Download - bushcraft usa Magazine - Volume 1
-
7/31/2019 bushcraft usa Magazine - Volume 1
1/11
VOLUME 1 SUMMER 2010
2010 WWW.BUSHCRAFTUSA.COM PAGE 1
WWW.BUSHCRAFTUSA.COM
VOLUME 1 SUMMER 2010
http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/ -
7/31/2019 bushcraft usa Magazine - Volume 1
2/11
VOLUME 1 SUMMER 2010
2010 WWW.BUSHCRAFTUSA.COM PAGE 2
Contents:Hot Off The Press!
Koa Page 3: Introduction to the long awaited Bushcraft USA Magazine
1 Am Hardwoodsman, Hear Me RoarKoa Page 3: An in depth look at the up and coming group known as the Hardwoodsmen
Characteristics Are KingIz Turley Page 4: Recognize useful natural resources by their characteristics
Member SpotlightKoa Page 5: Meet Bushcraft USA member Homeslice, could he be the most improved bushcrafter of the year?
Whats This Got To Do With Survival?Koa Page 5: Learn how preparation and organization can increase your chance of surviving when the time comes
Book Review: Camping And WoodcraftGreyOne Page 6: Explore the classic work of Horace Kephart and learn where to download it for free
New York State MeetSkogKniv Page 7: Share the experiences of some BCUSA members who met in upstate New York this Spring
Squirrel PoleTerry Barney Page 8: Learn how to efficiently put a squirrel or two in the pot for dinner with this nifty trick
Survival PhilosophyKevin Estela Page 9: Being in a survival situation can be physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding. Developing a good core philosophy can help you overcome challenging situations.
http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/ -
7/31/2019 bushcraft usa Magazine - Volume 1
3/11
-
7/31/2019 bushcraft usa Magazine - Volume 1
4/11
VOLUME 1 SUMMER 2010
2010 WWW.BUSHCRAFTUSA.COM PAGE 4
Its fall in the hardwoodsforest , youre cold and indesperate need of a fire. You popinto a transition zone and see aplant that is sporting a downy fluff
at the top of its stem. Instantlyrecognizing it as flash tinder thatyou can use to catch your cedarbark more easily, you gather someand stuffit inside your coat. Youhave no clue that the plant you arelooking at is actually Bull Thistleand it doesnt matter because youhave recognized a useful resourceby its characteristics. Recognizing resources bycharacteristics is an invaluable
woodsmans skill to cultivate and
possess. It can be used andadapted for most anything withonly a couple of exceptions. When you hear this skilldescribed it often involvescordage. This is rightfully so ascordage is high on the list of usefulresources found in the woods. Thebest cordage Ive ever seen camefrom a plant that I dont evenknow the name of. Several of us
were out tromping around whenour friend Terry pulled up a plantand tested it for its cordagecharacteristics. He busted it openand inside were the most beautifulstrands of strong, white fiber Idseen in a plant. It looked and feltlike fishing line. Im fairly sure it
was a species of Milkweed (mostlikely Swamp Milkweed) but thats
the beauty of characteristics, itdoesnt matter what it is. Ill knowit again when I see it and Ill knowexactly what I can use it for. Cordage is a common skilllinked to characteristics but it canbe used in almost every otheraspect of bushcraft. Take flint forexample. True flint is only found inselect places across the earth butby using the idea of characteristicrecognition you can find rocks thatare flint-like and do flint likethings. This is how I find rocksthat act like flint; I listen for them
when Im walking in a creek bed.If I hear a glassy sound as I step onthe rocks I know Ive probablyfound what Im looking for. I pickup the glassy sounding rock andtry to bust offa flake. Sometimesthis produces useable tools forstaring fires or making blades andsometimes it fails. It all dependson the quality of the rock you find.You can do this just aboutanywhere in the world where rockis found. Im not saying youll
always find something with theproperties of flint but if its therethen this technique will help youfind it. Bow and drill friction fire is abig deal, both in its usefulness andits mystery for those new to tryingit. I get the same question overand over from bow and drillbeginners, What kind of woodshould I use?. When they ask thisquestion theyre really asking whatspecies they should look for. Butthats usually not the answer I givethem because all that matters arethe characteristics. Dead standing
wood that you can make athumbnail impression in is all youneed to know. Species has literallyalmost zero to do with it and infact it can hamper your efforts.
Ive heard of people using Oak fora bow and drill set when its in theproper state of rottenness and Iuse wood on occasion that I haveno clue what species it is basedsolely on its characteristics. As I touched on earlier, thereare a few spots to be careful with
when using character i s t icrecognition. Do not, under anycircumstances, judge food or waterby its characteristics. You just maymake yourself sick or dead if youare that careless about what youstick in your mouth. Always know
beyond a shadow of a doubt whatyou are eating or drinking. The other area to use cautionin would be plants that can causecontact poisoning or dermatitis. If
you know what Poison Ivy lookslike and what it does to you then
you wont be making cordage outof it if you have any smarts. By learning and applyingcharacteristic recognition a
woodsman can increa se h ischances of survival or enhance his
comfort level anywhere in theworld. He wont even ha ve toknow where in the world he is.
Iz Turley is the owner of
Turley Custom Knives
www.turleyknives.com
Characteristics are Kingby Iz Turley (Bindlestitch)
http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.turleyknives.com/http://www.turleyknives.com/http://www.turleyknives.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/ -
7/31/2019 bushcraft usa Magazine - Volume 1
5/11
VOLUME 1 SUMMER 2010
2010 WWW.BUSHCRAFTUSA.COM PAGE 5
Member Spotlight: HomeslicePossiblythemostimprovedbushcrafteroftheyear?
He may be a smart-mouthedlittle runt but hes definitely gotgame. Fi rst spotted at theoriginal Missouri meet he wasntexpected to make it through thenight (at one point we even hadhim convinced that heinadvertently came to a meetingfor the Sierra Club). However, hedecided to make his camp anywayand surprised everyone with his
tenacity, passion for learning, andknack for bushcrafting. Aftermonths of practice and thepurchase of excessive amounts ofunnecessary gear we havewatched Homeslice develop intoa real hardwoodsman. Woolwatch caps offto this yuppie medstudent turned bushcrafter andfirst place winner of the Missouriskills competition! -Koa
PENCIL LEAD, PENCILS, AND THUMBS...WHATS THIS GOT TO DO WITH SURVIVAL?In medicine they say an
ounce of prevention is worth apound of cure but in survival itsmore like an ounce of preparationcould mean your backside! If youre
cold and wet or maybe just reallyhungry, a fire is one of your bestfriends. Getting a fire startedwith limited resources is a skillthat needs to be practiced overand over again until its more aref lex tha n a chor e. IAWoodsman taught me (as he hasmany of you) that even in the
wettest of conditions you canmake a good fire. (Watch Here)The key to your success is in thepreparation. Find the right drytinder, prepare a variety of sizes
of kindling (thus the pencil lead,penci ls , and thumb sizereferences) ahead of time andprotect it while you work. Thiswill allow you to focus on keepinga flame going after you finally getone. There is nothing worsethan working hard to get a flameonly to let it die due to lack of
kindling. All you need to do isspend the proper time onpreparation and youll be warm,dry, and fed rather than cold,hungry, or dead.
-by Koa
Congratulations to the newDr. and Mrs. Homeslice! Trueto form they had a verybushcrafty outdoor wedding.Appa re nt ly Homesli ce gotcaught scouting for sources ofnatural cordage and tinderwhile he was supposed to bepaying attent ion to moreimportant things.
http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c90jBC31lrUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c90jBC31lrUhttp://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/ -
7/31/2019 bushcraft usa Magazine - Volume 1
6/11
-
7/31/2019 bushcraft usa Magazine - Volume 1
7/11
VOLUME 1 SUMMER 2010
2010 WWW.BUSHCRAFTUSA.COM PAGE 7
On Saturday April 17th at 10amthe first New York State meet
commenced. Several members ofthe forum arrived at the Bear Lake
trail in McKeever, New York. The weather was in the high30s and a warm fire was waiting
thanks to Marty Simon, his wife
Aggie, Kevin Estela, and Big
John , all of whom arrived the
night before. Over the next several
hours, other members slowly
started arriving.
The weather was a drizzly mixof rain and snow. Much of our
time was spent close to the fire,
covering many topics of discussion
one would be likely to find at a
bushcraft meet. As the weather
cleared up some, a little bit of
wandering commenced and Marty
Simon shared some of his vast
knowledge on the plant life (which
was quite remarkable), all this time
reminding me, and I am sure
others, how much more I want and
need to learn. Later in the afternoon theinevitable comparing of our
wilderness tools commenced and
knives began passing hands, with
oohs and aahs following.
After, there was some disbanding
to smaller groups, showing kit, and
wandering through the forest.
Some wood whittling was abound
of course. Around 4pm I set to puttingdinner on the fire. The fare was
corned beef, and corned venison.
The meat was well seasoned and
the sides included plenty of boiled
potatoes, cabbage, and carrots. It
seemed to go over well, especiallyon such a cold, overcast day. The
remainder of the evening was
spent telling stories and sharing
knowledge by the fire. Upon waking, the groundswere covered in a thin layer of ice.
The temperature dropped below
freezing through the night,
allowing snow and ice to form on
everything. The fire was once
again the center of attention
throughout the morning. Breakfast
consisted of bacon and eggs
generously provided by one of the
crew. A small trap demonstrationwas put on by Kevin Estela. Later
in the morning an arrow was found
in the forest, I made quick to
fashioning a small Atlatl in which
the arrow was thrown for a little
while until it was lost once again. Everyone finally departedaround noon on Sunday. Overall a
great first meet with fellow forum
members and some of their friends.
In all 9 showed up, with 8 staying
over the night, a healthy turn out in
my opinion. I would like to thank
Marty, Aggie, Kevin, John, Chris,
Timothy, Cody, and Amber for
showing up and making it a great
time. I have no doubt we will look
forward to future meets with all of
you.
-Leif B
(SkogKniv)
Leif was born and raised at the
foothills of the AdirondackWilderness and considers himself
to be a wildlife and wilderness
enthusiast, and novice bushcrafter
for life.
SkogKniv on YouTube
New York StateBCUSA Meet
April 17-18, 2010
http://www.bushcraftusa.com/storehttp://www.bushcraftusa.com/storehttp://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.youtube.com/user/SkogKnivhttp://www.bushcraftusa.com/storehttp://www.bushcraftusa.com/storehttp://www.youtube.com/user/SkogKnivhttp://www.youtube.com/user/SkogKnivhttp://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/ -
7/31/2019 bushcraft usa Magazine - Volume 1
8/11
VOLUME 1 SUMMER 2010
2010 WWW.BUSHCRAFTUSA.COM PAGE 8
When it comes to putting meat in the potone of my favorite techniques for snaring isthe squirrel pole. Before we go any further,make sure you check your local game laws to
see if snaring is legal in your area. Snare setsare in my opinion one of the best and easiestways to secure game for your table. Theywork for you 24/7 and bait is not necessary.You can use both manmade and naturalmaterials to construct them. Most of all,snares are easy to make and maintain, withthe squirrel pole being one of the easiest toconstruct and set.
To construct this beauty we are going tohave to make several simple snares. If youneed help with this part look here. The snareswill need to be about 3 fingers wide. I use 7-10
depending on the length of the pole. Whenattaching them remember to keep the loopabout one finger in height above the pole. Ialways mark my snare location with loggingtape or bright cloth so they are easier to findwhen you check them. I check my snares inthe morning and the evening. Good luck andbon appetit!
A squirrels eye view
To start with, I like to find a tree that thelittle tree rats have a nest in. This is what weare going to set our pole against. We knowthat the squirrels need to climb the tree toget in and out of their home. We also knowthat they will take the path of least resistanceand in this case it will be the pole.
squirrel
poleby Terry Barney
(IA Woodsman)
Terry Barney is a former Air ForceSurvival Instructor (now referred to asSERE Specialist) and owner of theMidwest School of Bushcra&.
www.midwestschoolofbushcraft.com
http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.midwestschoolofbushcraft.com/http://www.midwestschoolofbushcraft.com/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRfXRDR-byQhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRfXRDR-byQhttp://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/ -
7/31/2019 bushcraft usa Magazine - Volume 1
9/11
VOLUME 1 SUMMER 2010
2010 WWW.BUSHCRAFTUSA.COM PAGE 9
Survival philosophy is a way ofviewing situations encounteredwith optimism and resolve. There isno room for a victim mentality and
regardless of the resources youhave, your brain is the mostimportant tool (given you haventlost your head). This philosophywill apply to all aspects of life.
Survival philosophy isnt asexciting, Hollywood camera-worthy or testosterone charged asfirecraft in wet conditions, trapping
Bambi or slashing through junglewith a Peruvian. After all, how do you honestly capture the inner workings ofsomeones mind other than cheesy MTV Real World type confessionals? Survivalphilosophy is usually the section most will skip over while flipping the pages of theirfavorite survival manual. While it may not have the flair of other skills, developing aproper mindset is of the utmost importance. It is the first topic covered in courses that Iteach and for good reason. Without a level head, all decisions become clouded byemotion or lack of logic.
Here are some of the fundamentals for developing your own personal survival
hiloso h :
Assessyourself...physically, emotionally and your skill level. There is no room for dishonesty here. Takeinventory of what you know, your abilities and goals. For example, if you are nervous andunsure when you are cold is there training you can experience to make you stronger? Howelse can you anticipate how you will react under pressure? Experience what makes you feelvulnerable in a controlled setting before it happens unexpectedly.
Determine
your
worth
and
motivationAre you a father, sister, best-friend? You are someone who will be missed. Can you carrypictures in your kit to help remind you of who you are to others? I do, and it pushes mefurther and harder in all aspects of my life.
http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/ -
7/31/2019 bushcraft usa Magazine - Volume 1
10/11
VOLUME 1 SUMMER 2010
2010 WWW.BUSHCRAFTUSA.COM PAGE 10
LearnacceptanceandoptimismMother nature will not conform to your needs just because you throw a hissy fit. If you arequick to frustration or anger, time to count down from 10. An unexpected night in thewoods should be a learning experience, not an inconvenience. Win little victories in yourdowntime by making cordage, purifying water or doing anything to free your mind of
negative thoughts.
FollowtheS.T.O.P.protocolThis methodical approach to emergencies prevents rushed decision making:
Stay put
Think
Observe
Plan
Commit this to memory!
The wilderness is filled with endless destinations and it is a place to develop all the physicalskills an outdoorsman needs. Just make sure to have a proper survival philosophy when youleave home and before an emergency tests you.
Alwaysprepared,PreparedAllWaysThis motto of the Wilderness Learning Center is one we impart on the students. With acore set of skills, you dont need a gadget for every contingency. With only a few items like
a knife,fire steel and bandana in your pockets, you already are more prepared than most ofthe population. This level of preparedness will help ease your stress level in performing themost basic survival tasks. That is, if you dont lose your kit.
Kevin Estela is a Survival Instructor with the Wilderness Learning Center(www.weteachu.com) in Chateaugay, NY. He regularly teaches courses in all aspects of
survival, emergency preparedness and bushcra* throughout the Northeast and Eastern
seaboard. He offers free instructional handouts for download at www.slideshare.net
under username Estela. To contact Kevin, e-mail [email protected] with any
questions or comments.
http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.slideshare.net/http://www.slideshare.net/http://www.weteachu.com/http://www.weteachu.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/ -
7/31/2019 bushcraft usa Magazine - Volume 1
11/11
VOLUME 1 SUMMER 2010
2010 WWW.BUSHCRAFTUSA.COM PAGE 11
Quick Pic:
Tortoise Shell Butterfly (Aglais urticae) resting quietly on
Burdock (Arctium lappa)
-sent in by Kepis
Magazine Staff
Editor: Koa
Editor: Faol
Contributors:
GreyOne
Iz Turley
Kepis
Terry Barney
Skogkniv
Kevin Estela
Bushcraft USA would like to extend a special thank you to all of the members who contributed to thefirst edition. Without such outstanding members this magazine would not be possible. Please send in
your submissions for publication and keep this Magazine alive. Please feel free to contact Koa [email protected] if you have any questions or suggestions.
National Meet
Lets try to bring everyone
together for a large scale
bushcraft meet. We dont
know when, we dont know
where, but there has to be
a way to make this
logistical nightmare a
reality! Please post your
suggestions on the forum.
The new BCUSA patches are coming soonand will be available for purchase at theBushcraft USA store for $3.50 shipped to
the continental United States
Visit our store
mailto:[email protected]://www.bushcraftusa.com/mailto:[email protected]://www.bushcraftusa.com/store/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/store/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.bushcraftusa.com/http://www.bushcraftusa.com/