What exactly is Bushcraft? And how does one Bushcraft? To put it simply, Bushcraft is the use of survival skills used in the natural environment. Bushcraft isn’t just about survival. This is a great hobby that one could learn useful info and skills. Being able to survive and create things with only your hands is an invaluable skill to have. So, how does one start in this adventure? Below is a guide on general info and ways that you can hone your skills and start an exciting hobby!

1. Location

Location! Location! Location!

Location is super important and effects everything in a giving situation. Whether surviving or having some fun, location will determine how you proceed.

For example, let’s say you’re wanting to build a lean-to with a dense layer of tree limbs. This is going to be difficult in a desert. There isn’t exactly a forest just laying around waiting to be harvested. Also, choosing a spot to hunker down in that is far away from a water source will make things a lot more challenging in the long term. Speaking of water, look for flood spots before you set up a camp. The last things you want is to be washed away and wet after exerting so much energy in preparing a camp.

Local Plant Life

So, we mentioned trees in the desert. The vegetation in your area will play a big role on how you create a shelter and what you can eat. Before going to a location, learn the local species of plant life. Certain fibrous plants can provide things like cordage and others, nutrients.

Gathering is an easy and fast way of getting the nutrients you need to survive. This can help in a pinch and can help keep you going longer in a difficult situation. It’s important in moments of desperation to seriously think about what you’re putting into your mouth though. You don’t want to just go popping random plants in your mouth that you have no idea about. Being poisoned while surviving or having fun is not something you want to get into. I can’t stress this enough. Becoming sick will greatly hinder your chance of survival.

Plant life can determine what kind of animals will be in the area. I don’t know why I keep mentioning the desert but you’re not going to find a grizzly in the desert. Some plants attract certain wildlife. This can be a warning to stay clear of the area, or to inform of possible animals to hunt. Studying the area you will be in will get you a step ahead in your situation.

Local Wildlife

Animals can provide food, but a lot can harm you. I know where I live in Texas, there are all kinds of things that could harm and even kill me if I’m not careful. I’ll provide a little info on some animals in my area to give you a general idea of what to look for.

So, there are little guys called spiders. I know I’ve seen brown recluse, and black widow. To my knowledge these are the most dangerous compared to other spiders here. These guys can be in and outdoors. A bite from these guys will make your day miserable. There are way worse spiders in other areas of the world but we’re sticking to Texas for now.

Next, let’s talk about scorpions. These little guys blend in so well, I’ve nearly stepped on one barefoot before. Watch out, in other areas like Arizona, the smaller ones are very deadly, so don’t go playing with one. Scorpions and the spiders I mentioned before can be found in crevasses and dark locations. Be careful where you decide to bed down.

Let’s talk snakes. There are many rattlesnakes where I live. So many in fact we have rattlesnake roundups. It’s a Texas thing, we’re crazy. Other snakes that I know of are cotton mouths and copperheads. In my personal experience, I’ve seen rattlesnakes the most. The important thing regarding any snake is to know the local species in case of a bite, and tread carefully. Wear thick boots, they could save your life.

One large predator worth mentioning is the mountain lion or as we like to call in Texas, the Cougar. This large cat is not something you want to run into at night, or in the day for that matter. They are shy and usually you wouldn’t even know they’re there. They have been known to attack people but generally keep clear. To give you an idea, in my area there were Cougars near all of our houses. In all my years right next to the woods, I never saw one. Even cameras rarely picked up one. There are smaller more deadly critters to worry about like snakes.

I’ve talked about some of the local species where I live but I want to point out some of the things that could just as easily harm or even kill you. These are bugs and smaller rodents. Bugs like wasps and bees could end up stinging you to death in certain circumstances. This is especially no Bueno if you’re allergic. A tiny infected bite while trying to survive could kill you. A bite from a racoon or something similar could end up giving you rabies. That’s the last thing you want to happen regardless if you’re out there for fun or not.

There are many animals that could harm or even kill you, so I’ve just named a few that are local to me. Just do your research and treat any wild animal as dangerous. Even safe looking herbivorous animals can be just as deadly as large predators. A couple of examples are the hippopotamus and buffalo. These animals are considered more dangerous than a lot of the predators that live in their area.

The majority of the time you’re going to be safe. Keep your distance, be cautious, and don’t go sticking your hand under random rocks and you’ll fine.

2. Skills

Okay, enough of trying to scare you.Let’s talk about some useful and fun Buschcraft skills you can learn.

Medical

I wanted to start with this because it’s so important even when you’re not out there in the wild. I’d say lean how to use a tourniquet and CPR. These are life saving techniques that have saved many lives. Some plants can be used to medicinal use. No, Marijuana wouldn’t not be the smartest idea if you’re trying to survive. Having a first aid kit or even a more in-depth medicine bag couldn’t hurt. I would recommend having one ready to use for any recreational or emergency situation.

Make a Fire

This is a huge skill that can be harder than you think. This can be number one on the list depending on priorities. It can affect all the other skills you might use in any given scenario. Taking a lighter out of the situation, making a fire can be daunting. Don’t worry, people have been doing it long before we even thought about lighters. There is a more in-depth post about making fires here you might be interested in.

One way to make a fire while not having anything but your hands is by using a bow drill. This is a hard skill to master but a useful one. It uses friction to make the fire. It involves a simple bow, a spindle, a base plate, and a little bit of tinder. First, create a starting hole in the base plate and a small notch for the ember to start at. By moving the bow horizontal across the spindle, you create a sort of drill. The friction against the base plate can cause an ember to form. An ember is just a tiny burning coal. Think of a fire that has died down a little but still has glowing coals. By carefully placing your ember into your tinder you can start a flame and then your fire. I hope I didn’t confuse you. I’m a visual learner so seeing a picture or better a video would help explain things better.

Another tool you could use is a flint and steel. I like this, mainly because I’m lazy, tool and keep it in my personal kit. Basically, by creating sparks from rubbing something steel like a knife against your flint, one can light their tinder source and build a fire. This is a lot faster than a bow drill.

Another fast way of lighting a fire is by using a battery and some foil. With a little practice, one can get the right shape of the foil and create a fire in no time. Another backup could be a magnifying glass. Yes, the one you fry ants with. This solely depends on the sun, however.

A good tip is to have all of the wood you will use for the fire already prepared. You don’t want all that work you put into starting the fire to go to waste while you’re out finding a fuel source. There are a lot of different fire building guides. A simple teepee style will work just fine. I wouldn’t worry too much about how you build the fire at the beginning as long as you can start one with no problems. Wood will burn.

Placing fire retardant materials like rocks around your fire can help prevent accidental spreading. Also, using the heated rocks around the fire can actually provide some hot stones to put in your bed to stay warm. Make sure you don’t burn yourself in the process. Safe to hand touch is acceptable.

Water

You can’t survive long without water. Before we go into acquiring some, please pack water in whatever pack you may bring. Sodas or tea will not provide the hydration that plain water does. This has been scientifically proven so think before you pack some sugary goodness as your only source of hydration.

The recent invention of the Life Straw is probably one of the quickest ways of getting drinkable water. Of course, there are water tablets and boiling the water. This is where that fire could come in handy. I would recommend boiling whatever water you find regardless of the tool you use to purify it.

Some water filtration systems out there work great and are compact. A natural water filtration system is a great skill to have in one’s repertoire. This can be a more complicated set up. I’ve honestly never created a natural water filtration system, but I know you can use some charcoal from that fire you created. This helps purify the water.

Back to location, this will determine if you can use a water source at all. Also, location will help you find water and know where to look. Studying a map of your local area before taking off is a plus. Stagnant water is never a good sign. Be careful when using dark, algae filled water. Even fast-moving streams I’ve seen people drink directly from in the mountains should always be assumed unsafe until boiled.

Crafting

This is my favorite skill. Crafting the necessary tools and resources you need will enhance your skills and survivability. A fun thing to make with fibrous plants is cordage. Here is a great article on making cordage without any tools handy.

Stones can be used for cutting and fire making. Flint is an excellent tool to help make a fire. Cutting a long pole can create a spear. This simple tool can be used for so many things. There are many types of spears for different scenarios. This tried tool is an old but excellent way of getting other resources and defense.

A lengthier project would be to craft a bow drill like we talked about earlier. This can be used to start a fire. A simple but effective tool a lot of people don’t think about is a hammer. Using a log, one can create a simple club used for building and further processing of materials.

Antlers and bones provide a hard-durable source for materials. Small, sharp bones can be used as fishhooks.

If you want an extra challenge, using clay to make pottery is a fascinating skill that I unfortunately have not acquired. This calls for patience, a lot of resources, and a furnace. One great example of a homemade furnace out of clay can be found on the Primitive Survival channel on YouTube. I will talk about him later on.

3. Gear

For those that have the proper knowledge and skills, gear can be used to speed things up. Also, having proper gear you know how to use could save your life in an actual survival scenario.

Knife

A stone knife could be made, or you can bring a steel knife. Pocket knives can help in a pinch but a medium sized knife I would recommend. A large machete might be could in dense areas but for practical use, something that isn’t super small or huge will work just fine. I knife can be used as a splitter for smaller tree limbs, to drill if necessary, and processing game. A knife can also be used to cut down plants and as a little bit of leverage. The uses of a knife are endless. Having a proper knife can be lifesaving.

Axe

This is an excellent tool for gathering wood and resources. It can also be used for processing. Having a sharpener with you is handy. Being able to cut down trees and process them for your fire or shelter is very useful. It’s also a lot easier to do this with an axe instead of just having an axe. Some people use a saw. I think both tools have their place and you could even bring both depending on what you’re trying to accomplish.

Fire Starter

We’ve mentioned a flint and steel. This can be a great why of lighting a fire or just bring a lighter. I’ve even seen people use lighter fluid and just ignite the fire with a boom. I would recommend being safe and bring all forms of lighting a fire. Most fire lighting tools aren’t that big and are easily transportable.

Cooking Gear

This is turning into a camping trip checklist😊. A simple cooking pot can be used to cook food and boil water. Utensils are great. It’s kind hard to eat piping hot stew with your hands. Don’t overdo things. Having six different sized pots clanking around on your pack is inefficient and can be annoying if we’re being honest here. A portable grill cover is also very handy.

Rucksack

There are so many brands and styles of a pack you could acquire. The main thing I look into is durability. Just because you have name brand pack doesn’t mean it’s going to last for very long. Something comfortable that will store your gear and is reliable is all you need.

Water Purifier

There are filtration systems that can be easily stored in one’s pack. Water purification tablets aren’t big and don’t take up much room so I would pack those as well.

Clothing

Clothing should be done in layers. I would be prepared for any kind of weather. Keep in mind the weight. I wouldn’t go bringing a heavy winter coat in the middle of July in Texas. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever needed one here…

Distress signals

This can be as simple as a small mirror. Using the sun again you can reflect a bright light to gain rescuers attention. Flairs to take up a lot of room. Chem lights can be useful if you’re travelling at night or with a group. A radio can be useful. Telling people where you’re going is probably one of the most useful things you can do.

There are many different gear items you could take on your journeys. Don’t overladen yourself with gear you won’t use. If you can survive with no gear at all, just think how useless all that extra gear you bought from the store will be. Don’t get me wrong, gear is important. Just be efficient and bring things you actually NEED.

4. Shelter

So, you have all this knowledge, gear and skills. Let’s make a shelter. A simple shelter can keep you safe until help arrives, or a larger one if you know you won’t be leaving any time soon. A post on creating a shelter using only natural resources can be found here.

One of the most common shelters you can make is a lean-to. The design is in the name. By leaning wood poles against a strong base you’ll create a sort of triangle prism. Thing of the slash on your keyboard against a vertical line. One big tip I’ve learned from personal experience is more is not always better. Just because you’ve added a ton of branches to your lean-to doesn’t mean you will have insulation. Also, don’t forget about the ground. A ton of insulation means nothing if you’re lying on a cold, damp ground.

The simplest shelter there is requires no skill at all. This can be a natural cave. Be careful of dampness and critters though. A vehicle can also provide shelter. It provides great wind and rain blockage and you also have a cushioned bed to sleep on.

A lot of people, including me, like to build intricate shelters for fun. This can teach you some things as well as provide an interesting project for your hobby.

5. Bushcraft YouTube

A picture speaks louder than words so how about a video? YouTube is an excellent source for knowledge about Bushcraft and well, everything else. Below are just a few Bush crafters that I personally enjoy and would recommend watching. They explain things a lot better than I could. I am in no way sponsored by the channels below. I just generally enjoy them and hope to share some knowledge. Links will be provided.

Fowler’s Makery and Mischief

Zachary Fowler from Main is one of my favorite channels to watch. Among his accomplishments include winning History Channels Alone Season 3. He recently did a 30-day survival challenge in my state in Austin, Texas. He has some incredible knowledge and I like the honesty he shows while on his adventures.

TA Outdoors

Coming all the way from the UK we have TA Outdoors! If you want to see some impressive builds look no further! This is one of the most entertaining channels that I follow. Whether it be his dad or friends he brings along, you will not be bored with these videos.

Joe Robinet

We’re all over the place. Our next spot is Canada. This channel was one of the first I found out about on Bushcraft. This man does some pretty cool solo camps. I specifically enjoy his using a canoe to travel to his spots and traverse the water. Knowing the fastest way to your location is via ice cold water is exciting.

Primitive Technology

This is skills at their most primitive state. This guy managed to make metal tools using the resources he had around him. If you want to see some amazing things made using only wits and hands, you’re in the right spot. Among the other things made are simple shelters, clay bricks and bowls, a farm, and many more.

My Self Reliance

The skills displayed in these videos are a sight to behold. One of the most major projects and a pillar of what this channel is about is a hand made log cabin. Everything in this project was made without the use of machinery. Hand tools were only used. This is a fine example of craftsmanship.

Wildwoman Bushcraft

This is a channel that is newer to my attention. Who says women can’t join in on the fun? I’ve honestly never seen a ton of videos from this channel, but it seemed to be a popular, growing channel on Bushcraft so I decided to add it to the list.

I know there are many other channels to look into, but I’ve listed the ones I’m personally familiar with and watch with the Wildwoman Bushcraft channel as an exception.

6. Books

Like to read? Here are some popular, more in depth books on things regarding Bushcraft. I will provide some links. All of these books can be found on Amazon if you would rather look them up yourself and not use the links below.

How to Stay Alive in the woods

Bushcraft 101

Bushcraft Illustrated

7. Efficiency is key

I think a big takeaway from the skills listed above is efficiency. Yes, you could try to chop down a tree with a knife, but this isn’t practical. Know how to use the tools and skills you have. If it takes you an hour to light a fire with a lighter, you probably need to do some more learning. Trial and error can be a great teacher.

8. Be prepared

It doesn’t matter how much you have read and researched. There can always be accidents. The important thing is to be ready for them. Experience is a great teacher.

Know where you are

Know about the location you will be in. Google is right at your fingertips. If you know you’ll be at a remote location know proper survival skills to get you and others back to safety. Don’t try to do an extreme solo trip if you don’t even know what a tinder is. Know the local plant and animal life to keep your safety. Even if you have gear and resources out the wazoo, always be ready and prepared for the worst. Start small and work your way up. Asking some people that have gone and done some crazy trips will provide much more valuable information than what this post could. By taking things one step at a time, you’ll be Bear Grylls in no time. 😊

Tell others where you are

This is especially if you’ll be alone. Regardless of your skill and experience level, others should know where you will be. There are a lot of stories of freak accidents where people got stranded and others didn’t know to even look for them. Time frames can be a life saver. Having proper communication is key.

Personal Experience

I recall a time when I was younger and not to acquainted with these protocols. There was some land behind my house of several hundred acres. I love exploring so curiosity got the best of me. Without telling anyone at all I set out to see what things I could find out in the woods. In my mind, going in a straight line would make it easy to get back to my home. Needless to say, it was not at all as easy as I had anticipated. Looking back, I probably only walked a mile or less into the unknown territory. I was having fun spotting some jackrabbits when I realized I had no idea what direction was back. Everything seemed to look the same. I tried to find some landmarks to no avail. I wondered around for what seemed an eternity. I had no cell phone or anything to communicate with. I started to panic which was another mistake. I remembered there was a highway that ran the border of the property. I set off in the general direction I thought was towards this and listened hopefully for any cars. Thanks God a semi came rolling by and his loud noises helped me pinpoint the highway. After emerging from the trees, I found I was way off of what I thought was the way back. Following the highway, I made it home.

This was in a comparatively small area. I can’t imagine what would have happened in a larger more remote location. Needless to say, I definitely learned my lesson. Always be prepared and tell people where you are. There are so many scenarios that could happen. Just off the top of my head, what would have happened if I had gotten too close to a snake? Planning for scenarios like this could save your life and prevent unwanted injuries.

Have Fun!

I am in no way an expert in the explained material. I hope that some valuable information was attained, and you learned something different today. There is so much more depth to be attained in Bushcraft so I would recommend doing some more research and trying things yourself. This is something that can be invaluable in a survival scenario. Also, this can be fun! There’s nothing like drinking some hot coffee by an open fire under a shelter you made with your own two hands. Be safe and have fun!