What's the best way to learn survival skills?

Question

Are there clubs that I can join?Is it best to just head for the hills by myself or what?What sort of clothes are best?What sort of tent?Is a sleeping bag necessary?Give me all the info youcan...I'm counting on you!

Answer 1

Read Lofty Wisemans 'The SAS Survival Handbook' You can learn a lot of stuff from it.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I think a useful book to get would be the SAS Survival Guide - written by John "lofty" Wiseman. Also watch survival programs - Ray Mears Bushcraft (very useful), SAS Are you tough enough (not really survival but you do get some good tips). If you are thinking of clothes/tents.... It depends on where you are going and how long you are going for. Probably most places you should have some warm clothes (trousers, jumper) and also light weight clothes incase you are walking long distances. A tent is optional coz u could make your own shelters but i would take a sleeping bag - at first anyway. Also buy some survival things - i got some stuff from ebay (flint, some firelighting stuff) but u can buy whole survival kits on some websites that come with waterproof matches, flint, saws etc. myabe from iwoot.com but not 100% sure. Hope this helps

Answer 4

Bound's hubby here:

First, find two to three like-minded people that you can sit down and talk with. Have each person show up with 2 or 3 "disaster scenarios", each with their own list of "you have these items". Sit down, have something to eat or drink, and brainstorm the priorities of the items on the "Have" lists, then discuss how you would use the items. But do not collaborate on your answers, each person will have their own ideas, and resolving the differences can actually be educational. Plan on a session like this once a month, so in the interim, you can develop a "more desparate" survival scenario.

Second, between meetings, read up on various topics, such as pioneering, orienteering, woodlore, woodcraft, camping, survival, edible plants, etc. Some of your reading material can easily be found, try the Merit Badge books at your local library or Boy Scout Center. You can also obtain one of the Army Field Manuals on Survival ... I forget what the FM-# is, sorry. An invaluable book for reference is the "Field Book" put out by the Boy Scouts.

The more you sit down and discuss scenarios like this among like-minded friends, the more you will learn about yourself, your friends, and how you would address a crisis situation. Remember, you can never, ever, be prepared for an exact situation, but you can train yourself how to think in a crisis!

Good luck!

Answer 5

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Answer 6

I can't answer all of your questions, but I have experience winter camping and know a little bit about what kind of clothing works. The right clothing is pretty important. I would avoid wearing cotton in the woods. Cotton loses almost all of its insulation value when it gets wet. So don't wear blue jeans or a cotton sweatshirt. What you want is to use the layering system; a base layer; insulation layer; and an outer shell. The base layer's job is to wick moisture away from your skin. Polypropylene does a really good job at this. The second layer traps air and insulates you. Wool is my choice for this as it will even insulate when wet. The third layer's job is to keep the rain and wind out. So you want like a waterproof windbreaker for the last layer. Personally I use a nylon duck hunting parka and rain paints for this.

Don't forget a warm hat, good gloves, wool socks, and boots as well.

Answer 7

You can read books on the subject, but the best way is to apply what you have learned in nature. There are programs you can sign up for. I learned a lot going to Winter camp when I was in grade school. We learned to identify edible organisms, potentially harmful creatures etc. Learning to suvive in the Winter is the best, you get through that you can survive almost anywhere. Just a pure interest in nature will aid you in your experience. Being one with nature may sound corny to some, but it is a very powerful thing.

Learn from a class first, if you head out on your own you may soon find that your life may be the price of your lesson.
Good luck!

Answer 8

You can get an SAS survival book in the Collins Gem range. It tells you how to light fires and everything.

I'd also recommend that you pay a visit to your local outdoor clothing shop, for example Millets or Tiso, the staff in these outlets are usually very helpful and knowledgeable. Even if you don't buy anything from there you will get a good idea of what's available and what you might need for your journey into the wilderness!! Good Luck :)

Answer 9

Depends upon what skills you want. If you want survival at sea then you can go on a course that tells you everything you need to know. I believe there are places that do courses about survival in the country side to, but if your really keen on it try joining the TA and become a part time soldier and get paid as you learn!

Answer 10

man you are gonna learn survival skills, and fast?!!? and you wanna bring stuff with you on your little trip? why dont you just go to france and bring like 2grand with you?

listen my friend, if you wanna be the best, go to a desert. if you just wanna know basic stuff, dont count on us, count on yourself. cuz when you are survivaling, there is no"us" to count on.

what sort of clothes? tent? sleeping bag? are you going camping or did i read the question wrong? SURVIVAL, i think it means living with the least supplies that you can get! dont bring anything with you, not even water. well, maybe a little cutting kinfe, just to let you self survial for the first couple of days, cuz i really dun want you to die.

check all the basic skills before you set off, like how to get drinkable water by digging a how and using the sun, stuff like that, you know. and also what are the common posion fruits.

afterall, you are learning how to survive, not hving a live or die adventure..

good luck

Answer 11

Go out in the middle of nowhere and try to survive for a year on your own. IF you can do that, you're ready, if you can't, well it won't matter any more.

First thing you will need to know is what you can eat. How to make sure your water is safe to drink. How to generate fire. How to get your food.

All of this will depend on what kind of survival you are talking about. Do you mean something bare bones like castaway? Or more of a planned thing where you can take your pack with you?

My pack that I use when I go on my survival outings contains probably more items than most people carry, but I am a big guy and can handle it. Most might not consider this survival as I am very prepared. But if you ain't prepared, then you won't survive.

I always carry my handgun with me. I also have a 22 rifle that breaks down, with plenty of rounds of ammo. This is great for small game hunting. Of course I carry several knives. A small spear point. A little bigger than a frog spear head. I can use my hatchet and knife to make the pole for the spear later. A 5 foot fishing rod and reel with extra line, hooks, sinkers, and a few of my favorite lures (rooster tail, beetle spin, Mepps minno, Wally Diver, Rapala SSR, jig heads, and crawler harnesses). I also have a military shovel. I carry three rolls of twine (lilke that used for trot line). It is handy for everything like making traps, to securing shelter.

The best location for your camp would be near a water source. Make sure it is above the flood line. This will aid you in gathering food as it contains fish, crawfish, snails, clams, turtles, etc. It also will draw in animals. If it is a flowing stream, you have a water source too.

Next, you will need a shelter. In ground is the best as it will hold the heat out in summer and in during the winter. Don't make it bigger than you need. Becareful of cave ins. Having your fire pit right out front will help heat it. You will want a rock wall, if possible around the fire as it will reflect the heat back into your shelter. Always keep some dry tinder stored. Hard to start a fire with everything wet.

Once the temps stay below freezing, you can shoot a bigger animal, like a deer, and the weather will keep it for you. Make sure to hang it high enough other predators don't help themselves.

You may also want to look at other ways to preserve your food. You don't want to have to go after food every day. You will need extra time to get fuel ready for winter. I use my twine to make limb lines for fishing. I carry a cast net for catching bait. I also build a holding area just off the river to keep extra bait and my catches alive until ready to use. A tin can on a limb makes for a good crawfish catcher. They make good bait and the tails are good steamed.

Get yourself a good plant book on what is edible (including mushrooms) and learn how to preserve your animal hides. It isn't as hard as you might think. Remember, you have to do it using what is out there.

Start off by going out for a weekend. Then try a week, then a month. You will learn what you need and what you can do without as you try.