Samuel 
As we’ve talked about before, cold is one of the quickest killers. Exposure to cold can kill you in only a few hours. Building a shelter and starting a fire should be your first priorities, especially at night, but you can’t always just wait for rescue to come. In order to get out of a … Read more
Most people might think of squirrels or birds when they think of small game in a survival situation. But you might have to think a lot smaller than that in some cases. If you have no weapon, and if your situation doesn’t allow for you to spend time manufacturing one or setting traps, then perhaps … Read more
Sometimes it’s skills and not supplies that can save a life. One such example is learning how to perform CPR. CPR, or cardiopulmonary resurrection, can be the difference between life and death in a variety of scenarios ranging from heart attacks, accidents, near drownings, suffocations, smoke inhalation, and electric shock (including lightning strikes). Even now, … Read more
A blowgun is probably not the first weapon that comes to mind when you think about prepping for survival. And while there are weapons that might be higher on the list, a blowgun is not without its advantages. This is a list of some of the reasons that you should consider adding a blowgun to your … Read more
Whether you are looking for food in the wilderness or in a post disaster urban setting, small game like rats, rabbits, and squirrels are going to be on the menu more often than large game like elk or deer. But what if you have succeeded in catching or trapping small game, but you don’t have … Read more
If you are in a location where the weather is getting cold, and you are in a survival scenario, things can start to look grim pretty quickly. However, there are some things you can do as a means to improve your survival capabilities. Let’s look at some quick and easy cold weather survival tips you … Read more
You are a prepper, or at least you think you are. You’ve been acquiring knowledge regarding survival in a variety of situations, and you have been collecting the gear and goods that you need. You have what you feel is the right equipment, and you believe that you are ready for anything that might come … Read more
In a survival situation, especially when you have to survive for a long period of time without the ability to run down to the grocery store, you need to hunt for your own food. Many people consider themselves hunters and they feel that they would be perfectly fine in a survival situation. Of course, you … Read more
I recently came across this very cool video on how to make a “stealth shelf” in your home. It is a great way to hide cash, jewelry, valuable medical supplies, weapons, whatever. It’s a great idea to have as much of your survival stash as possible hidden in various places to reduce the likelihood of … Read more
With the threats of Islamic terrorism and rising violent crime rates first-time gun ownership is also understandably on the rise. Thousands of Americans that never thought they would even own a gun are now considering carry a handgun with them everywhere they go for personal protection. This can be an intimidating concept for those … Read more
Whether you are stranded in the wilderness or fleeing an urban area due to disaster of any sort, you need to figure out your destination and how you are going to get there. Having a map and compass, and knowing how to read them, will give you the knowledge you need to find water, populated … Read more
For those that don’t watch the news much, there has been an increase in the frequency and tone of talks regarding nuclear war from highly powerful people. Now, there’s no reason to freak out, but it is very important to be aware and be prepared. Whether or not we end up in a nuclear conflict … Read more
If you are in a wilderness survival situation, or in a disaster area, getting help is a high priority. You or someone you are with might be injured or sick and not able to travel, you could be lost, or you could be weakened from prolonged dehydration or hunger. Whatever the reason, you will want … Read more
If you are stranded in the wilderness fighting for your survival, or trying to live in the wilderness long term, transportation is a must. You will only be able to travel 10 miles a day on foot, and that is over good ground with a light pack. But on the water, you can travel 30 … Read more
Life is dependent upon water, so when you find a source of water in the wilderness, chances are it’s a good place to look for your food too. There are numerous designs for fish traps, and in this article, we’ll be talking about a static funnel fish trap. How it Works A static … Read more
Injuries in the wilderness can turn a hike or a camping trip into a fight for your life instantly. The pain alone can immobilize you, leaving you stranded. The risk for infection is high if the fracture has punctured the skin. A broken bone can even severe an artery and cause massive bleeding which could … Read more
In most survival situations finding water is the hard part, then all you need to do is treat it, filter it, or boil it (or hope for the best if you can’t do any of those). But if you are near the coast, or in an area that has been hit by a hurricane or … Read more
Learning how to identify the edible and poisonous plants in your local area is always a good idea. But what if you find yourself in an area you are not familiar with and in need of food to survive? You can follow the steps in the “universal edibility test” to determine of the plant is … Read more
If things always went your way you would never need to worry about how to survive in the wilderness. But since things don’t always go your way, you need to have a plan, and a backup plan when that doesn’t work. It’s not enough to know how to start a fire in ideal conditions, if … Read more
As with all of your tools, paracord can help to save your life, but it will only be as effective as you are skilled with it. Not every situation calls for a slip knot, or three slip knots on top of each other. To get the most out of your paracord spend some time practicing … Read more
Whether for hunting or defense, a bow is a great tool to have with you in any survival situation. But a bow is a little big to put in your pocket as part of your everyday carry. Being able to make one from materials available to you in the wilderness will insure that you always … Read more
Shelter and water come first in survival, but sooner or later you will need to eat. Large game is not always an option, you could be unarmed when forced into your survival situation, you might not want others to hear a gun shot, you might be limited on your ammunition, or there might not be … Read more
Knowing how to start a fire and having the tools to get it going are not always going to be enough. You might find that you don’t have very much wood available, or that the wood you do have for fuel is too wet. Here are some tips on how to make the most out … Read more
It is estimated that the average American will see 200,000 images of violence in the media by the age of 18. Putting aside the moral implications of this, because that’s a whole other topic, there is another result these images will have on the viewer. Namely, they will have a completely unrealistic concept of fighting … Read more
One of the most important decisions to make in your preparations for survival is whether you should stay in place or head for the hills. In this article I am not attempting to advocate either option as a one-size-fits-all solution to any situation. This is simply meant to show the benefits to, and limitations … Read more
Humans are at the top of the food chain due to our intellect and social structure, not necessarily our physical prowess. When you are in the wilderness, or even outdoors in your neighborhood, you can come in contact with animals that have the potential to kill you. Here are a few tips on how to … Read more
One of the biggest concerns for long-term self-reliance or survival is energy. Most energy sources that we rely on seem to be finite. Gasoline, propane, coal, even wood, all will run out at some point and are difficult to regenerate. Batteries in particular run out quickly, and rechargeable batteries can be costly and unreliable. But what … Read more
Whether you currently live in an area with vast wilderness and need to keep a pack with supplies in your vehicle all the time in case of emergency, or if your disaster plan is to get out of the urban area you live in and head for the hills, here is a list of … Read more
If you are outside when a thunderstorm comes, the safest thing you can do is to get inside a house or a car. But these options will not always be available to you. Whether you are hiking, camping, or already struggling for survival while stranded in the wilderness, you will be without any meaningful safe … Read more
For the first time in decades, violent crime rates are on the rise. This is not a trend likely to change if the availability of life-sustaining resources is limited by any number of possible disasters. If you want to survive, finding water, shelter, and food is only going to be the beginning. You will have … Read more
It can take 3 weeks to die of starvation, 3 days to die of dehydration, but in cold weather you can die in 3 hours from exposure. Shelter is the number one priority in any cold weather survival scenario. Not every situation will offer the same resources or have the same threats, but these are … Read more
Making it through a disaster can be just the beginning. Cut off from power, water, and medical resources, your life can still be in danger for some time. During this period the risk of contracting an infection increase, as do the potential complications of an infection. Without access to medicine, and perhaps with the need … Read more
Not all fires are created equal. If all you know is the standard teepee style campfire, then your fire skills might be a bit lacking. In this article, we will take a look at the Dakota fire hole, how to make one, and its strengths and weaknesses. How to Build a Dakota Fire Hole The … Read more
Chances are, you’ve already got a big jar of petroleum jelly in your bathroom. But did you know that you should have one in your survival stash or bug-out bag as well? This is a list of a few survival uses for petroleum jelly that might raise your appreciation for the seldom used, 12-year-old jar … Read more
If you have never used a rocket stove it is difficult to believe how little fuel can be used to effectively cook your food. A rocket stove will not be a replacement for your indoor cast iron stove, but it is a great supplement for when your fuel is getting low, days are getting warmer … Read more
With Hurricane Matthew closing in on the east coast, hurricane preparedness is on everyone’s mind. It’s important to inform yourself on what to expect and how to prepare. High winds are what most people think of when it comes to hurricanes, and while they do pose a threat, wind is one of the least dangerous … Read more
Being able to quickly exit a car that is being submerged in water is very important to know how to do should your area be threatened by a hurricane, as there is often severe flooding following. There are of course other instances in which this might happen, so everyone should know what to do. Recently … Read more
When disaster strikes and you are searching for resources, locks are going to be obstacles between you and what you need. But that doesn’t mean that you won’t want to make use of the locks yourself. Learning how to bypass locks in ways that leave them intact for your future use is a skill … Read more
With violent crime back on the rise, terrorism, and an increasing trend of lawlessness, it’s no wonder that first-time gun ownership is on the rise in America. Many people who had previously never considered owning a firearm are now looking to be caring a handgun for personal protection. But carrying it is not going to … Read more
Residents of Florida are used to hurricanes, but it’s always big news when a major one is headed towards any part of the US. And for good reason, one advantage hurricanes have over other natural disasters is that there’s plenty of time to prepare. This doesn’t make them any less dangerous, of course, but the … Read more