Bushcraft is the acquisition, development, practice and application of skills necessary to survive and live in a natural environment. It is basically a set of survival skills useful when you're in the great outdoors. Most of the Cavemanstyle readers definitely know some bushcraft skills, but there are also many of us who may not have the proper skills to stay in the wild for too long. Don't worry, as we're here to help you understand the basics of bushcraft.
Bushcraft covers a wide range of skills. The most basic ones include food gathering, water sourcing, fire building and shelter building. The more advanced skills include weapon making and navigating with the sun or stars. Having the cooking knife and bushcraft ax that are made to withstand tough tasks is also essential to surviving and living with nature.
So what are some basic bushcraft skills you can learn? Luckily, you can practice some of them in your own backyard and around your neighborhood.
Foraging for food
Finding sources of food in nature is a top priority when you're in the forest. There are easily identifiable plants growing in the wild that are both nutritious and delicious including amaranth, dandelion and pennycress. Mushrooms and fungi are options, too, but they require high-level foraging skills since many of them are poisonous. You can practice and develop your foraging skills in your backyard farm or forest with the help of a local botanical expert or a guide book.
Setting up a shelter
This is another top priority when you're in the great outdoors to ensure you'll have a safe place by nighttime and a protective cover against the elements. Start practicing with the easy-to-build tarp-tent or lean-to, and gradually develop your skills by creating teepees and other more durable shelters. If you're living in a place with heavy snow, it's also a perfect environment to learn snow cave building.
Knowledge in making ropes and tying knots is another bushcraft skill that best supplements your shelter-building skill, so make sure to learn about ropework, too.
Creating a fire
@country_wild_camp May the new year be a happy year for you. 2022年もあなたにとって良い年でありますように🙏✨ #アウトドア部 #サバイバル部 #camping #outdoors ♬ Epic - Joystock
Fire is another essential when you're out (or lost) in the wild. There are many ways to start a fire without matches. These include friction-based fire making, lens-based fire making, fire plow, bow drill, and flint-and-steel set. Practice them on your background and be familiarized with the materials available in nature you can use for firecraft so you'll be prepared for emergencies.
Having a campfire ensures you'll have a comfy environment especially at night or in cold regions. It also helps ward off predators and cooks food. Make sure to have the Cavemanstyle knife or cleaver with you at all times for your outdoor cooking needs.
Get our Ultimo 2.0 Knife here.
Crafting weapons and tools
If you don't have dependable tools and weapons yet by the time you secure food, shelter and fire, it's time to craft them even if they're crude. A slingshot is easy to make and can help you ward off predators. Practice using it in your backyard with cans as your target. Working tools include sharp ones for cutting through vines and forests, and blunt ones for crushing and flattening stuff.
To ensure you will actually have a reliable tool while outdoors, order our Cavemanstyle cleaver and knife online today and make it a habit to pack it in your bag whenever you're out adventuring.
Bring along our best-selling knives with this 3-in-1 Knife Bundle.
Securing clean, drinking water
Natural water sources can be loaded with parasites and microbes, and thus, you need to learn how to secure potable water in the wild. Here are some ways:
- Boiling water;
- Filtering water using clean cloth or a makeshift filtration system using a plastic bottle; and
- Building an evaporation trap to catch moisture from the ground into a clean container. This method is used when you don't carry water or have no water sources nearby.
Other basic bushcraft skills to learn
Below are more basic skills you can practice in your area. Don't wait for the time you're lost in the wilderness before learning them.
- Performing basic first aid
- Fishing
- Crafting and setting animal traps
- Cooking and identifying naturally available ingredients
Most of all, bring along your trusted Bushcraft "toys". Visit our knife shop and you're all set for your bushcraft adventures!