Are you a survivor?

[Firefighter154]

Sometimes I get off the beatin trail to hunt. The thought has crossed my mind, what if I get lost and wanted to build a fire. So today I went in the woods behind my house with nothing but the will to build a fire. I came out of the woods with 3 big blisters and the same will to build a fire. I came really close. It's alot Harder than survivor man makes it look. Has anyone tried this? If not you should. It's kinda fun minus the blisters.

[huntingwolf]

I always carry a suvial pack with me and have read and practiced suvial techniques, you just dont know when you will need these skills.

[stabow]

I can start a fire with flint and steel

[lpcjon2]

USMC JEST(jungle environmental survival training)been there done that. Now I carry matches in a waterproof container...LOL

[ISP 5353]

I have made friction fire.  That is why I now carry a lighter, firesteel, and matches.  Fire can be life saving and it can be very tough when you need it most.  Great topic.

[wapiti792]

I have tried and failed. I had to spend a night in a Colorado mountain in 2000 by myself and no fire. I took a medical survivor course with a guy named Peter Kumberfeldt (sp) after that and learned a lot. I learned that backcountry hunting and camping can be tough    I also learned that 3 cotton balls soaked with vasolene and a piece of flint or steel is a helluva a lot easier than 2 sticks. I now carry a small cell phone case sans phone and the following:

1. Extra compass
2. Small signal mirror
3. Plastic whistle
4. 6-10 iodine tablets
5. Matches
6. Steel for fire in case matches don't work
7. cotton balls greased with vasolene in a sandwich bag.
8. 20 feet of cord
9. 4 zips ties for building shelter
10.  1000 mg Tylenol for pain.

Goes where I go in my pack or on my person if I am doing a day hike or any overnight hunt.

[maineac]

I try to always have a lighter in my pocket and matches in a waterproof case in my pack.  As well as a compass and other safety supplies.  Tjhogh I am not as well prepared as Mike.

[britt]

I use a striker, magnesium and dryer lint. works great.

[Firefighter154]

Well later I went back to the house and got a string and an old cedar arrow that was broke. I thought we'll maybe I would have this stuff with me if I were hunting. So first I made a friction bow to try to spin the arrow fast enough to get an ember. With this method I got a little smoke but the string kept slipping and not spinning the arrow. Next I cut a notch in the top of the arrow, then made two thump loops in the string. The put the middle of the string on the top of the arrow in the notch. This way I could pull downward with the string using my thumbs while I twisted the arrow between my hands. This method created the most smoke, but tore my hands up. It's not over, after my hands heal I will make fire.

[woodchucker]

I have built fire with a bow-drill and good oldfashioned flint&steel, many times over the 52 years I've been on this good earth. Spent many nights in the woods (due to my own better judgement) while hunting in the Adirondacks & Maine. Mostly because I was "back in" and not really sure how far I was from the road when it got dark. Spending the night, is a whole lot easier than breaking a leg in the dark!!! (or worse!)

All that being said... I always have one of those magnezium block & firesteel gadjets in my pocket. They are suprizingly easy to use and very inexpensive!!!!! I probly have a dozen of them around the house. Pick one up next time you go to the store and take it on a few camping trips. Or, use it to start a few backyard campfires... You'll be amazed at how well they work, and you will soon probly have a few around the house as well!!!

Just one old woodchucker's thoughts.....

[Firefighter154]

Very nice Wapiti792. I need to put something like that together.

[moleman]

My system may be a bit primitive for some, but I carry a tin with char cloth, flint and steel and tinder. Its old school, but it gets a fire made in short order.
In an emergency, rubbing sticks together may be to little to late.
Dont get me wrong, its a great skill to learn, but if hypothermia rears its ugly head, time plays a serious factor.

[lpcjon2]

If you carry a few matches and a few fritos in a 35mm film canister you can get a fire going. Fritos when hit with a match will burn nicely. Steel wool also will burn nice when hit with a match.

  Make sure you test all your fire lighting tools ahead of time to be sure you can do it.

[stiknstringer]

Another  trick is a nine volt battery and steel wool, just make sure the battery is not dead.

[Rob W.]

I got a BG survival kit for a present one year and modified/upgraded it. Amazingly it all fits. carry it in my haversack, matches and knife in my quiver, and a fero rod on my belt knife.

 

 

[ronp]

Good topic and something to think about before hunting season.  I'd like to see more of what everyone puts in their emergency kits. I made one up using a Sucrets throat lozenges tin.  It seems a little small.

[gringol]

Ive done it once with nothing but a couple sticks.  It is an amazing.rush when you get it.  Probably as satisfying as that first trad kill.  The trick is not all sticks are created equal.

[Pointer]

I carry a small kit with matches a lighter and some solid fuel sticks. had to build a fire once to get warm on a cold day when a wet snow storm blew through without warning. It came in handy for sure

[MnFn]

My brother and I backpacked up the Ptarmigan Trail (AK) in 1975. When we got to our campsite by a lake, all wood, sticks etc were soaking wet. The only thing we got a small fire going with was pringles. They burnt really well.

[wapiti792]

Outstanding Rob!