Bushcrafter or Survivalist?

Good thread, with some good answers, based on an interesting question.

Bushcraft and survival seem to go hand in hand to me, although the term “Survivalist” brings to mind images of, as someone else already pointed out, paramilitary groups preparing for ... who knows what. To me, survival could occur wtshtf in an urban area, but could just as likely, and more probably would, occur out in the wilderness for whatever reason.

In nine years in the Marine Corps I attended several survival schools, all of which focused primarily on survival in a wilderness situation. Attending these schools, I couldn’t help but think “hey, this is pretty neat stuff: I like it.” After I got out (1972) I really got into bushcraft/wilderness skills and, the more I learned, the more I wanted to learn. Almost all of those skills have been aimed at living in the wild, yet could easily be applied to a WTSHTF scenario, too.

I guess I would have to say that I’m a Bushcrafter who is prepared to survive.
 
Neither. Both. Woodsman. I don't know really. Never really thought about it. I've never liked the word "survivalist", don't know why.

To me it was just stuff I learned that I thought everybody knew.
 
I think of myself as an "outdoors skills enthusiast," which I guess means I am interested in bushcraft but I also enjoy neat tools and gadgets. Anything that involves a harmony or balance between nifty gizmos on the one hand and improvisation on the other is cool to me.
 
Competent woodsman would be enough, not much for labels. As survivalist goes, all my family and friends say if SHTF they are showing up at my house.
 
I simply enjoy being in the outdoors. I am interested in survival gadgets but also the training in survival mentality. I am interested in increasing my bushcraft skills because I think they are entertaining and increase my fun while I'm in the wilderness. I don't think my current set of bushcraft skills can compensate with the degree of safety and security I take from having my extra survival gear.

At the risk of pissing folks off (but I don't mind doing that once in a while as it is good for debate), I can't say I agree with the bushcrafter=good survivalist but not the other way around statements. I think that is Gaia, we all love our mothers and baby kittens kind of talk. Bushcraft teaches you how to live and survive in the bush, but it is largely region dependent and requires regional and specialized knowledge. As global citizens we may or may not face our survival challenge in the area where we spent all our time perfecting bushcraft skills. Knowing how to survive the northern Quebec may not help you survive the Desert of the Sahara. If you travel as much as I do, you might find yourself stranded in either area with the same likelihood.

The second issue I have about bushcrafter = survivalist is that we generally take a flawed sense of what is possible in the long term. The reality is the amount of land and resources required to support a single human or their family is quite high. We see a lot of wildlife in areas today mainly because they are managed populations and/or partially supplement their diet by stealing/feeding agriculture products in fields ect. Non-agricultural nomads were just that, nomads, using extremely large tracts of land to support their needs. My guess is that bugging out to the woods can get you through a short term crises but eventually the conflict over resources with competing people (bushcrafters) will eventually place you into a survivalist mentality.

There ain't no thriving if agriculture and distribution services stop!
 
You do know that the two aren't mutually exclusive, don't you, kgd? Personally, I have a survival mentality, and feel I could cope with any scenario, be it urban or wilderness. While a survival situation could occur anywhere at any time, preparing for the wilderness -- bushcraft -- doesn't negate it's value in other circumstances. Many of the skills learned in the bush can easily translate to an urban environment. Besides, bushcraft is fun.
 
:shrug: Neither. I spend a lot of time outside doing various pursuits and while out there I learn. I don't really build many log cabins with my spearpoint fixed blades, though. I really admire the various "Bushcraft" skills and think back to when I studied some of those skills in BSA.

Then I think of the subset of those skills that I've used since (compass, modern firemaking), and of the related skills that lurking on this forum has inspired me to learn/relearn (primitive firemaking, tracking, etc)

I'm going with "Outdoorsman".
 
Really not sure what the answer here is for me...both and yet neither I suppose. I can spend days in the woods here with little more than my knife and be perfectly happy...but in a desert I might as well have landed on another planet with as little as I actually know about that environment. I can make most of what I'd need in a camp from what's available in the woods but I don't carve bowls....I guess I might if there was a need and I had the time. I can clover leaf my shots at 100 meters with iron sights on a good day, put 13 out of 13 center mass at 65 meters with a browning hi-power but I don't own twenty guns and a gazillion rounds of ammo. I can say that lately I have found myself studying more in the area of bushcraft than "survival" related material. I may regret that in the end but it sure is nice to just be relaxed for a bit even if it is completely illogical under current circumstances.
 
kgd said:
I simply enjoy being in the outdoors. I am interested in survival gadgets but also the training in survival mentality. I am interested in increasing my bushcraft skills because I think they are entertaining and increase my fun while I'm in the wilderness. I don't think my current set of bushcraft skills can compensate with the degree of safety and security I take from having my extra survival gear.

At the risk of pissing folks off (but I don't mind doing that once in a while as it is good for debate), I can't say I agree with the bushcrafter=good survivalist but not the other way around statements. I think that is Gaia, we all love our mothers and baby kittens kind of talk. Bushcraft teaches you how to live and survive in the bush, but it is largely region dependent and requires regional and specialized knowledge. As global citizens we may or may not face our survival challenge in the area where we spent all our time perfecting bushcraft skills. Knowing how to survive the northern Quebec may not help you survive the Desert of the Sahara. If you travel as much as I do, you might find yourself stranded in either area with the same likelihood.

The second issue I have about bushcrafter = survivalist is that we generally take a flawed sense of what is possible in the long term. The reality is the amount of land and resources required to support a single human or their family is quite high. We see a lot of wildlife in areas today mainly because they are managed populations and/or partially supplement their diet by stealing/feeding agriculture products in fields ect. Non-agricultural nomads were just that, nomads, using extremely large tracts of land to support their needs. My guess is that bugging out to the woods can get you through a short term crises but eventually the conflict over resources with competing people (bushcrafters) will eventually place you into a survivalist mentality.

There ain't no thriving if agriculture and distribution services stop!
Click to expand...

Very good point. Increase the competition, increase the conflict.
 
Bushcrafting is the sport, pastime, hobby- one that (along with others) prepares you better for being a survivor (or survivalist, or whatever term you like to use.)
 
I see myself as a bushcrafter. I like having the skill to live long term in the woods, not just a survival sitiuation, now thats not to say a survival situation cant last a long time, but generally speaking, if you got some extra gear to keep you covered and left a card for searchers to look for you with, three days is about max your going to be out there.

For me, getting lost for one would be incredible hard, as I dont take chances, I know the area Im in, If I dont, I study maps miticulously before hand. I know how to make my way around with various means, anything from a stick in the ground to get an Idea, to plotting my routes on a GPS system, I dont do things old school per say, but I love using my RC 6 and making fires with a ferro rod, I dont like using tents, and just started recently as my girl has been coming with more often.

I still however have many urges to go back to a 4" blade, axe and saw. and get away from the 6" blade, saw and various folders, there is just something simplistic about the whole Trio set of mind.

theres my spill, crituique as you see fit.:D
 
It really boils down to what you call a survivalist.
If you mean some nutball that dreams of a concertina-wire compound and the martian invasion, then no.

IF, however, you mean it in the classical sense -- i.e. one who is interested in all aspect of keeping one's ass alive, then I am definitely that.

Bushcrafting is a subset of skills involved in survivalism. Basically, how to live in the woods. There are far more skills to learn in general survialism than just bushcrafting, but that's what many, if not most, concentrate on, because, let's face it, it's more fun than many other aspects of survival.
 
I am both I suppose.

I started with wilderness survival at 11 years of age (infected by Larry Dean Olsons book). By the time I was 13 me and the dog would take of for a week or more at a time.
I haven't stopped practicing and learning since then.

These skills have enabled me to have a blast when others would be in dire straights, and have enabled me to live through som e trying times woith relative ease.

However the bushcraft skills are not to be seen as an exclusive skill set. To be effective they must be coupled with foresight, preparation and other skills such as first aid etc.
That is where I cross the line into survivalist territory. It all boils down to a philosophy of life which recognizes personal responsibiltiy and stresses self reliance/independence.
 
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