4 Prepping Skills You Master after Years of Camping

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Enjoying the great outdoors by yourself or together with your friends and family is an amazing experience. There is something immensely freeing about sleeping under the open skies and waking up with the smell of fresh, untamed morning air filling your nostrils. However, this experience isn’t one without its challenges.

What You Need to Know

It generally takes campers a long time to get accustomed to all the different situations a camping trip might involve. Fortunately, you can take some shortcuts in the learning process if you are dedicated enough. Here are the four most important prepping skills you master after years of camping.

1.    Choosing the Right Equipment

The equipment you bring along with you on your camping trip is vital to your comfort and well-being. A high-quality tent is a must, and so is a well-insulated sleeping bag. Investing in a sturdy backpack that can fit all your essentials is your best bet if you want to be prepared for anything that might occur.

You also need to be prepared in case the weather turns unexpectedly humid. One thing that every seasoned camper needs to know is how to waterproof leather boots in case they don’t have ones that already possess that quality on hand. Add in a sturdy raincoat and you’re all set for even the most unexpected surprises Mother Nature could throw onto you.

2.    Packing Lightly

When you’re out in the wild, packing lightly is essential, especially when you prefer hiking up to remote places to get away from the world for one weekend. To do this like a pro, you will need to know what the essentials are depending on the location and duration of your trip. Multi-purpose items such as a Swiss army knife, are an excellently practical choice.

On top of that, always remember not to bring too many separate outfits. You’ll end up not wearing them anyway, so focus on warm, layering appropriate-clothing instead. It’s important to prepare for cold weather, even if the forecast says otherwise. Furthermore, one pair of boots is enough. Always make sure you have clean socks and undergarments on hand, but don’t overdo it.

3.    Adequate Food Storage

Naturally, bringing a balanced variety of canned and fresh food is essential while out camping. Cooking out in the open wilderness is a very nourishing experience for both body and mind, but it also comes with its risks. Something that a lot of beginner campers don’t realize is that storing food properly is also crucial while out camping.

During the day, whatever you bring needs to be kept in a cooler to preserve its freshness for as long as possible. Then, before going to sleep at night, make sure to put any leftovers in the car or any anti-bear enclosure on the campgrounds so that wildlife isn’t drawn to it. Bears coming in the middle of the night looking for food aren’t a myth, unfortunately.

While they most likely won’t hurt you during their food foraging, you don’t want to wake up the next day and have nothing left to eat. In addition, scaring them away is potentially dangerous, so it’s best to avoid this hazard altogether.

4.    First Aid Kit

According to Recreation.gov, an adequate first aid kit is one of the best things to have on hand if you want to ensure that you and all the other members of your group stay safe. The perfect one contains antiseptics for scrapes and cuts, insect repellent, pain relievers, sunscreen, tweezers and a snakebite kit as well.

If anyone in your group has any special needs as far as allergies or any other health conditions are concerned, make sure to tailor your little emergency box to their situation. Antihistamines are a good addition, as is any other essential medicine. And if you’ve got some room to spare, throw in some duct tape as well. It is a great multi-purpose item to have on hand.

Conclusion

Nature is beautiful, but it can also be dangerous. This is why you need to do your best to always protect yourself and those around you. It will be hard at first, which is why you need to stick to the beaten path. Slowly, you will learn how to deal with various situations and you can venture out into true wilderness when you feel courageous enough.

It’s essential to remember a few things. Always choose the right equipment. Your tent and your sleeping bag are your most trusted allies, so make sure they are sturdy and reliable. When in doubt, always go waterproof, and always pack lightly. Make room in your backpack for what’s important and bring as many multi-purpose items as you can.

Finally, a first aid kit is your best friend in case you or someone nearby gets hurt. Pack it with everything you and your group need to maintain your safety and well-being. But most importantly, don’t forget to have fun!

6 Survival Items Every Hunter Should Use

6 Survival Items Every Hunter Should Use
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As a hunter, there are items that you should never go hunting without. These tools are important whether as a newbie or a seasoned hunter.

This is because no one can be absolutely sure of what will happen while in the field. While hunting, many things can happen. Among the most common things are bad weather, accidents in the wild as well as other emergencies. All these can reduce your chances of success when hunting.

To be able to able to achieve your targets, you need to know the right tools that will be necessary when hunting. In this article, we shall look at some of the best survival items that as a hunter, you should have.

Knife

The knife should rank top on your list of items that you intend to pack for hunting. This is because there are many things that you can do with a knife. The type of knife that you choose to go with should be made of high-quality material.

Make sure that you can cut anything of whichever texture without it folding. Also, you ensure that the knife is well sharpened before you go. You can use the knife among other things, cut meat as you prepare meals in the wild. Also, you can prepare ropes that you can use to tie the kill, protect yourself from dangerous animals that might reach you without noticing among many other things. The knife should be as close to you as possible. You should not put it in a different bag from the one you are carrying on your back.

Backpack

For every hunter carrying a backpack is mandatory.

This is because many of the tools that you will be carrying will be put in the backpack.

But even as you consider which backpack you should carry, you need to have in mind the fact that you need to be light for you to walk faster.

This will mean that the backpack needs to be of a considerable weight which does not weigh too much on you.

Remember that when the backpack is too heavy, your chances of success are equally reduced.

As because you might not be able to move with speed when pursuing game.

At the same time, if you are heavily loaded, you might get very tired even before you reach your destination.

 

Cordage

This is another very useful item that any good hunter would not forget to carry. The functions of a cord are many. One can use it to build a shelter, secure loads to the backpack, tie splint, climbing down from steep areas among many more things. You should ensure that you have carried accord of proper length. Hunting experts recommend that one should carry at least 50 meters of the cord if he intends to be successful in the field.

 

Spotting scope

As a hunter, you need a tool that will make your work easier while in the wild. You do not have to strain too much when trying to locate game animals to hunt. To be able to spot animals quickly, you need to ensure that you have a spotting scope in your backpack. This is important as it will make it easier for you to spot an animal and quickly take it out without much effort. With a spotting scope, you will be able to locate animals when still far away thus giving you a chance to shoot without them noticing your presence. You need to ensure that the spotting scope is portable and also of high quality.

Mobile phone

In the field, you need to be able to communicate with your partners. This is best done when you carry a mobile phone or two-way radios which will enable you to communicate with ease. Communication is key when hunting as you will be able to communicate strategies on how to quickly locate and shoot a game animal. Also, you will be able to inform each other in the event of danger. Even if you are hunting alone, you should never forget to carry your mobile phone. The reason is you might need help from other people back home.

Blanket

When one sets out to go hunting, he does not really know for how long he might be out there in the field. It is only prudent for you to remember to carry a blanket that will keep you warm. This is especially important during winter when the weather is generally chilly. The blanket will also be important at night when having a rest after the day’s activities.

In conclusion, therefore, one needs to know some of the best survival items that are necessary when hunting. This article provides a few of them.

Saltwater vs. Freshwater Fishing: Which Suits You?

Saltwater vs. Freshwater Fishing: Which Suits You?
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Which is better, saltwater fishing or freshwater fishing? A lot of fishermen are saying their own version of which is better for them. And they all have their good points one way from the other.

But saltwater vs. freshwater fishing is not really a thing. That is because each person or fisherman can benefit from any of them with a specific purpose.

In any case, for the purpose of comparison, this is an article to humor your queries. Here is a comparison about saltwater vs. freshwater fishing and which one suits you.

The Difference Between Saltwater and Freshwater

Before heading straight to the comparison, we must first learn to identify the difference between the types of bodies of water. The first thing is saltwater. The saltwater is basically the ocean and the sea. Those bodies of water that are high in salinity or in layman’s term “salty” are obviously the saltwater types.
The freshwater types are those that we call lakes, stream, rivers, ponds, and other wetlands with salinity as low as 0.05%. Naturally, freshwater areas are not as vast as saltwater areas and so is the amount of creatures in them.

Saltwater Fishing

As vast as the world can be, saltwater makes up the 96.5% of the Earth. Can you imagine the number of resources that people and other creatures can benefit from saltwater?
If you are to use that statistic in terms of the amount of what you can catch between those two, naturally, saltwater will win. But there is no such single person that can cover the whole of this planet just by fishing let alone angling. That would certainly be ridiculous.

But given the number of areas to which you can go for fishing, how many creatures can you actually catch from saltwater? Honestly, thousands to hundreds of thousands of species can be your prospect. Here are some of the common possible saltwater creatures that you can catch from saltwater:

• Bonefish
• Barracuda
• Bluefish
• Ballyhoo
• Bonito
• Croaker
• Drum
• Flying fish
• Grouper
• Grunt
• Herring
• Hogfish
• Amberjack
• Jack
• Mackerel
• Marlin
• Mojarra
• Mullet
• Needlefish
• Perch
• Pigfish
• Pilchards
• Pinfish
• Pompano
• Porgy
• Sailfish
• Sardine
• Sea Bass
• Seatrout
• Snapper
• Snook
• Spadefish
• Spearfish
• Spot
• Stingray
• Swordfish
• Tarpon
• Threadfin
• Tripletail
• Tuna

Saltwater Fish Are Bigger Than Freshwater Fish

The list can go on and on but we will stick to those for now. As you can see, it can be endless. And each of those fish has other subspecies.
The most beneficial about saltwater fishing is that the fish caught from there are a lot bigger than freshwater. It is not to say that freshwater fish cannot get bigger. It is just that it is more common with saltwater fishes to grow more than the other. And it is common for saltwater fish to have high in omega-3 fatty acid which is known to be good for the heart.

Another aspect about saltwater fishing is the part where a lot of big fish caught from these parts often fight back. And since it is common to catch huge fish in this area, expect a lot of fighting every time a fish bites into your bait. So if you are the adventurous type who likes more challenges then saltwater fishing could be good for you.

The bad thing about saltwater fishing is that due to its salinity volume, equipment such as metallic ones can easily get deteriorated. Boats get ruined much faster and so you will have to invest in a lot of repairs, renew, and replace.

It should worth noting that the chances of risk and danger in saltwater fishing are higher than freshwater. Not to mention the tides that occur with storms passing through. But that could easily be avoided if you just look out for news about the weather.

I don’t have much expoerience saltwater fishing except for my time at Camp Lejeune.  I kept getting stranded out on the intercostal waterway because I bought cheap equipment. If you want good stuff Check Global Marine Top Pick Trolling Motor For Saltwater use if you don’t want to paddle back to shore.

Freshwater Fishing

For those who love to go fishing and enjoy more about the nature such as the trees and see some wild land animals, freshwater fishing should fit your portfolio.
Did you know that freshwater is only 2.50% of water all over the globe. But that percentage includes the frozen glacier, ice, snow, and fresh groundwater. Only 0.01% consists of surface water in lakes, swamps, and rivers. That is how small freshwater is around the world. So from that statistic alone freshwater gets defeated by unanimous decision.
Despite the size of freshwater, there are plenty of fish species that can be found and caught here. Here are some common fish that you can find in these bodies of water:

• Bluegills
• Catfish
• Crappie
• Largemouth bass
• Smallmouth bass
• Freshwater drum
• Trout
• Walleye
• White bass
• Carp
• Burbot
• Giant Gourami
• Kampango
• Kapenta
• Tilapia
• Longear Sunfish
• Tahoe sucker
• Snakehead
• Sardinella Tawilis
• Redfish

The same goes for freshwater fishes. Each fish has its own different subspecies so they are not limited to one type or appearance and even size.
Although it is not as common to find big fish on this side of the water, there is still some challenge to be had. One is if ever you caught a really big one, it is considered as a jackpot. The memory and the picture are worth hanging on your wall. If you are onto those kinds of stuff, that is.

Another good thing about freshwater fishing is with expenses. Unlike saltwater, your boat gets to last longer and with lesser maintenance to boot with. And since you can go fishing without always going out in the middle of the deeper areas of the water, you will not always have to spend more on fuel. So you can enjoy more without spending as much. All you need to do is to maintain your fishing equipment such as your rod, baits, and other stuff related to it.

The bad thing about freshwater fishing is the part where alligators can get a bite off of you. And more instances of encountering some wild and dangerous animal could occur. There is also some chance that a snake, a wild bear, a wolf, or other animals that can bite you along the way. Not to mention the leeches.

Also, since there are only a number of species in a freshwater lake or river, you could probably just catch common fish such as trout, bass, or catfish. With saltwater, you could end up with an octopus or a shark. There are even reports of freakish squids and other normally small-sized creatures. Otherwise, freshwater is likely best for those who just prefer simpler fishing activities.

Technically, you could use both natural bait and artificial bait on both bodies of water. There is no definite restriction regarding those things. Just as long as you can catch a fish with what you have, who are we to question which is better or not. It is your expertise that matters and not the bait you put on the end of your line.
I am not saying that freshwater fishing is easier than saltwater fishing. It is just that if you are looking for a comparison, size and abundance could easily topple the competition. But if you are looking for adventure, it does not matter whether you are into any of those types of fishing. Just as long as you are enjoying yourself and it is what you love doing then your choice is the best way to go fishing. Nothing more and nothing less.

The More You Know the Less You Carry

 

The More You Know the Less You Carry
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I got my start with bushcraft as a child living on a state park.  The man in the video above is Mors Kochanski who is a internationally known bushcrafter.

He popularized the idea of the more you know the less you carry.  I am sharing this video to explain a very important concept for preppers.

My conversations with new preppers that talk about their bug out plans and how much ammo they plan on carrying.  It is not uncommon for people to tell me that they keep a pistol, a backup pistol, a shotgun and an AR (or SKS or AK) and 200 rounds each in their car in case they have to get out of dodge.

Now that’s not terribly unrealistic in a car, but next they tell me that they plan on EMP and trying to hike home or to their bug out location 15 or twenty miles away.

I doubt those guys have every tried to walk a distance with 800 rounds, but I carry that much around on the range all the time to issue ammo – I don’t like carrying that 10 feet, much less 10 miles.

Let us be realistic in our plans, let’s think about all aspects of preparedness and not just stop at what we think is cool.

deer hunting tip

13 Great Deer Hunting Tips and Tricks

13 Great Deer Hunting Tips and Tricks
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Hunting deer is a fun sport and many people around the world do it. Along with the enthusiasm often new hunters get nothing out of several trips. This is because often times they do not have a grasp on anything about a deer or its territory.

Whenever someone is hunting deer they have to be extra careful as the animals are quite sensitive. There will be tips mentioned below that can come handy whenever someone is going on a hunting tip next time. Also reading about hunting and guns also help to choose a tool that will help them hunt in the most successful way.

Tips that helps in hunting deer:

Organizing:

The first thing would be to make a list before going hunting. One has to fill their bags with the things that is needed in the expedition. Everything from hand warmers, ammo, knife and everything else should be present in the bag. Also check the list several times before finally going on the trip. Staying organized will always help you in having a good hunting experience and eliminates movement while hunting.

Dressing:

Dressing in the winter time becomes essential as well. You wouldn’t want to get frozen in the weather. The best way is to wear warm clothes and layers appropriate for hunting. Also wearing leg warmers and hand warmers help. One should also keep rain gear along with them to be ready in case there is snowfall or rain in the hunting area.

Taking Position:

One has to take the hunting position way before a deer is seen. This helps in adjusting everything and not frightening the deer. Also one should position themselves at the pinch point. These are the places where the deer herd run towards when someone else is shooting at them.

Reducing Human Smell:

Try to smell as clean as possible as deer’s are good sniffers. They can tell human smell and they won’t even get close to you. So restrict yourself to a place and then store your things in a plastic or cloth bag. Refrain from using fragrance items like soap, perfume or body lotions during the hunting expeditions. Also refrain from using the boots in any other activity rather than hunting.

Deducing the Hunting Area:

Limit your area to a small place. You cannot possibly think about hunting long stretches of land at once. 40-80 acres of land where deer is seen frequently will be enough for you to hunt. Try to roam the area and map it for a while to track any game that you can see or feel.

Checking the Weather:

Looking out for weather is also essential. Different kinds of weather like windy, high, pressure, rain or snow can leave an impression on the activity of deer or other games. Like in snow people show up less but deer can be seen quite a bit. This is the best scope for 300 win mag as they are fast and will help you catch the game in just a few minutes. It is best to keep a track of the weather before going on hunting. It can be easily done with hunting and weather apps that are found in smartphones.

Face Paint:

Often people like to wear face paint masks while hunting. But traditional paint is a pain to get rid of. But they can easily make one out of activated charcoal and apply it. It can be removed with water and a little bit of soap later on.

Not Taking a Lunch Break:

In the season almost everyone goes out for lunch. But utilizing that time can bring people to catch their game for the season. They can pack a small lunch and eat it in the premises. The deer will come near the place and walk freely. It would be the best time to shoot at them.

Checking Signs in an Animal that was Shot:

After you shoot an animal wait a while before going for it. As often animals that drop can get up and run. Let it drop and then shoot it once again to make sure that it has gone down. You can then follow up and finish it with a knife or do other necessary things. To feel a reaction people often poke it into its eyes. But do not do that. Instead touch it with a twig to see any reaction for its side. In case if it is alive, the best thing to do its shoot it below its chin.

About Drivers:

Often people hunt in groups and take the help of drivers. But in most cases they reduce the best hunting scope by frightening the deer. So, one can definitely make the use of the drivers but they should also be careful of the ill-effects that they may possess. Positioning yourself in the escape routes can often help you in catching the deer.

Using the Smartphone: The smartphone that one own can become a great help when it comes to hunting. The App stores have different kind of apps relating to hunting season and also to weather in general. Also the GPS helps one to keep track of their area. Also hunting communities have sprung up on the internet who talks about the suitable time, date and place.

Hunting Smartly: Yes hunting is a sport that is meant to be fun but it has to be strategic as well. The people who score all the time has devised good strategies. They may stay away from the group hunter and often do their own thing. So, to be a good hunter one can also test things that work for them.

These are some of the deer hunting tips and tricks that one can use while deer hunting. Everything has to be tested with time to get the best results. Also, being strategic and knowledgeable about hunting yields the best results. If you are looking forward to go deer hunting this season then these tips would definitely come handy.