heart rate decreases.
pending upon weight, environment, exertion, Stage 3 non-REM sleep is the good stuff. This is the most restorative phase of sleep. It can be
nutritional state, and genetics. Most people difficult to arouse people from Stage 3 sleep. This is the type of sleep that spawns sleepwalk-
will tolerate a 3 percent to 4 percent decrease ing, sleep talking, bedwetting, and night terrors. Stage 3 non-REM sleep involves the release of
in total body water fairly well. A 5 percent to human growth hormone and several restorative processes for the immune system.
8 percent decrease will precipitate significant REM, or Rapid Eye Movement, sleep makes up about a quarter of your sleep cycle but is nec-
symptoms. More than 10 percent results in essary for cementing memory and rejuvenating the body. Awakening is easier from REM sleep
serious impairment, while loss of 15 percent to than from Stage 3 non-REM sleep but can result in a more pronounced sense of grogginess
25 percent of total body water is usually fatal. afterward. REM sleep is when we dream.
SYMPTOMS OF DEHYDRATION THE PRACTICAL EFFECTS OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION

The initial symptoms of mild dehydration are The initial manifestations of a sleep deficit are yawning, fatigue, irritability and moodiness.
fatigue and dizziness. These effects are com- With a cumulative sleep deficit comes a depressed mood, forgetfulness, an inability to concen-
pounded by other insults like food and sleep trate and a lack of motivation. As REM sleep is required to cement memories, a sleep deficit can
deprivation. Early dehydration also tends to result in difficulty learning new concepts. Eventually the sleep-deprived person becomes clumsy
cause headache, decreased appetite, and a and can develop an increased appetite.
general grouchiness. Sleep deprivation is an easy and safe way to increase stress in a training environment, so the
As the degree of dehydration progresses, military makes widespread use of it. On two occasions when I was a soldier, I went four days
urine output will drop, and confusion and without sleep. In both cases I began to hallucinate. Once a sleep deficit is properly repaid, the
fatigue worsen. A person who is severely sundry negative symptoms of sleep deprivation should abate.
dehydrated will eventually develop purple When significantly deprived of sleep, the body compensates by stealing brief periods of micro-
fingernails. Once the water loss becomes
critical an imbalance in sodium will typically “AS THE DEGREE OF DEHYDRATION
precipitate seizures. PROGRESSES, URINE OUTPUT WILL DROP
‹ Below: It doesn’t take
In a hostile environment a total body
water loss as low as one to two percent can
AND CONFUSION AND FATIGUE WORSEN. A the zombie apocalypse
to create a survival
potentially result in demonstrable cognitive PERSON WHO IS SEVERELY DEHYDRATED situation. An auto
accident or even an
impairment. As dehydration is a function of WILL EVENTUALLY DEVELOP PURPLE injury while on a long
run can unexpectedly
stress, exertion, and environment this can be
insidious. While it is typically presumed that
FINGERNAILS.” test your survival skills.
dehydration is a major concern in hot climates,

failure to drink adequately in arctic areas can
be just as dangerous.
Diarrhea and vomiting make these problems
exponentially worse. While fluid replacement
drinks offer some theoretical benefit, con-
sumption of excessively sugary or salty foods
can exacerbate the problem. Oral rehydration
will reverse the effects of mild dehydration
rapidly.
SLEEP DEPRIVATION
There is an entire discipline of medicine
dedicated to studying sleep, but we still don’t
understand it well. Different people have
different sleep requirements, but getting inad-
equate sleep over time results in a cumulative
sleep debt. This is not something that you can
really train for.
There are four recognized stages of sleep.
These four stages comprise a sleep cycle that
typically lasts 90 to 110 minutes. Each stage
lasts between 5 and 15 minutes. This four-

‹ Just because it
is cold out doesn’t
mean that your
water requirements
have dropped. It is
hard to get excited
about drinking cold
water when you
are already chilly,
but the symptoms
of dehydration can
be insidious in cold
areas.
› Above: It can be sleep. Such episodes can exhibit very sudden

tough to prioritize onset and result in accidents. Forcing the body
enough sleep when
you are fighting into abnormal sleep cycles due to shift work,
to stay alive, but standing watch or air travel can exacerbate
it needs to be a
consideration in your the manifestations of sleep deprivation. A
planning. A lack of fun fact is that death results faster from
sleep can adversely
affect your judgment sleep deprivation than food deprivation. The
and precipitate longest anyone has ever gone without sleep
disaster.
and lived is 11 days.
POINTS TO PONDER
The human body is a most remarkable ma-
chine. To operate at peak efficiency, this ma-
chine requires fuel, water and rest. Deprive the
machine of any of these critical components
and performance predictably deteriorates. In
a scenario wherein performance is critical to
survival, attention to these three vital com-
modities can make the difference between life
and death.
A modest amount of the right kinds of foods
can keep the human machine operating ef-
fectively for long periods. Eat small quantities
at regular intervals when supplies are tight.
Plan your survival load-out to include sensible
shelf stable foods that require a minimum of
preparation. If time and facilities allow, then
freeze-dried Mountain House meals provide
a nice mix of protein, carbs and fat in a form
that will last 25 years if left unopened in a
cool dry place.
Water is bulky and heavy, but a proper water ule when life goes sideways, but you will have to pay that sleep deficit back eventually. Sleep
filter is not. I have gone weeks living in the deprivation is not something you can just bulldoze through. Be mindful of your body’s cyclical
Alaskan bush with nothing more than a water sleep requirements and try to devote at least 90 minutes to each sleep break if at all possible.
filter and natural sources for hydration and Maintain the machine properly and it will perform at peak efficiency. Understanding the science
thrived. Drink in modest quantities throughout and physiology behind how our bodies respond to chronic stress can better prepare us for surviv-
the day and be mindful of environmental con- al. Plan, perform and survive.
cerns. In hot weather you need more water.
In cold weather you still need plenty of water GOOD SLEEP HYGIENE
even if you don’t feel thirsty. A Camelbak • No caffeine after lunch
water carrier is the best piece of survival gear • Nothing to drink after supper
since the match. • Try to devote at least 90 to 110 minutes to a nap to take best advantage of your natural sleep cycle.
It is easy to prioritize sleep out of your sched- • Try to work either days or nights if possible. When swapping from one sleep cycle to another,

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“THERE IS A BROAD GULF BETWEEN LIFE AND QUALITY OF LIFE.
GOING WITHOUT FOOD FOR A PROTRACTED PERIOD WILL MAKE
THAT DIFFERENCE PATENTLY OBVIOUS.”
expect decreased performance for a few days Day 3 Urine output decreases, and confusion ensues due to lack of water. Sleep deprivation
until your body acclimates. causes forgetfulness, depression and lack of motivation.
• You cannot train to resist the effects of sleep Day 4 Expect seizures due to sodium imbalance and possible death secondary to dehydration.
deprivation. Unexpected micro-sleeps, paranoia, psychosis and hallucinations ensue due to a lack of sleep.
• When badly sleep-deprived, expect momen- Day 5 The urge to sleep can become irresistible.
tary unexpected periods of micro-sleep. Day 6 Glycogen stores are gone. The body is breaking down fats as its primary energy source.
Day X Fat reserves are depleted. This obviously is driven by how much fat you started with.
A TIMELINE TO DESTRUCTION The body starts breaking down critical proteins to meet its metabolic demands. This third phase
Physiological manifestations of the lack of of starvation is characterized by withdrawal, apathy and listlessness. Disease susceptibility
food, water, and sleep: skyrockets.
Day 2 Dehydration causes headache, Day 21-70 Starvation severely impairs our immune systems. Most people die of opportunistic dis-
fatigue and irritability. Decreased attention ease before they actually starve. The mechanism of death of true starvation is usually heart failure.
and speech impairments stem from sleep Note: These are generalizations. Actual timelines are driven by fitness, nutritional status,
deprivation. exertion, environment and genetics.

TWO GREAT SLICERS FROM
BARK RIVER KNIVES
BY JIM COBB

B
ark River Knives has developed a tremendous reputation in the knife community
as well as with bushcrafters and survivalists the world over. The reason is simple:
They produce high-quality knives and stand behind them 100 percent.
Mike Stewart, the owner of Bark River Knives, has been deeply entrenched in
this industry for decades. He and his team of about 50 employees churn out, on
average, 200 knives a day. While they are production knives, each is hand-finished, with exten-
sive quality control oversight at every step of the process.
I recently picked up a couple of new knives from Bark River and here’s what I found.
FOX RIVER EXT-1

The EXT-1 is a conglomeration of a couple of longtime bestselling Bark River models. DLT
Trading is one of the largest distributors of Bark River blades. Jason Thoune, the owner of DLT,
pays close attention to the feedback he receives from his customers. Many of them commented
that they loved the Fox River blade design and profile but they weren’t as keen on the handle.
Jason mulled this over for a bit and came up with the idea of marrying the Fox River design to the
handle for the Bark River Gunny.
It was a hit from the word go. Users could not say enough good things about it, so I was excited
to get my hands on one.

‹ Left: Sisal rope posed
absolutely no trouble
at all for Bark River’s
Fox River EXT-1.
› Near right: Prying

wood is often a deal
breaker with a knife
tip, but I had no such
trouble with Bark
River’s Fox River
EXT-1.
“BARK RIVER OFFERS A DIZZYING ARRAY OF HANDLE MATERIALS ‹ Above: The lanyard
hole on the EXT-1 is
AND COLORS FOR THEIR KNIVES. FOR THE EXT-1, I CHOSE THE a great feature for
those who like to add
BASIC BLACK CANVAS MICARTA HANDLE.” a bit of paracord to
their knife.
OUT OF THE BOX paw perfectly.

Bark River offers a dizzying array of handle Owing to a really stupid misadventure I experienced as a child, one of the first things I look for
materials and colors for their knives. For the on a knife is the handle shape, specifically whether it offers protection to the fingers. The EXT-1
EXT-1, I chose the basic black canvas Micarta has an integral guard that prevents fingers from sliding up onto the blade during use. The
handle. This is typically what we might call the handle also has a lanyard hole for those who like to add such adornments to their cutlery.
base model for their knives. The EXT-1 has great balance. The spine is a perfect 90 degrees, which makes it great for
The knife was shaving sharp right out of the scraping ferrocerium rods, should the need arise. The drop point blade profile is one of the
box. As part of the manufacturing process, most useful designs out there. Bark River uses a convex grind on most of their blades, which
every knife that comes out of the Bark River allows for a very sharp edge.
shop is tested for sharpness multiple times As with all Bark River knives, the EXT-1 comes with a high-quality leather sheath. Something
by multiple people, so this wasn’t a surprise. I worth noting, though, is that most of their sheaths that have snaps and straps are intended
have fairly large hands and the EXT-1 fits my to have their final fit performed by the end user. Right out of the box, the strap may not seem

Fox River EXT-1
Specifications
• Overall length: 8.65 inches
• Blade length: 4.1 inches
• Blade thickness: 0.157 inch
• Steel: CPM 3V hardened to 60 HRC
• Handle: Black canvas Micarta
• Leather belt sheath included
• Weight: 5.7 ounces
MSRP: Starting at $299.95
BarkRiverKnives.com
like it will fit across the knife and snap into wife and I began taking weekly hikes in late 2016 and we’ve not stopped yet. I brought the EXT-1 ‹ Above: The
place. Run the strap under a little warm wa- along on some of our most recent jaunts and used it for some basic tasks like making feather EXT-1 comes with a
high-quality leather
ter, then stretch the strap and snap it closed sticks and carving. The balance and overall comfort of the EXT-1 are just absolutely stellar. After belt sheath, just
over the knife. Let it sit this way overnight and some use in the field to get used to the knife, it was time for formal testing. like every other
blade that comes
you’re good to go. One of my favorite tests is to slice grapes. This shows me not just how sharp the knife is but how from the Bark River
Overall, the fit, finish, and comfort of the well the blade geometry works. Many knives will end up crushing rather than cutting the fruit. The shop.
knife in hand were all beyond reproach. But EXT-1 performed flawlessly from the first cut to the last. In fact, it was able to make slices thin
holding a knife and actually using it are two enough to read the blade’s Bark River logo through them.
different things. I then grabbed a hank of sisal rope and proceeded to use push cuts. Rather than slicing or
rocking the blade to get through the rope, this is just, well, pushing the knife edge through the
THROUGH THE PACES material being cut. From the first cut to the last, the EXT-1 had no trouble at all. Sisal rope is a
‹ Below: Grapes were
I carried the EXT-1 as my primary fixed blade very abrasive type of cordage and can dull an edge quickly. Not so with the CPM 3V steel com-
cleanly sliced with
knife for several excursions into the field. My bined with the stellar heat treat Bark River uses on their blades. I worked my way up and down the Fox River EXT-1.

Pro Scalpel II
Specifications
• Overall length: 5.79 inches
• Blade length: 2.41 inches
• Blade thickness: 0.159 inch
• Steel: CPM-154
• Handle: Black canvas Micarta
• Leather belt sheath included
• Weight: 2.65 ounces
MSRP: Starting at $209.95
BarkRiverKnives.com
‹ Left: With my hand size, the Bark River Pro

Scalpel II isn’t quite a four-finger grip.
the blade so as to use as much of the edge as › Right: The canvas

Micarta handle
possible with this test and never had a lick of material is one of
trouble. the most durable
available on the
I’m not normally a torture test sort of reviewer. market today.
I don’t care if the knife will hold up under some
ridiculously complicated or rigorous trial. I just
want to know if I can rely on the knife to handle
routine chores without issues. That said, I was
curious to see how the EXT-1 would handle just
a brief excursion into, “what not to do with your
knife” territory. So, I pulled an old cedar board
from my scrap wood bin and firmly pushed the
tip of the EXT-1 into the board. I pried the tip to
DLT
TRADING
Bark River Knives maintains no retail presence. They work
through a few distributors, one of the largest of which is DLT
Trading. Since 2012, DLT Trading has maintained a storefront
in Marinette, Wisconsin, which also houses their e-commerce
business and warehouse. Jason Thoune and his team have
built a stellar reputation for customer service as well as
ridiculously fast response times from order placement to knife
shipped.
One of Jason’s biggest passions is helping someone find the
perfect knife to meet their individual needs. He’ll take into
account their budget, skill level, past experience and intended
use and match them with a blade that is perfect for them.

‹ Far left: No card-
board is safe from
the Pro Scalpel II.
It slices cleanly
through corrugated
cardboard with
ease.
‹ Left: Push cuts

through paracord
were easy with the
Bark River
Pro Scalpel II.
the side, splintering the wood, then repeated If I were to give numeric ratings for the tests, each one would have scored an easy 10/10. The EXT-1
this several more times. Even after four or five performs perfectly for every sort of task a field knife would expect to see.
times doing this, the tip of the blade remained
in perfect condition. PRO SCALPEL II ‹ Below: Slicing
up a variety of
As it turned out, just after completing that I’ve been on the hunt for a while now for a small fixed-blade knife that would be great for EDC
vegetables was no
test, it was time to get dinner going. So, I (everyday carry) when I’m not out on the trail. Don’t get me wrong, folding knives certainly have problem at all for
the Pro Scalpel II,
washed off the dirt and wood splinters, then their place and I own far more of them than any person would ever truly need. But, a fixed-blade is
making it a great
put the EXT-1 to work slicing leftover chicken generally a stronger construction as well as often more comfortable to use for long periods of time. choice for those
looking for a small
breasts from the day before. It was like a laser I chose the Pro Scalpel II, as it appeared to have just enough blade to be useful and a long enough
blade suitable for
beam, each cut precise and perfect. handle to be comfortable, but with a short overall length so it could be pocket-carried if desired. lunch duty.
“I CHOSE THE PRO SCALPEL II, AS IT APPEARED TO HAVE JUST ENOUGH BLADE
TO BE USEFUL AND A LONG ENOUGH HANDLE TO BE COMFORTABLE, BUT WITH
A SHORT OVERALL LENGTH SO IT COULD BE POCKET-CARRIED IF DESIRED.”

› Right: Bark River’s
Fox River EXT-1
made short work
out of a couple
of cold chicken
breasts.
OUT OF THE BOX feeling lost in the grip.

If I were to describe the Pro Scalpel II with one word, it would be “nimble.” With a blade well The Pro Scalpel II has a true 90-degree
under 3 inches, it is a great size for pocket carry just about anywhere. Weighing under 3 ounces, it spine and comes with a leather pouch-style
is lighter than several folding knives I own, too. Most of the weight is in the handle, which makes sheath that has a loop ready-made for a
› Below: Prying sense when looking at the knife. But this also gives the knife a great sense of solidity, of robust- ferrocerium rod.
wood splinters isn’t
ness, giving the user confidence that this small knife can do the job.
a recommended use
for a knife, but the With my large hands, the handle of the Pro Scalpel II turned out to be about a three-and-a-half HOW DID IT HANDLE?
Bark River Fox River
finger grip. The finger choil lends comfort as well as control when wielding the knife. The handle I carried the Pro Scalpel II in my pocket for a
EXT-1 handled it
with ease. tapers outward toward the butt of the handle, which helps to prevent a small knife like this few weeks, using it in place of a folding knife
as I went about my daily life. It was comfort-
able in my pocket, though it did take me a
few days to get used to it as, with the sheath,
it is a bit larger than a standard folding knife.
It handled all of the normal chores just fine,
from opening and breaking down boxes to
cutting food for lunch and such.
A knife this size isn’t truly intended for
major fieldwork. While it would do in a pinch,
it is truly designed for routine, everyday sorts
of chores. You’re not going to baton firewood
but you could certainly carve a figure-four
deadfall trigger.
As I went through a few formal tests with
the knife, I was just as concerned about the
comfort of using the knife as I was with how
it would handle cutting and slicing. This is the
smallest fixed-blade knife I’ve actually used
for anything, and I was very curious as to how
it would handle.
I started in the kitchen, for the simple reason
that I was already there after finishing up tests

BOTH SHORT PUSH CUTS AND LONG DRAGGING CUTS WORKED
GREAT WITH THE KNIFE, INCLUDING STANDING THE BOX UP AND
PULLING THE BLADE DOWNWARD THROUGH THE CARDBOARD.
‹ Bark River offers

with the EXT-1. Carrots, celery and radishes all As routine as that chore is, cardboard is actually a very abrasive material and can dull a knife
a dizzying array of
posed no challenge at all to the Pro Scalpel II. very quickly. So, when I moved to the third test, I expected a little resistance from the knife. I set handle materials
and colors for their
Because of its very short blade, I found it eas- out some paracord and proceeded to use push cuts to cut off small bits of cord. The knife was
knives. For this
iest to keep the tip of my index finger on the still razor sharp and cut through the cord without any trouble at all. review, the author
chose basic black
spine and use pull cuts through the vegetables. My concerns about the comfort of the knife during real-world use turned out to be all for
canvas Micarta
Chopping motions were a little awkward. naught. While I still generally prefer a full four-finger grip, the Pro Scalpel II’s handle is large handles for both
knives.
One of the most common things we use enough to be easy to use without experiencing hand fatigue in a short period of time. The
knives for is cutting open boxes and then blade edge held up very well to usage, considering I never stopped to sharpen or even strop it
breaking them down for recycling. I grabbed between chores or tests.
the box from a recent package I’d received and
S O U R C E S
went to town on it. Both short push cuts and FINAL VERDICT
long dragging cuts worked great with the knife, The Fox River EXT-1 has earned a place as my primary field knife, and I expect I’ll continue
(Bark River Knives
including standing the box up and pulling the using it in that role for quite some time. It is comfortable to use and is a great size for just (906) 789-1801
blade downward through the cardboard. The about any routine camp or field need. BarkRiverKnives.com
knife was also comfortable in the grip while The Pro Scalpel II is an excellent EDC knife. It is small enough to keep in a pocket or on a belt DLT Trading
using it for this purpose. I held it in a standard all day long, yet easy to use for a wide range of typical daily tasks. (877) 622-2397
DLTTrading.com
forward grip and experienced no issues at all On the whole, in my experience you really can’t go wrong with anything produced by Bark
with comfort or control. River Knives.

W
ith each stroke of the
paddle, I moved the
kayak smoothly down
the Homosassa River,
in western Florida. It is
early morning, it’s about 40 degrees (F) and
the only other activity on the water was a few
other kayakers. If it wasn’t for the houses that
line this section of the river, I could almost
believe that I was in a time long gone by.
Spanish moss draped the branches of the
live oaks standing sentinel along the banks,
giving it an almost “Jurassic Park” feel. As I
continued my journey, I glided silently past
a heron sitting on a palmetto, undisturbed
by my passing. I was alone with my thoughts
when a manatee came up for air and then
swam beneath my kayak.
Waterways like this were our highways long
before pavement crisscrossed the landscape.
Traversing the rivers was how people traveled
and transported goods. Rafts, canoes and
kayaks were used in the backcountry as a
means of transportation and a way to ferry
supplies to out-of-the-way homesteads.
Light, non-motorized watercraft gave access
to new lands, opening up new hunting and
fishing areas.
Today these watercraft are used mainly for
sport, but they do have their place in a self-re-
liant lifestyle or a survival situation as well.
When you have to move quickly and silently
or when you have more gear to transport
than you can reasonably carry on your back,
traveling by water is a viable option.
I grew up paddling a canoe. I have done
whitewater rafting, and about three years ago
I started kayaking, using this craft to get into
areas even my canoe couldn’t really get into.
As a kid I would spend endless hours fishing
or exploring hidden coves using the canoe. My
first fly fishing lesson was while I was in a ca-
noe. When I grew older, it was the canoe that
transported me to remote areas to hunt ducks
and geese. The canoe could hold two people,
the shotguns and other gear needed for the
hunt and get us into position quickly and
silently. For me, the canoe was an invaluable
piece of gear.
NOT ALL CRAFT ARE THE SAME

There are still areas of the country that are
not easily accessible by land. There is a saying
in Maine that goes, “You can’t there from
here.” In some cases, that may be true. In a
backcountry setting, your travel from Point
A to Point B may be blocked by a river, lake

› Rivers, like this
or pond. Anyone who lives in or has visited
one in Canada,
Alaska can attest to that statement. Getting can become the
highways that lead
supplies to your remote cabin, whether in the
to safety when an
woods of Maine or the far reaches of Alaska, emergency forces
you to leave home.
can mean transporting them by water, but
what craft is best? That is the million-dollar
question. The only thing I can say is that there
is no such thing as one size fits all.
There is no craft that will be perfect in all
situations. You will need to do your homework
and find the one that will best suit your needs.
There are many different types of non-motor-
ized watercraft out there. There are rowboats,
dinghies, rafts, drift boats, canoes and kayaks.
This piece will concentrate on those craft that
are the most typically used by those looking
to venture out into the backcountry: canoes
and kayaks. As you will see, even these can be
broken down into sub-categories.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?

While all kayaks are canoes, not all canoes
are kayaks. So what is the difference? In the
simplest terms, canoes are watercraft that are
propelled by the use of paddles, as opposed
to rowboats, dinghies and other similar
boats that are propelled using oars. Gener-
ally, canoes are propelled by single-bladed › The hatch at the
front of this kayak
paddles, where kayaks are propelled using provides access
double-bladed paddles. to a secure and
handy place to
Yes, there are other differences, but these are store supplies and
the basics. With that said, there are canoes, gear.
‹ The Oru Beach

LT folding kayak
assembles in about 5
minutes and requires
no tools or special
talents to make it
ready for the water.
Photo courtesy of
Jim Jeffries

‹ Left: The Oru
Kayak Beach LT “WHEN YOU HAVE
folding kayak is
amazingly portable TO MOVE QUICKLY
and stable on the
water. It weighs AND SILENTLY,
just 26 pounds and
folds down to the OR YOU HAVE
size of a suitcase.
Photos courtesy MORE GEAR TO
of ORU
TRANSPORT THAN
WHAT YOU CAN
REASONABLY
CARRY ON YOUR
BACK, TRAVELING
BY WATER IS A
VIABLE OPTION.”
Originally, canoes were constructed from
such as the Old Town Discovery 119 Solo Sportsman (which is actually a hybrid canoe), offering a natural materials. Early canoes were dugouts,
combination of the attributes of a standard canoe and a kayak. This craft works the best when made from hollowed-out logs, or bark canoes
using a double-bladed paddle. carefully crafted by fitting sheets of bark over
‹ Below: Old Town a wooden frame. While handcrafted wood
Discovery 119
CANOES canoes are still available, they are usually
Solo Sportsman is
A good canoe is the staple watercraft of any backwoods homestead. Canoes, depending on the stable, lightweight priced well out of the range of most people.
and agile and is
size and design, can carry a great deal of gear, are stable (if weight is distributed properly), light Today’s canoes can be made out of aluminum,
intended for use
(depending on the material they are made from) and can go just about anywhere. The ancient by hunters and fiberglass, plastic or Kevlar. The material they
fishermen. Photo
Polynesians traveled across the Pacific in large canoes, which just proves how reliable they are. are made from, and their size, will often deter-
courtesy of Old
Canoes are propelled and controlled using paddles. Town mine how heavy they are. This is important, as

› Above: Saltwater
estuaries are
there will be times that you will have to carry EXPEDITION
perfect places for your canoe. Believe me, even the “light” ones These canoes are made for long trips and carrying heavy loads. They are capable of handling
finding a meal and
a canoe or kayak
are heavy after a day of paddling. open water and rough conditions. These canoes are long, measuring 18 to 20 feet in length. While
can make getting they can handle large loads, their greatest drawback is that they are difficult to get into tight
there and coming
back with dinner
CHOOSING THE RIGHT ONE places or in shallow water, especially when fully loaded.
stealthy and There is a wide variety of canoes. There are
efficient.
canoes designed for recreation, whitewater, WILDERNESS TRIPPING
racing and hauling freight. You name the I would say that this is the overall perfect canoe for the typical roles a prepper would need to
waterborne task and there is probably a canoe fill. They measure 15 to 18 feet and are designed to carry big loads while being stable. They are
for it. perfect for getting into some tight areas, as well as hauling a deer or transporting a wood stove
So what do you look for when selecting a to camp. Two good examples are the Wenonah Minnesota II, which is a two-person canoe, and
canoe? Well, the first thing you need to do is
ask yourself, “What do I plan on using it for?”
For our purposes here, I will not even discuss
whitewater or racing canoes. Instead, I will
concentrate on recreational, expedition and
wilderness tripping canoes. All of these canoes
are designed to move people and supplies; the
amount of each is where they differ.
RECREATIONAL
These are probably the most common type
of canoe available. They are easy to paddle
and are perfect on flat, calm water. These
› Right: A pool, canoes are very stable and hard to flip.
like this one in
Recreational canoes generally run 13 to 16 feet
Vermont, may be
an obstacle to m ost in length and have a width of over 36 inches.
but it’s easy to
They are capable of carrying some loads, but
cross with a canoe
or kayak. are not the best for the job.

“GETTING SUPPLIES TO YOUR REMOTE
CABIN, WHETHER IN THE WOODS OF MAINE
OR THE FAR REACHES OF ALASKA CAN
MEAN TRANSPORTING THEM BY WATER,
IMPORTANT
BUT WHAT CRAFT IS BEST?” ACCESSORIES
PFD
The rule on my watercraft is that a personal flotation device
must be worn at all times. All too often people die because they
are not wearing a PFD when disaster strikes. They may carry one
because the law says they have to, but it does no good if you
aren’t wearing it.
KNIFE
With all the lines and straps involved in boating, a good rust-resis-
tant knife is a must. Ideally, it should be a floating fixed blade knife
with a bright orange handle or sheath. Knives should have a blade
made with 420 C or 440 C or another highly corrosion-resistant
stainless steel.
FLOATING FIRST-AID KIT
I never leave shore without a floating first aid kit. There are many
types and sizes available; just be sure the case is also waterproof to
‹ Waterways like this are typical in Alaska. Where there are not many roads, a canoe or kayak protect the contents.
is a must for efficient travel.
SIGNAL TOOLS
the Wenonah Prism, which is a solo canoe. If you run into trouble, a whistle and signal mirror can be used to
attract the attention of other boaters, people on shore and aircraft
SIZE or watercraft out searching for you.
Generally speaking, the longer the canoe, the more gear it can carry and the wider it is the more JUST IN CASE
stable it will be. The depth (the distance between the top edge of the hull, or gunwale, and the In a watertight bag carry duct tape, a way to start a fire, compass,
bottom) will also determine the amount of gear it will carry. The previously mentioned Old Town cordage, rations and water in case you need to spend the night
Discovery 119 Solo Sportsman measures 11 feet, 9 inches long and has a width of 32 1/2 inches away from camp.
and will carry a maximum load of 354 pounds. The Wenonah Minnesota II has a length of 18 feet,
6 inches and a width of 35 inches and is intended to carry two typical adults and a moderate
amount of gear. The Prism measures 16 feet, 6 inches and is 30 inches wide and suits one person
with enough gear for a medium-length trip. kayaks, while being made of modern materials,
haven’t changed much over time. They are still
KAYAKS light, fast and extremely stable. Their shallow
Kayaks were originally used by the native people of the Arctic regions. They had wooden frames draft makes them perfect for entering areas
covered with either seal or walrus skin and were built for ease of use and maneuverability. Today’s where even canoes may find the going difficult.
‹ Far left: It’s easier

to move in closer to
birds like this when
you’re operating from
a non-motorized
watercraft.
‹ Near left: The

Wenonah Prism
is a composite
solo canoe that
combines efficiency
and stability and
enough capacity
for medium-length
outings, making it
a solid choice for
the prepper. Photo
courtesy of Wenonah
Canoe

‹ Left: The Hobie Quest
11 is a mid-size kayak
that is stable on bays,
lakes and flat water. It
has three storage com-
partments protected
by hatches and bungee
cords that allow you to
secure additional gear
on the deck behind the
seat. Photo courtesy
of Hobie
‹ Below: When
canoeing or kayaking,
it’s always a good idea
to cover up to prevent
sunburn.
› Near right:
The Wenonah
Minnesota II
canoe is fast and
seaworthy, has
seating for two and
can carry heavy
gear. It’s available
in four styles with
weights as low
as 42 pounds.
Photo courtesy of
Wenonah Canoe
Their drawback is that they are not designed SIT-ON-TOP

for carrying large loads, like a canoe can. Sit-on-top kayaks are the ones that I like the best. They are easy to get in and out of, and they
S O U R C E S generally are wider and more stable, which is why they are the ones used for fishing. Due to their
CHOOSING THE RIGHT ONE design, the deck is mainly exposed, allowing you the ability to carry gear, or that deer you were
Hobie As with canoes, there are many different able to harvest. There are drawbacks to these kayaks. First, due to the width and relative short
(760) 758-9100 styles of kayaks, with each having a specialty length of about 12 feet, they do not move as fast or handle as well as longer kayaks. Another
Hobie.com
and as with canoes, you have to ask yourself drawback is that because of the exposed deck, items you are carrying will tend to get wet. The
Old Town Canoe all of the questions to find out which one is answer to that problem is the use of dry bags.
(800) 343-1555 going to work best for you. Two very good examples of the sit-on-top kayak are the Hobie Quest 11 and the Hobie Mirage
OldTownCanoe.com
As this article is not covering whitewater Compass. The Quest measures 11 feet and is 29 inches wide with a total carrying capacity of 300
Oru Kayak or racing, I will stick with those kayaks that pounds. The Mirage Compass measures 12 feet long by 34 inches wide and has a carrying capaci-
(415) 630-3717 work best in flat water. There are basically ty of 400 pounds. The Compass also has foot pedals that allow hands-free propulsion.
OruKayak.com
four types of kayaks that fall into this group:
Wenonah Canoe, Inc. sit-on-top, recreational, touring and inflatable. RECREATIONAL
(507) 454-5430 Of those four we will concentrate on the sit- Recreational kayaks are generally sit-in, meaning that they have a cockpit. They fall some-
Wenonah.com
on-top, recreational and inflatable. I will also where in size between the average sit-on-top and the much longer touring kayaks. Storage is
mention folding kayaks. provided in enclosed compartments. This can be an advantage or a drawback. The compart-

TERMS TO
KNOW
The world of watercraft has its own language, one you will
learn over time. Here are some useful boating terms to get you
started:
GUNWALE
The upper edge of the side of a canoe, kayak, boat or ship.
HATCH
A door that provides access to storage areas. The hatch should
have a snug fit to prevent water from entering the space below.
PADDLE
The means of propulsion for a kayak or canoe. Typically,
single-blade paddles are used with canoes and double-blade
paddles are used with kayaks. There are many types and
lengths of both and each is available in multiple materials so it
is important to do your research before making a selection.
RUDDER
A fin in the rear of the craft that allows you to adjust and
maintain course.
SKEG
A skeg is a dropdown fin that helps prevent a side wind from
blowing you off course.
TRACKING FIN
Similar in purpose to a skeg except it can’t be retracted. These
are most commonly found on inflatable kayaks.
ments keep your gear dry but they also make loading and unloading a
chore and restrict the size and shape of items that can be stowed.
INFLATABLES
Inflatable kayaks are easy to transport and take less storage space
and they are more resistant to damage, though they are still suscepti-
ble to sharp rocks and sticks and the errant fish hook. An example of a
quality inflatable is the Hobie Mirage i12s. Fully inflated it measures 12
feet long, 36 inches wide and has a carrying capacity of 500 pounds.
FOLDABLE
The last group I want to look at are the folding kayaks such as the
Beach LT, made by Oru Kayak. These kayaks are designed to be folded
for storage and transportation and unfolded for use. The Beach LT has
a width of 28 inches and a carrying capacity of 300 pounds. They are
not designed for constant, heavy use but are great for those trips that
you make out and back to the cabin.
If you have access to navigable bodies of water, canoes and kayaks
have their place in your gear collection. They offer you the ability to MAKE EVERY SHOT COUNT
move quickly and carry more gear than you can on foot. They’re quiet,
require only muscle power to get you around, and give an additional
transportation dimension that can be lifesaving in emergencies.
Rivers and lakes are less congested than highways, especially during
an emergency, and in some cases, traveling by water may be your only USE COUPON CODE “ASG” AT HIPERFIRE.COM FOR FREE SHIPPING!
option.
www.hiperfire.com 651.762.2800 @HighPerformanceFirearms

SERIOUS SUBSCRIPTION
SURVIVAL BOXES FOR ALL
LEVELS OF ADVENTURE
BY MICHAEL D’ANGONA

A
lthough you may not be go-
ing into battle any time soon,
the contents within these
amazing boxes may very well
save your skin while you’re
out on nearly any type of outdoor survival
exercise or adventure.
Battlbox, basically put, is a subscription
box-of-the-month service that equips you
with some of the latest high-quality gear for
camping, survival, self-defense and other
rigorous activities. They’re available in four
levels, including basic, advanced, pro and pro
plus. You control the mix and cost that’s right
for you.
Each month’s kit offers a different assort-
ment of items, and they all share one com-
mon theme: to be fully functional and useful
in the outdoors directly out of the box.
Battlbox was exceptionally kind and sent
me their highest tier box, the Pro Plus. With
the surprisingly large shipment under my arm,
I trekked into a nearby nature center to put
some of the included items to the test in a
real outdoor environment. Read on to see how
they did.
“THE QUESTION AS
TO WHETHER OR NOT
THE CONTENTS OF
MY BATTLBOX WERE
USEFUL OR JUST FOR
SHOW AND DESTINED
TO BE FILED AWAY
IN A SOON-TO-
BE-FORGOTTEN
STORAGE CONTAINER
SOMEWHERE, WAS
ANSWERED AS I
DUG DEEP INTO THE
CONTENTS AND GOT
HANDS-ON IN THE
FIELD.”

A BOX IS A BOX, OR IS IT?
‹ The kit’s Zippo all-weather matches pro- There’s a plethora of survival-style subscription boxes on the market today, and to the
vide quality fire-starting capabilities and a
durable, water-resistant storage container.
ill-informed, they all seem basically the same, but they absolutely are not. The process may be
Photo by Battlbox.com similar, such as choosing a level or tier of the kit you want, paying every month, or every other
month and having it delivered to your front door for use in a possible future survival, self-de-
fense or outdoor scenario. But what you get inside may be extremely different in quality and
usefulness.
Realistically speaking, having poor-quality items or items that will ultimately not be effective
or needed during most scenarios is defeating the main purpose of the service. With that being
said, Battlbox, without a doubt, doesn’t fall into this arena. In fact, all, yes, all of the items
in my box were both superbly constructed and exhibited practical and reliable in-the-field
applications.
From the takedown bow with a sturdiness that you could feel from the first touch, to the
soft, comfy texture of the sleeping pouch, to the exquisitely detailed, yet ultra-sharp and hefty
knife, this box exuded high quality. It’s no difficult task to identify cheaply constructed gear on
the market today, whether through flimsy materials or lack of substance. The contents within
the Battlbox Pro Plus had no such shoddy components.
DIVERSITY AND FUNCTIONALITY

The question of whether the contents of my Battlbox were useful or just for show and
destined for a soon-to-be-forgotten storage container somewhere was answered as I dug
deep into the contents and got hands-on in the field. The mix of items, although diverse, had a
central theme of credible outdoor survival use.
The contents of my box included a takedown bow with arrows, a 130-piece first aid kit, a
folding knife, a sleeping bag/blanket, a leather-bound notebook, a pack of pumpkin seeds and
a watertight matchbox with matches.
Imagine this scenario utilizing my Battlbox contents. You are out in the woods, keeping warm,
thanks to both the sleeping pouch and the matches used to create a fire, after the Bastion
knife shaved some feather-like tinder. You then decide to hunt some small game with your
bow, until settling in for the night, jotting down directions and landmarks in your field note-
book. Finally, you snack on some pumpkin seeds and go to sleep. This is a very practical set of
gear. Now, more on each specific item…
The takedown bow included was a Wrascal “Survive 55” and was very quick and easy to
‹ Far left: The gear included

in the Battlbox Pro Plus kit
is impressive in both qualtiy
and real-world functionality.
Photo by Michael D'Angona
‹ Near left: The sleeping

pouch doubles as an
instant-warmth wraparound
for cold or chilly days while
out in the woods. Photo by
Michael D’Angona
‹ Bottom left: The included sleeping pouch

features a deep woods camo design that
blends into most woodland environments.
Photo by Michael D’Angona
› Top right: From bandages, to insect bite
relief, to antibiotic cream and cold packs,
treatments for most of your superficial
injuries are packed into this comprehensive
first aid kit.
Photo by Battlbox.com
› Right: The first aid pouch holds

essential items for many outdoor
mishaps. This kit also has a handy
to-go kit for short excursions away
from camp.
› Below: Small enough to pack in

BOB b h k f ll f fi
“THE FIRST AID KIT WAS COMPACT YET

DIDN’T SKIMP ON THE NUMBER OF ITEMS
WITHIN THE HANDLED POUCH. TRUE
OUTDOOR ESSENTIALS OVERFLOWED WHEN
OPENED.”
assemble. From attaching the limbs to the grip, to screwing together the take-down arrows and
securing the bow string, the set was fully functional within minutes. The max draw on the bow
(55#) is 30 inches and felt great as I took some test shots. The sturdiness of the weapon was
apparent instantly and the accuracy was surprisingly good, as most of my shots hit their intend-
ed target (my misses are credited to my own shortcomings and not the bow’s functionality.)
The sleeping bag could be used as a blanket if needed. I wrapped the thick cloth around me

‹ Assembling the takedown arrows
takes only seconds. A few twists and
you’re good to go.
‹ Below: The survival take-down bow,

included in the Battlbox that I tested for this
article, contains everything you need to start
shooting within minutes.
Photo by Battlbox.com
and instantly could feel both warmth and comfort. I then unzipped the easy-to-enter pouch to
experience it in its sleeping bag mode and it performed wonderfully. Not only did it hold my six
foot, one-inch frame with ease, but it also provided just enough of a balance between wig-
gle-room and efficient heat retention by not making the empty space within the bag too roomy
or spacious.
The first aid kit was compact yet didn’t skimp on the number of items within the handled pouch.
True outdoor essentials overflowed when opened. Poison ivy cleanser (you don’t see that in most
kits), antiseptic wipes, an emergency blanket, burn cream (fire-starting has it’s hazards), lip balm
and plenty of bandages for the little nicks, scrapes, and cuts that you can incur trekking through
thorny vegetation were all present in the bag. Fluff items included? Definitely not, only practical
outdoor aids.
The knife, dubbed “the Baron” from Bastion was beautifully designed and constructed, with
brass accents and an attractive Damascus steel blade. It was a shame to get it dirty, but an EDC
knife isn’t for show. With a few strokes I shaved a broken branch into tinder flawlessly. The wood
withered under the sharpness of the blade, and I experienced no effort or fatigue with my repet-

“WITH A FEW STROKES I SHAVED A BROKEN
BRANCH INTO TINDER FLAWLESSLY. THE
WOOD WITHERED UNDER THE SHARPNESS
OF THE BLADE, AND I EXPERIENCED NO
EFFORT OR FATIGUE WITH MY REPETITIVE
SLICING.”
itive slicing. The locking mechanism kept the blade firmly open during my trials. The knife felt
solid in my grip. Solid is a word I keep returning to with many of the Battlbox’s items and with
good reason… they are.
The included food item was roasted pumpkin seeds, and they were fresh, tasty and crunchy
directly out of the bag. Sweet Texas barbeque was the variety included, and it didn’t lack in the
flavor department. They made a great snack as I trod through the woods continuing with my
gear testing.
For safety reasons, I didn’t test the matches in my review location. However, the container
itself was durable, while the matches inside were long, thick and coated for rain-resistant use.
Lighting a few at home, after wiping through the protective coating, they lit up quickly and
burned down the matchstick slowly, both traits that you look for in a survival match.
NO FILLER, NO FLUFF
One area that I want to touch upon briefly is what the Battlbox doesn’t have and that’s filler.
Filler is basically small, insignificant items used to fluff-up the amount of “stuff” within a sub-
scription box. These products, more often than not, are cheaply constructed and offer no true use
in real-life settings. These could include easily breakable generic “survival” gear or even more out-
of-place items such as patches, stickers, t-shirts, generic bracelets and the like. These are items
you can find in most novelty stores or websites, and don’t belong in a true survival box.
FUNCTIONALITY DURING A CRISIS

Testing in a controlled environment is one thing, using the gear when your heart is beating
out of your chest during a real-life emergency situation is another. As with any testing, some
speculation based on the data collected in the control is needed. The question is, will this box’s
contents be useful when or if a crisis hit? My answer is a definite yes.
› Upper right: The Baron knife, by

Bastion Gear, which elevates the
Pro kit to the Pro Plus, offers both a
pleasant aesthetic and outdoor prac-
ticality to your outdoor arsenal.
› Near right: Cutting vines for cord-

age was a cinch for the Baron knife.
› Far right: Not only exquisitely

designed, the Bastion Gear Baron is
highly effective while out in the field.
› Right: Battlbox First, the simplicity in both set-up and use
subscriptions
are available in is a resounding plus. All items included in the
different tiers and box of the month that I received were easy
price levels.
Photo by to open, assemble or set up, most within
Michael D’Angona seconds or just a minute or so. When time is
not on your side, or you’re shaking with fear
or an adrenaline rush in a true emergency
situation, there is no time for complicated
gear; only quick access and deployment, and
all the products fit the bill perfectly. From
rapid bow assembly to easy-to-hold matches
(unlike cheap tiny imposters that are easy to
MONTHLY
ADVENTURES “IN A SEA OF SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES AND,
Choose your own adventure every month! Battlbox offers four
packages to choose from each month, depending upon your
MORE SPECIFICALLY, THOSE THAT FOCUS
needs, wants and price range. These options allow you to either UPON SURVIVAL OR SELF-RELIANCE, THE
get your feet wet if you’re new to the survival/outdoor world or BATTLBOX IS A VERY SOUND CHOICE, BOTH
jump in head-first and explore all the high-quality tech, gear and
EDC that Battlbox has to offer. Which will you choose? (Prices do
FOR ITS QUALITY AND ITS USEFULNESS.”
not include shipping and handling) lose with big hands or when wearing gloves), to a first aid kit with easy-access items; nothing
will create problems by delaying use or difficulty in handling.
BASIC
Second, a crisis can be ongoing, and you may need to use your gear repeatedly during upcom-
This kit is perfect for the novice entering the diverse and some-
ing hours, days, weeks or longer. I’m confident that all the gear in this kit will not only withstand
times overwhelming world of survival. Items such as emergency
constant use but will maintain its high standards of reliability and performance throughout. Too
supplies, first aid manuals, and simple outdoor gear are all part of
many times, cheaply constructed gear can break after only a few uses which, during a long-term
this entry level box
crisis, can not only be detrimental to everyday survival, but could possibly be life-threatening.
MSRP: $29.99/month
Finally, all items take up very little space when packed. This seemingly minor benefit becomes
ADVANCED important during bug-out situations when you can only take so-many things with you. Items
Moving up the ranks, this package includes all the BASIC kit’s gear that pack down easily, or have their own carrying methods, such as the sleeping bag, take-down
and adds valuable additional items such as camp equipment, bow and first aid kit become valuable when it’s time to “hit the road.”
hiking essentials, bushcraft and EDC gear and more. It’s a step up
for the gear junkie.
MSRP: $59.99/month
PRO
As the name suggests, this assortment is focused on the seasoned
professional but is also ideal for those folks with less experience
who want to increase their collection of quality gear quickly. BASIC
and ADVANCED items are inside the box, and other products such
as sleeping bags, backpacks, tents or high-tech gear are added.
MSRP: $99.99/month
PRO PLUS
Includes all the items in BASIC, ADVANCED, and PRO, but with the
added bonus of the Knife of the Month. Top knife brands such as
Kershaw, Spyderco, CRKT, Bastion, Gerber Gear and others add their
bladed perfection to this kit.
MSRP: $149.99/month
‹ The Battlbox Pro Plus is the top tier of the Battlbox line and contains the greatest variety of
survival, self-defense and outdoor gear. Photo by Battlbox.com

FEELING
LUCKY?
The Battlbox mystery box offers gear with a twist. Sometimes you just
can’t get enough, and the waiting time between Battlbox deliveries may
be too long for you to bear, so what do you do? You add a little excite-
ment to your life and select the Mystery Box option when it’s offered!
These packages feature not only gear, equipment and supplies from
previous shipments, but also include never-before-seen items that only
those people adventurous enough to snag the Mystery Box get to enjoy.
In addition, as an added bonus, one lucky recipient will receive a high-
end, top quality knife as a surprise in their box, which adds even more to
the thrill and anticipation of your box’s arrival.
New mystery boxes are released about every four to six weeks depend-
ing upon demand. Sign-up on the waiting list is recommended so you
don’t miss out. the point that the lines and words were difficult to read.
Bear in mind that this isn’t a huge problem, but when I took my time focused intently to read
the information, I discovered a lot of details and interesting information. A simple solution to
correct this problem would be to use a larger card stock, which would in turn make it possible to
› Above right: When THE DOWNSIDE increase the size of the print, making for an easier read. It’s a shame that many people may toss
hunger strikes, this
pack of roasted
The only thing I’d like to change is the read- this card away because of the difficulty in reading the very detailed and informative material
pumpkin seeds will ability of the printed information included about the box’s gear.
hit the spot and give
you a needed burst
within the box. This pamphlet was two sided.
of energy. Photo by One side explains the pricing and value of FINAL THOUGHTS
Michael D’A ngona
that month’s four box options, and it was In a sea of subscription services and, more specifically, those that focus on survival or self-re-
clear and concise. However, the opposite liance, the Battlbox is a very sound choice, both for its quality and its usefulness. It’s also a fact
side, with an explanation of the box’s con- that people are different in both needs and wants so Battlbox box offers four choices to fulfill
tents, was very difficult to read. The font size their monthly “thirst” for gear. Remember, quality and quantity are two very different things. A
was extremely small and the white lettering lot of junk is just that, junk. If you want reliable, practical gear, then it’s time to go full-on into
with black background appeared blurry to battle with this amazing service!
‹ Left: Don’t think a

notebook is useless
when in the great
outdoors. This leath-
er-covered item can
be used for leaving
notes along your
trail, jotting down
local landmarks,
or even using the
paper as tinder in
a pinch. Photo by
Michael D’Angona

PREPARE
FOR THE
KILLER
COLD
WINTER IS NO TIME TO BE
WITHOUT A PLAN
BY CHRISTOPHER NYERGES
F
or many years, I led Saturday fireplace stones just enough to radiate heat
hiking classes into various wild for our group of a dozen or so who all huddled
areas through the local college. very close to it.
One Saturday in December, I Finally, after we’d all had some hot tea or
was leading one of these classes soup, we packed up, and it was just in time. It
in the mountains of the Angeles National had been very cold, and as we watched, the
Forest. We had hiked several miles up a trail very light rain was freezing before it hit the
to the approximately 3,000-foot level to ground — it was turning to snow. It steadily
our destination, Echo Mountain, the site of a grew heavier, as we all donned our packs and
tavern and hotel many decades earlier; it was headed toward the trail back home.
now all ruins. As we began walking, eager to get back down
We spent a little time wandering around the the trail and out of the snow, a woman and
sprawling mountaintop ruins and then created about 10 young girls appeared out of the light
a small fire in front of an old still-standing snowy mist, like an apparition. I wondered
fireplace. It was challenging to make even a where they’d come from.
small fire, because rain had been falling for “Do you have any matches?” the woman
the previous few days. The day was windy, and asked, with great expectation apparent in her
there was old snow on the ground. voice. She explained that it was their second
We collected dry pine needles and the dead day of a five-day campout with her Girl Scouts,
leaves from some of the various conifers that and that she’d used up all her book matches
had been planted there decades earlier. We the previous day.
even added pieces of sandwich wrappers and “Really?” I said, incredulously. I thought to
other odd bits of paper in order to get the fire myself, “You came up here with all these girls
going and keep it going. Everyone gathered in the snow for five days in the winter and all
closely together to warm up on the cold you brought were book matches?”
day. Our fire was never that large, but it was It was hard to contain myself. I mean, it’s
enough to heat some soup and to warm the one thing to just leave home without the

things you need if you’re by yourself, but
when you’re responsible for the welfare of
others, you need to take extra precautions.
I told the woman that I did not carry book
matches, since it’s too easy for the book
matches to get wet or moist and not work.
I sometimes carry stick matches but I had
none with me. I didn’t even have a cigarette
lighter, which I try to always carry. But I’d
made our earlier soup fire with the magne-
sium fire starter that I always carry on my
keychain. I figured we’re on our way out, and
these folks are in dire need. I took the fire
starter off my keychain and showed the Girl
Scout leader how to use it.
I scraped some of the magnesium block
into some scrap paper that we sheltered
from the light snow, and then I scraped the
ferrocerium insert so that a shower of sparks
ignited the magnesium. Presto! A bright fire.
The lady smiled and graciously accepted my
fire starter, and I told her to be sure and never
leave home in the future without at least two
ways — preferably three — to make a fire.
Do you have a knife for using the fire
› Above: One of
the author’s School “OUR FIRE WAS NEVER THAT LARGE, BUT
starter? I asked her. Yes, she nodded, holding
of Self-Reliance
classes learns IT WAS ENOUGH TO HEAT SOME SOUP
up her Swiss Army knife. The Girl Scouts all about several ways
to make fire. AND TO WARM THE FIREPLACE STONES
seemed cold, and they huddled about her like
baby chicks around the mother hen. After a
JUST ENOUGH TO RADIATE HEAT FOR
bit of small talk, she and her little children
› Below left: Nicole
DeWeese shows OUR GROUP OF A DOZEN OR SO WHO ALL
disappeared back into the fog and snow. I two of the most
essential items that HUDDLED VERY CLOSE TO IT.”
presume they made it out OK in the follow- should always be
ing days because I didn’t read about them in carried: a knife and to carry a knife, a fire starter (ideally several), and cordage (for shelter and other uses).
fire starter. Addi-
the local newspaper. tional important You could not make a fire in a modern tent unless you had a way to control a very small fire. In
Needless to say, on our hike out, my hiking gear is on the table. a wilderness shelter, such as a brush shelter, you still don’t want a fire inside because the entire
class had a lively discussion about the › Below right: The
shelter is very flammable. In wet and cold weather, you’d have to build the fire slightly outside
need to carry a fire starter, and everyone holy trinity of the shelter so you get the benefit of some of the heat. We’ve actually heated rocks in a fire and
survival: a knife,
speculated on how well the small Girl Scout fire starter and
rolled the rocks into our brush shelter so the rocks would radiate heat.
group would do in the snow during the next cordage. Though I have no idea whatever ultimately happened to the woman and her Girl Scouts, I hope
few days.
ALWAYS BE PREPARED
This incident emphasized the need to be
prepared with appropriate gear when going
on wilderness expeditions. This means having
not just the basic gear that you know you’ll
need but the gear that is appropriate for the
season. And one of the most basic of all gear
is some way to make a fire!
Rain is the most challenging, more chal-
lenging than snow in my opinion. If you’re
going to spend the night in the outdoors in
cold and wet weather, you need appropriate
clothing, rain coverings (such as ponchos), a
waterproof shelter of some sort, and having a
way to make a fire is a big plus. Regardless of
the circumstances, I find that I always need

“I SCRAPED SOME
OF THE MAGNESIUM
BLOCK INTO SOME
SCRAP PAPER THAT
WE SHELTERED FROM
THE LIGHT SNOW,
THEN I SCRAPED THE
FERROCERIUM INSERT
SO THAT A SHOWER OF
SPARKS IGNITED THE
MAGNESIUM. PRESTO!
A BRIGHT FIRE.”
‹ Above and left: she found some sheltered spot to spend the
Using a magnesium
night, such as under a bridge, in a cave, or
fire starter is not
difficult, but it takes under a bluff where there is some natural
a little experience to
protection from the elements.
become proficient
with it.
DON’T JUDGE
I noted that part of the conversation from
my hiking class about this woman and her girls
included criticism that she could be so stupid
and foolish to run out of matches.
My ears really perked up and I stopped the
hike temporarily. I told them not to judge oth-
ers. Then I asked the person who was so harsh
with the Girl Scout leader to show me her fire
starter. She didn’t have one. I asked to see her
knife. OK, she had a little pen knife. I asked to
see her first aid kit. Nothing.
I asked her for her plan for spending the
night in the snow, if she should happen to get
stuck in the snow. She said, “Well, that’s not
fair. I didn’t come here expecting to spend the
night. I came just for the day.”
“Yes,” I told her, “correct. But stuff happens,
and if something happened to you today, you
could be in the same, if not worse, condition
as that woman. Anyway, do you really think
she expected it to snow?”
REPEAT: ALWAYS BE PREPARED

I wasn’t trying to defend the actions of the Girl
Scout leader, who presumably was simply vol-
unteering her time so that the girls would have a
learning experience. Still, the essence of survival
‹ Gary Gonzales
preparedness is that you’re preparing for the un-
trains School
of Self-Reliance expected. And truth be told, that’s an impossible
students on how to
task, but there are ways to break it down so you
master the bow and
drill for making fire. have some hope of coming out alive.

“FIELD RESEARCH HAS DEMONSTRATED
THAT WEARING LIGHTER LAYERS (RATHER
THAN ONE THICK COAT) IS MUCH MORE
PRACTICAL AND COMFORTABLE.”
RECOGNIZING
HYPOTHERMIA
When you’re on a remote expedition, you’re as strong as
the weakest link in your group. Yes, you might be feeling fine,
but what about that other guy in your group? Watch for the
“umbles” so you can take action to help someone who is going
into hypothermia.
Look first for shivering, and then look for the “umbles.” The
person fumbles — they are losing fine motor control in their
fingers. They can’t handle their keys, a knife or maybe a fire
starter. They stumble — they are losing blood to the feet and
losing control. Then they mumble — they are losing control of
the tongue. Soon, they grumble, saying they do not care. Then
you know they are losing overall control.
Treat them for hypothermia! Get some warm coverings and ‹ Keith Farrar (left) shows Roman (middle) a rain poncho that is commercially available.
get them to a toasty fire. Make some warm drinks or chocolate AUTOMOBILE
and make sure they drink it. Many remote emergencies occur because your car failed to start. Always carry blankets, food
Sometimes it’s raining or snowing and you can’t go home. Do and water in your car. Even if you have to stay in the woods with your car for a few days, you
everything you can to help the weakest link of your group. Keep should be comfortable and properly fed. You can make a fire to stay warm and to draw atten-
that fire going, get and stay dry and keep the warm beverages tion to your location.
or food flowing.
PLANNING
Yes, planning is paramount. Get a map of where you intend to go. Will rising rivers make it
› Near right: Boy Scout

leader Francisco
Loaiza shows some
basic insulating
materials, such as
the emergency space
blanket he is holding,
and various tarps and
plastic bags.
› Far right: A student

tries the Mylar
emergency space
blanket. This is
effective at retaining
body heat, keeping
covered areas dry and
blocking the wind.

difficult or impossible to cross roads or trails? Will you even be able to get to your chosen
location? Will it be possible to get assistance if you run into trouble? Maybe you should plan
your journey to a safer area at that time of the year? Be sure to tell someone else your itinerary,
wherever you decide to go.
SYSTEMS
Remember the 10 Essentials? I prefer to think of them as 10 (or so) systems rather than 10 items.
These systems allow you to deal with whatever situations you might find yourself in. Still, time of
the year (Is it very hot in summer, or very cold?), location and other factors will strongly influence
what items you actually need. For winter, your needs will be very specific.
Clothing and shelter fall into the category of insulation. In winter, you want to stay dry and warm.
CLOTHING
Your clothing is your shelter at a short distance. Choose your garments carefully. Field research
has demonstrated that wearing lighter layers (rather than one thick coat) is much more practical
and comfortable. Dressing in layers means you can add little by little as needed and take off one
or more layers when things warm up. Your outer layer needs to be waterproof, and one of the
best outer garments is a large hooded tarp, especially one with grommets because it can double
as a small tent. This type of tarp is usually large enough that you can wear a pack under it and
still stay warm.
SHELTER
If you’re expecting rain or snow, you should have a waterproof shelter. At the very least, you
should carry a plastic tube tent, which provides no insulation but will give you protection from
the rain and snow.
We’ve carried large plastic sheets on occasion when we had a group and we wanted some cover
for our activities. We purchased a 10-by-20-foot plastic tarp from a hardware store and stretched
“IF YOU’RE GOING TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN THE OUTDOORS IN ‹ Above: Learn
some knots so
COLD AND WET WEATHER, YOU NEED APPROPRIATE CLOTHING, you can convert
a poncho or tarp
RAIN COVERINGS (SUCH AS PONCHOS), A WATERPROOF SHELTER into a tent, and use
cordage for many
OF SOME SORT, AND HAVING A WAY TO MAKE A FIRE IS A BIG PLUS.” other purposes.
‹ Left: Some of the

author’s students
learn how to turn
a poncho into an
emergency tent
from instructor
Keith Farrar.

› Keith Farrar shows
the knots that are
most useful for
turning a tarp into a
tent.
‹ Left: Students at a
college survival course
learn how to set up a
commercial pop-up
tent.
› Above: Survival it out by rope so we had rain protection at our SUN PROTECTION
instructors show
how to set up a tube
camp. Sunburn doesn’t happen just in summer. If you’re in snow, the sun can reflect off the snow
tent, which requires and give you sunburns or even temporary blindness. If you’re on the water, you also need some
only some cordage
and two trees
FIRE protection. You need a hat, sunglasses, lip balm and a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of
or other similar It would be hard for me to imagine a viable 30 or more, or sunblock.
anchors to tie it to.
winter camp without a fire. The fire keeps you
dry, warms you and gives you a way to always FIRST AID
have a hot beverage and a warm meal. The Remember, your knowledge of how to handle basic medical emergencies is far more important
best tool to have a ready-to-go fire is a butane than the stuff in your kit. If you don’t know how to respond, the stuff in your kit is not very useful.
lighter. Carry several. Yes, bring backups too, So, yes, get a kit, but also enroll in an emergency first aid course to learn real world skills. There
such as a magnifying glass (no good when are many portable first aid kits available for purchase in stores ranging from supermarkets to
it’s overcast or dark), ferrocerium rods, and pharmacies to online sources. Buy the kit that fits your particular needs.
even matches in a waterproof container. Bring In the case of cold weather, you need to be aware of hypothermia in yourself and others. See
several methods for getting that fire going. sidebar about hypothermia on page 52.

› Students work on building a half-dome
shelter in the woods, with a raised bed
platform.
NUTRITION
You should plan for your immediate nutri-
tional needs, as well as for an intermediate
length of time. This means carry nutritious
foods that will keep for a long period of time,
such as dried meat or vegetarian jerky, dried
fruits and nuts and whole grain crackers.
WATER PURIFICATION
Hunters have become dehydrated and gone
into shock because they didn’t realize their
body needed water. You may not feel thirsty
in winter, but your body still needs water.
Besides carrying some water, you should also
carry a means to purify water, whether it’s
a small Sawyer water purifier or one of the
pump models, such as a Timberline or MSR. If “WILL IT BE POSSIBLE TO GET ASSISTANCE
you’re with a group in winter, you should make
sure that everyone drinks regularly throughout IF YOU RUN INTO TROUBLE? MAYBE YOU
the day. SHOULD PLAN YOUR JOURNEY TO A SAFER
There are other products and systems that
AREA AT THAT TIME OF THE YEAR? BE SURE
you should be aware of for any wilderness
travel year round. Here we are addressing only TO TELL SOMEONE ELSE YOUR ITINERARY,
those that are most pertinent to winter. WHEREVER YOU DECIDE TO GO.”
‹ If you have no
tarps or tents, you
should learn how to
construct a lean-to
or debris shelter in
the wilderness.

PREPARE M
other Nature is not all pretty
flowers and warm sunshine.
In fact, she can be downright
brutal, especially as you hit
FOR COLD
the road during the winter
months. It’s up to you and your vehicle to be pre-
pared for her aggressive onslaught of killer cold,
treacherous ice and mounds of unforgiving snow.
Your starting point when assembling your mobile
WEATHER
cache of gear, tools and supplies begins with you
and your family’s needs. Survival, especially if
stranded in sub-zero temperatures for an extend-
ed length of time, should be at the top of your
priority list. This means that the basics must be
DRIVING
considered first, such as warmth, food and water.
Without these essentials, your survival clock will
only be ticking downward at an alarming and
life-threatening rate.
After your personal needs are met, it’s time to
think about rescue or getting your vehicle back on
GEAR AND SUPPLIES THAT the road. Signal flares, fluorescent dyes, smoke
grenades and large brightly colored banners or
WILL INSULATE YOU FROM flags all assist in alerting others to your predica-
ment, while jumper cables, a reliable snow shovel
WINTER ROAD HAZARDS
BY MICHAEL D’ANGONA
and tow ropes can get you moving once again to
your destination or the comfort of your own home.
No matter how certain you are that things only
happen to the other guy, your world is very un-
predictable. What you thought would be a scenic
ride through nature’s picturesque glistening snow
may turn into a fight to survive as white begins to
surround and virtually trap your vehicle.

Survive Outdoors Longer
Rescue Howler Whistles
Overview Specifications
It’s proven that the human • 110 decibel signal can be heard over
scream diminishes very quickly a mile away
in strength and volume with se- • Heavy-duty unbreakable ABS plastic
vere repetition. Don’t strain your construction
voice or overuse energy when • Pea-less design won’t freeze or stick
this small, effective whistle to lips in severe cold weather
can do far better. Broadcasting • Triple-frequency sound cuts through
a piercing 110 dB signal, you’ll surrounding noise
attract anyone within a mile or • Compact design fits easily into
so of your location with little packs, pockets or glove compart-
effort. Stuck in freezing cold? ment
No worries. The fail-safe design
MSRP
prevents the whistle’s shell from
$9
cracking or your lips sticking to
the mouthpiece. The howler is URL
a small tool that does wonders SurviveOutdoorsLonger.com
when you’re stranded.

Survival Blanket
The key to staying warm is to utilize • Reflects 90 percent of radiated
the body heat you emit and direct it body heat
back to you, and this blanket does • Blanket’s material is waterproof
just that. Constructed of vacu- and windproof
um-metalized polyethylene, the • Survival instructions printed
material won’t shred, tear or rip like directly on the blanket
conventional Mylar blankets. It also • Tear-resistant; will last under
won’t crinkle under heavy winds, repeated uses
allowing you a more restful sleep. • Size: 60 x 96 inches
With a bright orange outer coloring,
MSRP
it will contrast easily against a
$7
snow-white landscape, alerting
rescuers of your presence. Sized to URL
fit two people comfortably. SurviveOutdoorsLonger.com

Pocket Survival Pak
Store it away and forget about • Includes signal whistle and signal
it. That is, until an emergency mirror
comes your way. When stranded in • Spark-Lite fire starter starts fires
your vehicle, you’ll have signaling fast
devices, fire starters, survival tips • Fits in glove compartment or
and more at your fingertips and pants pocket
ready to keep you alive until help • Zip-pouch is durable, resealable
arrives. Nearly three dozen items and waterproof
make up this mini kit that fits eas- • Waterproof survival instructions
ily in your gear bag, purse, or back by Doug Ritter included
pants pocket. A waterproof zip-
MSRP
seal pouch keeps all gear secure
$34
and ready for use.
URL
SurviveOutdoorsLonger.com
Emergency Kits Compact

Car Emergency Kit
Compact cars are just that, com- • Two people, three-day supply kit
pact. Luckily for you, this small • Easily stores in trunk at only 9 x 11 x
two-person kit will fit easily 4 inches
inside your trunk and will assist • Non-slip storage duffel bag includ-
greatly if you get stranded by ed
Mother Nature’s wrath. A durable • Large, easy-to-see distress sign
duffel bag holds all the contents, • Food in kit: 5-year shelf life; Water
such as drinking water, a window in kit: 20-year shelf life
breaker/seatbelt cutter, an LED
MSRP
flare with flashlight, a first aid
$72.99
kit, hand warmers, a whistle and
brightly colored signal banner. URL
Don’t underestimate a harsh, EmergencyKits.com
cold winter; be prepared using
this season-specific kit.

Rapala Folding Pack
Shovel with Bag
Never underestimate the amount of • Easy to store, transport and
snow that can fall during a storm. use
Without this trusty shovel, you’ll be • Unfolds to over 2 feet long
straining and struggling to displace all • Durable construction will last
the snow that may surround and trap year after year
your vehicle. This wide, compact snow • Big, solid handle reduces user
shovel can move mounds of the white fatigue
stuff, enabling you to drive out to safe- • Includes durable, high-visibility
ty. This winter essential does the job storage pouch
of a full-size shovel without the added
MSRP
bulkiness and storage challenge
$24.99
during downtime.
URL
FishHouseToys.com
Emergency Kits RoadMaster

Emergency Kit
This vehicle emergency kit is a brute, • Enough supplies for two people for
and that’s a good thing! Offering one three days
of the most comprehensive collec- • Heavy-duty duffel bag keeps all
tions of roadside and emergency gear organized
preparedness gear on the market • Bright distress banner and orange
today, it will have you ready to tackle vest attracts rescuers
whatever comes your way. With a • Use in car, truck or motorhome
snow shovel, tow rope, signal flares • Shelf life: Food: 5 years; Water:
and jumper cables, your vehicle will 20 years
get noticed, towed, or dug out with
MSRP
these indispensable tools. Add to this
$189.99
a supply of emergency food, water,
first aid and fire starters and your sur- URL
vival chances go up exponentially. EmergencyKits.com

Orion Deluxe Roadside
Emergency Kit
The open road can be a scary and • All items packed in durable
dangerous place when you’re alone PVC-coated nylon case
and stranded far from home. Decrease • Total 79-piece emergency
your worries by carrying this Deluxe kit
Emergency Kit in your trunk or on your • Includes essential first aid
backseat. This assortment includes pouch
three 20-minute flares, one reflective • Size: 8.3 x 12.3 x 4 inches
triangle, a bright glow stick, thermal
MSRP
blanket, orange vest, rain poncho,
$42.99
jumper cables, a multi tool and much
more. All gear is aimed at getting you URL
back on the road or to keep you safe OrionSignals.com
while waiting for help.
BubbaRope Mega Gator-Jaw

Synthetic Shackle
Large trucks and oversize SUVs get • 76,400 pounds breaking
stuck in the snow too, so you’ll need strength
a shackle that can tackle the job, • It floats on water, making
and the Mega Gator-Jaw does the towing in swampy water easy
trick. With its stronger-than-steel • Very flexible, will wrap around
breaking strength, you’ll be wor- even the most difficult pulling
ry-free as you secure this shackle points
to your vehicle’s frame. With its • Vinyl urethane coating pro-
uniquely designed button knot and cess for abrasion protection
a self-tightening loop, slip-offs are • Bow width: 11 inches
a thing of the past with this beast • Diameter: 5/8 inch
on the job. The rope won’t rust, it
MSRP
floats on water and features one-
$149.99
piece construction, eliminating the
need for fastening pins. URL
BubbaRope.com

Rothco Camo Fleece Blanket
Going high-tech is great for many • Durable material holds up year
things, but a simple blanket can after year
bring warmth and comfort when • 100% polyester fleece
Jack Frost’s icy grip gets a hold of • Stores easily in trunk for emergen-
you. Sporting a distinctive camo pat- cy use
tern and constructed of body-warm- • Size: 60 x 80 inches
ing poly-fleece, this blanket exudes • Choose from four camo patterns
soft comfort as you brave the cold.
MSRP
Useful for both everyday as well as
$39.99
emergency situations, this blanket is
a must-have for every wintry outing. URL
Rothco.com
More Prepared Automobile

Emergency Hammer
Slick, wintry roads can cause acci- • Durable hard plastic and metal
dents so being trapped in your vehi- construction
cle is a very real possibility. Increase • Includes black holder
your chances of escape with this • Protective cap prevents acci-
handy emergency tool. Equipped to dents when not in use
both shatter car windows and easily • Bright, easy-to-find orange
slice through seatbelts, this handy color
gadget should be kept within arm’s • Hammer length: 7 inches
reach for on-the-spot escape.
MSRP
$8.95
URL
MorePrepared.com

More Prepared 4-Person
Premium Backpack Survival Kit
No time to assemble your own ve- • Four-person pack for up to three
hicle emergency bag? No problem. days
This kit does all the work for you. • Supplies recommended by FEMA
It sports a durable, easy-to-find and the American Red Cross
red backpack filled with such es- • Long shelf-life food and water items
sentials as long-life water packets, • 107 first aid items for unexpected
2,400-calorie food bars, thermal mishaps
blankets, rain ponchos, a radio/ • The included backpack has room
flashlight combo unit, glow sticks, for extra items
first-aid, work gloves, a Swiss-style
MSRP
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$89
you have little time to prep but
don’t want to be left to the wrath URL
of Mother Nature, this emergency MorePrepared.com
kit could be just what you need.
New Millennium Energy Bars

You’ll never know when you need • Choose from nine flavors
an energy boost, whether it’s • 400 calories per bar
during everyday life, or when an • Durable outer wrapping keeps bar
emergency strikes. Stash these fresh
tasty, fruit flavored bars in your • Great for kids and adults
pocket, glove compartment, pack • 5-year shelf life
or just about anywhere. From fa-
MSRP
vorites such as cherry, lemon and
$1.29
raspberry, to more exotic versions
such as coconut, apricot, tropical URL
fruit and blueberry, there is a flavor MorePrepared.com
for every member of the family.

Cen-Tech 5-In-1 Portable Power
Pack with Jump Start
Dead battery? Low tire pressure? • Heavy duty 6 AWG booster cables
Working in the dark? No matter if with copper coated steel clamps
you face one or all of these problems • Super-bright 4-way LED work lights
with your vehicle, this compact jack • 300 PSI air compressor with gauge
of all trades can help you through it. • 200-watt power inverter with dual
This power pack sports a heavy-duty AC outlets
casing, easy-to-read instrument • Heavy-duty rubberized case
panel and enough “juice” to get your
MSRP
car and your valuable electronics
$119.99
powered up and back in the game.
With bright work lights and a com- URL
pact design that will fit easily in most HarborFreight.com
car trunks, leaving this behind would
be a huge and possibly life-changing
mistake.
Cen-Tech 3-In-1 Portable Power

Pack with Jump Starter
Compact, yet powerful enough to • Up to 20 hours of 12-volt power
jump start a weak or totally drained on a single charge
12-volt car battery, this portable • Maintenance-free 17Ah sealed
power source is a must-have for lead-acid battery
any winter environment. In addition, • Built-in 3-LED work light
you’ll be able to charge small elec- • Two 12VDC outlets
tronic devices easily from its 2.1 USB • Durable, high-impact outer
charging port, as well as its 12V DC casing
outlets. Jumper cables store easily on
MSRP
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$59.99
while the convenient handle makes
transporting easy and secure. URL
HarborFreight.com

BECOME A BETTER SHOT BY PRACTICING
REAL SHOOTING SCENARIOS
BY DANA BENNER

› Right: Jake Bowen, the owner of
Manchester Firing Line, advocates
the concept of “aim small; miss
small,” which suggests that you’ll
become a better shot if you prac-
tice shooting at smaller targets.
H
ere is the scenario: For the
past two weeks you have
been out scouting for that
great deer or turkey location
and you finally found that
perfect spot. You decide that this is where you
will hunt. It is still dark when you make your
way into the location. At first light you can’t
believe your eyes; a nice four-pointer steps
out into the open, only 100 yards away. You
fumble a bit as you bring your rifle to your
shoulder; your breathing is labored. You waste
precious seconds as you mess around with the
safety. Your jerky movements alert the deer
and it takes a step. Your heart is pounding and
your breathing is still not under control. You rush the shot, shooting just under the deer and, just
like that, your opportunity is lost.
This has happened to all of us, but it doesn’t have to. Many factors could have played into this
scenario. Was it opening-day jitters? Was it buck fever? More than likely, it happened because
you were not one with your firearm.
I bet you hadn’t picked it up since the end of last season. Oh, maybe you went to the range
last week and put five rounds down range and called it good, but it wasn’t. Let me tell you
from experience that firing off a few rounds a week before the season starts is not enough. To
be successful, whether you are hunting large game or small, waterfowl or upland birds, takes
practice. Your firearm, whether it is a rifle or a shotgun, needs to be an extension of your arm.
The movement of bringing the firearm to your shoulder, getting your sight picture, clicking off
the safety and firing should be second nature before you head to the woods. It is called muscle
memory and that only happens with constant practice.
For me, hunting is not a sport; it is a way of life. With much of the food my family eats coming
‹ Since you don’t know when opportunities will arise in the field, it is good
from what I can harvest from the wild (hunt, fish, forage), I can’t afford to miss those opportu-
practice to shoot from different positions when you’re at the range. nities when they present themselves. Sure, I miss; we all do, but normally it is not from the lack
of training. I am very comfortable with my abilities and with my firearms. I know my limitations
and the limitations of the firearm that I am using, because I practice.
I shoot all year around. During the winter I use an indoor range, but in the summer you will
find me shooting at outdoor rifle ranges or on the sporting clays course. I go through a bunch of
ammo, but that is fine with me. In the big scheme of things, the ammo is the least expensive
thing about the hunt. When you take into consideration the costs of your licenses and special
permits, the gas used to get to and from your location, food, lodging and other overhead, ammo
should be the last cost you’re concerned about. Better to spend a few dollars now than to blow
the shot of a lifetime.
REALISTIC TRAINING IS CRUCIAL

When I go to the rifle range, I don’t just settle for shooting at paper targets from a bench rest.
That is fine for zeroing in your rifle, but it does not present a real-life hunting scenario. I like
to change things up. After zeroing, I will try different things. I’ll fire from standing, sitting and
kneeling positions and I will do this at different angles and at different distances. I will shoot
‹ Woodcock are hard to hit but by practicing, the author was able to make both with a scope and with open sights.
the shot when it counted. To simulate a stressful situation, like seeing that buck walk out of the woods in front of you, I

“YOUR HEART IS POUNDING AND YOUR BREATHING IS STILL NOT UNDER
CONTROL. YOU RUSH THE SHOT, SHOOTING JUST UNDER THE DEER AND, JUST
LIKE THAT, YOUR OPPORTUNITY IS LOST.”
‹ The author takes his turn at practicing using open sights from the standing position.

SAFETY
Shooting, and shooting correctly, is fun but it needs to be done
safely. Too often people concentrate too much on the mechanics
and fail in the safety department. Safety, whether on the range or in
the woods, should always be your top priority. Wear hearing and eye
protection. When using firearms, you rely upon your hearing as much
as your sight so make sure to protect both.
Make sure of your target before you shoot. If you aren’t sure, don’t
take the shot. Don’t shoot at moving targets. Unless you are bird
hunting with a shotgun, there is no need to shoot at a moving
target. It is a very low percentage shot even for expert marksmen.
It is better to wait until the animal stops, which it will, to make the
good shot.
Whether you’re on the range or in the woods, know what is behind
the target you are shooting at. What will stop the bullet if you miss
or penetrate your target, whether you’re in the wild or at the firing
range? Bullets travel a great distance and once you squeeze the
‹ Above: The author is shown shooting at his local outdoor range with scoped rifle.
trigger, you can’t take them back.
Be courteous to other shooters. It is very rare that you have the
constantly hit that spot, then you will certainly make swift, clean kills in the woods.
shooting range all to yourself. Be aware of those other people. While
you can’t control other people, if you see something unsafe, say
BECOME ONE WITH YOUR GUN
something, in a courteous manner. If that doesn’t work, just leave
I can’t emphasize how important breathing is. Many people have the tendency of tensing up
the range and come back later.
and holding their breath prior to squeezing the trigger. This is the wrong thing to do. When you
hold your breath, it is almost impossible to hold your firearm steady. To see what I mean do this
simple task. Take your firearm (unloaded of course) and hold it as if you were going to shoot,
holding your breath while you do so. Watch the end of the barrel. It will start moving all over the
place. Even the slightest movement will equal a miss, or at the very least, a very poor shot if you
do manage to hit the target.
To find out more about how important proper breathing is, I spoke to Jacob Bowen, owner and
try to get my heart rate up. Then I can practice head shooting instructor at Manchester Firing Line in Manchester, New Hampshire. Jake is also
controlling my breathing. I do all of these a Marine Corps veteran and, like me, a great deal of his refined shooting skills comes from his
things over and over again until I can get it military training. When discussing proper breathing while shooting, Jake likened it to breathing
right. Jake Bowen likes to follow this rule: “Aim during weight training and yoga. Proper breathing relaxes your body, and when you are relaxed
small; miss small.” What this means is to learn you have better muscle control and thus, you’ll shoot better.
to hit small targets. Instead of shooting at a You need to practice controlling your breathing which, according to Bowen, is very hard to do.
life-size target, go a size or two smaller. If you Breathe normally as you bring the rifle or shotgun to your shoulder and locate your target. Take
do use a life-size target, try placing a bright a breath and release it. At the end of the exhale, gently squeeze the trigger. If you follow these
sticky note on it and shoot for that. If you can instructions, and everything else is correct, your shot will be dead on 9 times out of 10.
‹ Near right: Eye

and ear protection
is very important
whenever you set
foot on a range.
Without these
senses, you cannot
be much of a hunter.
‹ Far right: In
the interest of
practicing like
you’ll hunt,
shooting from the
kneeling position
simulates an
actual hunting
shooting scenario.

“TO BE SUCCESSFUL, WHETHER YOU ARE HUNTING LARGE GAME
OR SMALL, WATERFOWL OR UPLAND BIRDS, TAKES PRACTICE. YOUR
FIREARM, WHETHER IT IS A RIFLE OR A SHOTGUN, NEEDS TO BE AN
EXTENSION OF YOUR ARM.”
DRESS FOR SUCCESS CONSISTENCY IS KEY ‹ Above: When

To replicate a real hunting situation, I practice Another thing that I do is use the same ammo I hunt with on the range, and that goes for my ri- you’re shooting a
shotgun with open
while wearing the same clothes I would be fles and my shotguns. Many times I see people on the rifle range and on the sporting clays course sights from the
wearing on a hunt. It is one thing to be able to using the cheapest ammo that they can, or they use target rounds. That doesn’t cut it with me. I standing position,
a spotter is good to
do everything right while wearing just a T-shirt, am trying to duplicate a hunting scenario as much as possible. I want everything to be as it would have. Your range
but how about with a jacket or coat on? By the be on the hunt. If I wouldn’t use the ammo on the hunt, I am certainly not going to practice with partners can make
you a better shot
time the fall hunting season arrives, because it. A good example is preparing for a waterfowl hunt. I will use non-toxic shot on the clays in and improve safety
I have been practicing all summer, I am able preparation for that hunt. More expensive, yes, but lead shot shoots differently than non-toxic while you’re at the
range.
to do all the steps in one fluid motion, almost and non-toxic is what I am using on that hunt.
without thinking about it. For me, practicing with my firearms is like the person going to the gym. At the gym you develop
Some areas where I hunt are regulated as a routine of working out; one day you work one set of muscles and the next day you work another
shotgun only. In preparation for those times I set. I do the same with shooting. One day I will spend the time on the rifle range and the next I
put the rifled barrel on my shotgun and then go will head for the clays course with my shotgun.
through all of the steps I do for my rifles. I am While large game will fill my freezer quicker, I have to admit that small game and birds, both
committing all of the movements to muscle upland and waterfowl, often are the majority of the meat that sustains my family. For that
memory, which enables me to replicate this reason I have to make every shot count and, as with my rifles, to get this done takes constant
with every firearm I use, whether it is my .22 for practice. As soon as I can, I head to the clays range, where I will practice hitting birds in flight.
small game or my .30-30 and shotgun for deer. Crossing right, crossing left, flying overhead or away, you just never know what birds will do so

‹ Left: The author
puts in as much time
as possible on his
local outdoor range
throughout the year.
This is done to create as
realistic a scenario as
possible.
“I SHOOT ALL YEAR AROUND. DURING THE WINTER I USE AN

INDOOR RANGE, BUT IN THE SUMMER YOU WILL FIND ME
SHOOTING AT OUTDOOR RIFLE RANGES OR ON THE SPORTING
CLAYS COURSE.”
you need to be prepared. With bird hunting, me to bring home game every time I go out, and so do I. Honestly, it doesn’t happen that way.
the shots may present themselves for only a There will be days when the game isn’t there, shots don’t present themselves or you just plain
split-second, so you need to train your eyes to miss. The goal is to make those days few and far between. To do that means expending many
pick up the target quickly while at the same boxes of ammo and putting the time in at the range so you are ready when the opportunity
time you are moving the gun for the shot. It does present itself. Yes, I know, summer is fishing season, and believe me I will be doing my
takes the level of hand-eye coordination that share of that as well, but if you plan on having a successful hunting season, then you need to
only constant practice will produce. put the time and work in at the range.
Becoming one with your firearm, whether One final note: Many of the points above can also help make you more effective when it comes
the rifle or the shotgun, will take time. Even to personal security and home defense. The bottom line is to practice under the most realistic
though I shoot on a regular basis, I never take conditions possible as often as you can to ensure you’ll make the most of your shot, whether it’s
anything for granted. My family depends on for food for your table or to ensure your family’s safety.
› The author’s
shooting partner,
Mark, practices using
open sights on his rifle

TIPS FOR BUILDING YOUR OWN
SHOOTING RANGE
BY BRIAN M. MORRIS

W
hen it comes to personal protection and self-defense, the only thing
more dangerous than choosing not to carry a firearm is to carry a firearm
without being properly trained and prepared to use that weapon to kill
another human being.
There is a common misunderstanding out there that simply having a gun
somehow makes a person less vulnerable to becoming a victim. The fact is, a firearm is simply a
tool, therefore its effectiveness is completely relative to the proficiency and skill of its operator.
Having your own home shooting range will provide you with an easily accessible place to practice
and hone your skills, but only your dedication to learning and practicing these lethal skills are
going to make you a better gunfighter. Unfortunately, there is still no secret pill or magic tech-
nique that will make you an instant badass. The only path to becoming proficient at shooting,
just like anything else, requires that you first learn proper form and then follow it up with the due
diligence of repetition.
LEGAL COMPLIANCE
The prerequisite zoning laws and licensing requirements for building a shooting range on your
property can vary greatly. Prior to beginning range construction, or even discharging a firearm for
that matter, you should consult with your local zoning authority and sheriff’s office to verify that
having a range on your property is not going to break any local, state or federal laws.
Many jurisdictions have laws requiring you to either have a natural or artificial backstop or to
have written permission from the landowners adjacent to your intended location for your rounds
“ALTHOUGH THE SPECIFIC DIMENSIONS

ARE ULTIMATELY UP TO YOU, I PREFER A
RANGE THAT HAS ROOM TO GROW WITH
ME OR WITH OTHERS WHO I THINK MAY BE
USING MY RANGE IN THE FUTURE.”
‹ Realistic and inexpensive training aids you can add to your range setup are mock walls that can be
moved around to help create a more tactically challenging and realistic scenario for you to train on.

› Left: Having your
own range is a way
to give yourself a
location to work
on improving or
maintaining your
own perishable
shooting skills. It
also can give you
a chance to pass
those skills on to
the next generation
so that they too
will possess the
ability to protect
themselves and the
ones they love.
to impact on their property. This can be › Below: I try to

get no closer than “WHILE A NATURAL OR ARTIFICIAL
particularly important when you are planning
to construct a known-distance (KD) range
15 meters when
shooting steel. Any BACKSTOP SUCH AS A STEEP HILL OR
designed for firing high-powered hunting or
closer, and you
can start feeling LARGE BERM ARE IDEAL AREAS TO SET UP A
sporting rifles with ranges out to the max- the splash of
projectile fragments RANGE, THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS PRACTICAL,
imum effective range of whichever type of
munition you plan to shoot. If the maximum
from the target
Photo courtesy of DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF TERRAIN
GunWarrior.com
AVAILABLE TO YOU.”
range of that munition could possibly put the round on a neighbor’s property, their consent to
your planned range is critical.
Often, there are also noise ordinances that may prevent you from discharging a firearm or
limiting the caliber projectile or the type of weapons you are able to discharge at your location.
All this information can normally be found with a simple internet search or when you contact the
appropriate local authorities.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

Every case and location is different but, as a general rule, if you are planning to construct an
outdoor shooting range, then you will usually need to have the amount of property and a level of
seclusion to avoid infringing on nearby neighbors. Another factor in site selection is choosing an
area that provides an obstacle-free line of sight from the point of discharge to the point of im-
pact, and possibly beyond. In most home range scenarios, this is accomplished by using a back-
stop that is a physical barrier capable of stopping any projectile you plan to fire on your range.
While a natural or artificial backstop such as a steep hill or large berm are ideal areas to set up
a range, they are not always practical, depending on the type of terrain available to you. You can
also build targets that have a bullet catch or an absorption layer integrated into them. I don’t
advise using this type of backstop unless you are in a location where a round that missed the
target would have a clear path to the ground up to or beyond its maximum range. I prefer a range
site with the terrain needed for a multipurpose range because it will give you the flexibility to do
all of your flat range work at the 0-25 meter range and push out to greater distances in order to
practice longer range shots.
DETERMINE THE LAYOUT

The way you lay out your range is totally up you. That said, make sure all of the potential angles

› Near right: Take
caution when
shooting at steel
targets at close range
because you can
severely shorten the
life of your target,
depending on the
type and thickness
of steel and the
caliber round you are
shooting at it. Follow
the manufacturer’s
recommended safe
engagement distance
to maintain the
integrity of the steel
and to limit pitting.
Photo courtesy of
TacticalTexan.com
› Above: The size

of your range, that a target can be engaged from are either
complexity of covered by a backstop or that the entire dis-
your targets and
arrangement of tance your rounds can travel is clear of anyone
your training aids or anything that you don’t want shot. Again,
are completely
up to you. Just verify that the land the projectile will traverse
make sure that the is either your own or is covered by a land usage
area behind your
backstop is clear agreement mentioned earlier.
of people, pets or A good way to set up your range is to first
anything else that
you don’t want channelize the area and establish your left
to get shot. Photo and right firing boundaries. You should then
by Christopher
Goldblatt start using visual markers to identify where
those areas are, not only for you but for
anyone you will allow to use your range. If you
are building on heavily wooded terrain, use a
highly visible spray paint, such as fluorescent
yellow, on trees to mark the left and right
limits of the range. Alternatively, you can put
painted stakes or poles in the ground if trees
are not available.
‹ Above left: Once After you establish the left and right limits,
you are comfort-
able shooting with depending on the terrain, you will need to
your arms already determine the location for the backstops re-
extended, practice
shooting from quired for all shooting distances. Although the
the holstered and specific dimensions are ultimately up to you,
secured position. A
single lesson from I prefer a range that has room to grow with
a good coach with me or with others who I think may be using
instructor creden-
tials can be worth my range in the future. Ideally, you’ll have a
its weight in gold relatively flat area that is about 25 meters
for this exercise.
Photo by Annmarie long and wide enough to offer a clear line of
Morris sight view between all of the firing positions
and all targets that you set up.
MARKING YOUR RANGE

If you are constructing a multipurpose range,
a good way to start is by gridding the first 25
‹ Left: I love using
meters from the beginning of the range area
clay targets on my
range because they (the initial firing line) to the 25-meter point.
are cheap, easy to
After establishing where the initial 25-meter
see and give me
excellent instant corridor is going to be placed, mark the 25-me-
feedback that my
ter line with a brightly colored stake and then
point of aim is
exactly calibrated to use either natural or artificial materials such
my point of impact.
as railroad ties or fence poles laid along the
Photo by Annmarie
Morris back edge of the 25-meter line.

‹ Near left: For those
who can’t afford or
simply just do not
want to pay the steep
price of an indoor
range, you can build
a platform with a tin
roof to give you a
raised position that
can provide some
cover from rain,
snow or the hot rays
of the sun while you
comfortably engage
y g
your targets.
› Above: I do not
recommend that you “THE FACT IS, A FIREARM IS SIMPLY A TOOL, THEREFORE ITS
attempt to do some
of the more difficult EFFECTIVENESS IS COMPLETELY RELATIVE TO THE PROFICIENCY
and dangerous
training techniques AND SKILL OF ITS OPERATOR.”
unless you are a
trained military or Next, starting at this line, measure 25 meters toward the initial firing line and mark this 5-meter line with two more stakes. Continue in this
law enforcement
professional, or you back to the initial firing line (0 meters). I fashion to mark off the 7-, 10-, 12- and 15-meter lines. At this point the initial flat range is grid-
are working with a prefer to use stakes placed on each leading ded out. If you so desire, you can mark lanes to help prevent shooters from crossing in front of
skilled instructor.
One way to get this edge of the sides of the range to mark incre- each other if you ever get to a level of proficiency where you are practicing shooting-and-mov-
training is to join mental lines in reverse order starting from the ing techniques.
your local chapter
of the International 25-meter line.
Practical Shooting Starting again at the 25-meter line, measure TARGETS
Confederation (IPSC.
org), where you can 3 meters toward the initial firing line. Place It is smart to make targets that you can move at will from one location to another. I use 2-by-
learn shooting and 2 stakes marking the left and right edges of 4s to make simple and lightweight cross-shaped target bases. Then I attach a vertical target
moving skills in a
safe environment. the 3-meter line. Next, move 2 more meters post to the center with either a military e-type silhouette or a piece of cardboard screwed along
› An ideal location
to set up targets
could be with a
natural hill for
backstop as is
shown here.

‹ Left: In Afghanistan, we built ranges inside
our compounds to train our Afghan partner
forces, such as this Afghan commando on
a remote fire base in Afghanistan. We used
Hesco barriers to protect us from incoming
rockets and bullets. They also worked great
as backstops for our shooting range. You
can use them for the same purpose. Hesco
barriers can be found at Hesco.com
allows me the opportunity to tighten my shot

group, and it is considerably cheaper than buying
commercially made targets.
When I am doing kinetic work such as shooting
and moving, or when I want to test how much my
practice has paid off, I prefer the lifelike paper
targets that you can buy that give options for the
person on paper to be holding a gun, a badge or
even offer only a partial shot because they’re be-
hind a hostage. When it comes to targets, the sky
is the limit with tin cans, balloons, steel targets
and even fireworks or fruit being options.
the edge of the top portion of the 2-by-4 and then I staple paper targets to the cardboard. Additionally, I like to set aside a lane for
Paper targets can be found everywhere guns are sold and in many styles. I prefer a simple bull’s- obstacles and for taking shots from covered
eye or grid-style target to get my weapon dialed in and for longer-range shots if I am not using and/or concealed positions such as a window
feedback targets such as steel plates to let me know my shot was on target. or the corner of a hallway or building. These
For close-in standup work firing from the 3-, 5-, 7-, 9-, 12- or 15-meter lines, I prefer to use shots require you to practice specific techniques
3-, 6- and 9-inch round black dots. I use a template I made to spray paint the dots onto white that would be hard to recreate without building
butcher block paper sheets and then staple them onto my targets. I find that using this method physical training aids.
› Some of the best

and most exciting
home range shooting
I have done with my
family has included
shotgun targets. From
old frying pans to
watermelons and
pumpkins, targets for a
shotgun not only add
fun and excitement to
your range, but they
are also a great way
to demonstrate the
devastating stopping
power that these
weapons can provide
you at close to medium
range. Photo by
Annmarie Morris.

“I PREFER A SIMPLE BULL’S-EYE OR GRID-STYLE TARGET TO GET
MY WEAPON DIALED IN AND FOR LONGER-RANGE SHOTS IF I AM
NOT USING FEEDBACK TARGETS SUCH AS STEEL PLATES TO LET
ME KNOW MY SHOT WAS ON TARGET.”
Another useful training aid to build is a small exhaustion, and it also helps to re-create a level of stress similar to what you may be under if you ‹ Another element
of challenge that
mock wall and door frame with a door at- ever need to use a firearm in a real-world emergency scenario. you can add to your
tached so that you can safely practice entering range is the use
of moving targets
a room from the doorway and engaging tar- RANGE COMFORT like this one. These
gets inside the “room.” It’s even more helpful If you want to be able to shoot comfortably on your range during inclement weather, then consider targets range in price
and complexity, but
if you practice from both the open in and open constructing a firing platform with a roof. This will keep you off the wet or snow-covered ground and you can find some
out sides of the door, as different movements prevent precipitation or intense sunshine from keeping you off the range. pretty good deals at
AtlasTargetWorks.
are required for each. Some other amenities you can add to your range are tables for loading that offer a backstop and com
Finally, whenever possible, consider either side rails to keep rounds from rolling off the table and a shooting table that is built from heavy and
constructing a small and yet physically stable materials and will offer a good place to zero a weapon when precision accuracy is essential.
demanding obstacle course that is behind the
initial firing line of the range and that challenges BE SAFE, TRAIN HARD AND HAVE FUN!
both your cardiovascular system and your Having your own range to shoot on can offer you the ability to train with your firearms and others
upper-body strength. This will allow you to add in your group when and how you want. You can construct it to be as inexpensive or as extravagant as
a new element to your firearm training regimen. you choose to make it. The only limitations are your imagination and your wallet.
It offers you the chance to identify and make A range like this is not only an outstanding training aid, but it can also be an extremely fun and en-
adjustments for the sometimes extreme change tertaining experience that the entire family can enjoy. Just keep in mind that as fun as it may be, you
in difficulty required to maintain accuracy should never forget that you are dealing with deadly weapons, so it is imperative that you always
when you add the element of physical stress or practice safety and use extreme caution.

KLYMIT
HAS YOU
COVERED
WARM AND COMPACT, VERSA AND VERSA LUXE
BLANKETS SERVE MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS
BY LARRY SCHWARTZ

T
here are many things we consider commonplace in our lives today that are actu-
ally outgrowths of government programs. Mylar sheeting used as a lightweight
way to reflect heat is a byproduct of the space program when NASA started on
its three-phased journey to the moon in the 1960s. The commercial equivalent
is something we all know about, the space blanket. Your ability to navigate with
your smartphone would not be possible if the U.S. military had not developed the Global Posi-
tioning System (GPS) in the 1970s.
Another military innovation that many of us know at least something about is the poncho liner.
Poncho liners, or woobies as they are affectionately called, were developed in the 1960s during
the war in Vietnam. They were a simple and cost-effective way, when combined with the issued
nylon poncho, to give our troops a way to stay warm and dry when they couldn’t use their issue
sleeping bag or tent.
‹ The poncho liner, shown here in woodland camouflage, was developed during the war in
Vietnam and remains an essential piece of kit for troops in the field.
‹ One of the earliest commercial products that came from government funding of the space
program was the space blanket, which was based on the reflective Mylar film used to help
regulate body heat in the suits astronauts wore.

›The orange and blue Versa Blanket can be
folded into its footbox pocket to make a con-
venient pillow that is perfect for camping or
taking a nap while traveling.
Klymit Versa Blanket

Specifications
• Size: 58x80 inches
• Weight: 23 ounces
• Hand pockets: Two
• Footbox
‹ Above: Versa Blankets come in their
• Corner snaps own stuff sack which has instructions and
• Cinch cord illustrations on how to use it. Since it isn’t
• Stuff sack attached to the blanket, you should stick it in
• Shell: 20D ripstop polyester shell (top and bottom) the foot box so you don’t lose it.
• Insulation: Klymalite synthetic insulation
MSRP: $79.95
‹ Near left: The corner snap, shown

here on the orange and blue
Versa Blanket, serves a number of
purposes, from attaching multiple
blankets together to forming a
sleeping bag and turning the
blanket into a cloak.
‹ Bottom left: If you want to wear the

blanket like a cloak, you can cinch down
the drawstring to form a hood after you
connect the snaps and put your head
through the opening.
› Top right: The Versa Luxe Blanket is the big
brother to the Versa Blanket. It has a stuff sack
to keep the blanket clean between uses and
provide information about how to use it.
› Right: The Versa Luxe

Camping Blanket can be
Klymit Versa Luxe
turned into a pillow when Camping Blanket
not being used as a blanket.
Just invert the footbox and Specifications
stuff the blanket into it. A
• Size: 58x80 inches
nice piece of design work
puts the fleece side out when • Weight: 48 ounces
it is in pillow mode. • Hand pockets: Four
• Footbox
• Corner snaps
“WHEN PACKED, THEY TAKE UP LESS • Cinch cord
SPACE THAN A SLEEPING BAG AND CAN BE • Stuff sack

• Shell: 20D ripstop polyester shell (top); high
JAMMED INTO ANY CORNER OR SIDE OF loft fleece (bottom)
• Insulation: Klymalite synthetic insulation
YOUR BUG-OUT BAG OR BACKPACK.” MSRP: $119.95
THE GREATEST MILITARY INVENTION SINCE THE M-1 GARAND

The U. S. government-issued poncho liner is made by quilting some polyester batting insulation
between two sheets of lightweight ripstop nylon with a final size of about 82 x 62 inches. A tape
ribbon is sewn around the edge to prevent fraying. Nylon ties in the corners and the middle of
each side complete the design. They allow it to be attached to the issue poncho or tied to trees
as a shelter. The whole package weighs just 22 ounces.
Originally issued as a lightweight blanket, it very quickly caught the attention and the affection
of the ever-innovative GI. It has many uses:
• Blanket by itself or with the poncho to keep the wind and rain off
• Lightweight sleeping bag
• Sleeping bag liner to increase its warmth
• Ground cloth or picnic blanket
• Field-expedient hammock
• Overquilt or underquilt in a hammock
• Makeshift stretcher
• Shelter against the sun or wind
• Pillow
When I was in the Army, I even took a poncho liner and a military rain jacket to the tailor on
base. They lined the rain jacket with the poncho liner and made what we called a Hawk jacket,
which kept me warm and dry when facing the wind and rain of the central German plains during
training exercises.
A NEW GENERATION ARISES

While some attempts were made to improve upon the woobie, they never seemed to catch
on in a commercial way. They were either too expensive or too heavy or didn’t hold up or didn’t
provide enough extra bang for the buck. Fortunately, technology is always advancing and newer › Since the Versa is a blanket and not a zippered sleeping bag, you
have more options when you put it in your bug-out bag or other
forms of synthetic insulation have brought about a new generation of technical blankets that I pack. You can stuff it into whatever space is available along the
refer to as super-woobies. They are much warmer, they come in non-tactical colors, many have side of the pack. Or, you can use the stuff sack that it comes with
and put it in the bottom of the pack to keep the heavy items higher
a durable water repellant (DWR) coating so they can be used without a rain poncho in light rain to improve the carrying comfort.

‹ Top left : Technical
blankets like the Ver-
sa Luxe are excellent
options for a top quilt
in a hammock or a
tent. It can also be
used as a sleeping
bag liner to increase
its thermal efficiency.
“THE TWO VERSA BLANKETS WE HAVE IN THE SCHWARTZ HOUSEHOLD

HAVE REPLACED MY OLD ISSUE PONCHO LINERS AS THE PREFERRED
COMFORTER WHEN WATCHING MOVIES IN THE LIVING ROOM OR TAKING A
NAP ON A COLD WINTER AFTERNOON.”
or dew, and they don’t weigh much more than used as a lightweight sleeping quilt which is more comfortable and effective than a sleeping
their Vietnam-era cousins. And they don’t cost bag when paired with a sleeping pad. When packed, they take up less space than a sleeping bag
an arm and a leg. and can be jammed into any corner or side of your bug-out bag or backpack. They can even be
As a result of these new improvements, used as a cloak to add warmth to existing gear.
› If you are a
these super-woobies are worth your consid-
hammock fan, either
eration for inclusion in your bug-out bag or Versa blanket would A VERSATILE OPTION FROM KLYMIT
work well as an
other prepper gear. They are warm enough to While researching this new generation of super-woobies, I came across two that really caught
underquilt, as shown
be used as a two- or three-season sleeping here, to provide my eye for their utility and non-tactical appeal. They are the Versa Blanket and the Versa Luxe
insulation under
bag and are not as restrictive or heavy as their Camping Blanket from the outdoor company Klymit. Unlike some of this new generation of
your hammock in
sleeping bag counterparts. They can also be cool or cold weather. woobie, the Versa blankets are designed with camping and backpacking in mind, with a blue
and orange colorway rather than earth tone colors or other tactical features.
They are also well-suited for use at home or in an RV. In fact, I am looking at the Versa Luxe
lying on the couch in our living room as I type this. It has become one of those items that is
integral to our home environment. Just like the remote for the television or the plants in the
window box.
The design for both versions integrates the good things about the original poncho liner and
adds some modern features to address some of the poncho liner’s weaknesses. At just a few
inches smaller than the poncho liner, it is still large enough to be used as a blanket on a bed or
as a cloak to keep you warm on a frosty morning while you enjoy your coffee and wait for the
warming rays of the sun to break the threshold of the horizon. The fabric is also water repellent
so it keeps wind and rain at bay, which the original poncho liner did not do very well.
The insulation is a proprietary synthetic material called Klymalite, which is layered between
two sheets of 20 D polyester on the blanket and a sheet of 20 D polyester and a sheet of high
loft fleece on the Luxe Camping blanket. Both shell materials are strong with a light and soft
touch and both models are 58 by 80 inches in size. For reference, that is just 2 inches narrower

“FORTUNATELY, TECHNOLOGY IS
ALWAYS ADVANCING AND NEWER
FORMS OF SYNTHETIC INSULATION HAVE
BROUGHT ABOUT A NEW GENERATION OF
CARE AND
TECHNICAL BLANKETS THAT I REFER TO MAINTENANCE
OF YOUR VERSA
AS SUPER-WOOBIES.”
BLANKET
than a queen-size mattress, so it is a big blanket.
There are black plastic snaps in each corner and a drawstring at the top. You can use the snaps
in a variety of ways. You can connect two blankets at the bottom by the footbox and use it like
a backpacking quilt, laid on top of your body and tucking the sides of the blanket under your
legs with your feet in the footbox. Or, you can go to the other end and connect the two up by The Versa Blanket and Versa Luxe Camping Blanket are really easy
the drawstring, and then pull the drawstring tight to cinch down that end to keep the heat from to care for. Wash them on a gentle cycle with your regular laundry
escaping. detergent, but no bleach. Then, tumble dry on low heat. You can
A second way to use the snaps is to connect two Versa blankets together, either next to each store them long term in their stuff sack, or any stuff sack, or in pillow
other to make it wide enough for two or three people, or on top of each other to double the mode as long as they are clean and dry.
insulation.
A third way is to wear it over your shoul-

ders like a cloak and connect just two of
the snaps in front of you. If you snug down
the drawstring it will stay on your shoulders
hands-free.
Another modern touch not found on the
poncho liner is the addition of two corner
hand pockets and a footbox on the Versa and
four corner pockets and the footbox on the
Luxe Camping blanket. These ideas were tak-
en from backpacking quilts which are gaining
popularity in the ultralight camping world.
You can put your hands in the corner pockets
to keep them warm while holding the blanket
around you.
The wide footbox pocket, which is centered
on the bottom edge of the blanket, will keep
your feet warm. It also prevents the blanket
from moving off your body if you change
position at night. In addition, it can be used
as a stuff sack for the blanket and will form a
warm and soft pillow.
SUMMARY
The two Versa blankets we have in the
Schwartz household have replaced my old
issue poncho liners as the preferred comforter
when watching movies in the living room or
taking a nap on a cold winter afternoon. My
wife quickly took to the Versa when I got it S O U R C E S
to try out; but she just as quickly gave it back Kylmit

to me when the Luxe version arrived. Both (888) 559-6481
Klymit.com
models are light in weight, warm in use, soft
to the touch, and are packed with features Survive Outdoors
Longer (SOL)
that the poncho liner didn’t have. All in all, (800) 324-3517
either one will be a great addition to your SurviveOutdoorsLonger.com
prepping gear.

PREPPER PLANT ADV
BY CHRISTOPHER NYERGES
Name: Acorns (Quercus sp.) TRADITIONAL PROCESSING: First, shell the acorns, then grind them while still
Acorns are the fruit of the oak tree. Oak trees are the Quercus species, and there are raw. I typically do this on a large flat-rock metate. Then, I put a cotton tea cloth inside a
about 600 species of oak trees world-wide. In the United States, we find about 90 large metal colander, put the acorn flour on the tea cloth, and pour cold water over the
different species of the oak tree. acorns. The water takes a while to trickle out, and it may require 2 or 3 or 10 pourings of
water before the acorn meal is no longer bitter and can be eaten.
Description I have had modern acorn products of chips, pound cake, and pasta. They are delicious.
Oak trees are very diverse, most being large trees, but some being bushes. There are I would say that products made with acorn flour have a subtle graham cracker flavor.
species that are evergreen and those that are deciduous, meaning they drop their There are at least three cookbooks entirely devoted to making acorn food products,
leaves as winter comes. They are all recognized by their fruit, which is a nut set into a such as puddings, bread, cakes, pancakes, pasta, cookies, and drinks.
scaly cap. The acorns are also diverse in shape, some being small and narrow, others NUTRITION: How good are acorns for you? Here are some details from a chart that
being squat and fat. Despite their diversity, the trees are universally recognized by their was published in "Temalpakh: Cahuilla Indian Knowledge and Usage of Plants," by
distinctive fruits, the acorns. Lowell John Bean and Katherine S. Saubel.
Areas Found VITAMINS

Nutrient Amount DV
MINERALS
Nutrient Amount DV
These are generally native to the Northern Hemisphere and are found throughout the
Folate 87.00 mcg 21.8% Calcium, Ca 41.0 mg 4%
world, where there is a long tradition of using the acorns for food. Nearly every state of
Folic acid 0.00 mcg 0% Copper, Cu 0.621 mg 31%
the U.S. has at least one type of oak tree, and most have several. Due to their diversity,
Niacin 1.827 mg 9% Iron, Fe 0.79 mg 0.79%
some species of the oak can be found in nearly all environments, from low to high
Pantothenic Acid 0.715 mg 7% Magnesium, Mg 62.0 mg 16%
elevations, and wet to dry surroundings.
Riboflavin 0.118 mg 7% Manganese, Mn 1.337 mg 67%
When to Harvest/Availability Thiamin

Vitamin A
0.112 mg
39.0 IU
7%
1%
Phosphorus, P
Potassium, K
79.0 mg
539.0 mg
8%
11%
Acorns begin to mature in autumn, and then fall from the trees. Sometimes you
Vitamin A, RAE 2.0 mcg 0.002% Sodium, Na 0.0 mg 0%
can harvest as early as September, but generally harvesting will occur from October
Vitamin B12 0.00 mcg 0% Zinc, Zn 0.51 mg 3%
through November. Once it rains or snows, the acorns will either start to mold or sprout.
Vitamin B6 0.528 mg 26%
Uses Vitamin C 0.0 mg 0%
FOOD: Acorns have been used for millennia for food, but because of the presence
of bitter tannic acid, they must first be leached in any of a variety of methods. After I OTHER USES: Oak is a hardwood, and the long straight branches make excellent
collect acorns in the fall, I typically dry them by placing them in one of my dehydrators, walking sticks and long bows. The acorns and oak bark have been boiled to create a
or laying them in the sun. Drying removes the moisture so the acorns will not get moldy. tannic acid-rich water, in which animal skins are soaked in order to tan, or soften, them.
Once they are dried, you could keep them for a few years before you process them. Oak is also a great fuel for hotter and longer-burning fires.
MODERN PROCESSING: The neatest and quickest way to process acorns is to
boil them, changing the water repeatedly until they are no longer bitter. After drying Advice For Growing
the acorns, I prefer to process them through a hand-crank meat grinder to produce a It’s not hard to grow an oak tree. Collect an acorn when it drops and plant it in a
coarse meal. Ground finer, which you can do in a coffee grinder or food processor, the one-gallon pot. Water it, and there’s a high chance that it will sprout. They grow
meal is perfect for any product calling for flour. I typically mix the acorn flour 50-50 somewhat slowly, and they are long-lived, and eventually you’ll want to transplant
with wheat or other flours. This is partly for flavor and partly because acorn flour your seedling directly into the ground. You can also just plant an acorn directly into the
doesn’t hold together as well as wheat flour, for example. ground in an area that you know you will want an oak tree “forever.” They can live many

enturies. Select an acorn from a variety whose traits you want to have — either for the quality of the
‹ Below: These acorns are shown
acorns, or the shade or other factors. in a traditional molcajete (mortar)
with a tejolete (pestle) ready to
Cautions begin processing.
You cannot eat the acorns raw, without leaching, because they are so bitter with tannic acid.
Recipes
TONGVA MEMORIES (PANCAKES)
Process your acorn flour, and mix with an equal measure of whole wheat flour. If you don’t use wheat,
se another flour such as amaranth or potato flour. Add an egg if desired. Add water and mix to create a
onsistency for pancake batter. Cook the pancakes on a buttered hot skillet and serve with butter or jam.
CHRISTOPHER’S ACORN BREAD

1 cup processed acorn flour
3/4 cup whole wheat flour (can substitute for a gluten-free flour, but you might need to experiment).
¼ cup carob flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt (optional)
• 3 Tbsp honey
• 1 egg
• 1 cup almond milk
• 3 Tbsp olive oil
• Blend this together and bake in 250 degree (F) oven until done. This can also be cooked in a solar oven.
LINDA’S ACORN PASTA

I learned this recipe from Linda Sheer, who grew up in rural Appalachia. Blend one-half processed acorn
flour with one-half whole wheat flour. Add water as needed, and run it through a pasta machine, creat-
ing noodles or whatever sort of pasta you prefer. When cooked, serve with butter or tomato sauce.
About ASG’s Plant Advisor

Christopher Nyerges has been teaching ethnobotany since 1974. He is the author of Guide to Wild Foods
and Useful Plants and other books on the uses of wild plants. Nyerges has contributed many articles
to American Survival Guide on a wide range of topics. He can be reached at WWW.SCHOOLOFSELF-
RELIANCE.COM.
› Far right: The last step of the process is to cook

the acorn pancakes on a stone griddle.
› Near right: A traditional metate (a

sort of mortar) can be used with the
large mano (replaces the pestle) to
grind larger batches of acorns, corn
and other grains.
› Bottom right: An acorn processing class

learns all the steps required to convert
acorns into flour.

THIS BARNYARD MULTITOOL
MAY ANSWER MANY OF YOUR
HOMESTEAD NEEDS
BY BRIAN M. MORRIS
© GETTY IMAGES

S O U R C E
American Goat Federation
AmericanGoatFederation.org/breeds-of-goats

› Near right: You can find a full spectrum of
medications and health aids for your goats at
your local feed store. Note that some of these
supplies are for the author’s chickens.
I
can remember some years ago seeing a
truck filled with what looked to be men
returning from a successful hunt with a
large buck tied down to the rack on the
roof. The pretty young lady that I had
been courting commenced to go on a long and
angry rant proclaiming among other things © GETTY IMAGES
that these bloodthirsty “murderers” had just

killed Bambi.
Now, I had grown up in the mostly rural (and
› Above right:
Goats need salt “MY REASONING FOR CHOOSING GOATS
rarely recognized) region of New York state
and other minerals
to supplement
OVER OTHER ANIMALS CONSIDERED SEV-
where many people harvested deer and other
their diet, but their
mouths are too small
ERAL ASPECTS THAT INCLUDED HARDINESS,
game animals as a way to supplement their to benefit from the SELF-RELIANCE AND THE ABILITY TO PRO-
income by hunting. This saved them a small
standard mineral
blocks available at VIDE ME WITH MULTIPLE BENEFITS.”
fortune in the price they would have been feed stores. We crush
the mineral rock first
forced to pay had they purchased meat from to provide it to the
that moment because I figured it would blow my chances of getting a second date. That was
the supermarket to provide food for their fam- goats in a powdered until she asked me if we could go get something to eat at McDonald's and she ordered a double
form.
ilies; so seeing a dead deer tied down to the cheeseburger without even batting an eye. Having grown up in “cow country,” I was well aware
roof of a truck was hardly something I found of the way in which cattle were killed and processed in the slaughterhouse before starting their
strange or bothersome. journey to supermarkets and fast food joints in various forms, including burger patties. However,
The truth was, I had some pretty strong even my teenage hormones weren’t powerful enough to override my burning desire to point out
contrary thoughts on the topic myself, but I her hypocrisy.
thought better of sharing them with her at The way I went about this was to give her a highly descriptive education on how a cow met its

demise so it could eventually be the cheese- exactly how much skill, patience and inner strength it takes to deliberately take the life of
burger she was about to devour. From the look another creature in order to provide food for table.
of disgust and horror on her face, I am sure It is because of this that I recommend that you remain as close to nature and the land as
even Stephen King himself would have been you can. Whether it is because you want to be prepared for an emergency scenario where the
impressed! supermarket shelves run empty, ensure the quality and safety of your food or to keep and pass
Needless to say, I ended up having an extra along basic self-reliance skills, growing your own food, especially livestock, is a valuable and
cheeseburger to take home for a midnight
snack and I lost any possible chance of ever
growing old with that particular young wom-
an. It was probably for the best anyway.
There was a time in this country when most
people were directly involved in securing and
processing their own food. It was not until
after the industrial revolution when people
began to concentrate in urban areas and we
discovered more efficient methods of growing,
preserving and transporting food that people
began to purchase food that was harvested
and processed for them. This removed the
personal connection between humans and
food source and replaced it with a sterile insti-
tutional view of the way we acquire food.
While I must say that I am frequently guilty
of enjoying many of these conveniences
myself, I also have a huge amount of respect
for how much time, energy and hard work goes
into growing fruits, vegetables and raising
livestock for harvest. And, as a hunter, I know
‹ Opposite page:
Goats love to climb.
You don't need to
spend thousands of
dollars re-creating
a mountainous
environment for
them to play on. All it
takes is repurposing
a few things you
have lying around on
the farm or that you
save from the scrap
heap and just make
sure there is nothing
sharp that could
harm them.
‹ Left: We like to
supplement our
goats’ food with fruit
and vegetable scraps
from our dinner
table, which adds to
their vitamin and
mineral intake, and
they really seem to
enjoy them.

satisfying endeavor. ‹ Left: It is
imperative that
While livestock choices are often influenced you always have
by your geographical location, there are fresh, clean water
available for your
several animals that can thrive in almost any goats and other
climate so long as you can provide them with livestock.
food, water and shelter. When I decided to
raise animals for food, I looked at a number
of other factors that made my choice easier.
GOING FOR GOATS

When I started homesteading, the animal
that I chose to concentrate my efforts on
was the goat. My reasoning for choosing
goats over other animals considered several
aspects including hardiness, self-reliance
and the ability to provide me with multiple
benefits.
There is an old saying in North Carolina that
› Right: Goats come in

a variety of types and
sizes. In fact, there are
more than 200 breeds
of goats globally, and
many have developed
into specialist roles,
including being used
for dairy, fiber, meat
and for brush control.
‹ Above: Contrary
if you don’t like the weather then just wait 15
to popular belief,
minutes and it will change! Taking that into goats prefer to
browse leaves, twigs
consideration, I knew I needed a hardy animal
and brush at head
that could thrive in a full spectrum of weather height or higher.
Rarely will they
conditions.
graze grass off the
The next thing I was looking for was an ground.
animal that could be somewhat self-reliant.
Since I often travel for my work, I could not
be enslaved by daily commitments to farm
animals. Goats are for the most part “fire and
forget” animals. That is not to say they don’t
require your supervision or overwatch, but
when provided with a dry, covered location to
sleep in and constant access to ample food
‹ Left: The main
and water, they require very little upkeep. reason goats are de-
Providing some scheduled maintenance such budded (have their
horns removed),
as trimming hooves or occasionally mending usually when they
fences would not be a problem for me. are very young, is
to prevent them
My objective was to choose an animal that from getting their
was able to meet the same “Rule of 3” criteria horns caught in
brush or fencing
that I apply to my outdoor and survival gear. where they can
What I mean by this is that I look for items die of exhaustion,
dehydration or
that are designed for or can be repurposed to predation.

“IN THE CASE OF GOATS, THEY CAN CLEAR ‹ Above left: When
building your goat
can weigh between 20 and 220 pounds at
BRUSH AND DENSE VEGETATION; THEY habitat, bear in mind
that they prefer to have
adulthood and male goats, bucks or billys,
can weigh between 27 and 275 pounds when
CAN PROVIDE MILK, WHICH CAN BE USED an elevated porch or
shelf that they can mature.
FOR EVERYTHING FROM CONSUMPTION TO access to lounge on
during the day.
MAKING SOAP; THEY ARE AN EXCELLENT RAISING GOATS
‹ Above right: Goats The goat is a hooved mammal belonging to
SOURCE OF MEAT; AND GOAT PELTS CAN BE that are born without
the cattle family just like sheep and cows. From
horns are called polled.
USED TO MAKE CLOTHING, EQUIPMENT AND This is a genetic trait homesteading and supplementing your food
carried by a dominant
SHELTER.” gene. Polled goats
supply to a pack animal that can haul your gear,
must have at least one a goat is one of the most versatile animals you
polled parent to be
do a minimum of three distinguishably different tasks. In the case of goats, they can clear brush born this way.
will find. Their tendency to be gentle, friendly,
and dense vegetation; they can provide milk, which can be used for everything from consump- curious and intelligent are among the positive
tion to making soap; they are an excellent source of meat; and goat pelts can be used to make traits of goats. It is no wonder that goats were
clothing, equipment and shelter. one of the first wild animals to be tamed and
herded by humans dating back over 9,000
Good For Your Health years.

There is a common stereotype that a goat will
Goat meat is 50% to 65% lower in fat than similarly prepared beef but has a similar protein
eat almost anything but, in fact, that is simply
content. The US Department of Agriculture also has reported that saturated fat in cooked goat
meat is 40% less than that of chicken, even with the skin removed. not the case. The truth is that goats are quite
3 oz. Cooked Fat Saturated Fat Protein Iron picky eaters, particularly when it comes to food
Calories
(roasted) (grams) (grams) (milligrams) (grams) that looks and/or smells bad, and they have
Goat 122 2.58 0.79 23 3.3 been known to choose starvation rather than
Beef 245 16 6.8 23 2.9 consume food that does not appeal to them.
Pork 310 24 8.7 21 2.7 As ruminants, meaning cud-chewing animals,
Lamb 235 16 7.3 22 1.4 goats prefer cracked corn, hay, grass and oats.
Chicken 120 3.5 1.1 21 1.5 I provide about an acre for every three goats
I have. My land is covered in hardwood trees,
Source: USDA Handbook #8, 1989, Nuritive value foods, Home and Garden Bulletin #72, USDA, Washing-
ton, DC, US Governmen. Printing Office 1981 saplings and a wide variety of greenery and a
natural fresh water source so these animals
could do well even without my help. I choose
BREEDS, SIZE AND LIFESPAN to supplement their diet with alfalfa pellets,
Goats, much like dogs, have a broad subspecies and vary significantly from breed to breed. There access to a crushed mineral block and addi-
are over 200 breeds of goats living around the world today. The average lifespan of a goat is tional fresh water that I add electrolytes to
between 10 and 12 years and they can live over 15 years. The female goat, known as a doe or nanny, during the hotter months of the year.

UNIVERSAL
FEEDER
How to build a universal autofeeder
What you will need:
• (1) 5-gallon food-grade plastic bucket with
lid and wire carry handle ‹ These are the materials required to build your ‹ You can use manual tools in place of the rotary
own goat autofeeder. cutting tool and power drill shown here, but they
• (1) Stiff tin pan with 2- to 3-inch lip (Pan make this project go much quicker.
should be at least 3 inches larger in diameter
than the base of the bucket)
• (2 each) 1 x 2 x 12-inch wooden skids
• (4) 1.5-inch sheet metal screws
• Durable cordage (length determined by
installation location)
• Marker
• Tool to cut the plastic bucket
• Hand and eye protection ‹ The author used a black indelible marker to mark the cut lines for the three feed holes. Each hole
should be approximately 8 inches wide and 2 inches high, and holes should be about 4 inches apart.
DIRECTIONS
1. With a marker, mark the cut lines for the
three feed holes on the outside of the base of
the bucket. Each hole should be about 8 inch-
es wide and 2 inches high, and holes should
be about 4 inches apart. (These holes should
be no taller than the sides of the tin pan.) The
bottom of each hole should be flush with the
inside surface of the base of the bucket. ‹ Regardless of the cutting tool you use, be sure ‹ The base of the bucket is shown centered in
to polish any shards or sharp edges on the cut the tin pan. Note that the feed holes are lower
2. Using the cutting tool, carefully cut out the edges. than the sides of the pan to prevent the feed from
feed holes on the base wall of the bucket, running over the edge of the pan.
making sure you leave no sharp shards or

edges exposed on the cuts.
3. Put the wooden skids on a flat level surface,
parallel to each other about 6 inches apart
and with the 1-inch side facing down. Center
the pan, right side up, on top of the skids.
4. Center the bottom of the bucket in the pan.
5. Starting from the inside of the bucket,
‹ The skids are intended to support the weight ‹ Screw the components together starting from
screw the four sheet metal screws through of the pan with food in it, so be sure they are inside the bucket. If you like, you can add flat
the plastic bucket base and the pan, into the parallel and separated by about 6 inches. washers to the screws to ensure the screw heads
don’t work their way through the plastic bucket
wooden skids, firmly securing the bucket and over time.
pan to the wooden skids. Ensure that the
screws do not protrude through the bottom of
the wooden slats.
6. Fill the bucket with food pellets and place
the bucket lid securely on top.
7. Tie the cordage to the handle and hang the
bucket in a dry area with the tin pan about
goat chest height. Hang it away from walls
and other obstructions that will prevent ‹ Place the lid securely on top of the bucket ‹ Hang the autofeeder at chest height of your goats
360-degree access by the goats. to ensure the food inside stays dry and free of to give them a comfortable eating position.
impurities.

“WHEN I STARTED HOMESTEADING,
THE ANIMAL THAT I CHOSE TO
Compact CNC Mills
CONCENTRATE MY EFFORTS ON Ready to Work
WAS THE GOAT. MY REASONING
FOR CHOOSING GOATS OVER
When Called to Action
OTHER ANIMALS CONSIDERED
Make the gear you need,
SEVERAL ASPECTS INCLUDING should disaster strike.
HARDINESS, SELF-RELIANCE AND
THE ABILITY TO PROVIDE ME WITH The 770M cuts plastic,
wood, aluminum, steel,
MULTIPLE BENEFITS.” and titanium. Everything.
DOES, BUCKS AND WETHERS We’ve got you covered.
Having both male and female goats will give you the opportunity to breed your
own animals, but you will need to have separate fenced-off areas for the bucks
× Small footprint
and the does, or the bucks will torment and violate the does constantly. Another
thing to consider is that bucks tend to put off a musky odor that is not pleasant. × Single-phase power,
If you choose to get your bucks wethered (castrated), their smell will go away runs on common
almost completely and they’ll be far less aggressive. It is perfectly safe to keep 120Vac electrical
wethers and does together in the same pens and pastures.
× A metal-cutting warrior
Note that wethered goats have special dietary needs as they run the risk of
urinary calculi. This is due to an excess of phosphorus in relation to the amount of × Starting at $7995
Tormach 770M with user-installed
calcium in their diet. With this disease, crystals or stones form in the urinary tract 770M+ Servo Upgrade Kit
and prevent the goat from being able to urinate. This condition is very painful and,
if not treated immediately, the goat could soon die from a bladder or urinary tract
infection. It is imperative that you do not force or encourage your goat to drink Are You Ready?
large amounts of water when suffering from urinary calculi, as this will only make www.tormach.com
the condition worse and it could easily cause a rupture and lead to death.
POLLED GOATS
A goat that is born without horns is called polled. The reason some goats
have horns, and some are born without them is due to genetics. Some breeders
AD INDEX
like to disbud or dehorn goats on purpose. The reason for this is that a goat’s
OCTOBER 2019
horns can easily get locked up in thick brush or fencing, causing the animal to
get stuck making it vulnerable to dehydration, starvation or predators looking ADVERTISER PAGE
for an easy meal.
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ATABASE .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 37
HEALTH AND MAINTENANCE
BATTLBOX, LLC .....................................................................................................................................................................................7
Goats, like all domesticated animals and livestock, require immunizations. They
are also susceptible to several conditions that usually can be easily treated, such BLACK HILLS AMMUNITION ........................................................................................................................................................... 57
as hoof rot and pink eye. As for maintaining these animals, the biggest thing really BRADFORD USA KNIVES ................................................................................................................................................................. 73
is to simply keep their hooves trimmed. This is a simple procedure that can be BRAVO COMPANY............................................................................................................................................................................ 2-3
performed using a tool specially designed for the practice. You can get goat hoof CHIAPPA FIREARMS ......................................................................................................................................................................... 57
trimmers at your local feed store. CONDOR OUTDOOR........................................................................................................................................................................100
Feed stores are also an excellent resource for getting information about how to
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raise your goats as well as to be connected to other farmers in your area. In most
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cases, veterinarians that care for domesticated pets do not treat goats so you will
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need to find a vet who specializes in livestock. The local feed store or the internet
are good places to find a vet as well. HOLOSUN..............................................................................................................................................................................................81
Goats may be more than what you are interested in but they are a good solution READY MADE RESOURCES .............................................................................................................................................................45
for me. If you are looking for an animal that is intelligent and friendly and can SKB CASES ...........................................................................................................................................................................................21
provide your family with numerous benefits, then you really should consider raising TOPS KNIVES ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 99
goats. With all the resources that can be generated from this animal, it would be TORMACH, LLC ...................................................................................................................................................................................97
hard to find another animal that will be able to give you so much for so little an
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investment.
The Advertiser Index is provided as a service to American Survival Guide readers.

American Survival Guide is not responsible for omissions or typographical errors on names or page numbers.
© GETTY IMAGES
O
ld Man Winter is about to be on us again, and it’s that time of the Stay tuned to weather stations to get as much information as you can on any
year where everyone is scrambling to finish up their warm-weather winter storm advisories, watches, or warnings and have a plan to be someplace
projects and getting the house and property winterized and ready to safe before serious storms hit. Keep driving to an absolute minimum when a winter
take on whatever nature will throw at us. storm is taking place. Remember, if it is not a true emergency, you are not only
As we get down to the nitty gritty, here are some reminders so risking your life but you are also risking the lives of the first responders who will
you’re sure to be prepared. need to come and save you.
Don’t be the last one to the big box store only to find an empty shelf where the Make sure your snow removal tools are ready to go for the season. Whether you
bags of rock salt used to be. Check the tires on your vehicles and those of your fam- depend on shovels and ice scrapers, a snow blower or a lawn tractor with a plow,
ily members to ensure they have proper pressure and enough tread for the coming check their readiness before the first flakes fly.
snow. You can also check and replace the engine coolant and windshield washer If you have a pet that normally spends most of its time outdoors, you need to
fluid with products specifically designed for cold weather. either bring it into your home or ensure it has a safe place to wait out storms with
Every vehicle in your care should have an emergency kit containing extra clothing fresh food and water and a place for bio breaks.
and a blanket for warmth, signal flares and a signal panel, flashlight, food, water, Make sure you have plenty of warm clothes, hats, gloves and footwear for every-
firestarting tools and a well-packed first aid kit. It is also a good time to check the one in your household. If your furnace is fueled by liquid propane gas or oil then it
spare tire and to make sure each vehicle has a working jack kit. is a good time to ensure your tank is full and you’re on an automatic replenishment
For your home, if you’re on well water, don’t forget to protect the pump, storage plan with your supplier.
tank and exposed pipes with insulation, blankets or a heat lamp designed for that Another concern in the winter months is theft. Criminals look for homes that have
purpose. Keep plenty of potable water stored in your home as well in case the pow- untouched walks and driveways and no footprints after a snowstorm to let them
er goes out or your water pipes freeze, both of which can last for days or longer. know that chances are no one is home. If you are a snowbird who leaves for warmer
Fire is the number one cause of accidental death in the winter. Make sure your weather in the winter months or if you plan to be away from your home for any
home’s fireplace has been properly serviced and your chimney cleaned to prevent length of time, ask your neighbor or hire a responsible youth or plowing service to
injury or worse from fire hazards and smoke or combustion gases entering your clear your walks and driveway.
living space. If you use space heaters exercise extreme caution by ensuring that they Remember that while winter can be a beautiful time of the year, it can also be
cannot come in contact with anything flammable, such as curtains. Ensure that deadly if you ignore its dangers. Know the signs of frostbite and hypothermia as
your children understand the danger of touching them or knocking them over and well as ways to treat cold-weather injuries and keep a healthy respect for Mother
prevent pets from getting too close to these appliances. Nature at all times. And don’t wait until it snows to get your rock salt!

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› Near right: The

body grows so weak that it fails to sense ‹ Above: Plan your

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SYMPTOMS OF DEHYDRATION THE PRACTICAL EFFECTS OF SLEEP DEPRIVATION

dehydration is a major concern in hot climates,

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› Above: It can be sleep. Such episodes can exhibit very sudden

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Family First Aid Kit 4 DVD

*ALL OUR KITS ARE

Doom and Bloom Medical and Alton First Aid are

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FOX RIVER EXT-1

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› Near right: Prying

OUT OF THE BOX paw perfectly.

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‹ Left: With my hand size, the Bark River Pro

the blade so as to use as much of the edge as › Right: The canvas

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‹ Left: Push cuts

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OUT OF THE BOX feeling lost in the grip.

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‹ Bark River offers

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NOT ALL CRAFT ARE THE SAME

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WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?

‹ The Oru Beach

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‹ Far left: It’s easier

‹ Near left: The

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Their drawback is that they are not designed SIT-ON-TOP

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DIVERSITY AND FUNCTIONALITY

‹ Far left: The gear included