Good books on Wilderness Skills?

Lobo103

Lobo103

Joined
Jul 14, 2003
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What books would you guys recommend on Wilderness Skills particularly for North America?
 
Wildwood Ways by Ellesworth Jaeger, Bushcraft by Mors Kochanski, Camping and Woodcraft by Horace Kephart. I would recommend anything by Ray Mears, Ron Hood, Christopher Nyerges ie magazine articles and internet info also.
 
Outdoor Survival Skills by Larry Olsen (he was the technical advisor for the movie Jeremiah Johnson)

98.6 Degrees:The Art Of Keeping Your Ass Alive by Cody Lunden (The best book I've seen yet on how to put together a small survival kit)
 
The Last Confederate said:
Outdoor Survival Skills by Larry Olsen (he was the technical advisor for the movie Jeremiah Johnson)

98.6 Degrees:The Art Of Keeping Your Ass Alive by Cody Lunden (The best book I've seen yet on how to put together a small survival kit)
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Those were the exact 2 I was going to suggest. I pick up every book on survival that I find, even though I already have tons. I find them interesting to read, and always seem to pick up something new.

Check out the video series by Ron & Karen Hood at www.survival.com. They are awesome.
 
Collins GEM pocket version of the SAS Survival Manual by John Wiseman. It is a fairly comprehensive compendium of land survival skills. But it is still pocketable enough to actually carry into the wilderness with you. See my review of several survival manuals at:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=241120.

Note that those reviews I wrote were done before Cody Lundin's "98.6 Degrees: The Art Of Keeping Your Ass Alive" and the book "Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why" by Laurence Gonzales were on the market.

If you do a search of this forum, you'll find that this is a question that comes up a few times each year. There may be some info to be garnered in the responses found in those previous run-throughs of this issue.
 
I picked up the "US army field survival guide" from Barnes and Noble for under $10. Decent little book.

N2
 
Neko2 said:
I picked up the "US army field survival guide" from Barnes and Noble for under $10. Decent little book.

N2
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the big problem with millitary suvival aids is they are meant for men stuck behind enemy lines,so they really tell nothing of how to be found by searchers because the searchers could attract enemys from their position, orthe searchers could be the enemy.so try to read another that tells how to be found.
 
wilderness living and survival skills by jhon mcpherson and primitve living ,self sefficiency and survival skills by thomas elpel are two real good ones , I have most of tom browns books and can tell you alot of what he writes will not work as far as traps but the books are fun to read, but if you are looking to save some money then the two books listed and buckcraft are three of the best if you have the money and like to read then get jim allens sleep close to the fire or get ron hoods videos or buckshots survival vidoes they will put you well on to your way to learning the skills needed to survive.
 
I've always liked "On Your Own In The Wilderness" by Col. Townsend Whelan. Written many, many years ago but not really improved upon for basic wilderness skills (IMHO).

AJ
 
Thanks again for the additional suggestions. I picked up a copy of Cody Lundins 98.6 Degrees. The way he expresses things is highly original and there is a lot of good information that isn't really covered in other survival books I've read. I also like the fact that he really goes in-depth with the contents of his survival kit. That was an area I found higly lacking in John Wiseman's books.
 
If you are or going to carry a survival kit or are thinking about it, I agree with the others and think you did good going with 98.6. I would then recommend a second book, either "Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival" or "Bushcraft" by Mors Kochanski to learn specific skills to supplement 98.6.

I am not big on recommendations as to each their own, but I strongly recommend the fore mentioned. Best of Luck!
 
I have a pretty old copy of Camping and Woodcraft by Horace Kephart, it's really old but a lot of the information still holds true, either way it's a classic and just a great read. I also like the "US Army Survival Manual FM 21-76".
 
There used to be one called "How To Stay Alive in the Woods" by Bradford Ainger ( not sure of the spelling of the last name) It was a pretty good book geared more for North America. It is probably out of print now.
 
Tom's books, bushcraft. I also recommend that you get some nature field guides. the mcpherson books are good.
 
One caveat; be very careful when you read info on edible plants. Not all foliage books were written by authors with personal experience with the plants; some are based on hear-say or readings by the author, instead of tried-and-true knowledge. Unfortunately, I don't recall the names of the books I know to be safe... I'll have to look into it.
 
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