Wilderness Skills

How to Make Fatwood. Making fatwood is an easy yet long process. Some commercial producer will wait a decade or more to harvest the mood. Look for areas where old stumps of pine trees are and see...

To hunt with a bow, make an arrow out of a straight stick to survive in the wilderness. Build a bow and arrow with tips from an experienced outdoorsman in this free video about wilderness survival...

In wilderness survival, a water purification system works by running the water through charcoal and dirt to create healthy drinking water. Learn more about the water purification process with tips...

To survive in the wilderness, collect rain water by using a tarp and a pan. Find out how to secure a tarp to collect rain water with tips from an experienced outdoorsman in this free video about...

A snare is a noose that traps small game as they run through a trail, which is an important wilderness survival skill to learn. Discover how to make and place a snare with tips from an experienced...

When straw grass is still green it can be used for bedding. Learn how to find and use straw grass for wilderness survival in this free outdoors video.

Water balloons can be used to start fires when other means are missing. Learn to use water balloons as suburban survival tools from a survival expert in this free outdoors video.

The ability to fashion tools for emergency use is an important part of wilderness safety. A simple spear, for example, can be used for both hunting and defense, and it is very easy to make with...

If you live in a climate that includes snow in the winter, here are some ways to have fun in the snow.

Making a stone knife is a relaxing and interesting exercise. Many people assume that, since stone knapping, flaking and chipping stones to make tools, is such a primitive activity, it is also a...

Tanning a hide can be time-consuming and may take a bit of practice to get perfect, but it is a real wilderness skill. Once you have learned this skill, you can make sure that very little of your...

Even though bear attacks are rare, take caution when you are hiking, playing or camping in an area where bears live. Talk to rangers, hikers and campers about recent bear activity. Be constantly...

Ok I have read enough BS on how to throw a knife and found the articles lacking, so here we go.

Determining what you can safely eat and what is not safe for you to ingest is a key to wilderness survival skills. Knowing how identify edible wild plants is critical. Learning to complete the...

You are camping in the woods and plan a whole day of activity. You don’t want to spend the afternoon cooking a meal, so you prepare your favorite stew recipe, then let it slow cook all day in a...

A Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga mensiesii) stands as one of the biggest trees in North America at 329 feet in height and 11 1/2 feet in diameter. It is also one of the easiest to identify. Found mainly...

Winter camping doesn't have to be a lesson in stoicism. Learn to build a snow cave and what it takes to survive a cold winter night in the wilderness in comfort and style.

Due to the number of military confrontations throughout the world, it's possible for people to find themselves in a combative area. To survive, you must get yourself and your family out if at all...

With more nations becoming nuclear superpowers, it seems every time we turn on the news a nuclear apocalypse is the most likely end-of-civilization scenario for humanity in the 21st century. Don't...

You have probably seen burdock before but may have thought it was wild rhubarb, or perhaps pulled it from your garden as a weed. Burdock, though, can be a useful plant for wilderness survival. If...

Eat scorpions to survive. The bad news--that just sounds nasty. The good news--scorpions can be found in many environments, forests, caves, grass, deserts, so chances are you can find them. But to...

Throwing a hatchet is more complicated than throwing an axe. Unlike axes, the hatchets used for throwing are not normally the same type available in sporting goods stores. The hatchet or tomahawk...

When you prepare in advance for possible emergencies while hiking or camping in the wilderness, you increase your odds of enjoying and surviving your next adventure. Shelters are a must-have if...

The lynx is a North American wildcat related to the bobcat. These species can be distinguished visually by noting a few features. The lynx appears larger because it has longer fur and stands...

Enjoying the beautiful forests of our wonderful planet is something to be treasured, but beauty is not the only thing nature offers. There are many dangers to be cautious of, one of which is a...

Having a survival kit with you at all times could be the difference between life and death if you find yourself in an emergency. To be extra safe, make a few survival kits and plant them anywhere...

If you want to be like the military and survival specialists in the world, you need to know how to eat animals in the desert. It's a necessary skill to have if you find yourself stranded or lost...

Pemmican was used by Native Americans to preserve meat back before freezers were invented. This is a technique that many survival guides teach now for the same reasons. It's important to be able...

You may not have considered the fact that traveling through the jungle is an art form. It's a specialized skill that you have to hone. Experts like the U.S. Green Berets and other survival gurus...

Knowing how to cook on hot rocks can come in handy if you're camping or stranded in the wild. This cooking method works best if you're cooking small foods for just a few people.

Hunting animals for food can be an adventure for wilderness enthusiasts, but it's not a skill that comes easily. To find your prey, whether for survival or sport, you'll must know the basics of...

Making a bed may not seem like a necessary survival skill, but in the wild, a raised bed is necessary for your health and well-being. You want to get the rest you need and stay safe while...

Survivalists know how to construct shelters with whatever is available. In the desert, a shelter can mean the difference between life and death. Follow these tips to build a simple desert shelter...

Their is no clear cut way on how to survive a grizzly attack, because this is a highly unpredictable animal. Grizzly's should be avoided in the wild or at least be appreciated from afar. Should...

A bear will attack if they are surprised, feel they are in danger (threatened), if they want the territory you are in and percieve you as its "owner", or if they have cubs. The best way...

Read below for some ideas on how to build a larger snowman.

Staying warm in the cold weather can be difficult. Take advantage of the good quality warm clothing on the market and stay warm outside.

Starting a campfire is easy. Here are a few simple steps to make sure your not in the dark about camping!

Poison sumac, a cousin to the infamous poison ivy and oak plants, causes a rash if it makes contact with the skin. Whenever you're outdoors, be on the lookout for poison sumac and avoid its itchy...

Even if you've taken precautions and have been on the lookout for an avalanche, there's still a chance you could be caught in one. What can you do to improve your chances of living through it?

Splinting a fracture is important for reducing pain and speeding healing.

Splinting a fracture is important for reducing pain and speeding healing.

A fractured pelvis is extremely dangerous, since it almost always leads to serious bleeding.

If your lighter's empty or you just want to be Jeremiah Johnson for a day, try this Native American bow-drill technique.

Nowhere in the American wilderness is it absolutely safe to drink unpurified lake or stream water. Your three options are boiling, chemical treatment or filtering.

Pile a bunch of rocks in your campfire in the right way and you've got yourself nature's answer to the Easy-bake Oven.

The actual distance your feet travel on a hike is usually greater than the distance measured from the map. Still, you can get a fairly accurate measurement - even along a curved line - using this...

Not sure where you're going, even with a compass in hand? Follow these steps for easier and more efficient travel.

Human waste is one of the biggest problems people import to the wilderness. Going's OK'it's where you go that's important.

Lightning can strike at any time. This is especially true in the backcountry, where the weather can change in the blink of an eye. Be prepared to take these steps to protect yourself.