Survival at Best

January 14, 2008 by: Zach

Many of us who hunt often do not consider the potential dangers we face. Due to technology it is much safer now than it was many years ago, but there are still many things that can harm you. Ask yourself the question “What can you do if you find yourself in a dangerous situation?” I suggest that you can do a lot of things and some even before we leave for the woods.

Before you leave on a hunting trip, always tell someone exactly where you are going and when you will return. If you are late for any reason, always contact them and let them know. Some people like to hunt or hike by themselves. This is okay, but you should know the area like the back of your hand. Regardless if you hunt alone or with a buddy, always carry a survival kit. You can buy commercial ones of different sizes (minimum, basic, or large) or make one yourself. When I hunt, I wear a survival vest, made from an old fishing vest. It has more than enough pockets and space for me to carry all the items I would need to survive for more than 48 hours. I have added things to my kit that I feel I need for the area I hunt in. I have assembled my basic kit with first aid, water, food, fire, shelter, and signaling in mind. My survival kit has much more than a minimum survival kit would have.

If nothing else, make sure you at least carry a small minimum survival kit. While I don’t feel a minimum survival kit is much good in harsh weather, if you have to survive in mild weather it will get you through the night. You will find most commercial minimum survival kits are small and will fit in a pocket, but the problem with commercial kits is that you are limited by what they have decided you need. You should add several items to any commercial kit you purchase to insure your survival.

A good tip is to open up a survival kit and evaluate the quality of the contents before you buy it. Remember, your life will depend on the items packed in the kit, so get the best you can find if possible. Some items I always have with me in addition to my basic survival kit are a map of the local area, a good quality compass, a water canteen or container, mirror, and poncho. I suggest you consider carrying them as well. Each hunter or hiker can add additional items and eventually develop a large kit, but remember you have to carry the extra weight. This usually defers backpackers to select items that are multi-purpose.

Also, if you are inexperienced with survival procedures purchase a very small survival manual to go along with you. At the very least make sure your kit has the following items packed in it or carry them on yourself:
• A quality knife (preferably with other tools attached).
• Water resistant matches.
• Water filter or water purification tablets.
• A long strip of heavy-duty aluminum foil for cooking or reflecting heat.
• Some sort of string or fine rope for tying things together.
• Commercial back packing first aid kit with instructions.
• 1 Meal Ready to Eat or (M.R.E.) contains non perishable foods with lots of calories
• Emergency blanket, sometimes called a thermal blanket.
• Survival whistle for signaling for help.

There are a few more tips that people going into the woods should consider. You should never panic when faced with a dangerous situation. Try to keep your head together and think about what is going on. If you are lost, don’t just run in one direction looking for a way out. Stop where you are and consider all of the things you know. Consider the, who, what, when, and where of the situation you are in. Think about the person you told about your trip. They know when you said you would or should be back. If you took the time to inform a person of your whereabouts, the rescue should come more promptly.

Take an inventory of what you have on hand. This step serves two purposes: First, it calms you down; because the time it takes to inventory your gear will assist in deescalating your initial panic. Second, most of us carry a lot of “junk,” as well as needed items with us, and this is a time to see exactly what you have. All items on you can be used toward survival. Keep all of it for future use. Consider different ways to use your gear, not just the intended use it was designed for.
Try your best to keep busy. If you keep your mind active you are less likely to dwell on the situation and think of it as being helpless. While you very well may feel helpless, perhaps due to an injury, you can always help yourself to some degree. Always keep a positive mind about the situation. Don’t start feeling sorry for yourself. It is normal for you to experience some panic or fear. You can expect all kinds of emotions to come out. Resist the negative thoughts and concentrate on the little successes you may experience, while letting the failures slide off. The more little successes you have the better you will feel. Start with something small, like a fire and a shelter.”

The next step would be to find a shelter and start a fire. Do this even if you don’t need either. Why? Well, once again for two reasons. The first is to keep yourself busy as I stated above. The second is they may be needed later when you are too exhausted or weak to make them. Additionally, there is a deep primal need for safety satisfied when you have shelter and fire. Ever notice how comforting a campfire is at night? The fire may not even be needed, so the comfort is usually just psychological. Additionally, a fire does not have to be large to attract the attention of those that may be searching for you. Anyway, always get a fire going, construct some type of shelter, and wait for help to come to you.

Survival is never an easy thing. The field can be unforgiving to those of us who are not prepared, or lack the basic knowledge needed to enter and leave the woods safely. If you spend time in the outdoors, always tell someone about your trip, when you will return, who is with you, and where you are going. Also, make sure you always carry a good quality survival kit and keep it properly stocked with needed items. Remember, your survival components should be geared toward first aid, water, food, fire, shelter, and signaling. Also, learn about survival and emergency first aid before you go into the woods. By doing this you could save yourself and/or someone elses life. With this knowledge it puts you one step closer to being able to comfortably enjoy the great outdoors in which God has provided us.

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