Question about survival kit

O

OmegaA

Joined
Feb 13, 2004
Messages
282
I read the thread here about survival kits and I again came to the following question: supposedly I am lost. What will I do? I will try to get out. This means I will have to move. I will not have time to set up snares and most likely I will not have time for fishing because I will spend my time trying getting out. However, a small airgun could really help - when you walk in woods, you usually have much higher chance to meet small birds than a fish in a river nearby, so chances to get a small bird are much higher than that of a fish. Also, there might be not that much fish around, but if you walk a lot, you will see a bird.

So, is it that really important to have fishing gear and snares in survival kit? I agree, if you have to be stationary, it will help, but being stationary - is it really a case in survival situations? I read a few stories on internet about people who got lost. They were desperately trying to get out of woods/jungles etc. This suggests me that people in similar situation will most likely behave the same way, i.e. try to get out, not waste time fishing or snaring.

Of course, if I am lost in sea or on an island, it is totally different situation, but so far I am preparing myself for emergencies whe I hike... Natural disasters, like harricanes or earthquakes, are also out of question.

Regards,
 
So, is it that really important to have fishing gear and snares in survival kit
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Up to you. Who knows how long you'll be out there- they take up pretty much zero room, and both snare wire and fishing equipment are multi-use items. Point of the survival kit is to have items you _might_ need for whatever reason. As long as you have the basics covered, it's up to you whether to add other stuff or keep it minimal.

An airgun would definitely be a nice tool, since I both suck at fishing, and suck at snaring- but they're not always allowed where one might be hiking.
 
OmegaA said:
I read the thread here about survival kits and I again came to the following question: supposedly I am lost. What will I do? I will try to get out. This means I will have to move. I will not have time to set up snares and most likely I will not have time for fishing because I will spend my time trying getting out. However, a small airgun could really help - when you walk in woods, you usually have much higher chance to meet small birds than a fish in a river nearby, so chances to get a small bird are much higher than that of a fish. Also, there might be not that much fish around, but if you walk a lot, you will see a bird.

So, is it that really important to have fishing gear and snares in survival kit? I agree, if you have to be stationary, it will help, but being stationary - is it really a case in survival situations? I read a few stories on internet about people who got lost. They were desperately trying to get out of woods/jungles etc. This suggests me that people in similar situation will most likely behave the same way, i.e. try to get out, not waste time fishing or snaring.

Of course, if I am lost in sea or on an island, it is totally different situation, but so far I am preparing myself for emergencies whe I hike... Natural disasters, like harricanes or earthquakes, are also out of question.

Regards,
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SURVIVAL PSYCHOLOGY
S|top
T|hing
O|bserve
P|lan

SEVEN ENEMIES OF SURVIVAL
Pain
Cold
Thirst
Hunger
Fatigue
Boredom and Loneliness

If you need more info about what i said contact me
 
I generally agree. Snaring and fishing (snaring especially) are time consuming and difficult. Usually there are many other things to do/worry about first. Those items are at the bottom of the list of importance, but remember they serve other purpsoses as well as food gathering. Fishing line can be used for light lashing, and sewing. Wire can be use to repair things, secure things in place, or even splint fractures.

It also depends on your situation. For example if you are far from water, say the desert, or winter, take out the fishing gear. Other places (like the Canadian Sheild) where there are more lakes than land, fishing is really easy, and fishing gear takes up minimal space/weight.

Will
 
If you were lost why wouldn't you stay put and try to get yourself found? If you have left information on where you are going and a timetable with several friend/relatives at home, then rescue workers should be looking for you. Find a open spot where you can signal from, build/find a shelter and find a reliable water source. After that fire and food would be next.

Just my two cents

Michael
 
I agree, you'll need to stay put. The last thing someone that is lost in a wooded area wants to do is keep moving. You'll end up walking in circles anyways, but you can also end up in an area where the searchers won't go. It happens.

People a lot better at this than I am have researched and come up with the essential gear that will be needed in an emergency survival situation. The military, SaRs, law enforcement and even the scouts paid attention and have based their survival gear on the recommendations of the experts. Who are we to argue with their findings.

Everything in a survival kit is designed to do several jobs, but their primary purpose is to help the individual stay warm, dry, fed, watered and get rescued. If you don't have the essentials in your kit, you are causing yourself and your loved ones a whole lot of grief.
 
mewolf,

They sell that same gun here in Brazil as a pistol, w/ 10 inch barrels.

Personally I devote very little space and energy to food gathering supplies in my PSK. In a short term situation it won't be much of a factor. If I were to actually go to a place where long term food gathering would be a problem I most likely will be there either on a hunting or fishing trip (Alaska, Amazon?) In that case I would already be carrying actual hunting and fishing gear. That was the case during our ordeal in Canada, 10 days w/ very little food. Three guys in our group had normal fishing tackle and permits. We did forage for freshwater clams and crayfish in addition to the walleye they caught.

I will say that my PSK fishing supplies have been there when I had time and opportunity to catch fish in places that I hadn't been planning on it. Mac
 
One thing I always remember when faced with this question... If I'm out in the middle of nowhere injured, let's say, a broken leg, I'd rather crawl out to a few snares, or fishing line once a day, then worry about having to wait for the game to come to me... and then have to track it's dying ass until I find it.
 
I 100% agree, what I did say that, IF, I was to carry something for survival, this youth model is cheap, small, light, and effctive. The fact that you get a small scatter gun and a 22 cal. in one package for about 130 bucks it's worth havin around. I am some what of a minimalist when it comes to my PSK wich is severly critisized on the boards here, but I practce all my skills and know what my limitations are. As one member said, the more prepared one is the lesslikly one is to get into a bad situation.
 
Traps and trotlines are great in that they are passive systems that may provide food while you are engaged in active hunting or fishing or attending to other priorities. Wilderness multi-tasking. Mac
 
Very limited fishing stuf for me. If you can find water with fish in it in Utah (24 x 7 x 365) you can find someone to drive you home.
 
Why limit a fishing kit to one duty? It will also snag birds, lizzards, small mammals, help construct and secure shelter, makes up dandy snares, sew up a torn boot or clothing and even sew up a gaping wound. ;)
 
lumpymike1 said:
If you were lost why wouldn't you stay put and try to get yourself found? If you have left information on where you are going and a timetable with several friend/relatives at home, then rescue workers should be looking for you. Find a open spot where you can signal from, build/find a shelter and find a reliable water source. After that fire and food would be next.

Just my two cents

Michael
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Exactly, you did say you were lost, if your lost, trying to get out if you don't know where you are or where you're going will likely only make things worse.
 
longbow50 said:
Why limit a fishing kit to one duty? It will also snag birds, lizzards, small mammals, help construct and secure shelter, makes up dandy snares, sew up a torn boot or clothing and even sew up a gaping wound. ;)
Click to expand...

Now you are thinking;)

Hooks and line make bird catching VERY easy.

Skam
 
What you do depends on the situation, getting lost while hiking is very different than your boat being sunk in a storm or making an emergency landing in an airplane.

You can live a couple of weeks without food, if you are lost food is not your first priority, think shelter, water and letting know your location first.

I recommend spending some time around here:

http://www.equipped.org

Luis
 
The usual advice is to find a good place to wait for SAR and stay put AND help the SAR folks with signaling (smoke, lights, flags, whistle).

In the unusual instance where "walking out" is the logical course, there are methods for traveling in a straight line both with and without a compass. The information is widely available. Boy Scouts are taught the skills.

Food? Illegal in most jurisdictions are gigging for fish and gill nets. In a survival situation, both recommend themselves for the same reasons that they are widely illegal - they work "too well." A gill net weighs next to nothing and a frog gig is pretty light and easily attached to a pole you acquire in the bush. (Do take a suitably-sized screw eyelet for attaching gig to pole.) I have also used a gill net to catch brids and, once, a rabbit, but that activity took more energy and time.
 
One thought came recently - in survival situation it is recommended to travel along rivers - you will have sourse of water all the time, plus then you may fish!
About snares - I agree you have to use yours kit for secondary purposes, but then why not have thhkit with primary purpose for something else, and snares as secondary? Yes, there is some passive time even in survival situation - you have to sleep.
About STOP rule - I agree, this is what you have to do. But not for several days. With air gun you can stay in one place, but you can move as well. If you do not see birds next to you (if you have to be stationary for some reason), do you think snares will help to trap prey?
I actually started thinking to get myself a small airgun. I think I will ask advice on it in new thread.
Regards,
 
Snares are difficult to use correctly, and it takes a significant amount of them to provide food regularly. Birds are a good source of food and an airgun would be a pretty good choice, of course a 22 would be better but its a matter of weight and size. How much do you want to carry? If you are going to be near water, I mean even if its a few miles away, carry a net. You will cach more fish and have more time for other things if you just set up a net and come back later. A point to be made is that while you can survive for weeks without eating, it is not recommended. I mean not in a survival situation. A few days maybe, but if you go too long you will start to make very bad decisions. Not something you want to happen when your trying to get home. Honestly, if your a real G.I. Joe, learn your vegetation and eat some bugs. I would have to cook them, crush them up, and put them on my leafy salad or something. And only ants. Anyways I think some multi-vitamins and some HOOAH bars are worth their weight in gold if you get in a survival situation.
 
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