10 items for 1 year in the bush.

[fnc]

I enjoy these threads. I try to figure out the environment
and what would be needed.

Liam,
You live on an island that is north of Hudson's Bay, so, is
this the environment? God forbid. It looks like it is above
tree line and would be very cold. 10 items not enough!!

I assume there are very few cabins, but a cabin could be
seen from a distance, in fair weather? Are cabins accurately
shown on GPS or Canadian Topo maps?

Or, are you thinking of an area further south, with plenty
of trees like, like Northern Ontario? I read recent threads on
this area: a reasonable chance to find a cabin. Within a cabin,
could be a pot, old ax, and stove; yes or no?

Ontario, Manitoba, and others please pitch in on this.

 

[batosai117]

..... would be very cold. 10 items not enough!!

That can't be true!!! Bear Grylls does it with only 3 items!!! A knife, a water bottle, and a flint......don't forget the elephant poo .

Just kidding, not trying to start a bear grylls war as I have seen. Good thread though :thumbup:.

It would be neat if we could all compile a list of the TOP TEN items that are a MUST HAVE in a year long scenerio as this.

Maybe if we work together without any trolling we could make that possible. We just start with a generic outline of goodies and progress from there with one of us "renewing" the list as we slowly agree on what would be the BEST 10 items for lets say, northern US or southern Canada.

What do you guys say? not trying to hijak, but trying to make this more interesting. If I am hijaking I'll gladly make another thread. Thanks, J.

 

[batosai117]

I would agree with some about having the Henry .22 lever action. Here is my list of goodies, kind of easy seeing as how I just finished reading "Hatchet" and "Brian's Winter" last week, which took about three days to finish the two. Learned a few things too, well here goes:

1. Henry .22 lever action with a brick of LR ammo
-easier to hunt with than a bow (for me at least)
-Good for small game and big game with a head shot
2. Fixed blade (my SOG Field Pup, mainly because it is my new belt knife)
-good for almost any small task
-skinning animals
-filleting fish
-whittling
3. Multi-tool (my SOG Powerlock)
-contains saw and file
-scissors
-everything else I need
4. Folding pocket knife (my new Buck 286 cause I'm not afraid to use it)
-ease of use
-one handed in case of emergency
-small tasks
5. Hatchet (Gerber Hatchet for me 'cause that is what I have and used)
-chopping wood
-splitting wood
-woodwork
6. Diamond sharpener
-keep those blades sharp and they'll last forever
7. Magblock
-starting fire
-lasts a really long time
8. Fishing kit with 50lb test
-catching fish (of course)
-setting traps for "wabbit stew"
-use string for other purposes
-50lb spiderwire which is thin but extra strong fishing string
-medical purposes/sewing thread
9. Metal pot
-used for boiling water
-making stew/broth
-store water
-makes a lot of noise if you hit with the back side of your knife
10. Paracord
-useful for lots of things
-bow string when the rifle runs low
-clothing line for the spring and summer months
-setting up shelter
-repairing pack (assuming you go in with all of this in a pack)

I would have included a tarp, but I've seen several people survive without them, but mainly because It didn't fit the "10" that was in the guidelines. Hopefully with this I'll survive for a year, J.

Maybe we could start from a list like this, and add or remove items as we go?
This way we could explain why and how the "item" will be of use.

 

[Rob Babcock]

I was thinking about how minimal I could pack to survive for a good while, What 10 items could you not do without to survive 1 year in the wild? Max 3 edged tools.
1-A good axe, GB sfa I guess
2-Fallkniven F1
3-SAK outrider
4-1 quart cooking pot
5-first aid kit
5-bic lighter/firesteel
6-fishing tackle
7-book of wild edibles
8-warm wool blanket
9-10'x10' tarp
10-war and peace, always wanted to read it.

For me my biggest concern would certainly be getting enough food, and considered a big bag of rice, but thought the book of wild edibles would be more rewarding and worthwhile.
I may get hungry, but I think I could do it with that. I would probably bring a bigger axe actually, but I just ordered that GB.

The main problem I'd have if I had to live in the wild for a year up in your neck of the woods is that I couldn't take enough mosquito repellant! Otherwise a good list. If the law/circumstances permitted I'd take at least 2 firearms, although it would be hard to decide which ones. Definately a .22 rimfire, either a Browning Buckmark or Ruger 10/22. The second would be either a 12 gauge shotgun (probably a Mossberg 500/590) or a bolt .308 (probably Browning A-Bolt Synthetic). The .22 would be great for small game, plus it's something you could actually hump in a thousand rounds or more for without too much weight or bulk. Now depending on whether or not all the items have to fit on a packframe, the shotgun wouldn't be practical to hunt with- you just can't carry enough ammo. But I'd sleep a lot better in bear/big cat country with a 12 gauge & some 00 buck.

I'd want a shovel if I could manage it. A good axe would be a must, and a saw would be nice. Fishing gear if you were near good fishing, and if so a fillet knife would be handy. My Cold Steel SRK would probably be in my pack, and I'd take along an LED flashlight: my SureFire Tac would be nice, but with a runtime of 1 hr it wouldn't be feasible over the course of a year. But an LED light runs long enough that you could pack a enough batteries.

As for the book, well...I'd need something you could reread repeatedly without getting tired of it. I'd choose a Walter Kaufmann anthology of Nietzsche. After all, you can read him like the Bible, with many, many readings necessary to absorb his many layers of meaning.

 

[white_feather]

What about a muzzleloader, powder, and round balls? Could you get enough of them for the weight of a brick of .22's? I like the idea because you can vary the charge for the game. Just a thought.

 

[Diamond Dog]

I concur with most everyone's essentials list. However I got to thinking what about one of those fish nets instead of a fishing kit, and a snare kit for food foraging.

 

[collecter]

1. 4x4 P/U truck with camper shell, it already has a wood stove built-in, wool blankets, cookware, etc.

2. Good axe, GB or equal

3. 22lr rifle with lots of ammo, 3,000 rounds, or more!

4. Canoe with paddles and life vests

5. Fishing tackle

6. 1,000 lf of paracord

7. bicycle

8. Victorinox Soldier

9. AAA Plus membership, prepaid to be active in 1 year when it's time to send for fresh gas, and a battery boost

10. Jessica Biel, http://img1.jurko.net/wide/wallpaper_189.jpg I hear she's a pretty good cook!

Did I forget anything?

C

 

[skammer]

Solar panel generator
Freezer
1 whole cow
365 gallons of clean water
100 lbs frozen vegetables
50inch plasma TV
Satelite reciever
Large sebenza
electric blanket.
4 season tent

U forgot the 2000lbs of deep cycle batteries youd need to power your basic needs

Skam

 

[skammer]

This thread is interesting. Its curious how people added more than 10 items to the scenario just in case they were allowed. I cant help but think adding extra items influenced their first 10 choices.

I mean if you realy sit down and think about 10 and only ten it is a tough choice adding extra makes some feel better about their top 10.

SKam

 

[Guyon]

9 cases of Charmin and a really long book.

This is near a resort, correct?

 

[Moodino]

You've got everything you need there for preparing a meal of delicious 'War & Peace' soup

I was thinking about how minimal I could pack to survive for a good while, What 10 items could you not do without to survive 1 year in the wild? Max 3 edged tools.
1-A good axe, GB sfa I guess
2-Fallkniven F1
3-SAK outrider
4-1 quart cooking pot
5-first aid kit
5-bic lighter/firesteel
6-fishing tackle
7-book of wild edibles
8-warm wool blanket
9-10'x10' tarp
10-war and peace, always wanted to read it.

For me my biggest concern would certainly be getting enough food, and considered a big bag of rice, but thought the book of wild edibles would be more rewarding and worthwhile.
I may get hungry, but I think I could do it with that. I would probably bring a bigger axe actually, but I just ordered that GB.

 

[xinel]

Yeah I think you can't count ammo in ten items because ammo is ALOT more then 10 items unless its a gun and 9 bullets Or survival kits or medical kits have more then 1 item in them.

 

[JackBauer24]

RAT5

Good boots.

My Dog. Sig

paracord

cup

22 rifle

ammo

firesteel

As many cans of sanity as I can carry

Charge

 

[Fletcher Knives]

For a year:

1) My paratrooper SKS with 1000 rounds of ammo ( I know that a lot of people think that this would be too much gun for smaller game and regular use, but it's smaller than my .22 so it's easier to carry and I can knock a hair off a gnat's ass with it from 30 yards away and have approx. a 3" grouping at 75 yards so it's very effective for me with larger game and I can knock the head off smaller game so i don't ruin the body and blow it to pieces. A .22 would work for smaller game, but bigger stuff would just run away with the .22 bullet in its body. I know that it is possible to bag big game with the twinky, but I want the ease of doing it with the larger round.)
2) CS Trailhawk
3) Leatherman Charge TTi
4) Rat-7 with sharpener
5) My Camelback (bladder will come in handy, plus I can carry all the other stuff around in it allowing me to be more easily mobile should something compromise my spot)
6) One big bottle of iodine
7) One big coffee can
8) One big spool of fishing line
9) One big pack of fish hooks
10) One 500ft length of paracord

 

[DeadeyeLefty]

I took the approach (OP's intent or not) that it's more of a stationary bushcraft odyssey than a prolonged survival scenario. To foster discussion, I think one could assume that a gun would come with bullets, a first aid kit would come with a pouch, and you'd already have some way to contain it all or you wouldn't have gotten it to the site in the first place. You'd know what you're preparing for because you get to select the 10 things in the first place...

With that in mind, I think the only thing I'd add that hasn't already been covered is seeds. Given their small size and weight, there's a lot of potential calories there and it would free up the time spent foraging for other tasks, like securing protein.

For that, I'd throw in a 22 as well, probably the venerable 10/22 with a range of ammo (as mentioned). Given the size of most of the critters roaming my neck o' the woods, a 22 would likely be the most productive by weight & space.

As for steel, I'd like to take a machete, Leatherman, and a fixed blade. I'm reluctant to dedicate 1/3 of the available 'slots' to edges though, so I think I'd forego the fixed blade. Sacrilege on a knife board, I know...

I don't know much about raising chickens, but that wouldn't be a bad idea. Not sure about incubating the fertilized eggs though...I don't know if currently bred commercial chickens could forage for food and raise chicks effectively, so rabbits maybe ? Eggs would be tricky to get though - I only know of one particular rabbit that lays eggs...
Maybe a breeding pair of platypus (platypi?)
Once again, it would reduce the time spent gathering food once a camp is established.

Personally, I would be a little concerned about taking only one book of wild edibles. One thought about what killed McCandless is that he misidentified a wild (onion?) for an inedible one and it became a large part of his diet. I don't recall any more about it - it's been a while since I read the book.

I guess my list would shake down a little like this, with less emphasis on "what constitutes an item?" than on "what items would be the ten most important to raising one's standard of living ?" from a survival scenario to a year's habitation. I've taken the liberty of assuming that you already have the basic day-hike gear: boots, clothing, water bottle/camelback, etc

1) Machete and file or stone
2) Leatherman
3) Firesteel
4) Button cell LED flashlight with spare batteries
5) Breeding pair of rabbits or chickens
6) Seed kit
7) Cordage
8) Leather and sewing kit
9) Fishing kit
10) 10/22 with ammo

It would also be good to include 'mental health' item(s) to be savored...bottle of Irish whiskey, good books, writing materials, musical instrument, etc. This could also be done through carving, plaiting baskets, etc but after a couple months a touch of home would go a long way towards keeping one happy. As skammer pointed out though, I don't know that they need to be in the top ten.

Because I took this to be a situation you put yourself in deliberately, my list also assumes a lead-up time to reinforce the skills you'd need to sharpen. Besides basic survival skills, I'd want to brush up on primitive hunting and food gathering techniques and wilderness first aid, especially food-borne illnesses, parasites and infections.

Of course it's a very different list from what you'd salvage from a boat or plane that's going down RIGHT NOW. Thanks for the thread, Liam.

 

[runningboar]

I think a breeding pair of goats would be a good idea, then you can add milk to your stores. I have never heard of goats being used as pack animals, I actually don't know that much about goats period, but I don't see why they couldn't. Chris

 

[sodak]

A gallon of whiskey and 9 Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. Or 9 gallons of whiskey and 1 Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader. Decisions, decisions...

 

[Macclint]

Wow. A Deja Vu thread.

A few thoughts....

on cooking I would want a HEAVY DUTY stainless pot. I love coffee can pots, but will they stand up to a YEAR's worth of cooking?

On taking paracord..... I love paracord, but it's not that hard to make strong cordage from dog bane, cedar bark.....

It seems that everything you do take, better be able to stand up to a year in the wilderness. It also seem that the more tools you have, the more you can make for yourself.

Here's my 10 list for this thread, I live in North Central Washington State. It's December now, and it's cold...

1. 0 degree rated sleeping bag (with waterproof stuff sack)

2. Heavy Duty Stainless pot (with bail)

3. Full size Axe

4. Large bag of nuts to get me through the first week.

6. Handmade knife with 5 inch blade

7. Frost River old #7 pack

8. 12 x 12 tarp

9. Swedish Fire Steel

10. 22 rifle with brick of ammo

I'm assuming that we would get to wear clothing appropriate for the weather, and I would cheat here by wearing a heavy wool soviet great coat that I have.

Things I could make from what I find in these woods...

Bow from Vine maple or pacific yew. (I'm not saying it would be pretty, but I've made ugly short term bows,and they will work) Arrows, ( I have basic Flint knapping skills)

Cordage. Fish hooks from bone or hardwood. Shelter (even an earth and sapling shelter with a smoke hole can keep you warm if you';re not too picky, and a well made Tracker School type debris hut can serve til it's finished in cold weather), Deadfall traps, spike traps.

I think once your basic needs are met (fire, shelter, then you're going to be on a constant lookout for anything you can eat)

(Edited to change from Sven saw to 22 rifle)

(ACK! Edited again to exchange snare wire for a swedish firestarter) (THis is hard!)

 

[CUTS LIKE A KRIS]

Well the 3 cores to survival are Food, Clothing and Shelter (we don't worry about here).
I am assuming I am going into the bush nearby, with items I own now.
I am also assuming that my legs are fixed.

1) Hewing axe- I like very large, heavy axes. I have used mine to make many things (kindling, board style plates, tent pegs...) split nearly anything. I know how to work it well and I find I expend very little energy to do a lot of work with it.

2) Large saw- I first thought that I would want a bow saw but I think I would take a large regular saw. It has the ability to go completely through wood as there is no frame to get caught up in. As well the blade itself can be used to make other tools- hooks, small knives, needles (all of the Inuit made ulus I own are saw blade steel- good enough for them to live on the land with). With the hewing axe the saw can have the top of the saw cut out. Might make it a little less effective but I may be willing to take that chance.

3) NWA Forum knife- great size for most tasks. Very solid, comfortable handle. Flat ground (plus to me). Sheath comes with a firesteel so I am counting it as one item. I do not think extra fire starting materials are really needed as I am well versed at keeping viable coals to reduce the amount of times I need my firestarter.

4) Medium 2"x6" DMT sharpener- Useful edge can be put on edged items in short order. Full sized to help with sharpening axe, can be used as a file to make other tools (see saw above). Can rust but nearly indestructible and lasts longer than EZ-Lap (monocrystaline diamond).

5) Large pot- I feel that saying kitchen set is many items so one large pot would work well. Boil water for drinking and cleaning. As this is still a survival outing I would want to keep as much of the nutrition in my food as I can and boiling food does that best (I would cook meat over an open fire as well but not every time). I can make most of the tools needed to cook during the year as well so will not waste an item on them.

6) Sleeping bag- I can make a good enough shelter but would still like the convenience of a sleeping bag. If it is still too warm for it then I can use it as a ground sheet that would still be nice and comfy. The filler can be used to help a fire along as well.

7) Gun- I thought about it for a while debating .22 or my semi auto 12 ga. I finally decided to go with the 12 ga. It has a good variety of ammo (even though it is bulky). I have taken 7 snipe with one shot and they were good enough to skin and eat. On top of that it is big enough to take large game- and whitetails and moose are very abundant around here right now and a moose would sure help fill my belly and make a lot of tools. On top of that the shells are easy to take apart for fire purposes.

8) Paracord- The 5 (or is it 7) strand variety. I am not good enough at making my own with natural materials yet so I want the options of using the inner strands, as well as the sheath for whatever comes up- especially for snares and shelter building. As well as things like showshoes, firestarting (both as tinder and bowdrills), first aid, making packs, belts...

The last two spots are up for grabs:

I think that a fishing kit (if allowed) would be nice- but I suck at fishing so I would not rely on it much. However it does give many different options (fish line sewing, snares in traps). For peace of mind I think my next is:

9) Juice Harp- not very practical and would probably break right away knowing my luck but it gives musical interludes, allows me to do something when I am tired but still a bit restless, music is the music of the soul right? It is small, carries well over distance, and would give some comfort.

Lastly:

10) Food- I am working on making a trail mix that works well for nutrition. I have mixed- Brazil nuts, hazelnuts, almonds, coconut, chopped dried meat (lightly spiced jerky- just pepper, chili powder, garlic powder), sesame seeds, other seeds I can't remember, Granola,dried apple and cranberries and candies such as Runts, Chocolate M&M's, French roasted peanuts... It is very high in fat, protein, fast energy from candies, fruit. This is a good supplement for whatever I don't get from the wild. I am pretty familiar with what grows around me (no expert by any means) and have made meals out of what was around me before- cattails are fantastic and everywhere. I could also use the items inside as bait for snares, deadfalls.....

I am surprised that I don't remember anybody mentioning what is next on my list and may replace the Juice harp:


One BIG roll of high quality DUCT TAPE- shelters, first aid, fun, reflector material for inside shelters, footwear repair.....

Not saying I would survive but it would be interesting, and I tried to pick items that were all multi purpose.

My opinions only!!

 

[texastonydobbs]

Great list Kris !!!!!