Things You Can Learn from Camping That Will Make You a Better Prepper

Their are many things you can learn from camping that will make you better prepares. Nothing can replace the sheer teaching power of the experience. While you can read books upon books about camping and listen to friends that wax poetic about the bond between man and nature, only once you get a chance to test your survival skills in the wild – without electricity, a solid roof over your head, a flushable toilet and running water – will you get a chance to test your survival skills.

Every experienced camper will tell you that preparation is 60% of survival in the wild, so if you want to face the hardships of the wild head on, here are things you can learn from camping that will make you a better prepper. 

The Mechanics of Using Water

If you think that a tent is the most important piece of equipment to bring along for your camping trip, think again. If push comes to shove, you can always crash in your car, and while this is not exactly a coveted camping experience, it is functional. 

At the end of the day, the most important element in your camping setup is water. Ideally, you can bring several big plastic jugs and keep them nice and covered so they are protected from the sun. In addition, you can bring a portable fridge with bottles of cooled water, but the most eco-friendly practice would be to take a reusable bottle with you and just top it off from the jugs. 

Above all else, you need to ration your water since you also have to use it for washing dishes, equipment and, well, yourself. A prolonged camping trip will inevitably illustrate you just how difficult it is to store and ration water and prep you for whatever challenges come your way. 

Preparing a Meal

Initially, the idea of preparing a hot meal on your first camping trip might sound daunting; impossible even. However, preparing creative camping meals doesn’t require you to be a culinary expert and a survivalist all wrapped into one.  (Try my spam boxcars)

First of all, you should keep the meals as simple as possible, but make sure that they are nutritious. Beans come to mind in that case, and they are a perfect exemplar of both plain and nourishing. Second, do most of the preparation at home. The more effort you make in your kitchen, the more time you’ll have to relish in the wonders of nature. 

Keep in mind that meat, while delicious and appropriate for camping trips, is a bit messy to prep. While utensils and disposable plates are a must, do not forget to bring some basic cleaning supplies along, as well as wet wipes. 

Balancing Weight and Usefulness

Initially, you will either underpack or overpack – it is unavoidable. Supplies are heavy and you will learn this the hard way if you decide to go backpacking for your camping trip. The experience might encourage you to pack light next time, but this is far from true. 

Remember – it’s always better to drag along too much than to have too little. However, this will also show you that you should venture out on camping trips more frequently and, through trial and error, learn how to achieve your own balance of weight when it comes to equipment. 

Wilderness Survival

A camping trip can be a perfect opportunity to learn how to live off the land. First of all, you need to learn as much as you can about the biome you are about to ‘brave’. Fishing, hunting, and gathering edible fruits can be an excellent way to ‘stretch’ your supplies. Your ability to discern an edible mushroom from a poisonous one can become an invaluable trait during the times of crisis. 

This is why, apart from camping, you should take extra time to learn how to fish, hunt and tend a makeshift garden. 

How to Keep Clean

It has already been mentioned that sanitation can present an issue, depending on the sheer amount of water you’ve managed to pack into the trunk of your car. 

However, this is not where those problems end. The question of sanitation should be addressed and taken care of from day one; the last thing you need is to wait for the battery of problems to emerge. Sanitation wipes and disinfection gels go a long way, and they usually don’t take too much space. 

Finally, if you find yourself in a situation that you need to take care of personal hygiene while you are in the midst of nature, you should find the nearest body of water. Running water is preferable to stale, and then you should go as far upstream as you possibly can before you find a spot to clean yourself up. 

Conclusion

Camping trips are primarily a wonderful way to savor the natural splendor and reconnect with the rhythm of nature. However, this is not the only wonderful revelation that such an outing can grant you. It can also prepare you for a variety of inconvenient situations, simply because camping requires you to be resourceful and self-reliant. All and all, it is an incredible experience that will transform the way you look at many conveniences which we typically take for granted in life.

What is Some Advice For Night Camping as A Solo Hiker?

Solo hiking is quite different when you compare it with group hiking. You are going to spend the whole night alone, face the fear and cook your own food etc. In the case of bad weather like snow and rain, you need to deal with the condition by yourself.

But at the same time, solo hiking is fun as you don’t have anyone around yourself who set rules. You can set your own rules and acquaint yourself to make your whole hiking experience memorable and fun.

Like group hiking and camping, you need to plan everything in advance. As a group hiking or camping, you need to be more careful when planning your journey to enjoy the solo hiking, especially; you need to think about the night camping scene which could be difficult if everything is not planned well.

If you are planning for the solo hiking, then you need to read this article till the end. Following I am sharing some advice for night camping as a solo hiker and what type of important things you should care about etc.

Know The Size Of The Camp:

You don’t need to take a big size camp along with you. When you are hiking alone, a single person camp is enough to low your luggage and travel easily around. Make sure that your camp should be weather friendly. If it is going to rain there, your camp should be rain and waterproof so you can enjoy the full night sleep.

Light, Light, And Light:

A night alone can be scary and a bit creepy. You probably don’t want to get scared in mid of forest or at the top of the mountain. To keep it safe, do have plenty of light options along with yourself. Do not just rely on torch but also learn how to firewood.

Keep A First Aid Kit:

When you are alone, you need to be your doctor. Injuries are very common is hiking. So, you must need to bring your first aid kit. It should not be just basic aid kit but a full wilderness first aid kit so you can get rid of pain instantly and take care of yourself in a better way.

Make A Checklist:

Ask help from the other solo hiker and ask for the essential gears you must have for night camping as a solo hiker? Once you have a list, write it down and create a checklist with all the important items. Include everything in the list from the camp to the soap, fuel can and food etc.

Keep it Simple:

Weight matters a lot when you are hiking alone. You need to carry all the weight on your own. So keep everything simple and try to remove those gears which are not necessary and you can go without them without facing any issue.

Other than above, keep all the gadget along with yourself which include the camera, mobile, books to read and coffee cup to enjoy the view and feel yourself in nature.

10 Tips for New Hunters

Like every other new adventure hunting, shotgunning or ranging comes with its share of expectations, assumption, and challenges. But you sure do not intend to set out hunting without having a clear picture of what to expect. These 10 tips for new hunters is a sure must-have guide before making the first move.

Gaming is an interesting past time or profession for so many across the world. From Europe to the Americas, Asia and the continent of Africa hunting has provided a source income or sports – leisure for many. In many cultures, hunting is a tradition and the first kill is a rite of passage. But getting that first kill could be an enormous task for the even the best sportsmen or hunters.

Now, let’s explore these 10 tips for new hunters to help you hone your skills.

  1. Learn from others

You can never take the value out of working with a veteran when it comes to bowhunting or rifle season. Hunting goes beyond just targeting an animal for the kill. It is a skill. And working with an experienced hand helps you tap from their wealth of experience. It helps you understand the conditions of the environment, timing, species and best moves to make when hunting. An experienced hand understands the terrain, the tools, and techniques to survive that terrain. It always pays to start hunting experiences with a team for exposure and safety.

  1. Get a hunting license

Whether an occasional hunter, sports lover or pursuing a profession in hunting it pays to get licensed. There are laws governing hunting in most states. And law enforcement officials can ask for your permit at any time in the wild. Of course, this is not the case in some areas with relaxed laws on hunting but be sure before you head out. Your guide should be in a position to advise you. Also, keep your license in a safe, sealed bag plus read the hunting regulation properly.

  1. Get the Right Tools

Acquiring the right tool is vital to your success as a hunter.  However, you must also know how to use the tool. Whatever hunting tool, bow or rifle you are to use for hunting must align with your body, stature, and nature of hunting. The environment or location can also determine the tools to use as well as regulations.

Bows must align based on the game, draw weight and length to succeed. Your weapon should feel comfortable to hold and draw or aim without much movement. For instance, using field point arrowheads would be considered illegal in most territories. It could cause minimal injury to the game leaving it to an agonizing death even if it escapes. But broad-point arrowheads can give a broader cut and better for achieving your overall goal.

  1. Get your bag pack

Besides the shooting equipment, there are other tools to aid a successful shooting experience when game hunting. You need items such as camouflage, hunting gear, and clothes, body odor concealer, safety harness, bow hanger, hunting shoes, etc. consider the weather, do you need rain gear? Take something to keep warm for yourself and other family members if going in a group.

Do not forget to carry enough water for the length of time you intend spending, hours or days. Carry enough food, snacks, & jerky. Also, throw in some treats to keep it exciting while waiting for the kill.

  1. Practice!

Practice increases your chances of success. Though there is nothing as good as going afield. But you need to have a clear understanding of your weapon, how it works and how to use it effectively. You could also practice in the field with an experienced guide. Practice shooting with shotguns, rifles, crossbows, bows, to avoid becoming a security risk to yourself and others.

Practicing should be over a lengthy period of time and not a one-off thing. Even experienced hands still need to practice or hone their skills. Part of your training includes reading books, online guides like the huge resources you would find on this website and more. There are also programs on television on hunting trends and news.

  1. Plan your day

Don’t start your day without revising your plan. Yes, I assume you had your plan laid out before embarking on the journey? It would be disastrous if you didn’t. Because if you forgot anything due to not planning ahead, men, it might turn out a huge waste of time!

An experienced hunter or veteran understands the need to gear up and ensure his team is ready physically and psychologically for the big day. So, check your emotions, be prepared! What likely physical or mental constraints do you experience and how can you mitigate them now? For newbies, the tendency is to be fidgety and lose composure. At this point, set milestones; create small achievable scenarios based on your shooting experience. Start with smaller milestones to reduce the chances of failure. Don’t jump at big opportunities immediately as sudden failures can dampen your spirit. If you are in a team, let every member of the team know the plan and mode of operations.

Keep your bow hanger screwed to a tree as you cannot carry your hunting materials all through. It is a time-consuming exercise and you need the freedom to aim and take a shot. Also, remember to wear your hunting camo, clothes, gloves and face mask. Some animals such as the deer can pick your body odor from afar so make use of cover scents to mask the odor.

  1. Taking your first shot

The first shot is very important while hunting. Scout your intended location adequately. Be sure your location works well for hunting your prey. Do not focus on a location that is ideal for you but what gets you geared up for success – strategic location; excellent shot!

Aiming or siting a bow for a kill is a skill and it takes a lot of practice to get it right. That practice you should have done for long hours and days before the ‘D’ day. Learn to adjust your view to your shooting range. Patience is a virtue when it comes to hunting. Look at the patterns you create whenever targeting a prey, it will help you get better shots. Take advantage of the wind when trying to take a shot but look for where sensitive organs are before shooting.

Depends on your training and strategy you can opt for either the traditional or mechanical arrow release strategy but get it right. Traditional shooting involves holding the arrows to the bowstring until the release time. All the while you keep your eyes locked on the target – take aim. Mechanical involves using a release aid to set off or trigger the bow. A lot of hunters make use of the mechanical bow release aid today. The mechanical is a lot easier to use.

Be relaxed, exhale or hold your breathe on the release to avoid panic and ensure sturdiness when making the release. Calculate the distance before attempting. Use your gaming skill and check for clearance.

  1. Patience!

Hunting is not like playing a game of car racing. It is not like a one-meter dash, it is about the destination. It is about your ultimate goal and you don’t want to get there too soon or too late. And that means, attacking before or after the game arrives. Just because you sight a game does not mean it’s time to take a shot, wait for the perfect timing and angle.

  1. Safety first

The security of your team plus those within the environment should be a major focus for you. Also, ensure your firearm and bows are in order. Do not shoot or fire aimlessly to avoid accidents. Always ensure your body or rifle is on safe mode by staying off the trigger or lowering when not in use. Only fire when the target is within range.

  1. Keep Memories

Always keeps precious memories of each milestone set and achieved as you would need them. Snap as many photos as possible, celebrate yourself and achievement.

Being a successful newbie hunter is not about the size of the animal but the smile that erupts after the first kill. Your first kill, your first prize! Getting every other prize afterward comes with continuous practice, reading, learning and mentoring. You also need to understand that every environment and species comes with their peculiarities when hunting. You must get more information about an environment and their games before launching out. Please leave a comment or share this article with friends if you find it helpful. Happy gaming!

Snare Trap

5 Ways to Make a Snare Trap (For Small Game)

Whether you are in a survival situation or catching food while you camp, knowing how to make a snare trap can go a long way in helping you out. Fortunately, there isn’t just one snare trap – there are many different kinds that help in different situations.

having the right tools tools will make buiklding snares easier, but it is really your knowledge on living off the land that drives success, below are 5 ways to make a snare trap that will help you catch small game.

1. Simple Snare Trap

To create this trap, you will need two sticks or a stick in a “Y” shape that you can stick into the ground. You may need to sharpen these sticks a bit so that they sink into the ground easier. If you are using two sticks, stick them into the ground about 2 to 3 inches apart from one another.

Then, you will need 3 smaller sticks. Two of these sticks will go horizontally on each side of the two sticks you placed in the ground. These will be used to keep the third smaller stick, or trigger, in place upright between them. From the trigger, you will have a length of string or wire leading to the engine of your trap. On the end of your string hanging from the trigger, tie this length into a noose.

As a final step, you will want to build a small ramp by leaning two larger sticks against the part of your trap you already built and use smaller sticks horizontally to create a semi-flat surface. Your noose, or snare loop, will go on top of this. Remember to camouflage it for the best results.

2. Trigger Snare

For the trigger snare, you will need two pegs, some wire and/or rope to make a leader line and noose loops, and a bent sapling to use as an engine. The two pegs should be able to hook onto each other so that both stand vertically. If you don’t have pegs, you can create them from a pair of thick sticks. Just like the last snare trap we looked at, one of these pegs or sticks must be sharp enough on the opposite end that it hooks onto the other one to stick into the ground securely.

You should use your rope to attach the top of the hook to your engine – the bent sapling. Then, you will want to attach the noose to the bottom end of the top stick that makes up the hook.

3. Squirrel Pole

This next snare is perfect if you are trying to snare squirrels. After all, squirrels are fast animals and it can take a little extra working to make sure you catch one in your trap. With a little work, though, this snare can be perfect for catching the small animals.

For the main portion of this snare, you will need a straight branch or tree of about 10 to 12 feet that you will lean against a standing tree at about a 45-degree angle. Next, you will need some wire to create the actual snare portion of the trap with. Each section of wire you use will be around 10 to 12 inches long.

When you create each noose, you will want to position it upward, so it would catch each squirrel as it ran down the branch. This is why you must use wire for this trap, any type of rope won’t be able to stick up to catch the squirrels. You can put as many of these as you want on the branch, in theory, but you won’t want any too close to the ends.

To catch a squirrel’s head, you won’t want the nooses to be right against the branch either. Instead, position them about an inch above it.

I have shared squirrel poles before, this is a pretty simple way to get a little extra food.

4. Snare for Fishing

If you are more interested in catching fish with your snare, that can be arranged as well. The easiest way to do this is to simply modify the trigger snare we went over earlier.

Getting started, you will follow all the same basic steps as you did creating the trigger snare. Instead of creating a noose, though, you will use a baited hook in line attached to the snare the same way the noose was. This will, naturally, extend into the water to bait fish.

Once the fish bites the bait, the snare will trigger, pulling the fish out of the water. You should be sure that you clear the area of anything that will accidentally trigger the trap. Since you are catching fish, you don’t need to worry about camouflaging the majority of the trap like other options on this list since your game won’t see it until it’s too late.

5. Drowning Snare

A drowning snare is a rather simple trap that, as the name suggests, kills the game it catches by drowning. This is great because it keeps the game you catch away from other animals and it keeps it out of the sun.

Creating this trap is pretty easy. All you need is a few sticks, a snare line, and a rock. Of course, you will need to do this near water deep enough to drown the game and a steep enough bank for the trap to work.

To start, you will want to tie the snare line to both the rock and the float stick. Make sure to add a noose as part of the actual trap. Then, prop the rock up with your second stick so that it will fall if any game runs through the snare. When the snare is triggered, the rock will plummet into the water, drowning the game. The float that you tied to the rock will signal where in the water your game is when you come back later.

10 Must-Have Hunting Bow Accessories

10 Must-Have Hunting Bow Accessories
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Getting a hunting bow is the starting point of getting started for hunting expeditions. Practicing with the bow will increase the hunter’s efficiency and help him develop better skills. However, the bow if properly accessorized can provide drastic improvements in user experience and results. There is plenty of hunting bow accessories available in the market. Few accessories are essential while others are sophisticated which will be needed only by advanced shooters. There are some must-have accessories which every shooter should have to have better experience with the bow. The article provides an insight into some of the must-have accessories for the hunting bows.

Must-Have Accessories

 Some of the must-have hunting bow accessories which improve the performance of the hunting bow and hunting results are as follows:

Arrow Rests

The arrow rest holds the arrow and guides it safely out of the bow when it is fired. They also contribute towards increasing the accuracy. The drop away arrow rest is popular among shooters. It helps to hold the arrow securely till the bowstring is released. The containment arrow rest fully covers the arrow and holds it in place for shooting.

Bow Sights

Bow sights are mounted on the top of the bow. It helps the shooter to get better visual of the target and determining where the arrow is headed. There are different types of bow sights in the market and selecting the appropriate one depends on the requirements of the hunter. Most of the shooters prefer single-pin bow sights over multiple pin sights as one is not required to remember the range set for each pin.

Bow Quivers

Bow quivers are case which holds the arrows. The quivers are of different types some can be attached to the bow while others can be kept on the ground for retrieving the arrows. The quiver helps the shooters to readily access arrows for follow up shooting. The type of quivers to be used depends on the requirements and personal preferences of the shooter.

Silencers

Quieter bows are preferred by hunters as it has stealth element and helps greatly improve the hunting results. The silencers help in reducing the noise and vibration of the bow and aids in increasing the accuracy.

Stabilizers

Bow stabilizers provide balance to the bow and helps keep it steady after the arrow has been shot. It increases the accuracy of the bow. They add weight to the front of the bow and balances the weight when arrow is shot. The stabilizer also helps absorb shocks on the bow and reduce vibrations which results in improved accuracy.

Targets

Targets are a must buy accessory as they help provide practice to the user for target shooting. The targets can be sack target and block targets. Sack targets are more commonly used. It is sturdy and can take number of arrow shots. Block targets are made of foam and are easy to carry around due to their lightweight. It is easier to remove arrows from them even with broadheads.

Archery Release

Shooting with fingers takes a lot of practice and is also strenuous for the fingers. Archery release can provide comfort and ease to the shooters and is highly recommended. There are two types of archery releases- wrist release and hand-held release. Wrist release are the most common and are attached to the wrist while the thumb is used to release the arrow. The hand-held release offers more control and better trigger mechanism. These are more expensive and easier to use compared to the wrist release

Broadheads 

Broadheads minimize arrow deviation and increases the accuracy. Broadheads are of two types- fixed blade and mechanical blade. The fixed blade broadheads are recommended for hunters with slow shooting speed. The mechanical blade holds larger blades that are ideal for hunting thick-skinned animals. Using the mechanical blade, the hunter needs to strategically select the target properly as the penetration is lesser due to sharp-edged and angled entry.

Nocking Points

The nocking point provides the shooter with a constant place on the bow to nock the arrow. It ensures consistency in shooting and the arrow has a better chance of meeting its target. It also helps to protect the bow hand against injury from the arrow fletching.

 

Bow Case

A good quality bow case can help protect the hunting bow. It can be useful in transporting the bow and protect it from travel and weather element. The bow case can be either soft case or hard case. A hard case with internal padding is recommended to ensure better protection for the bow.

 

Conclusion

 Buying proper accessories for the hunting bow enhances its effectiveness. It also provides a better shooting experience of the hunters and thus gives better hunting results. The above-mentioned hunting bow accessories will help the hunters get started and develop over time.

 

About author

I am Frank, as a professional writer in the blog for outdoor, fashion, technologies, pets, foods, beauty, toys and much more. From early of my starting studying life I started to feel well for writing and reading. No matter what happens, I start to write for my blog and online business. I feel good when I had written the articles or blog about something, now the writing is my passion. Visit Atbuz.com For more information.