The mention of “Roadkill” usually turns up the nose of those who hear it. Visions of gore and stench proliferate in their imagination. But on occasion, it’s just the end of the trail for the animal without major trauma, and timely for those who know how to capitalize on it. The following is my experience of just such an event.
When I began to teach survival classes I realized that I needed to know how to kill and dress small game so that I, in turn, could teach others to do the same. It’s one thing to trap an animal, but another thing to render it into a consumable meal. I made arrangements with a country gent who raised rabbits to teach me this skill. On the way to our meeting I drove past a dead squirrel on the road and thought “I wonder if he could show me how to dress this as well”. As I got out of the car to inspect the squirrel, a neighbor just off the roadside called to me and mentioned that he witnessed the squirrels’ demise just 5 minutes previously. It appeared to be in good condition, so I collected the prize and continued on my way.
My instructor demonstrated how to kill and dress out a rabbit, and then guided me as I proceeded to butcher one of my own. Next, he showed me how to skin and dress the squirrel. As a hunter, he was well acquainted with this game animal and he confirmed its’ health and freshness. Upon completion, I kept both meats in my refrigerator, and a few nights later roasted each one on a spit over an open fire. Although the aroma of the squirrel meat was new and different to me, it tasted wonderful, especially infused with the campfire smoke.
You may have heard roadkill called “Redneck” or “Country” “fast food”, which, for those who are daring, is not far from the truth. When you learn how to butcher, you do look at things in a different light, and when you dare to broaden your pallet, a bounty of supply is waiting to be had. One thing’s for sure, the price is right - and - when opportunity knocks, you’ve got to be fast!
Tags: Cook, Dress, Game, Rabbit, Roadkill, Skin, Spit, Squirrel
There are many facets to firecraft that take a lifetime to learn. However, baring hands-on learning, I found that a puzzle can be fun as well. So, just for fun, I have provided a word puzzle that includes firecraft elements for you to find and store in your memory as you search and identify them within the puzzle.
Click on the picture to launch the puzzle to solve. When you find a word, click on the first letter and drag to the end. The letters will be highlighted in yellow and the key word will be lined through. Words can be arranged horizontally, vertically, diagonally, or backwards. To reset the puzzle, just hit the reload button on your browser. If this capability doesn’t work in your browser, just print in out and use a pencil instead. Have fun!
It seems that everyone has heard that you lose most of your body head through your head, and because of this, you should always wear a hat in winter weather. This advice can be traced back to a US army survival manual from 1970 which states that “40 to 45 percent of body heat” is lost from the head. Evidently this was based on a scientific experiment by the US military in the 1950s where volunteers were dressed in Arctic survival suits and exposed to bitterly cold conditions. Their heads were the only part of their bodies left uncovered which resulted in the greater proportion of heat loss.
Recent tests have shown this belief to be false, and that essentially all exposed body parts lose heat equally. Most likely, because our face and head are more sensitive to changes in temperature, it feels as if covering them up does more to prevent heat loss. In my experience, covering my head, neck and shoulders gives me the most comfort in cold environments. Similarly, I can’t help but think about how I place a newly created coal low in a tinder bundle so that it builds heat above it to assist in creating a flame. So, if heat travels upward, I’ll want to capture it. Failing this, I’ll fall back on the “mind over matter” rule… if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.
Almost every driver has experienced getting into their car to take off, and when they turn the key to start the ignition… nothing!… a dead battery. Sometimes, this is just inconvenient, and the situation can wait until the motor club can come and get you started, or, you can hook up a battery charger and wait until it has a sufficient charge. But other times, circumstances demand immediate action for departure.
Yesterday, I watched as a truck pulled up in front of a car that had a raised hood. Two men set about attaching booster/jumper cables to the batteries of each vehicle. One person sat in the truck and reved up the engine while the other person sat in the car, waiting briefly to let the car battery charge up a little before attempting to start the car. However, there was only a clicking sound, but no action. I had stepped up to the scene at this point and examined the corroded contacts. I mentioned that about 80% (or more) of battery problems stem from dirty contacts. As time was urgent, and there were no convenient tools, I suggested another approach. Because I had heard clicking, I knew that starting the car wasn’t too far from happening. At first I suggested that the clamps be placed right on the battery terminal instead of just the clamp around it. Having done that, there was no difference in results. Then I suggested that we get a second set of cables to increase the amount of electricity transferred from the truck. If both sets of cables don’t fit on the terminals, you can attach the first clamp on the terminal and the second clamp upon the first clamp. That was the trick. The car started and the driver was on his way, able to get professional attention to his battery situation.
If you must travel during a winter storm, store an emergency kit in your vehicle that includes: blankets, a flashlight and portable radio with extra batteries for each, a first aid kit, battery booster cables and flares, a road map, a sack of cat litter (for tire traction), a tow rope, bottled water and non-perishable high-energy foods such as granola bars, extra clothing to keep dry, emergency candles and a windshield scraper and brush. If you slide into a ditch where the snow is deep you may not be able to open the car so have all survival gear in the passenger compartment and not in the trunk. In these situations, with the car being snow bound, carbon monoxide can wind up in the passenger compartment so consider instead using a candle inside of a tin can which will provide both heat and light. Of course, a cell phone can be invaluable in obtaining help in the time of any emergency, so make sure that it is charged before departure, and equip your car with the appropriate charger for extended operation.
Fire pistons use a centuries old technology that capitalizes on a physics law, that rapidly compressed air generates heat… enough heat to ignite certain tinders. Fire pistons were discovered over 200 years ago in South East Asia and were brought to Europe where they were demonstrated among the scientific community, eventually leading Rudolph Diesel to invent the Diesel Engine.
Fire pistons were originally made out of bamboo, bone, and horn. The gasket was made of string fiber and lubricated with dog fat. Different tinders include true tinder fungus, mullein pith, milkweed pod ovum, milkweed down, cattail fluff, poplar cotton, and wood punk. The tinder is placed in the end of the piston which in turn is inserted into the cylinder. By striking the piston down briskly, the tinder is ignited by the heat of compression, instantly becoming a glowing ember. The ember is then transferred to a waiting bundle of tinder which is coaxed into a flame.
I bought my first fire piston about 8 years ago and had fun until the wood grain separated, thus creating a leak - causing a lack of compression. As a reproduction of a centuries old fire making device, the string gasket fire piston is a treasure. But for unequaled performance, the 2nd Generation fire piston is now being produced that consists of a brass cylinder and piston that are incorporated into the traditional wood materials so that the look and feel are the same, but the durability is unlimited. It also uses a rubber “O”-ring that is consistent and replaceable. In addition, it has a patent-pending pressure-relief valve that allows easy stowage of the piston within the cylinder.
The fire pistons in the photo illustrate the difference in construction between the old and new technologies. I have enjoyed using both of them. You can order your own fire piston from the Survivaltek Store. Each kit comes with charcloth and instructions.
Tags: 2nd Generation, Ember, Fire, Fire Piston, Firecraft, Tinder
Just over a week ago I had the opportunity to be a guest speaker at a Cub Scout Patrol Meeting (Pack 399). This was a new experience for me as the main audience’s age was 9-11 years old. Rather than plunging into conventional skills that I normally demonstrate, I chose to review the “Hug-A-Tree” program which was developed to teach children on how not to get lost, how to stay comfortable if they do get lost, and how to be spotted and found. I demonstrated how to use the trash bag and whistle that the program suggests to take on a picnic, hike, or camping trip.
But what would a survivaltek class be without some fire? At the request of the Cub Scout Master, I cooked an egg using hand sanitizer as fuel, and demonstrated how to make fire with flint and steel. But don’t worry, an impressive amount of parents were on hand and we all had fun together. It’s great having the opportunity to prepare the next generation for outdoor living and developing survival skills for the future.
Tags: Class, Cooking, Cub Scouts, Fire, Flint, Hug-A-Tree
I’ve come to realize that there is quite a diversity in climates throughout North America. My roots in the Bay Area on the West Coast rarely saw snow, contrasted to my current location in the foothills on the East Coast where there can be seasonal snow. Of course, the folks up North are very well acquainted with long term snow and ice. Well, for snow beginners, and a reminder for snow veterans, one of the delights of fresh snow is the amount of activity it exposes by the various critters that surround you. The best conditions for viewing tracks is when the sun shines with clear skies, thus creating the highest contrast for revealing details. Not only can you see the foot tracks, but the walking and running patterns of the animal. Sometimes, you can see evidence of encounters between different animals such as predator and prey. You can also find the local animal trails and their respective dwelling places. The fresh white blanket is pretty much inescapable for mammals, but even the birds land on the snow to feed. So, next time you have a fresh snow, step outside and follow the tracks. It’s a refreshing adventure.
Historically, bannock was introduced to America by European fur traders. Using basic simple ingredients, it was easy to prepare and became the food staple for Settlers and subsequently Native American Indians. It consists of these basic ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, water, and some type of fat. It can be baked, fried in a pan or even grilled. It is so generic that a variety of ingredients can be used and many variations have been made over the centuries.
A typical recipe would be:
3 cups of flour
1 1/3 cup water
1 tsp baker powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbs bacon grease
optional: Fruits, nuts, bacon or whatever
When mixing with water, start with a cup and add just enough to make a stiff dough. Flatten the dough to a thickness of between 1/4 and 1/2 inches. “Thinner” cooks quicker, and frying is faster than baking. Best results come from slow, even heat. An alternative cooking method is to form a long finger sized piece of dough and wrap it around the end of a stick and hold it over a fire to roast.
I favor wheat flour because it has gluten and holds together very well. I’ve also used corn masa flour however the water-to-flour ratio is closer to 1:1 and breaks easily. Either way, these ingredients can last a long time without spoiling and lend themselves to travel or camping, and could be very strategic in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
What are Astragalus Bones? They are bones that are located in the rear legs of four legged animals (in this case, deer) located at the heel. They are part of an articulating hind limb at the joint that connects the calcaneum and tibia which we see as the rear most angular joint of the hind leg.
These bones have been traditionally used for a socket in the bow and spindle fire method, and are very durable. They are prized for their authentic part of traditional primitive fire kits, as well as great performance. Sockets are not so easy to come by naturally. You can find some rocks, shells, etc., and you can just use another block of hard wood with a hollowed pivot point, but the socket depth and durability of these materials may make it difficult or limited in their use.
Once removed from the leg, they can be boiled to harden and any connective tissue is more easily removed from the bone.
