I used my CS Rifleman hawk to build an emergency shelter today. It took me about 20-30 minutes. I found a sheltered spot off the shoreline with mixed sized evergreen and poplars. I hacked two decent sized evergreens then pushed, snaped them toward each other and continued to make a lean to with diff. sized trees. I put some in upside down to fill holes. It came out as a semi circular tee pee type structure. At one point the two main trees started to sag under weight so I shored them up with V cut branches on some poplar that I chopped down and anchored them at the entrance leaning toward the center. I dug the snow out of the center and pushed the snow up around the bottom inner and outer edge. Then I filled the inside with evergreen boughs. Conclusions: This shelter is easy and fast to construct. You do not need para cord to secure the main structure, although it would be handy. I need to drill a hole in my hawk handle to secure it, as it shot out of my hand twice while tree snow fell on me and made the handle slippery. I need to have a dark, light ring pattern on my hawk handle to see it in the snow or forest ground. My seemingly secure hawk head that I roughly refitted needs more work, as it loosened a bit. My white Canadian military nylon snow camo jacket and pants stopped me from getting wet from falling snow and basicly worked as a snow, rain suit. My hawk is only so,so sharp, could be better. I made sure that I picked my spot well. I had a reasonably sheltered, well wooded area with trees of diff. sizes. This was important for filling the gaps in my structure. I might go back and try to start a fire in front of the shelter, but I dont think I need to. I have started fires in the snow on worse days than today. It was around -18 with a light wind. I was sweating a little actually as I was hunting so i had to slow my pace.
). Seems like it had iron in it. Anyone know?
