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New TV Survival Show - Alone
- Thread starter panzertroop
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Cobalt
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I just caught up on all episodes of this show, great show. The biggest disappointment was Josh. He was mentally defeated before the boat the dropped him off, left. The bears just hastened and confirmed that he had no business being on the show in the first place. In fact all the guys that gave up due to animal threat did not do any homework on the region. First, they all had tarps and could have built shelters that make it difficult for an animal to enter, but this is only a deterrent. The fact is that hunting of Cougar and bear is common on Vancouver Island. The predators will be as naturally afraid of man as these men were of the animals. In fact spreading gun oil on your knives, saws, axes would probably have done a lot to confirm to the local predators that dangerous man is in the vicinity. I can understand giving up due to terrible weather, getting sick, hurt, or adequate food supply, but these animals were likely more afraid of the men than anything else. banging their pots with their axe would have driven all the animals away. If these guys were doing this in a national park where the predators are protected, then there would be some legitimate worry, but not there. Love the show though. Gives all these guys an idea of what it is for Les Straud to do his show carrying a pelican case full of equipment. I think the nasty weather is the biggest issue.
I'm with you on this. I was half hoping they'd have pelts already strung up in trees to sell by now. One small bear would feed them, cooked confit, the whole show. Although Alan being the first one to realize the benefits of having a cooking camp, you're right. That's an easily researchable fact that proves true not just in that area, but in many others too. As we used to be told, "Don't sh** where you eat, don't cook where you sleep."
Cobalt
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Exactly,
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Cobalt, you do realize that the cougars also associate hunters with free meals right? gut piles, and even full kills if they can get to them first. While most times I'm sure its just the noise that notifies them, I think any smell from then on that says "hunter" is going to get some attention.
I also doubt that those animals are under much hunting pressure. I don't know the BC rules for sure, but the rest of western Canada hunts black bears over bait, which means they loose fear in hunt areas (the ones that get shot at don't have time to learn new habits) and cougar hunting is not terribly common. Add to that predators respond differently to hunting pressure than prey species.
Look, not saying you are wrong, because I could very well, be. I don't know the habits of the local tribe, and maybe those animals are under hunting pressure year-round or hardly ever. Just there are a lot of factors involved, and that changes the dynamics.
I also doubt that those animals are under much hunting pressure. I don't know the BC rules for sure, but the rest of western Canada hunts black bears over bait, which means they loose fear in hunt areas (the ones that get shot at don't have time to learn new habits) and cougar hunting is not terribly common. Add to that predators respond differently to hunting pressure than prey species.
Look, not saying you are wrong, because I could very well, be. I don't know the habits of the local tribe, and maybe those animals are under hunting pressure year-round or hardly ever. Just there are a lot of factors involved, and that changes the dynamics.
Cobalt
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Well, I can tell you from experience in Arizona and California, to polar opposite states that I lived in. In Arizona(and Virginia as well), there are almost no attacks by black bears or cougars. In Cali, there are more attacks by Cougars than all the other states. Want to know why? They are not hunted in Cali. Az cougar/bear hunting is all over the place. I have personally run into 3 black bears and in one case I really do mean run into. Every single one ran away from me. I have seen evidence of cougar kills countless times and never ever seen a cougar or heard one. That is my experience. In Africa lions have killed people, but in areas where they are hunted they have a fear nontheless. It is natural for animals to have a fear of something that kills them.
Coyotes and bears associate man with food often, gut piles and trash, I have not seen much evidence that cougars do this. But if you are disagreeing with me that Josh was justified I will tell you that he should not have been on the show at all. Certainly not because of a curious black bear.
Cobalt
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I think not seeing a cougar vs. seeing lots of bears comes down the character of the animals.
Both are shy and will avoid humans but the bear is more in it's own world and while they will eat meat most of the time they're looking for nuts and berries. The cougar just eats meat and it's pretty well always hunting.
Both are shy and will avoid humans but the bear is more in it's own world and while they will eat meat most of the time they're looking for nuts and berries. The cougar just eats meat and it's pretty well always hunting.
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Some speculation on one of the youtube review shows that the location is not far from Quatsino Provincial Park and that no one is more than 2 km from a road/trail. Makes sense considering the Wayne rescue video.
If true it may indicate why the bears are out looking for the right temperature porridge.
As for cougars, they are rare in my area, but if you take any stock in Dual Survival Matt didn't seemed worried at all about them while Joe was scared to death. Although he also climbed a tree in another episode to try and scavenge meat off a leopard's kill, so probably take that show with a grain of salt.
If true it may indicate why the bears are out looking for the right temperature porridge.
As for cougars, they are rare in my area, but if you take any stock in Dual Survival Matt didn't seemed worried at all about them while Joe was scared to death. Although he also climbed a tree in another episode to try and scavenge meat off a leopard's kill, so probably take that show with a grain of salt.
@ 10 seconds.
[video=youtube;yyltULwxNXY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyltULwxNXY[/video]
Cougars are delicious. We can't hunt them in CA, but seen them quite a few times. Eaten one from AZ though. Seems like they do have bag limits for lots of wild game up there on the island too. Curious if anyone bags any wild game while on the show.
Here's the menu they've been missing out on, given the time of filming looks like there was a lot in season.
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlife/hunting/regulations/1416/docs/region_1.pdf
We get the occasional cougar in SF everyonce and while too:
[video]http://abc7news.com/news/mountain-lion-spotted-at-least-4-times-in-sf/835595/[/video]
Last edited:
Monofletch
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Do you think that due to the fact cougars are rarely seen or delta with and most of these guys have never seen one in the wild makes them seem more .........'deadly'. They don't know how to deal with them.
"Here kitty-kitty"
"Here kitty-kitty"
I think the remaining crew are aware. Lucas has the eyes on his hat for example.
Some of the folks who dropped out may have been hyper vigilant; and while that works great during an incident you can't live 24-7 at condition one. You have to be able to ease off and reset.
Some of the folks who dropped out may have been hyper vigilant; and while that works great during an incident you can't live 24-7 at condition one. You have to be able to ease off and reset.
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(Very strange, won't let me post a message if I try and copy paste it, but it lets me submit this message. Edit: Got it now, for some reason quoting Danke42 caused the message to not want to submit.)
"Danke42: Falling trees and shelter.)
Some relevant information about shelter and falling trees can be learned from tree felling. Generally, falling limbs or springing trees are your greatest concern, and if you have ever felled trees you will note the difficulty of finding the lay in dense forest. You have to be quite precise otherwise you will get a hangup, all it takes is one branch to connect with another tree in the right spot.
It looked like Dustin was quite close to the shore in an area with lots of fallen trees, which are always a bad sign. You don't want your camp near weak trees. Poor soil and windy areas have lots of fallen trees. Another location may have reduced the wind by 15-20 km/h as well.
Nothing is certain in storms but most trees falling randomly from wind are going to hang up on something, and a properly built shelter would be a good defense against limbs at the very least. A tipi or wikiup is incredibly strong, and in the right location you can reinforce it on tree branches. I can't say for certain that it'd take a direct hit from a large tree, but much of the force would be mitigated and cause a hangup for most trees the size of 10-18 inch diameter that were in Dustin's location.
Personally, I build mine in a location amongst some strong trees and good soil. Those trees will generally deflect or cause hangups for other trees and most likely endure the limited force from a break near the butt of a tree. So I think limbs and flying debris are the most dangerous in a storm situation.
I can understand Dustin leaving though. I never go chopping when it's windy like that.
As gadgetgeek suggested, you can stockpile your wood and add to the shelter at the same time. This is what Kochanski recommends for a survival lean-to, collect your firewood and use it as the wall of your shelter. Over time you won't have to add to the walls any more and can expand the shelter into something more substantial.
"Danke42: Falling trees and shelter.)
Some relevant information about shelter and falling trees can be learned from tree felling. Generally, falling limbs or springing trees are your greatest concern, and if you have ever felled trees you will note the difficulty of finding the lay in dense forest. You have to be quite precise otherwise you will get a hangup, all it takes is one branch to connect with another tree in the right spot.
It looked like Dustin was quite close to the shore in an area with lots of fallen trees, which are always a bad sign. You don't want your camp near weak trees. Poor soil and windy areas have lots of fallen trees. Another location may have reduced the wind by 15-20 km/h as well.
Nothing is certain in storms but most trees falling randomly from wind are going to hang up on something, and a properly built shelter would be a good defense against limbs at the very least. A tipi or wikiup is incredibly strong, and in the right location you can reinforce it on tree branches. I can't say for certain that it'd take a direct hit from a large tree, but much of the force would be mitigated and cause a hangup for most trees the size of 10-18 inch diameter that were in Dustin's location.
Personally, I build mine in a location amongst some strong trees and good soil. Those trees will generally deflect or cause hangups for other trees and most likely endure the limited force from a break near the butt of a tree. So I think limbs and flying debris are the most dangerous in a storm situation.
I can understand Dustin leaving though. I never go chopping when it's windy like that.
As gadgetgeek suggested, you can stockpile your wood and add to the shelter at the same time. This is what Kochanski recommends for a survival lean-to, collect your firewood and use it as the wall of your shelter. Over time you won't have to add to the walls any more and can expand the shelter into something more substantial.
I'll stick with a clear site with no trees close enough to hit my tarp. I've seen & cleaned up enough widow makers and fully hung up trees after windstorms here to trust the weather.
Re cougars, this is on the mainland but here's a good video from the spring. They sure blend in nice.
[video=youtube;MwXFfk7kiR0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwXFfk7kiR0[/video]
Re cougars, this is on the mainland but here's a good video from the spring. They sure blend in nice.
[video=youtube;MwXFfk7kiR0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwXFfk7kiR0[/video]
Anyone watch the video playlist that is a little more in depth as to why each guy so far left? After watching Josh's I can see his perspective on it. Especially with a baby on the way. Made a great call in my opinion.
http://www.history.com/shows/alone/videos/joshs-night-of-terror
http://www.history.com/shows/alone/videos/joshs-night-of-terror
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The thing that disappointed me with most of the men, was half the show is them whining and crying. Get on with it. The short time it took for many of them to drop out is silly.
Even my wife said she didn't care to watch the program anymore if it is about grown men acting stupid, f'n babies she said.
You see if it were a boy scout group or young teenagers, I could understand them being nervous and not liking it.
The men are expeirenced outdoor guys or they wouldn't have been picked to go. They have ample gear to make it tolerable. I understand it sucks but I had it much worse in the service. Cold, hungry, and wet for weeks at a time, I hated it and won't hunt or work in the rainWhen I got out, I had trouble adjusting as a civilan and lived in state parks with American Indians while working construction . I did have a tent but it was harder than Motel 6. Once married I took the kids camping all the time till they were teenagers and they do good now. Elk hunting, camping by myself, and taking off to get straight again alone in the woods, are good memories, and if I didn't have stage 4 cancer 67 yrs old, I would be out alone again. I take my grandsons out when I can, and they do damn good too !
I'm sorry but that TV show is pretty lame imo.
I'm willing to be that it's in their contract to give a "confessional" once a day. I would bet there's even someone there asking the questions. Carrying on is easy if you can put stuff on the back burner and just focus on what's in front of you but when you're forced to talk about it, those emotions you buried will come out and they can hit a person pretty hard.