Explain "Bushcrafting"

R

R.C.Reichert

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Jul 26, 2008
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So each year I go out with the family camping out to the mountains. We do a little hiking, a little fishing, collecting firewood, setting up a campsite, making a fire, etc...
What is different about bushcrafting? If I wanted to go out west to do specifically bushcrafting, what would/should it entail doing? Do you bring your family? Do you bring normal camping gear? Do you practice survival scenarios? What do you bring...aside from a "bushcraft" knife? What sorts of things do you do while bushcrafting? I'm assuming you don't go to a campground either.:D

The reason I ask is that I'd like to spend more time outdoors, but sometimes camping is just camping.... Bushcrafting...now that sounds interesting. :)
 
i am no expert, but my expert :D opinion is, the difference is in bushcraft , you make/do things on your own.

i.e., make gear, make cordage, make fires... in other words, you learn to find food, find water, make fire, make shelter....instead of buying everything.
 
I thought that was bush-scaping...:confused:

I'm not sure of the difference either. I just love being outside!
 
Hosetly this has been done a few times..
But hear I go... Buscraft in my opinion is the pursuit of competence in long term primitive living skills (or the knowledge base and skills one would require if they where to placed in a long term wildernes living scenario, or where a part of a theoretical hunter gatherer society) These skills would encompass but are not limited to the things you mentioned..
Pursuit of these skills is not the mean to an end for a bush crafter, but rather the end itself... Just one man's opinion.. Hope it helps.
 
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Its really all about the knife... and an axe. I didn't know about the axe until two days ago. Nutnfancy had me all sixes and sevens on the usefulness of a small forest axe... ordered mine last night. Once you have the knife and axe, then you're bushcrafting.
 
This is from one of Ray Mears' books:

"In the study of bushcraft we step beyond survival and learn the subtlety that makes outdoor life both certain and enjoyable".

I think "survival" and "bushcraft" are the same but bushcraft also covers things like basic carpentry, clothes making etc...it's all the other skills which our ancestors had.

So why not still go to the campsite but make your own camp furniture, utensils, pot hangers, toys for the children.

I'm probably wrong, I usually am...
 
Imagine what you are doing now, without most of the equipment you are currently using.

Imagine what you are doing now, without staying at "designated camping grounds"

Imagine being able to eat well, without taking the amount of food you curently take.

Imagine being able to continue living off the land indefinetly (and not just for three days :D ).

If you can do this, then you are starting to understand what "Bushcraft" is about :thumbup:




Kind regards
Mick
 
Bushcrafting:

Another term for the ages-old ability to "live off the land" that is used to carve out a niche; be popularized to make money; and start pages worth of arguments on forums all over world.

Are those Hormel brand worms that you just opened a can of? :D
 
RescueRiley said:
Hosetly this has been done a few times..
But hear I go... Buscraft in my opinion is the pursuit of competence in long term primitive living skills (or the knowledge base and skills one would require if they where to placed in a long term wildernes living scenario, or where a part of a theoretical hunter gatherer society) These skills would encompass but are not limited to the things you mentioned..
Pursuit of these skills is not the mean to an end for a bush crafter, but rather the end itself... Just one man's opinion.. Hope it helps.
Click to expand...

I mostly agree with this.

I will add, I believe that bushcraft is not survival. You do not need to do bushcraft if you don't feel like it. However, if the situation occurs, you will be forced into survival mode.
 
if we had 20K members, we would probably have 18K different answers as to what 'bushcraft' is.

Don't worry about it so much, just go enjoy the outdoors, and call it what ever you want. :D
 
I look at it like Nessmuk said "We do not go to the green woods and crystal waters to rough it, we go to smooth it." Bushcraft is the skills and mindset to make your time in the outdoors more enjoyable. Whether you are car camping, backpacking, or just plain "farting" around in the woods. I do alot of my crafting in the back yard at my house. I'm still outside enjoying nature, practicing the skills that I love to learn and study.
 
Survival is when you have to. Bushcraft is when you want to.

In my oh so humble opinion, bushcraft is an ongoing effort to learn the ways of the woods, and self sufficiency, to the point that — if you ever found yourself in a true survival situation — you could easily cope without panic, because you know what you're doing ... so go out and do.
 
I consider it a method of woods living that involves a high, if not professional, level of skill and technique, utilizing minimal technology and tools.
 
As time goes on the definition for me of bushcraft has gotten a little narrower. Hangin out in the woods isn't necessarily bushcraft.
For me there is a nuanced difference between bushcraft and campcraft. One is not necesarily better than the other. I consider campcraft to be the proficiency in setting up and managing a camp. Be it from primitive to traditional to modern gear. Proper knife and axe handling, starting a fire (from hand drill to bowdril, to flint & steel, to ferro rods, to lighters), laying snares or traps, hunting, fishing, foraging are all campcraft skills or another term would be Woodsmanship.

Bushcraft is using minimal tools; a knife, an awl, a crooked knife, what have you, and developing skill in making the cordage for your snares, making your bowdrill, bowl, spoon, awls, hooks, basket traps, nets, skill in making well constructed shelters from natural materials.

In essence, bushcraft is in the making,
 
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