Ok, I find myself in agreement with what you say......I've been saying that this is more likely a scenario that will be more small game and fish than big game.
But.....the major question in decision between knife and axe is--which will you use most and need most?
I had been thinking that deadfalls would supply all the wood we'd need and that those who killed big game might be able to preserve it by heating over a fire and smoking.
Please explain the features of the axe of which you speak and how it will be of more value than a knife.
The choice of an axe instead of a knife has been mentioned before in the thread and should be discussed more.
I think anybody interested in these kinds of scenarios would want to hear your thoughts.
:thumbup:
It will depend where you are as to whether or not there will be an abundance of small game. The only small game that will present in the high country will be animals that hibernate or burrow. Ground squirrels, etc. This time of year it would be very likely you could find deer, elk, maybe sheep or a goat.
Heating meat over a fire is cooking it. It will add hours to it's useable time frame but not much. If you want to save meat you have to dry it, cure it, or can it. None of which are very practical for a guy on the move. Of course you could shoot a whatever and just take what you can use today. Which is not a bad option if you are hungry. You might be able to make this work for you if confine your big meals to every other day and supplement your diet the other days with whatever you can scrounge. You certainly wouldn't starve to death in three weeks.
An axe is capable of much more work and can do it for longer periods of time with you expending way less energy. It is made to process wood which is what you will need. If you carry a quality axe you will probably have a stone and if not there is certainly plenty of granite in the Rockies to maintain it. It can do just about anything a knife can do and a whole more with less risk of breakage. An axe with a flayed poll is a better skinning tool than a skinning knife. I of course would always like to have at least one knife but if I had to chose the axe is the first thing I am going to grab. While not its best use it will make a better hammer than a knife as well.
A small or Forest or Hunters axe is just as easy to carry as a big knife and makes at least as good a weapon if needed. Even an expensive one like a Gransfors Bruks is not that expensive compared to a lot of blades. Higher than some and cheaper than a lot of others. Will absolutely last longer when used hard. It also keeps my bedroll and related items straight when rolled around it's handle. I can slide it out for instant access if need be.
Knowledge of the area will of course help you as much as anything. Knowing what kind of game is likely to be present. Same thing with fish. Fish aren't plentiful everywhere in the mountains. If you are remotely close to any large urban areas you might be limited to rivers and creeks that are stocked or are down river from a hatchery. There is no better source for trout than a fish trap. While highly frowned upon if I were trying to survive and I was in area that is stocked I am going to look for where they might be trapping them.
Knowing what plant life is edible is going to make your life a lot easier as well. Where there is water there is likely to be some kind of plant life. Some of it is really tasty and good for you, some of it will make sick and possibly unable to travel. There is not a whole lot up there that will kill you. Avoid any of the nightshades and you probably won't die from a plant. Some areas have pretty good mushrooms. You need to know which ones to eat. They have almost no nutritional value but they can be pretty tasty.
With a little knowledge it is easier to survive than it is to die. With zero knowledge I think it is more likely you will die than survive. Three weeks isn't very long if you can stay reasonably dry, warm, and can scrounge up a little food. Three weeks is a long time if you can't do even one of the three.
Someone mentioned having a dog with you. That is a great idea. A good dog is a better companion in the woods than another human with the same capabilities as you. I would rather have my Airedales with me than a gun. They will collect more small game in a shorter period of time than a man can. It's virtually impossible for you to get a beaver out of it's dam. A good dog will fetch him and beaver is about as good to eat as anything else you will encounter other than a young goat (which you won't likely get close enough to) or Elk venison. A small slice of its tail will give you all the fat you need for the day and tastes like candy. A big slice will overdose you on vitamin A and possibly kill you. A good dog or two will also protect you. It is highly unlikely a bear will bother you in the lower 48. A dog or two will make sure of that. When the rut starts it's possible to walk up on Bull Elk or a Buck Deer that won't take kindly to your presence. Most of them will run from a dog and the ones that won't will more likely take after the dog than you. A dog can pretty easily escape them, something you are unlikely to be able to do.
