Ham radios might seem like a relic of the past to you, but if you’re preparing for disaster, you might want to consider looking into getting yourself set up with a Ham radio system. Ham radios, also called Amateur Radio Service, is a 2-way radio system between yourself and other operators of ham radios. It … Read more
Ideally, you’ll always have a firearm or knife when stranded in the wilderness or stuck in a precarious situation in which we had to defend our own life. But of course, you never know when you might find yourself without a man-made weapon, and you’ll have to improvise. These are a few ideas for ways … Read more
If you’re one of the millions of Americans who hates the time changes of daylight savings, it probably will not surprise you to hear the conclusion of a recent study on the effects of daylight savings on the body. Not only is the practice of changing clocks each fall and spring annoying and disruptive, it’s also … Read more
If you find yourself trekking across long distances or happen to be in a very wet environment, you might be faced with the difficult task of crossing very moist, muddy ground. Any veteran who’s been in a tropical battle zone can probably tell you how dangerous this ground can be. A muddy path doesn’t seem … Read more
Heavy weather has pounded the South American country of Chile this week, leaving millions without water. Heavy rains during the normally dry summer months has damaged the water supply to the capital city of Santiago, and officials are struggling to make the necessary repairs on time. Three people were killed, 19 are missing, and over 350 … Read more
Whether you are in a survival scenario or you are just out for a hike with some friends, you need to take precautions against the heat. The world experienced the hottest year on record, and it doesn’t look like things are going to be letting up for a while. The following are some tips that … Read more
When disaster strikes, one of your top concerns once your initial security is ensured will be to get a meal together for your family. But what kind of food should you be storing, and how essential is being able to cook it anyway? You might be tempted to stock up on jerky, nuts, and other long-lasting … Read more
Women have a unique challenge for preparedness in terms of safety. There are many ways to defend oneself and train for physical defense and endurance, but there might come a time in a post-disaster scenario when masking one’s gender just might be the most prudent thing to do. This certainly won’t replace regular self-defense preparedness, … Read more
Preppers have recently assumed the nickname “doomsday” preppers, because, in a lot of cases, that’s what many people are preparing for, or at least that’s what non-preppers perceive it as. Eschatologically speaking, the ultimate doomsday/apocalypse from the Bible isn’t something you’ll necessarily survive, to get technical, so what is it we are prepping for? Well, to be … Read more
Learning how to tie knots is crucial, and back in the day, many little boys would learn their share of scout knots that would be useful throughout life. These days, knot tying isn’t really taught anymore, but for survival, it can be a really great skill to have. There are a ton of suggestions for … Read more
Self-defense is a huge element of survival, not just in a world after the SHTF, but in today’s very dangerous society. To make things clear up front, typical martial arts just aren’t going to do the trick when you are fighting for your life. Perhaps someone with 20 years of experience in a martial art … Read more
If you have looked online or in stores for a first aid kit of any real worth you have probably noticed the price tag. Kits of any kind tend to be overpriced for the purpose of convenience, but overpaying and not getting everything you need isn’t necessary. If there is a dollar store in your … Read more
Last month, 77-year-old Paul Meiling from Utah was driving on a snowy side road in an isolated area of Idaho when his truck became stuck. Temperatures were well below freezing while he was stranded for days, but Meiling was able to survive by taking shelter in an abandoned farmhouse nearby and starting a fire. … Read more
If you are just getting into living a prepared lifestyle it can be difficult to know where to start. Developing goals or milestones in your preparedness can help you stay on track in a practical way and avoid a one-dimensional or incomplete strategy that can drain your budget long before it offers any real … Read more
60-year-old Wally Fosmore was snowshoeing in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in Washington state when he took a wrong turn and got lost in a blizzard. He was at one point able to reach his son using his cell phone and was reported missing. But the rescuers were not able to search for him because the area he was … Read more
This year we have seen wildfires all over the globe. Whether caused by natural factors like prolonged dry weather and lightning, accidents like fallen power lines in California, troublesome kids in Tennessee, or potential acts of terrorism in Israel, the result will always be deadly. The only good thing about wildfires is that they usually … Read more
An economic crash, or currency devaluation could cause as many deaths as any natural disaster. The irony being that all the actual resources are still there, but without currency to lubricate the flow of goods and services those resources will be largely unavailable. But like all disasters, even economic ones can be prepared for so … Read more
In a post-disaster scenario when resources and not being resupplied and there is an interruption or full breakdown in law and order, your biggest threat will come from other people. People who have not properly prepared themselves will want to take what you have, those that have not developed their skills will rely solely upon … Read more
This brave guy was kind enough to demonstrate how to survive falling through the ice of a frozen lake. In the video below he outlines 3 different methods to get out alive. Although, the last one requires the assistance of the local fire department and won’t be of much help in the wild. A few … 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
Human rights organizations inevitably report higher instances of sexual assault and attacks on women after disasters. With the interruption of law and order, predators will be emboldened. If you are a woman, or if you have women with you, especially younger women, steps will need to be taken to protect them from the elevated threat … Read more
One of the biggest mistakes that some of the survivalists out there make is with their bug out vehicle. They go overboard and buy something ostentatious like a Hummer decked out with “survival accessories”. Some even advertise that they are preppers right on the vehicle. These tend to be the same preppers who go overboard … Read more
When you need to make fire, one of the most important elements is some good tinder. We feel it’s important to always have some tinder material available. Put it in some airtight containers, such as an old Altoids tin and put it your bug out bag, your tackle box, your hiking pants pockets, your car … Read more
The physical threats to your survival like temperature loss, dehydration, or starvation are obvious to just about anyone. But less obvious, and just as dangerous are the psychological factors that can erode your ability, and even your will to survive. Just as with the physical threats, the psychological threats to your survival can be dealt … Read more
When there is any other option, it’s always advisable to stay out of a conflict and to avoid a deadly encounter. If we see a situation that might escalate we should call law enforcement. But is situations after a disaster or in any “grid down” scenario, law enforcement might be overwhelmed or otherwise unable to … Read more
Morse code was developed in the 1830’s to transmit language over the then new telegraph. The basic premise of Morse code is similar to binary code, using on and off. The main difference is that Morse code has a “long on”, represented as a dash, and a “short on”, represented by a dot, with blank … Read more
Despite what Tim Kaine thinks, guns weren’t responsible for the terrorist attack at Ohio State University yesterday. In fact, a gun is what stopped that attack, luckily before any victims could be killed. But with idiots like Tim Kaine running around creating “gun free” and target rich environments knowing how to defend yourself against … Read more
Having an ax in the wilderness can be the difference between surviving or thriving. But like all gear, it can’t take care of you if you don’t take care of it. To keep your ax in optimal shape for a long life (of both your ax and you), follow these easy steps. Handle These … Read more
Out of all natural disasters, earthquakes are by far the deadliest. They come with absolutely no warning, and have the power to shake infrastructure to the ground. If you live in an area that is at risk for earthquakes preparation is a must and decisive action are musts. Here are some ways that you can … Read more
Small game traps like dead falls are effective tools, but few bush craft tools are as effective or as versatile as nets. Nets can be made from any cordage with the techniques demonstrated in this video, and even the cordage can be manufactured from wilderness materials if you needed to. Nets can used to catch … Read more
Clear, clean-flowing steams will not always be available to you if you are in a wilderness survival situation. Even if you do come across a source of water that looks clean, you would still have to boil, filter, or treat the water before consuming it to avoid dangerous parasites such as cryptosporidium. This may be … Read more
Rules exist in combat sports like MMA and boxing for a reason, mainly to protect the fighters from serious injury or death. But there are no rules on the street, and if you are being attacked you aren’t going to have the luxury of being able to tap, or having the ref stop the fight … Read more
In the last couple of articles, we’ve talked about how to get water from vines if you can’t drink ground water, and how to manufacture a bowl to store or transport water without a modern container. But, what if you do have ground water, and no container to boil water in? You don’t have … Read more
You’ve trained for years. You can walk with an 80-pound pack for miles without breaking a sweat and you can shoot the wings off a fly at 50 yards. You have planned your bug out perfectly. There’s nothing that can stand in your way. Then you feel a gentle tug at your hand and look … Read more
If you have been watching the news much, no matter which outlet you have been getting it from, you have undoubtedly heard plenty of fear mongering over potential consequences of the outcome of the upcoming election. Liberal media will tell you that Trump’s policies will cost jobs; conservative sources will warn of government paralysis if … Read more
Flint knapping is the bush craft art of making cutting tools from larger pieces of rocks like obsidian that fracture into small, sharp pieces when struck carefully on the edge. With the importance of cutting tools like knife blades and arrowheads in wilderness survival, this is an excellent skill to practice. Even if you have … Read more
Tips for Making Feather Sticks Feather sticks are bush craft fire starters that can be quickly manufactured on the spot using only a knife. They are most useful in damp conditions when dry tinder is not available. The basic premise is to use a knife to carefully create wood shavings that remain attached to … Read more
Whether you are traveling by air, driving, or anything else, the laws that govern carrying and transporting weapons are not going to make it easy for you to defend yourself. Unfortunately, the criminals where you are headed are not as likely to be concerned about the laws as you are, and you will be more … Read more
As a defender and not an attacker you will always be at a disadvantage since the attack will always come from an ambush and not with a gentleman’s “on guard” warning. But just because a potential attacker doesn’t want you to know that they are planning an attack doesn’t mean that you can’t see it … Read more
The last thing you need when hunting in a survival scenario is getting injured or sick from your would be prey. Knowing the physical characteristics of safe prey and potentially dangerous animals is a vital bit of knowledge that can keep you safe from further danger in an already precarious situation. These are just a … Read more