The Mojave scissor trap is a highly effective small game trap that is known to us because of the natives of the American South West. One great thing about the Mojave scissor trap is that it is possible to build using only material that can be gathered from the wild unlike snare traps that … Read more
Chickweed, or Stellaria Media, is a prolific wild edible green. In most areas Chickweed is an early spring crop, that prefers to grow in partial shade, but in warm areas with enough moisture it is capable of growing year round. Chickweed can be identified by its alternating pairs of egg shaped leaves, small white … Read more
Food stores run out, as does ammunition, and snares are quieter than gun shots. Whether lost in the wilderness, struggling after an urban disaster, or if you have intentionally fled into the wild, trapping is a skill that you will need to be able to implement if you hope to have a sustainable supply … Read more
Purslane or Portulaca oleracea, is an annual succulent wild edible green that is usually considered a weed. It can be identified by its thick, succulent leaves that alternate on its tender, reddish stems. It has small yellow flowers that can be found year round depending on the weather conditions of the region. While the unappreciative … Read more
Trout lilies are in the Erythronium genus along with 30 other species of flowers. They grow in temperate forests and meadows throughout the Northern Hemisphere, typically flowering in the spring. They can vary greatly in flower color, but they tend to have a six petal flower with a speckled center, two oblong leaves with … Read more
When most people of clams they think of the beach and the ocean, but there are hundreds of freshwater species of clams and mussels in North America. They should not be overlooked as a potential survival food. They can be found in muddy banks of rivers, and unlike fish, you will not need any … Read more
Yucca plants are usually associated with their native arid environments, but they actually grow as far North as Alberta Canada, and into the semi-tropical and temperate areas of North America. The ability to find these plants all over the continent makes them ideal for survival since you are likely to come in contact with … Read more
Miner’s lettuce, or Claytonia perfoliata, is a dark leafy green wild edible. The common name comes from its widespread consumption by miners during the California gold rush years. Here are some of the characteristics and benefits of miner’s lettuce that make it a valuable addition to anyone’s survival menu. Miner’s lettuce is available from … Read more
Watercress is a nutrient rich, and widely available wild edible. It grows in moving water and can be found year round in most areas, as long as the water continues to flow. It is related to other cultivated vegetables such as mustard and wasabi. Other than the leaf pattern it can be identified by … Read more
Ground Cherry is the common name given to a variety of different species of plants in the Physalis genus. They are related to tomatoes and therefore have several visible similarities that make them easy to spot, though specifics will differ from species to species. Ground cherries grow wild all over the world, though usually … Read more
Hog peanut is the common name of Amphicarpaea bracteate. It is a wild edible that grows in the forests of North America. Hog peanut produces both an edible root and edible seeds. Hog peanut is a member of the Legume family, same as beans and peas (and peanuts, which are not technically nuts). The vines … Read more
It is possible to walk right past food in the forest without ever knowing it. Not every wild edible is as noticeable as a tree full of ripe apples. One such plant that might be passed by without taking note of it despite its edibility is Medeola virginiana, better known as Indian cucumber. The edible … Read more
Broadleaf Arrowhead, or Sagittaria latifolia is a shallow wetland plant that can be found all over the globe. Broadleaf arrowhead produces green leaves which are edible, best when they are young and still curled, and more importantly an edible tuber. Even with nothing else available this plant offers enough nutrition, and can usually be found … Read more
It’s always nice in survival when you can get more than one use out of material you gather or from one plant or animal. Black walnut is a perfect example of this. It can be used medicinally, as well as provide food, and in long term survival it can even be used to help tan … Read more
Japanese Knotweed, or Fallopia japonica, is now an invasive weed that grows all over the earth. It’s stems and new shoots look similar to bamboo, though it is not related, while its leaves are much larger than bamboo leaves and are oval with truncated base. The new shoots can be harvested as a spring vegetable … Read more
The name is pretty self-explanatory. A throwing stick is a stick that you throw at things you want to eat. There’s a little more to using it successfully, but basically, you throw the stick at what you want dead. One of the animals that a throwing stick can be successfully used to hunt is … Read more
It would always be nice to come across a live chicken in a wilderness survival situation, but the next best thing is “chicken of the woods”. Not a chicken at all, it’s a mushroom, several species of mushrooms really, from the genus Laetiporus. They are commonly sought after edible mushrooms not only for their … Read more
While it might come just short of fulfilling the expectations one might have given it’s common name, Prunella Vulgaris, or “heal all”, is a great source of both wilderness survival food, and medicine. It is widely distributed throughout the world, being found in North American, Europe, and Asia. It can be found in grasslands, or … Read more
Insects are the most abundant forms of animal life on the planet, and should not be passed up as a source of food in the wilderness. Ants are a great insect for survival food because they make colonies with massive populations. But with their small size, it can be difficult to gather up enough … Read more
Having a stash of non-perishable food on hand is absolutely essential for preparedness. It’s probably the first thing new preppers start with. But there is some debate on what should make it into that supply, and what should be left out. Some people just have a hard time giving up their junk food despite … Read more
Pig nuts is not the most appetizing name, but Conopodium majus doesn’t sound that tasty either. Regardless of what you want to call them, pig nuts can be a great source of survival food in the wilderness. They can be found all over Europe and North America. You can gather then using only your fingers, … Read more
There is probably no category of knowledge with more myths stuffed in than survival skills. Survival myths are all over, they get repeated word of mouth around the campfire, find their way online (I’ve even repeated this one), and even taught by experienced survival trainers. How does this happen? Someone says something that sounds good, … Read more
The main advantages to survival in the tropics are warmer weather, higher availability of water, and higher availability of food. But simply because water and food are available doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be able to access them. Having the right equipment helps, but having the knowledge of what to look for and how … Read more
Canned food is some of the most common survival food there is, but there is one crucial tool you need: a can opener. So what if you don’t have one, or yours breaks when you need it the most? This amazing trick could literally save your life one day: you can actually open a can with … Read more
If you kill anything much larger than a squirrel you won’t be eating it all at once. If you manage to kill large game like deer, you could have meat enough for months. But without a refrigerator, the meat will spoil if you don’t properly preserve it. One of the oldest methods of preserving … Read more
Winter can be a tough time to survive in the wilderness. Not only will you initially face the dangers of hypothermia, but forests will seem to be completely barren and devoid of any source of food. While many wild edibles are going to be off the menu in winter, one of the best sources of … Read more
Knowing how to fish and trap meat is a lifesaving skill in wilderness survival, but there are a variety of circumstances that would not allow for one to take the time necessary to hunt or trap. Perhaps you are anticipating bad weather, you are injured, or you know that you are within several days journey … Read more
When it comes to prepping, you want have the right food stored. You also want to know what foods will last the longest. After all, one of the biggest problems that people have with food or emergency storage is the shelf life. When they are faced with a disaster, they may have goods that are … 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
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
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
Pemmican is a dehydrated survival superfood that is nutritionally complete and incredibly long-lasting. It is made with nothing else but lean meat, tallow, and berries. It was invented by the North American Plains Indians, as a way to store the meat through the winter. It quickly caught on with early Frontiersmen and even British explorers … Read more
Most people prepping and gearing up for survival know just how important it is to have a good supply of food on hand. However, even though they know they need a lot of food, they may not truly understand exactly how to go about doing it the right way. Let’s look at a few of … Read more
Sometimes, a cellar full of food isn’t the most viable option for your individual or family survival food needs. You might not have a cellar, you might not have the funds to fill your non-existent cellar with canned and dehydrated food, and you also probably anticipate being any number of different places when disaster strikes. … Read more
You want to have a bug out bag that is full of all the items you need for survival until you reach your bug out destination. Naturally, you need to have food in this bag. The food needs to be calorie dense and nutritious, and you don’t want it to be too heavy, as it … Read more
Once you have your food store, or as your food store grows (because what sensible prepper would stop storing food?) you have to learn to protect it from scavengers. And I don’t mean just Mad Max-type marauding bands of criminals, but from tiny little enemies as well. Rodents and insects can ruin your food supply. What … Read more
Rabbit starvation is a serious risk during survival situations. Read on to learn what it is and how to stock your survival stash so you don’t fall victim to it yourself. What is Rabbit Starvation? “Rabbit starvation” is a term used to describe a form of malnutrition caused by eating a diet high in protein … Read more
Sprouts are awesome. They’re jam-packed with crucial nutrients, they are ultra-rich in vitamin C and as they are living, growing plants, they also have cancer-fighting phytochemicals. They’re also great to grow in the winter months when fresh, local produce is hard to find and your garden is dormant. Sprouting seeds can also be stored in … Read more
When it comes to disaster, we want to be prepared for our whole family-pets included! Dogs and cats especially can be wonderful survival companions; dogs can alert you of intruders, and, depending on their breed, even protect you from them, while cats can protect your survival food supplies from rodents. Both dogs and cats provide … Read more
Some forms of technology will never be fully obsolete. These three primitive cooking methods are still great options for low-tech cooking. But what distinguishes these three methods of cooking is they can be done out in the wild, using nothing more than sticks, leaves, rocks and fire. Pit cooking Traditional in Hawaii and elsewhere in … Read more