Helpful Survival tips

[Red Bullets]

I noticed a thread asking about survival camping and I thought no one has created a thread offering survival tips. So If you have any tips please share so others may learn some tricks that might eventually save them.

Thank you for participating.

[Red Bullets]

My first tip is for finding direction in the northern hemisphere.

At night time as long as you can see one star in the sky you can find your direction. Doesn't matter which star either. Put two sticks into the ground and line up the stick tips with the star. Wait about 10 to 15 minutes and see where the star is in relation to the stick tips.

If the star moved up you are facing east.
If the star moved down you are facing west.
If the star moves to the left you are facing north.
If the star moves right you are facing south.

This is based on the fact that stars rise and set just like the sun.

I was really amazed that Survivorman, Les , didn't know this trick when he was lost in the jungle.

[Red Bullets]

If you are desperate for food or bait....

The Goldenrod plant is native to Alberta. If you see a goldenrod plant with a 'bulge' in the stem like in the picture, open up the 'bulge' and there will be a little maggot sized larvae in the bulge. Good fat source or bait for fishing.

Other plants may have similar 'bulges' which most likely will have a grub too.

[bat119]

When I was in scouts this is one of the things we learned how to make for survival, lots of birds around to eat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoEaPmLm260

Never had to use it in the wild, looks like it would work

[Flatlandliver]

Being lost, or "geographically compromised" as I now like to put it, is one of those primal fears that cause a fight or flight reflex. Controlling your emotions is one of the most important aspects of a survival situation.

[Elkaholic338]

My tip, and the one I follow religiously is to never leave home without a knife of some kind, and a lighter.
With a knife and a fire, and some know how, one can survive practically anywhere there are trees.

There are many other things that could and would help in a survival situation, but at least with these two you should have a shot at staying alive.

[Sooner]

Originally Posted by Red Bullets

My first tip is for finding direction in the northern hemisphere.

At night time as long as you can see one star in the sky you can find your direction. Doesn't matter which star either. Put two sticks into the ground and line up the stick tips with the star. Wait about 10 to 15 minutes and see where the star is in relation to the stick tips.

If the star moved up you are facing east.
If the star moved down you are facing west.
If the star moves to the left you are facing north.
If the star moves right you are facing south.

This is based on the fact that stars rise and set just like the sun.

I was really amazed that Survivorman, Les , didn't know this trick when he was lost in the jungle.

Great tip, will try it next time i'm out at night away from the city.

Always wondered as I love seeing the moon, especially when full but it doesn't seem to track like the sun. So when there is a moon out, does the moon follow the same path as the sun, rise in the east, set in the west and south about mid way?

[ÜberFly]

Great tip if there is a clear sky! Useless if it's cloudy!!

QUOTE=Red Bullets;3137589]My first tip is for finding direction in the northern hemisphere.

At night time as long as you can see one star in the sky you can find your direction. Doesn't matter which star either. Put two sticks into the ground and lineup the stick tips with the star. Wait about 10 to 15 minutes and see where the star is in relation to the stick tips.

If the star moved up you are facing east.
If the star moved down you are facing west.
If the star moves to the left you are facing north.
If the star moves right you are facing south.

This is based on the fact that stars rise and set just like the sun.

I was really amazed that Survivorman, Les , didn't know this trick when he was lost in the jungle.[/QUOTE]

[HowSwedeItIs]

What compasses do you guys like to use?

[HighlandHeart]

Originally Posted by HowSwedeItIs

What compasses do you guys like to use?

Used to use a Silva Ranger, when I went to buy a replacement for one I'd used for decades I saw they are now made in China, so I went with a Finnish made Sunto compass instead. I can use a cheap little compass if all I want to do is shoot a backbearing, but for orienteering, shooting a bearing to follow or locating myself with triangulation I need a compass with a mirror, adjustable declination, and luminous orienteering points. I've had GPS's fail too often to forget how to use a compass.

[HighlandHeart]

Handfull of dead spruce twigs will light with one match, even when wet. Make your own tinder and kindling from shavings of dead spruce. Carry 2 or 3 ways to light a fire and learn a few different fire lays.

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by HowSwedeItIs

What compasses do you guys like to use?

I religiously use Silva compasses. I am sure there are many others but I had a faulty Brunton compass once that caused me a fair bit of grief, so now I stick to Silva.

I keep two, I have one of those bubble type that pins to my shirt pocket for making quick checks while I'm on the move, and a Silva with a base for use with topo maps. If the bubble one gets torn off my shirt by the underbrush (its happened) or if I doubt the reading of one compass I have the other.

[ghostguy6]

A good fixed blade knife 3 to 6" will handle most tasks the woods can throw at you. Learn to use a ferro (ferrocerium) rod, this will be your most reliable fire starting method in all weather conditions. They work when wet even in freezing temperatures and there is no fuel you have to worry about evaporating. Your knife and ferro rod should be on your person at all times, not in a back pack.

Cotton balls rubbed with petroleum jelly or chapstick make excellent tinder that catches a spark almost instantly. Birch bark burns very well even when wet, small shavings also catch a spark well.

The biggest thing I noticed on any survival course is to stop, collect yourself, do an inventory of your items and surroundings then make a game plan.

[Badgoodguy]

I always liked Daniel Boone's famous word

I wasn't lost i was just turned around for 4 days

[Zuludog]

Originally Posted by Badgoodguy

I always liked Daniel Boone's famous word

I wasn't lost i was just turned around for 4 days

I use a saying something like that too. lol I tell my wife that I'm not lost, (I can always find my back to where I started) I just don't know the quickest way to where I want to go.

[Badgerbadger]

Space blanket, knife, flint, rope, duct tape, tensor bandage are always with me. If I was going out for a few days, I'd have one form or other of water purifier, but for day hunts, I have a 2l wineskin (can squeeze the air out so it doesn't slosh while stalking).

When good and lost, head downstream. Eventually, you'll reach civilization.

[Tamarck]

Before you go- tell someone reliable where you are going and when you'll be back - so if something goes wrong you know people will be looking for you.

[ganderblaster]

I am worried I may not survive AO tonight!!! Just because you are paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!! Run schmucks!!! Run!!

[Red Bullets]

Thanks for posted. I was thinking a little more survival style tips that don't include space blankets, chocolate bars. But I now realize everyone has their idea of what survival is.

Tip...
During winter.... if you are hiking in mixed woods in central or northern alberta be alert to the smell of stinky feet or dirty socks. If you smell this there are highbush cranberries close by. They are on the tree all winter and are great nutritionally, to freshen the mouth and help hydrate a person. Rose hips stay on the bush all winter too. Both berries are better after they get frost or snow on them..

[Crankbait]

Originally Posted by Red Bullets

Thanks for posted. I was thinking a little more survival style tips that don't include space blankets, chocolate bars. But I now realize everyone has their idea of what survival is.

Tip...
During winter.... if you are hiking in mixed woods in central or northern alberta be alert to the smell of stinky feet or dirty socks. If you smell this there are highbush cranberries close by. They are on the tree all winter and are great nutritionally, to freshen the mouth and help hydrate a person. Rose hips stay on the bush all winter too. Both berries are better after they get frost or snow on them..

went for a drive and a walk today and saw rose hips, but you know what else I saw????

bees, lots and lots of bees.

I wish their dance had some meaning related to fishing.

[Birchcraft]

Another tip for finding your bearing, may not always work in some areas but tree branches, especially those of tall aspen will often grow noticeably longer on the south facing side of the tree.

[Hunter1602]

Originally Posted by Tamarck

Before you go- tell someone reliable where you are going and when you'll be back - so if something goes wrong you know people will be looking for you.

This^^^^^

[Okotokian]

map and compass, knife big enough to cut and baton firewood, at least two ways to start a fire. If you are dressed properly that will keep you overnight and you should be able to find your way back to a road.

The only time I ever felt lost was years ago cutting down a Christmas tree with my 4 year old son, in December. It was getting dark and I somehow got turned around (no compass or map). But we were dressed warmly and I had an axe and a couple ways to start a fire so I really wasn't concerned at all except my wife would be freaking out. Was able to trace our way back in the end so no biggie.

[Wolfslayer]

Originally Posted by Tamarck

Before you go- tell someone reliable where you are going and when you'll be back - so if something goes wrong you know people will be looking for you.

Yes. Invest in a spot too it could save your life.

[Mr Conservation]

Originally Posted by Tamarck

Before you go- tell someone reliable where you are going and when you'll be back - so if something goes wrong you know people will be looking for you.

Along with this tip - stay where you are once you realize you are lost. Having been involved in searches where the person we were looking for was on the move, made it much more difficult to locate them. Had they stayed put when they realized they were lost, they would have been located much sooner.


Mr Conservation

[chris762]

I see lots of good tips here but am unsure what you mean by "SPOT". If someone could please enlighten me. Thanks

[Bergerboy]

Originally Posted by chris762

I see lots of good tips here but am unsure what you mean by "SPOT". If someone could please enlighten me. Thanks

http://www.findmespot.ca/en/

GPS emergency locator.

[bat119]

A cd makes a good signaling device, facing the sun look through the center at your target and wiggle.

What else are you going to do with them these days?

[Red Bullets]

Great tips fellow posters.

Survival does not necessarily mean lost. It could mean you are there by choice. Survival doesn't mean you are in a bad way either. Survival tips are meant to help a person utilize natural things to enrich the situation or day.

How about some tips that are about using only things from nature. Tips for the wilderness wanderer. Tips to enrich the natural experience.


Tip:
If you are in desert/badlands camp where there is soft dry sand. After making a camp or pitching a tent on the soft sand go several feet away from camp and make a 8 to 12 inch deep trench around your camp. Any spiders, scorpions or other ground insects will get into the trench and because the sand falls when they try to climb out most of the critters will be in the trench in the morning.

A trench around any camp in the bush can also divert surface water if it's raining provided you camp on a slight slope.

[rugatika]

Originally Posted by bat119

A cd makes a good signaling device, facing the sun look through the center at your target and wiggle.

What else are you going to do with them these days?

Also good for opening beer bottles in survival situations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xiivgeMd9Y