To survive and
continue your life in self reliance as a Feral Woodsman, I feel you have to
have a few moves at the ready…Think guerrilla tactics, like it was a war that
you are fighting in the boonies.
First we covered
some spyder holes and locations to bug out and leave your immediate AO. We
talked about the spydy holes in other articles and cachng a variety of goodies,
food, traps,weapons, sleeping supplies and shelter. Alright, we’ve got that
covered. From your home base, like the spokes on a wheel, you have 8 other
locations that you can live in comfort, for a specific amount of time, at least
a week or two… Good job! By this point you should be able to glide like smoke
through your own territory.
A good plan is to
create feint parallel trails close to the main path, so you can shadow the main
path, at least in places. This can allow you to collect intell. About people
who might be near your camps—hikers, campers, criminals, etc.
An alternate spydy
hole should be established that is far reaching when compared to the others on
the forest wheel. If possible, stocked rather well and beyond the smaller
versions of a hidy hole. Perhaps several miles from your normal trekking area
could be a prudent move, well hidden and not visited very often. If you are
surprised, what do you have to say for yourself? Answer, you doing some long
term camping to just get away from it all. If they want to see your camp take
them to one of your spydy holes. Be pleasant and seem to be helpful. Offer them
no information. In other words, you dont need to volunteer anything.
Being a “modern” pioneer Feral Woodsman, you might think about
communications, if two or more of you are in for the ride. We have two way
radios, but they can be compromised easily, however. Even a CB hand held could
work in some locations, but again can be compromised with ease. The best choice
is a ham hand held radio. The problem is batteries but that can be handled with
solar chargers. I hate batteries, but could be a good way to go. And if need be
can put you in touch with friends or relatives if you feel the need. or have a
need to communicate info. With two of you you can be in touch most of the time.
I know this, in a way, defeats your purpose for going Feral, however, it might be
a smart way to go. One would have to think this one through. The more you can
stay off the air the better it will be. Having an am/fm receiver might be good
also. It will keep you informed if a fire is near your location and warn of any
bad weather coming your way, along with any number of other potential hazards.
Comm is your option that offers reach of your tether. You might also create
buzz/code words, that have a direction/meaning. Do not use the radio to just
talk. This option will ease you into the real mode of a Feral Woodsman, so you
are not going cold turkey.
The flip side is going the more primitive
route. You are living in the now, the world in a world kind of deal. In other
words, you’re self contained. You have to lose the attitude of a hiker or
backpacker, you are wondering, busting bush, you have no destination. The
journey is taking you into the intimate real life of a Feral Woodsman, who is
as natural as any wild creature. You have at your feet the means for your life
support, the plants, critters of the woods or deserts. The pay off, if you need
one, is the freedom of the sun, wind and land; being comfortable and secure in
your surroundings with the intimacy it brings. You have dropped the huge need
for any machines. You are not here to alter the space you take up. You are an
observer more than anything. You have moved on from the need to invest your
time in a job and robbing you of your life. You are a Feral Woodsman in the
making and taking real charge of your life. The attitude will take time to
develop to a razors edge.
Always travel light.
After all, you are “home”. A ten pound or less bag should suffice, with nothing
dangling to catch on twigs and other clingers. Keeping your bag high and tight
is key. Remember earth tones at all times.
Never set any kind
of pattern. You want to cover other items with cloth or leather so as you move
it makes no noise as it brushes across any obstructions. Think guerrilla
tactics as was mentioned.
Never stand directly
on the top of a ridge so that your silhouette is seen. Try to move on the
shoulder known as the military crest. Many times, by just being still, you can
stand or hunker down in front of a bush and not be seen. Slow down, it isn’t a
contest.
By taking it easy
and stopping to observe you will gain a perspective you never had in the past.
Fill your brain pan, by owning the skills.
The food you chose
to carry should be light, with no need to be cooked. Jerky, the real stuff, not
the store bought junk, parched corn, and some dried fruit will do well to keep
your energy up.
If you smoke leave
it at your home camp . We can smell it a mile or more away.
Remember you have
your cache of goodies should you need to stay out, and your satellite camps as
well. By this practice you will not draw attention to yourself, the Feral
Woodsman
A few more basic
lessons, never put your foot or hand in anyplace you cannot see what is there.
This includes stepping over logs and rocks. In the deserts, one learns not to
reach in a dark hole and that goes for anywhere else. I have learned by turning
over a rock to stand behind the object and pull it towards you , that way if the
local rattle snake is waiting, you have the rock or log between you and the
critter. and you wont scream too loudly.
If you are on the
move, look for the best surface to tread over. Stay away from mud and sand.
Choose leaves, rocks and fallen logs if available, especially if they look like
they will be cutting across your trail. Remember to move slow and soundlessly.
Remember to take breaks. Tired people make mistakes. If you wish not to be seen
and you have a large meadow in your direct path, circle it and keep in the
shadows of the trees or heavy brush. First, you will have stopped to observe
the edges of the meadow yourself, like a deer
By stopping you get
in tune with the nature around you. If it is quiet, why so? Most critters will
start yakking away in 5 to 10 minutes if they have been spooked.
Navigation is mostly
not understood. You should know the lay of the land, the nature of the land.
Without that, understanding maps and compasses will turn out to be a hindrance.
Once the lay of the ground is known, things like creeks, and rivers will run in
the same general direction. If you know the mountains run north and south you
are good to go, it is baked in the cake. You are not concerned with being
pinpoint accurate. Why? because you know the lay of the land. Which way are the
prevailing winds. If you know the water courses run westward and you come to a
creek you should within reason know which way to travel. By learning your
chosen terrain, you will never be lost.Way before a map and compass were ever used
the hunter gatherer was very observant of trees and bushes. If they had more
growth on one side which way is that pointing Some places the trees will lean
more one way than the other. Some trees only grow on the south side of a hill
or a mountain. In some places even an ant hill will help tell you a direction,
the dirt is piled higher one side and it is consistent. Here in the high
desert, where I live, they point with the high side in a westerly direction.
Flowers, when in bloom, can be indicators as well, some turning with the sun.
By observation you will find many of your own indicators in your chosen
terrain. True navigation is not with a map and compass. it is with the lay of
the land. A compass wont tell me there is a huge mountain in the direction I
wish to move, and now I have to configure that with the compass, which still
does not tell me of any other obstacles in my path. You can end up going miles
out of your way. A topo map is never that detailed as well. The map might show
me elevation changes, but not how rough it is. Land has a grain of its own and
you are there to learn that grain. Nothing beats boots on the ground for the
Feral Woodsman .
By Dude McLean
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