What do you think?
Rate this book
Outdoor Life: Ultimate Bushcraft Survival Manual: 272 Wilderness Skills | Survival Handbook | Gifts For Outdoorsman
If you went into the woods with just a knife, your wits, and the shirt on your back, could you survive? If you’d read this book from New York Times bestselling author, Tim MacWelch, the answer is yes!
The latest paperback release in Weldon Owen’s popular Outdoor Life series sees New York Times-bestselling author and survival expert Tim MacWelch explore survival situations. MacWelch examines how native peoples around the world throughout history have made their own shelter, weapons, tools, and more, while detailing clever MacGyver-esque ideas for using anything you might find in your pockets or pack to guarantee survival.
Readers will be prepared to test themselves against nature, to be prepared for any catastrophe, or to learn more about traditional ways of survival.
The latest paperback release in Weldon Owen’s popular Outdoor Life series sees New York Times-bestselling author and survival expert Tim MacWelch explore survival situations. MacWelch examines how native peoples around the world throughout history have made their own shelter, weapons, tools, and more, while detailing clever MacGyver-esque ideas for using anything you might find in your pockets or pack to guarantee survival.
Readers will be prepared to test themselves against nature, to be prepared for any catastrophe, or to learn more about traditional ways of survival.
224 pages, Paperback
Published June 29, 2021
134 people are currently reading
124 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 16, 2018
The Ultimate Bushcraft Survival Manual
Tim MacWelch & the Editors of Outdoor Life
If I was lost in the woods, I would want this book
If I was walking in the woods, I would want the knowledge and tools mentioned in this book
However, I would likely starve. Read on!
The book has a useful layout – except font size and colours use make it difficult to read easily.
Today 3 stars
In the woods 4 stars
In the woods isolated 5 stars and a wish I had read more carefully!
What if you were dropped in the woods with little more than a knife, your wits, and the (hopefully warm) shirt on your back? Could you survive? If you’d read this book, the answer is yes!
Survival! It’s one of our most primal fears, most basic needs. What do you do when everything is stripped away except your will to prevail? In this book, survival expert Tim MacWelch examines how native peoples around the world and throughout history have made their own shelter, weapons, tools, and more, and well as clever MacGuyver-esque ideas for using anything you might find in your pockets or pack. Whether your goal is to test yourself against nature, be prepared for any catastrophe, or learn more about traditional ways of survival, this is the one book you need.
CHAPTER ONE: Bare Necessities – The stuff you need to survive short term wilderness emergencies (72 hours to one week)
The Survival Priorities (& why you need them) Shelter, water, fire, food, first aid and ignalling distress
Tools of the Minimalist Knife, Axe and Saw – use and care; Clothing selection
Shelters Pick a safe shelter location; How to build Leaf huts, lean-tos, jungle platforms, thatched roof, log huts, wicki-ups, pit houses, and more (different homes for varied climates)
Water Gathering and Disinfection Finding springs, boiling w/ hot rocks, rain and precipitation collection, water storage, primitive filters, water from plants
Fire Tinder, Kindling, Fire Lays, Flint & Steel, Bow Drill, Hand Drill, Bamboo Fire Saw, Fire Plow, Pump Drill, and other friction methods
Signaling for Help and Self-Rescue How to signal and communicate w/ old school techniques; How and when to fight your way out
CHAPTER TWO: Finer Things – Skills and techniques to collect food, and live more comfortably in the wild (weeks to months)
Foraging for Wild Edible Plants How to identify and use wild plant foods; Recipes like our ancestors would have eaten
Trapping Ways to catch game with new and old school, low-tech traps
Primitive Fishing How to catch fish with thorns and other improvised tackle
Ancient Weapons Bow and arrow, spear, Spear thrower, Bola and sling, primitive forging of metal
Hunting Skills and game processing; 10 things to never do on a hunt
Primitive Tools How to make stone blades, knives, axes, stone drill bits, mallets and wedges for wood splitting, digging sticks
Hygiene Keeping clean; Natural toilet paper; Soap from plants; DIY latrine
CHAPTER THREE: Long Term Living – The skills of our ancestors and the things you’d need for long term primitive living (years)
Food Storage Drying, smoking, Food Caches, Freezing
Containers How to make several different basket styles; Bark containers; Wooden bowls; Soapstone bowls and pots; Primitive ceramics
Hides and Furs DIY buckskin, fur, rawhide and leather; Making clothes and outerwear (moccasins, mittens, hats, etc.)
Primitive Cooking Cook in the coals; Spits and skewers; Green stick grill; Rock for frying pan; Stone Ovens, Steam pit, Earth over (in-ground hearth system)
Tracking Man tracking and animal tracking
Natural Navigation How to find your way by using the stars, the landscape, the weather and many other methods
Wild Medicine Teas, compresses and poultices to help you heal
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076HBHKZC/...
272: Wilderness Skills
Life: You never know what you are going to be dealt…so be prepared to play your hand!
1. Buy a good ax. Think that a wood handle is best?
a. Have a plan!
i. Darn I should have thought of that!
b. Compass, phone, charger & practice
2. Priorities
a. Shelter
b. Water
c. Fire
d. Food
e. Signaling
3. Stay positive
4. Deal with danger
a. Bear spray
5. Dress for the occasion
6. Keep the cold at bay
7. Build your survival kit
a. Metal container
b. Shelter
c. Lighting
d. Fire starts
e. Fishing gear
f. Signal equipment
g. First aid kit
h. Navigation
i. Water suppliers
j. Repair supplies
k. Knives
8. Bring the bar minimum
9. Go really old school
a. Shelter
b. Bedroll
c. Cook kit
d. Fire kit
e. Tools
f. Candles
g. Food axe and saw
10. Know your knife types
11. Recognize basic blade styles
12. Check the tang
a. Back part of the knife
13. Get to the edge
14. Cut safely
15. Sharpen with a rock
16. Make an emergency bone knife
17. Wet your whetstone
18. Grab the right saw
19. Chip a shell saw
20. Build your own survival bucksaw
21. Saw safely
22. Keep it cutting
a. Keep it dry
b. Lubricate the blade
c. Oil the handle
d. Remove blade rust
23. Stay sharp
24. Pack a backup
25. Maintain your axe
26. Sharpen that axe
27. Hang an axe head
28. Be axe aware
29. Caveman’s corner: Hack it with a hand axe
30. Pick the right Axe
31. Fell trees with care
a. Study up
b. Choose the time
c. Suit up
d. Clear the path
e. Take a position
32. Look for the lean
33. Cut cautiously
34. Plan your escape
a. Bushcraft uses for tree bark
i. Roofing shingles
ii. Tinder
iii. Cordage
iv. First aid
v. Containers
vi. Medicine
vii. Insulation
viii. Utensils
ix. Footwear
35. Know your knots
a. Square not – classic for connecting lines
b. Sweet bend – different materials together
c. Bowline
d. Prusik knot
e. Timber hitch
f. Taut line hitch
36. Learn square lashing
37. Take the diagonal
38. Shelter: Find the right location
39. Make any shelter better
a. Practice your skills
b. Mark your territory
c. Face the sunrise
d. Beat the bugs
40. Assess your assets
41. Build a ‘sasquatch’ bed
42. Make a leaf hut
43. Learn the lean to
a. Bean
b. Bean supports
c. Ribs
d. Leaves
44. Make a DIY tarp tent
a. Rope is always handy
45. Recipe for success: Waterproof canvas
46. Carve out a micro-cabin
a. EN: Whoa…is this a rental?
47. Make tree bark floor
a. Innermost layer
48. Feel the welcome of the jungle
a. EN: Note to self, avoid jungles!
49. Build your own tree house
50. Make a hammock and a rain fly
51. Survive the desert
52. Make a wickiup
53. Craft a mini-eat lodge
54. Make a two tarp shelter
55. Climb every mountain
56. Build a stone hut
57. Build a diamond in the rough
58. Dig a hot rock heating pit
59. Sculpt a snow cave
60. Use a tree well shelter
61. Craft a quinzee – poor man’s igloo
62. Don’t eat snow
a. Cold
b. 90% water
63. Test your rocks
a. 9 bushcraft uses for a hot rock
i. Warm your body
ii. Warm your bed
iii. Boil liquids
iv. Fry food
v. Heat a shelter
vi. Warm you bones
vii. Melt snow/ice to go fishing (frozen ponds)
viii. Steam a meal
ix. Sweat it out
64. Water: Plan to provide
a. Bring it along
b. Prepare to disinfect
c. Keep an eye out
65. Find your water
a. Walk downhill
66. Harvest precipitation
a. Rain
b. Snow – melted and disinfected
c. Dew & frost
67. Dig for a drink
a. After you hike downhill
68. Get water from plants
a. Thistle
b. Tree sap
c. Vines
d. Fruits
69. Drink or die
70. Know your dangers
a. never wise to drink raw water…
71. try hot rocks
72. do some rock boiling
73. disinfect with tablets
a. iodine
b. chlorine
74. buy the right filter
75. dig a gypsy well
76. Try a tripod
a. 3 sticks
b. Lash together 3 pieces of triangular cloth
c. Pack green grass leaves to smallest (top)
d. 2nd crushed black charcoal from a fire
e. Bottom layer clean sand
f. Flush out the filter
77. Signaling: Pick the right path
78. Use sound to signal
a. Yell
b. Whistle
c. Strike
d. Shoot
79. Keep it simple
a. Try charcoal to write messages
b. Make 3D arrows
c. Build a cairn
80. Mind your mirror
81. Hit the survival store
a. Whistle
b. Handheld flare
c. Flare guns
d. Survey tape
e. Permanent marker
82. Spark a signal fire
a. Stay in the open
b. Control it
c. Stand out
d. Finish it off
83. Build it and they will come
84. Get noticed
85. Find a way
86. Assess your rescue options
87. Go with the flow
Finer Things
Hunting and gathering
88. Fire: Pick a safe fire site
89. Respect the fire
90. Gather your tinder
a. Wood shavings
b. Pine needles
c. Weed tops and seed down
d. Grasses
e. Leaves
f. Inner and outer bark
91. Learn the formula: Oxygen + heat+ fuel = fire
92. Go global – in terms of tinder types
93. Know what not to burn
a. EN: Need an encyclopedia?
94. Know the 3 rules of tinder
a. Dead
b. Dry
c. Light
95. Pick the perfect process
a. Shred it
b. Pound away
c. Scrape and scratch
d. Crumple and crumble
96. Build a bird’s next
97. Fold a tinder taco
98. Give tinder super powers….dip part in grease or wax
99. Get the right kindling
100. Try the twigs
101. Split some splinters
102. Put dead vines to the torch
103. Go barking mad
104. Make the perfect fire lay
a. Test a tipi
b. Light a log cabin
c. Spark a center pole
d. Learn the lean-to
e. Heap up a haystack
105. Know your options
a. Safety matches
b. Strike anywhere
c. Survival matches
d. Butane lighter
106. Strike a one-match fire
a. Start from upwind
b. Protect your match
c. Stay close
d. Light the fire low
e. Get help
107. Double your match supply
108. Light it up: butane lighter
a. Warm things up
b. Spark a new flame
c. Don’t sweat getting wet
109. Make your own waterproof matches
110. Start a fire with flint and steel
a. Materials
b. Technique
c. Bright sparks
d. Troubleshooting
111. Spin a bow drill
a. Bow
b. Drill
c. Fireboard
d. Handhold
112. Use a hand drill
113. Push a fire plow
114. Work a fire saw
115. Count your calories: Plants
116. Skip the fungus
a. Of 70000 species, only 250 are considered to be a good wild food
117. Choose wisely
a. Guide yourself
b. Eat healthy
118. Forage safely
119. Be a good steward
120. Make sure it’s safe
i. Use field guide
ii. Cross reference
iii. Research the right way
iv. Learn to eat in moderation
v. Risk of allegoric reaction
vi. If in doubt, do not eat it
121. Know your nuts
a. Acorn – soak and soak and soak and eat
b. Beech
c. Hazelnut
d. Black walnut
e. Hickory
f. Chestnut – part of the beech family
122. Process acorns properly
123. Dine out on pine
124. Don’t eat these – buckeye and horse chestnuts
125. Use everything but he squeal
126. Go green
a. Chicory
b. Chickweed
c. Wood sorrel
d. Sheep sorrel
e. Plantain
f. Watercress
127. Dig out some roofs
a. Burdock
b. Cattail
c. Jerusalem artichoke
d. Wild onion
128. Get out the stick – for digging and prodding…
129. Learn berries inside out
130. Browse nature’s grocery store
131. Work with birch
a. Make fire
b. Create containers
c. Brew tea
132. Handle hickory
a. Build a bow
b. Tap a hickory
i. 28 to 47 L of sap for 1L of syrup
c. Make bark spice
133. Make something from mulberry
a. Wine
b. Syrup
c. Bait your traps
d. Dye and stain
e. Twist of cord
134. Pick a persimmon
a. Brew tea
b. Make a mallet
c. Predict the weather
135. Animal foods: Taking an animal should be done with restraint, gratitude and respect: Be a realist
a. Set your expectations
b. Know the odds
136. Go with a pro
137. 137: Rattle antlers
a. Bushcraft uses for antlers
i. Handles
ii. Chisels
iii. Whistle
iv. Socket
v. Buttons and toggles
vi. Pressure flakers
vii. Projective points
viii. Containers
ix. Traps
138. Weigh your options
a. Traps work – sometimes
139. Lose the smell
a. Wash hands in local water source
b. Scrub pine needles (etc)
c. Wipe on layer of dirt
i. Go set your traps
140. Know the law
141. 141: Be a better trapper
142. Avoid your own traps
a. Avoid deadfall destructions
b. Don’t hold the noose
c. Skip the spring-pole slap
143. Dial up your deadfall
144. Bait a stick snare
145. Trap with a tree
146. Grab some wild bait
a. Wild fruit
b. Grubs
c. Organ meat
147. Go bait free
148. Build a survival fishing kit
a. Hooks
b. Line
c. Weights
149. Cut a fishing pole
150. Find your own bait
a. Flip over a rock
b. Rip open a log
c. Disturb the dirt
151. Improvise a fish weir
152. Use your bare hands
153. Go all natural
154. Knit a net
155. Hit the spot
a. Mind the tide
156. Dope up the fish – if in survival mode
157. Carve a bow
i. Pick the right wood – hardwood
ii. Find the belly and the back
iii. Carve with care
iv. String it up
v. Do the finish work
158. Don’t break it
159. Fletch some arrows
160. Fire harden a spear
161. Have a javelin
162. Make an atlatl (spear thrower)
163. Try spear fishing
164. Make a sling
165. Aim that thing
166. Add some snap – but need rubber tubing for the snap!
167. Build a bola
168. Go out for dinner
a. Pick your quarry
b. Choose your weapon
c. Find their habitat
d. Stay silent
e. Be scent aware
f. Take the shot
169. Avoid common mistakes
a. Not scouting your site
b. Being impatient
c. Ignoring the weather
d. Being underprepared
e. Forgetting about scent
170. Process small game
i. Cut off head feet tail
ii. Cut slit in the hide without cutting into the meat
iii. Insert two fingers under the hide
iv. Cut belly open from breastbone to backdoor and scoop out the guts. Save and cook edible innards like the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys
v. Wash off the meat and cook the animal whole or cut it into quarters first
171. Clean a fish
a. Using a dull knife scrape off scales from tail to head
b. Scratch your fingernails
c. Slice under the chin
d. Scrape off the vein on the spine…
172. Skin a snake
a. Hold dead snake with a fork stick & cut off head
b. Slit belly and remove the content
c. Pull skin off
d. Cook the snake meat
173. Be safe!
174. Butcher a bird
a. Pluck
b. Remove birds head feet and wing tips – feather free, use for soup stock
c. Gut your bird – use innards that you like (stock)
d. Cook it up
175. Carve up big game
a. Hoist
b. Start: anus, pull outward…cut through the belly from ribs to anus
c. Cut carefully
d. Finish up – diagram and remove heart and lungs
e. Reposition: hand head down and slit in each rear leg
f. Use as needed – depending on temp and keep hide to ward off air and insects
176. Know your cuts
Long Term Living
177. Cooking: Stay safe by the fire
178. Avoid hazards
a. Don’t turn your back
b. Don’t be underdone after dark
c. Beware exploding rocks
d. Watch what you burn
179. Roast on the coals
180. Bake bread on the ashes
181. Set up spits and skewers
182. Put it on a stick
183. Build a green wood grill
a. Be a square
b. Try a tripod
c. Dig a trench
184. Try these grill tips
a. Avoid sticky wood
185. Grill with a snowshoe
186. The tripod lashing
a. Uses for Tripod
i. Shelter
ii. Jerky pack
iii. Pot hanger
iv. Green wood cooker
v. Smoker
vi. Chair
vii. Fire shelter
viii. Emergency signal
ix. Water filter
187. Learn to rock boil
188. Make a hot rock stir fry
189. Set up a rock frying pan
190. Give big animals a boost – with hock rocks on the inside
191. Build a stone oven
a. Start with stone
b. Fire it up
c. Clear ash
d. Place meat/item
192. Bake like a champ
193. Cook in a clay pot
194. Dig a steam pit
a. Dig a pit, collect items to make a mound
b. Collect rocks that can take heat
c. Keep rocks in pit to heat up
d. Gather green vegetation while oven heats up ( 2hours)
e. Apply damp soil and then layer of vegetation
f. Bury food with reaming vegetation
195. Mound up a meal
196. Build a bamboo steamer
197. Dig an earth oven
198. Pick the best food
199. Work with wild seasonings
a. Wild onion
b. Peppergrasses
c. Sorrel
d. Sassafras
200. Use a Dutch over
201. Build a cooking crane
202. Reflect on the past – reflecting oven
203. Try these cooking tips
204. Frying pan
205. Test a cast iron griddle
206. Dry it = you’ll like it
a. Dry your jerky
b. Desiccate fruits and veggies
207. Get smoked
a. Choose your method
b. Get the wood
208. Build an ice cache
209. Make pemmican
210. Pick a basket – containers
a. Wicker
b. Coil
c. Bark
d. Splint
211. Weave a basket
212. Chop a bowl
213. Carve a bowl
214. Burn a bowl
215. Choose wisely
216. Finish the job
217. Hack out a hollow
218. Get to know soapstone
219. Shape soapstone
220. Make a clay pot
221. Get fired up
222. Peel some bark
223. Bend a berry bucket
224. Make a coolamon
225. Build a bark trough
226. Prep your hide
227. Soften a pelt
228. Stitch up a bag
229. Waterproof your basket
a. Uses for mud
i. Make charcoal
ii. Bake food
iii. Make an oven
iv. Set a cast
v. Lose your scent
vi. Craft ceramics
vii. Shape a bowl
viii. Make mortar
ix. Camouflage yourself
Primitive Skills
230. Make quick stone blades
a. Become a stone smith
b. Stay safe with stonework
231. Use the simplest tools
i. Hammer
ii. Saw
iii. Sander
iv. Chopper
v. Leverage
232. Source some string
233. Make your own string
234. Use hide glue
235. Brew some pitch glue
236. Test out a torch
237. Make a candle
238. Grab a grease lamp
239. Fire up the firewood
240. Render animal fat into lard
a. Uses for animal fat
i. Fire starter
ii. Force quench
iii. Lamps
iv. Waterproofing
v. Soap
vi. Lubricant
vii. Medicinal slave
viii. Conditioning
ix. Calories
241. Track a person
242. Follow the steps
243. Track with these tricks
244. Branch out
245. Learn some patterns
246. Check the signs
247. Know your compass parts
248. Find true north
249. Make your own compass
250. Read a map
251. Set up shadow sticks
252. Find your way with the moon…moves east to west…
253. Don’t believe the moss
254. Follow the north star
255. Look to the southern cross
256. Wash up – Health & hygiene
a. Simulate soap
b. Scrub away
c. Wash well
257. Lighten your load
258. Get dolled up
259. Don’t forget dental care
260. Say hi to aunt flo
261. Build a medkit
a. Space blanket
b. Mom-latex gloves
c. Tweezers
d. Trauma shears
e. Trauma pad
f. Dressing
g. Quick clot acs
h. Tourniquet
i. Triangle bandage
j. Antiseptic wipes
k. Saline eye wash
l. Eye pad
m. Ace bandages
n. Gauze
o. Non stick gauze pads
p. Assorted fabric bandages
q. Medical tape\swabs
r. Antibiotic ointment
s. Ibuprofen
262. Make a poultice
263. Create a cast
264. Fight the cold
265. Stay hydrated
266. Skip some meals
267. Stop bleeding
268. Know your strengths
269. Stay motivated
270. Adjust your attitude
271. Stay mentally tough
272. Embrace adaptability
A case for fear
i. Accept your fears
ii. Don’t panic
#TheUltimateBushcraftSurvivalManual
Today 3 stars
In the woods 4 stars
In the woods isolated 5 stars and a wish I had read more carefully!
Tim MacWelch & the Editors of Outdoor Life
If I was lost in the woods, I would want this book
If I was walking in the woods, I would want the knowledge and tools mentioned in this book
However, I would likely starve. Read on!
The book has a useful layout – except font size and colours use make it difficult to read easily.
Today 3 stars
In the woods 4 stars
In the woods isolated 5 stars and a wish I had read more carefully!
What if you were dropped in the woods with little more than a knife, your wits, and the (hopefully warm) shirt on your back? Could you survive? If you’d read this book, the answer is yes!
Survival! It’s one of our most primal fears, most basic needs. What do you do when everything is stripped away except your will to prevail? In this book, survival expert Tim MacWelch examines how native peoples around the world and throughout history have made their own shelter, weapons, tools, and more, and well as clever MacGuyver-esque ideas for using anything you might find in your pockets or pack. Whether your goal is to test yourself against nature, be prepared for any catastrophe, or learn more about traditional ways of survival, this is the one book you need.
CHAPTER ONE: Bare Necessities – The stuff you need to survive short term wilderness emergencies (72 hours to one week)
The Survival Priorities (& why you need them) Shelter, water, fire, food, first aid and ignalling distress
Tools of the Minimalist Knife, Axe and Saw – use and care; Clothing selection
Shelters Pick a safe shelter location; How to build Leaf huts, lean-tos, jungle platforms, thatched roof, log huts, wicki-ups, pit houses, and more (different homes for varied climates)
Water Gathering and Disinfection Finding springs, boiling w/ hot rocks, rain and precipitation collection, water storage, primitive filters, water from plants
Fire Tinder, Kindling, Fire Lays, Flint & Steel, Bow Drill, Hand Drill, Bamboo Fire Saw, Fire Plow, Pump Drill, and other friction methods
Signaling for Help and Self-Rescue How to signal and communicate w/ old school techniques; How and when to fight your way out
CHAPTER TWO: Finer Things – Skills and techniques to collect food, and live more comfortably in the wild (weeks to months)
Foraging for Wild Edible Plants How to identify and use wild plant foods; Recipes like our ancestors would have eaten
Trapping Ways to catch game with new and old school, low-tech traps
Primitive Fishing How to catch fish with thorns and other improvised tackle
Ancient Weapons Bow and arrow, spear, Spear thrower, Bola and sling, primitive forging of metal
Hunting Skills and game processing; 10 things to never do on a hunt
Primitive Tools How to make stone blades, knives, axes, stone drill bits, mallets and wedges for wood splitting, digging sticks
Hygiene Keeping clean; Natural toilet paper; Soap from plants; DIY latrine
CHAPTER THREE: Long Term Living – The skills of our ancestors and the things you’d need for long term primitive living (years)
Food Storage Drying, smoking, Food Caches, Freezing
Containers How to make several different basket styles; Bark containers; Wooden bowls; Soapstone bowls and pots; Primitive ceramics
Hides and Furs DIY buckskin, fur, rawhide and leather; Making clothes and outerwear (moccasins, mittens, hats, etc.)
Primitive Cooking Cook in the coals; Spits and skewers; Green stick grill; Rock for frying pan; Stone Ovens, Steam pit, Earth over (in-ground hearth system)
Tracking Man tracking and animal tracking
Natural Navigation How to find your way by using the stars, the landscape, the weather and many other methods
Wild Medicine Teas, compresses and poultices to help you heal
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076HBHKZC/...
272: Wilderness Skills
Life: You never know what you are going to be dealt…so be prepared to play your hand!
1. Buy a good ax. Think that a wood handle is best?
a. Have a plan!
i. Darn I should have thought of that!
b. Compass, phone, charger & practice
2. Priorities
a. Shelter
b. Water
c. Fire
d. Food
e. Signaling
3. Stay positive
4. Deal with danger
a. Bear spray
5. Dress for the occasion
6. Keep the cold at bay
7. Build your survival kit
a. Metal container
b. Shelter
c. Lighting
d. Fire starts
e. Fishing gear
f. Signal equipment
g. First aid kit
h. Navigation
i. Water suppliers
j. Repair supplies
k. Knives
8. Bring the bar minimum
9. Go really old school
a. Shelter
b. Bedroll
c. Cook kit
d. Fire kit
e. Tools
f. Candles
g. Food axe and saw
10. Know your knife types
11. Recognize basic blade styles
12. Check the tang
a. Back part of the knife
13. Get to the edge
14. Cut safely
15. Sharpen with a rock
16. Make an emergency bone knife
17. Wet your whetstone
18. Grab the right saw
19. Chip a shell saw
20. Build your own survival bucksaw
21. Saw safely
22. Keep it cutting
a. Keep it dry
b. Lubricate the blade
c. Oil the handle
d. Remove blade rust
23. Stay sharp
24. Pack a backup
25. Maintain your axe
26. Sharpen that axe
27. Hang an axe head
28. Be axe aware
29. Caveman’s corner: Hack it with a hand axe
30. Pick the right Axe
31. Fell trees with care
a. Study up
b. Choose the time
c. Suit up
d. Clear the path
e. Take a position
32. Look for the lean
33. Cut cautiously
34. Plan your escape
a. Bushcraft uses for tree bark
i. Roofing shingles
ii. Tinder
iii. Cordage
iv. First aid
v. Containers
vi. Medicine
vii. Insulation
viii. Utensils
ix. Footwear
35. Know your knots
a. Square not – classic for connecting lines
b. Sweet bend – different materials together
c. Bowline
d. Prusik knot
e. Timber hitch
f. Taut line hitch
36. Learn square lashing
37. Take the diagonal
38. Shelter: Find the right location
39. Make any shelter better
a. Practice your skills
b. Mark your territory
c. Face the sunrise
d. Beat the bugs
40. Assess your assets
41. Build a ‘sasquatch’ bed
42. Make a leaf hut
43. Learn the lean to
a. Bean
b. Bean supports
c. Ribs
d. Leaves
44. Make a DIY tarp tent
a. Rope is always handy
45. Recipe for success: Waterproof canvas
46. Carve out a micro-cabin
a. EN: Whoa…is this a rental?
47. Make tree bark floor
a. Innermost layer
48. Feel the welcome of the jungle
a. EN: Note to self, avoid jungles!
49. Build your own tree house
50. Make a hammock and a rain fly
51. Survive the desert
52. Make a wickiup
53. Craft a mini-eat lodge
54. Make a two tarp shelter
55. Climb every mountain
56. Build a stone hut
57. Build a diamond in the rough
58. Dig a hot rock heating pit
59. Sculpt a snow cave
60. Use a tree well shelter
61. Craft a quinzee – poor man’s igloo
62. Don’t eat snow
a. Cold
b. 90% water
63. Test your rocks
a. 9 bushcraft uses for a hot rock
i. Warm your body
ii. Warm your bed
iii. Boil liquids
iv. Fry food
v. Heat a shelter
vi. Warm you bones
vii. Melt snow/ice to go fishing (frozen ponds)
viii. Steam a meal
ix. Sweat it out
64. Water: Plan to provide
a. Bring it along
b. Prepare to disinfect
c. Keep an eye out
65. Find your water
a. Walk downhill
66. Harvest precipitation
a. Rain
b. Snow – melted and disinfected
c. Dew & frost
67. Dig for a drink
a. After you hike downhill
68. Get water from plants
a. Thistle
b. Tree sap
c. Vines
d. Fruits
69. Drink or die
70. Know your dangers
a. never wise to drink raw water…
71. try hot rocks
72. do some rock boiling
73. disinfect with tablets
a. iodine
b. chlorine
74. buy the right filter
75. dig a gypsy well
76. Try a tripod
a. 3 sticks
b. Lash together 3 pieces of triangular cloth
c. Pack green grass leaves to smallest (top)
d. 2nd crushed black charcoal from a fire
e. Bottom layer clean sand
f. Flush out the filter
77. Signaling: Pick the right path
78. Use sound to signal
a. Yell
b. Whistle
c. Strike
d. Shoot
79. Keep it simple
a. Try charcoal to write messages
b. Make 3D arrows
c. Build a cairn
80. Mind your mirror
81. Hit the survival store
a. Whistle
b. Handheld flare
c. Flare guns
d. Survey tape
e. Permanent marker
82. Spark a signal fire
a. Stay in the open
b. Control it
c. Stand out
d. Finish it off
83. Build it and they will come
84. Get noticed
85. Find a way
86. Assess your rescue options
87. Go with the flow
Finer Things
Hunting and gathering
88. Fire: Pick a safe fire site
89. Respect the fire
90. Gather your tinder
a. Wood shavings
b. Pine needles
c. Weed tops and seed down
d. Grasses
e. Leaves
f. Inner and outer bark
91. Learn the formula: Oxygen + heat+ fuel = fire
92. Go global – in terms of tinder types
93. Know what not to burn
a. EN: Need an encyclopedia?
94. Know the 3 rules of tinder
a. Dead
b. Dry
c. Light
95. Pick the perfect process
a. Shred it
b. Pound away
c. Scrape and scratch
d. Crumple and crumble
96. Build a bird’s next
97. Fold a tinder taco
98. Give tinder super powers….dip part in grease or wax
99. Get the right kindling
100. Try the twigs
101. Split some splinters
102. Put dead vines to the torch
103. Go barking mad
104. Make the perfect fire lay
a. Test a tipi
b. Light a log cabin
c. Spark a center pole
d. Learn the lean-to
e. Heap up a haystack
105. Know your options
a. Safety matches
b. Strike anywhere
c. Survival matches
d. Butane lighter
106. Strike a one-match fire
a. Start from upwind
b. Protect your match
c. Stay close
d. Light the fire low
e. Get help
107. Double your match supply
108. Light it up: butane lighter
a. Warm things up
b. Spark a new flame
c. Don’t sweat getting wet
109. Make your own waterproof matches
110. Start a fire with flint and steel
a. Materials
b. Technique
c. Bright sparks
d. Troubleshooting
111. Spin a bow drill
a. Bow
b. Drill
c. Fireboard
d. Handhold
112. Use a hand drill
113. Push a fire plow
114. Work a fire saw
115. Count your calories: Plants
116. Skip the fungus
a. Of 70000 species, only 250 are considered to be a good wild food
117. Choose wisely
a. Guide yourself
b. Eat healthy
118. Forage safely
119. Be a good steward
120. Make sure it’s safe
i. Use field guide
ii. Cross reference
iii. Research the right way
iv. Learn to eat in moderation
v. Risk of allegoric reaction
vi. If in doubt, do not eat it
121. Know your nuts
a. Acorn – soak and soak and soak and eat
b. Beech
c. Hazelnut
d. Black walnut
e. Hickory
f. Chestnut – part of the beech family
122. Process acorns properly
123. Dine out on pine
124. Don’t eat these – buckeye and horse chestnuts
125. Use everything but he squeal
126. Go green
a. Chicory
b. Chickweed
c. Wood sorrel
d. Sheep sorrel
e. Plantain
f. Watercress
127. Dig out some roofs
a. Burdock
b. Cattail
c. Jerusalem artichoke
d. Wild onion
128. Get out the stick – for digging and prodding…
129. Learn berries inside out
130. Browse nature’s grocery store
131. Work with birch
a. Make fire
b. Create containers
c. Brew tea
132. Handle hickory
a. Build a bow
b. Tap a hickory
i. 28 to 47 L of sap for 1L of syrup
c. Make bark spice
133. Make something from mulberry
a. Wine
b. Syrup
c. Bait your traps
d. Dye and stain
e. Twist of cord
134. Pick a persimmon
a. Brew tea
b. Make a mallet
c. Predict the weather
135. Animal foods: Taking an animal should be done with restraint, gratitude and respect: Be a realist
a. Set your expectations
b. Know the odds
136. Go with a pro
137. 137: Rattle antlers
a. Bushcraft uses for antlers
i. Handles
ii. Chisels
iii. Whistle
iv. Socket
v. Buttons and toggles
vi. Pressure flakers
vii. Projective points
viii. Containers
ix. Traps
138. Weigh your options
a. Traps work – sometimes
139. Lose the smell
a. Wash hands in local water source
b. Scrub pine needles (etc)
c. Wipe on layer of dirt
i. Go set your traps
140. Know the law
141. 141: Be a better trapper
142. Avoid your own traps
a. Avoid deadfall destructions
b. Don’t hold the noose
c. Skip the spring-pole slap
143. Dial up your deadfall
144. Bait a stick snare
145. Trap with a tree
146. Grab some wild bait
a. Wild fruit
b. Grubs
c. Organ meat
147. Go bait free
148. Build a survival fishing kit
a. Hooks
b. Line
c. Weights
149. Cut a fishing pole
150. Find your own bait
a. Flip over a rock
b. Rip open a log
c. Disturb the dirt
151. Improvise a fish weir
152. Use your bare hands
153. Go all natural
154. Knit a net
155. Hit the spot
a. Mind the tide
156. Dope up the fish – if in survival mode
157. Carve a bow
i. Pick the right wood – hardwood
ii. Find the belly and the back
iii. Carve with care
iv. String it up
v. Do the finish work
158. Don’t break it
159. Fletch some arrows
160. Fire harden a spear
161. Have a javelin
162. Make an atlatl (spear thrower)
163. Try spear fishing
164. Make a sling
165. Aim that thing
166. Add some snap – but need rubber tubing for the snap!
167. Build a bola
168. Go out for dinner
a. Pick your quarry
b. Choose your weapon
c. Find their habitat
d. Stay silent
e. Be scent aware
f. Take the shot
169. Avoid common mistakes
a. Not scouting your site
b. Being impatient
c. Ignoring the weather
d. Being underprepared
e. Forgetting about scent
170. Process small game
i. Cut off head feet tail
ii. Cut slit in the hide without cutting into the meat
iii. Insert two fingers under the hide
iv. Cut belly open from breastbone to backdoor and scoop out the guts. Save and cook edible innards like the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys
v. Wash off the meat and cook the animal whole or cut it into quarters first
171. Clean a fish
a. Using a dull knife scrape off scales from tail to head
b. Scratch your fingernails
c. Slice under the chin
d. Scrape off the vein on the spine…
172. Skin a snake
a. Hold dead snake with a fork stick & cut off head
b. Slit belly and remove the content
c. Pull skin off
d. Cook the snake meat
173. Be safe!
174. Butcher a bird
a. Pluck
b. Remove birds head feet and wing tips – feather free, use for soup stock
c. Gut your bird – use innards that you like (stock)
d. Cook it up
175. Carve up big game
a. Hoist
b. Start: anus, pull outward…cut through the belly from ribs to anus
c. Cut carefully
d. Finish up – diagram and remove heart and lungs
e. Reposition: hand head down and slit in each rear leg
f. Use as needed – depending on temp and keep hide to ward off air and insects
176. Know your cuts
Long Term Living
177. Cooking: Stay safe by the fire
178. Avoid hazards
a. Don’t turn your back
b. Don’t be underdone after dark
c. Beware exploding rocks
d. Watch what you burn
179. Roast on the coals
180. Bake bread on the ashes
181. Set up spits and skewers
182. Put it on a stick
183. Build a green wood grill
a. Be a square
b. Try a tripod
c. Dig a trench
184. Try these grill tips
a. Avoid sticky wood
185. Grill with a snowshoe
186. The tripod lashing
a. Uses for Tripod
i. Shelter
ii. Jerky pack
iii. Pot hanger
iv. Green wood cooker
v. Smoker
vi. Chair
vii. Fire shelter
viii. Emergency signal
ix. Water filter
187. Learn to rock boil
188. Make a hot rock stir fry
189. Set up a rock frying pan
190. Give big animals a boost – with hock rocks on the inside
191. Build a stone oven
a. Start with stone
b. Fire it up
c. Clear ash
d. Place meat/item
192. Bake like a champ
193. Cook in a clay pot
194. Dig a steam pit
a. Dig a pit, collect items to make a mound
b. Collect rocks that can take heat
c. Keep rocks in pit to heat up
d. Gather green vegetation while oven heats up ( 2hours)
e. Apply damp soil and then layer of vegetation
f. Bury food with reaming vegetation
195. Mound up a meal
196. Build a bamboo steamer
197. Dig an earth oven
198. Pick the best food
199. Work with wild seasonings
a. Wild onion
b. Peppergrasses
c. Sorrel
d. Sassafras
200. Use a Dutch over
201. Build a cooking crane
202. Reflect on the past – reflecting oven
203. Try these cooking tips
204. Frying pan
205. Test a cast iron griddle
206. Dry it = you’ll like it
a. Dry your jerky
b. Desiccate fruits and veggies
207. Get smoked
a. Choose your method
b. Get the wood
208. Build an ice cache
209. Make pemmican
210. Pick a basket – containers
a. Wicker
b. Coil
c. Bark
d. Splint
211. Weave a basket
212. Chop a bowl
213. Carve a bowl
214. Burn a bowl
215. Choose wisely
216. Finish the job
217. Hack out a hollow
218. Get to know soapstone
219. Shape soapstone
220. Make a clay pot
221. Get fired up
222. Peel some bark
223. Bend a berry bucket
224. Make a coolamon
225. Build a bark trough
226. Prep your hide
227. Soften a pelt
228. Stitch up a bag
229. Waterproof your basket
a. Uses for mud
i. Make charcoal
ii. Bake food
iii. Make an oven
iv. Set a cast
v. Lose your scent
vi. Craft ceramics
vii. Shape a bowl
viii. Make mortar
ix. Camouflage yourself
Primitive Skills
230. Make quick stone blades
a. Become a stone smith
b. Stay safe with stonework
231. Use the simplest tools
i. Hammer
ii. Saw
iii. Sander
iv. Chopper
v. Leverage
232. Source some string
233. Make your own string
234. Use hide glue
235. Brew some pitch glue
236. Test out a torch
237. Make a candle
238. Grab a grease lamp
239. Fire up the firewood
240. Render animal fat into lard
a. Uses for animal fat
i. Fire starter
ii. Force quench
iii. Lamps
iv. Waterproofing
v. Soap
vi. Lubricant
vii. Medicinal slave
viii. Conditioning
ix. Calories
241. Track a person
242. Follow the steps
243. Track with these tricks
244. Branch out
245. Learn some patterns
246. Check the signs
247. Know your compass parts
248. Find true north
249. Make your own compass
250. Read a map
251. Set up shadow sticks
252. Find your way with the moon…moves east to west…
253. Don’t believe the moss
254. Follow the north star
255. Look to the southern cross
256. Wash up – Health & hygiene
a. Simulate soap
b. Scrub away
c. Wash well
257. Lighten your load
258. Get dolled up
259. Don’t forget dental care
260. Say hi to aunt flo
261. Build a medkit
a. Space blanket
b. Mom-latex gloves
c. Tweezers
d. Trauma shears
e. Trauma pad
f. Dressing
g. Quick clot acs
h. Tourniquet
i. Triangle bandage
j. Antiseptic wipes
k. Saline eye wash
l. Eye pad
m. Ace bandages
n. Gauze
o. Non stick gauze pads
p. Assorted fabric bandages
q. Medical tape\swabs
r. Antibiotic ointment
s. Ibuprofen
262. Make a poultice
263. Create a cast
264. Fight the cold
265. Stay hydrated
266. Skip some meals
267. Stop bleeding
268. Know your strengths
269. Stay motivated
270. Adjust your attitude
271. Stay mentally tough
272. Embrace adaptability
A case for fear
i. Accept your fears
ii. Don’t panic
#TheUltimateBushcraftSurvivalManual
Today 3 stars
In the woods 4 stars
In the woods isolated 5 stars and a wish I had read more carefully!
May 21, 2022
I learned a lot from reading this book; although I might not ever be put into the wild in these conditions, it was a fun learning experience. The contents are simple to read and include helpful illustrations, making this an interesting reference to knives, outdoor first aid, hygiene, and navigation with minimal equipment. It's easy to follow and teaches excellent ways to survive.
January 6, 2022
Good survival book with great pictures.
In this book, there is lots of high quality photos. Those are much better than drawnings with are in many books. On the other hand, this book is too much north America-centered so in Northern Europe plants and animals part is not relevant.
In this book, there is lots of high quality photos. Those are much better than drawnings with are in many books. On the other hand, this book is too much north America-centered so in Northern Europe plants and animals part is not relevant.
December 27, 2017
Only useful if you get stranded while reading this book
June 18, 2020
Great book for learning new skills
I thought this was a great book to learn from for anybody going into the wilderness for first time, or to brush up on skills . I learned a lot from this book. Well written
I thought this was a great book to learn from for anybody going into the wilderness for first time, or to brush up on skills . I learned a lot from this book. Well written
March 17, 2018
I think it would be better to say that this is a guide that could be used for the Midwest in North America, which is most apparent in the fishing, big game, and plant sections of the book. It doesn't take into account too many regional hazards outside of it. Entertaining though.
The descriptions are easy to read with helpful visuals, and a fascinating guide for knives, outdoor first aid, hygiene, and navigation with minimal tools. I'd be curious if MacWelch did another version of this book focusing on barren desert regions since its coverage is minimal in this book.
The descriptions are easy to read with helpful visuals, and a fascinating guide for knives, outdoor first aid, hygiene, and navigation with minimal tools. I'd be curious if MacWelch did another version of this book focusing on barren desert regions since its coverage is minimal in this book.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews