Survival with a family, how would you fair?

[BlackHills]

No one thinks they are the one that will not survive. If they did, why would they go into the wilderness?

People were able to live off the land for thousands of years because they lived in groups that taught the members how to survive in the wilderness. That is why we are here. Thousands of years of learning. We don't have that time frame in what we are discussing now.

Yes they did - in bands and tribes.

Obviously there are benefits to living in a group but it's not a requirement for survival. I think a lot of the reason people banded together was for protection.

What is your scenario for survival in the wilderness using the OP information?

It's not one I ever considered before. My family is thousands of miles away and if the SHTF I don't assume I'm going to be able to get there. Obviously what I'd do depends on the situation but if it's bad enough I have to leave home then I will. Whether that's alone or with friends again depends on the situation. I live in an extremely rural area so finding a place to go isn't a problem.

 

[Jason B.]

Improvise, addapt and overcome.

 

[longbow50]

The wife and I are both capable of hunting with a variety of tools. Three of us, including our daughter, can fish. Not that there would be a whole lot of fish left anywhere after the first month. Even the bay we live near would be hard hit with fisher people and it would be the same in the woods in the area. The savy hunters will travel further into the bush, where most people won't hike.

Anyways, we can do OK for awhile where we are and if we are needing to bug out for any reason, we'd do OK with that too.

 

[Hawkings]

So with all the people running around, trying to remember what Les, Bear and Ray said last week.
How long would it take before every single tree in the US is burned to a stump. Not as fire wood, but in wild fires.
And how would you try to protect yourself (and others) from others who does not know how to treat a fire, only stare one.

Myself, I do not live in the US, and going to the woods here WSHTF is not an option, the woods are not big enough.

I mean that, practesing survival in the woods you know is thing, getting lost and finding your self in a survival situation comes close to what you have practised.
But in a SHTF situation, changes the hole scenario, it's no longer what you have practised because all the people who goes to the woods normally decides to go ALL at the same time. And a lot of people who does not normally go decides to go also.

The water stream you used to get water from is now a toilet to 50 idiots living up stream.
All the squirrels are dead or to scare to show them self, making you relay on traps, which only traps post-it notes with the words "thx for the meat sucker"
And every where you look is people with more ammo then brains.
My point is: I don't think its you normal trips to the woods any more...

 

[Agent Iron]

So with all the people running around, trying to remember what Les, Bear and Ray said last week.
How long would it take before every single tree in the US is burned to a stump. Not as fire wood, but in wild fires.
And how would you try to protect yourself (and others) from others who does not know how to treat a fire, only stare one.

Myself, I do not live in the US, and going to the woods here WSHTF is not an option, the woods are not big enough.

I mean that, practesing survival in the woods you know is thing, getting lost and finding your self in a survival situation comes close to what you have practised.
But in a SHTF situation, changes the hole scenario, it's no longer what you have practised because all the people who goes to the woods normally decides to go ALL at the same time. And a lot of people who does not normally go decides to go also.

The water stream you used to get water from is now a toilet to 50 idiots living up stream.
All the squirrels are dead or to scare to show them self, making you relay on traps, which only traps post-it notes with the words "thx for the meat sucker"
And every where you look is people with more ammo then brains.
My point is: I don't think its you normal trips to the woods any more...

I think that is an accurate depiction of what would really happen in a situation where even rural folks felt compelled to flee to the wilderness. Between the bad guys, the stupid guys, the consumption of natural resources on an epocal scale, and our own lack of real world experience living a primative life from day to day, I don't see survival being long term. Maybe a great woodsman can make it under those circumstances alone....family...not good odds.

Even if the bad guys did not come after me, I would not want to rely on living off of traplines, especially the ones I consturcted. I do belive natural resources would decline rapidly. Even the large mule deer population in the west would be decimated in short order. I thought a lake hidden away in wild country might helps sustain life via fish while your traplines caught what they could. I would think that fish would be a more renewable resource then other land game. I am assumeing most of us in a woodland setting could construct adaquate shelter and fire to sustain life, so finding sufficient food would be the big thing, and I do not think it would be easy providing enough for a family. The animal populations were huge before, I doubt we have any idea just how huge. The population of people hunting those animals would be small by comparison. I just don't see making it for long.

Living in groups would be great to help against the bad guys, to share in tough times, and to help diseminate skills...but I also think that they would wipe out resources in a given area quickly. Note the great hunters that the American Indians were and the trouble the faced when resources were diminished.

I think we would see such a terrible rise in disease and loss of natural resources that the country would probably be almost uninhabitable in several years.

I do think a major EOTWAWNI situation might occur in our lives, and if it does, it may not make a whole lot of difference how prepared we are.
AI

 

[KiljoyKutlery]

I think we already determined...that most of the life expectency numbers had alot to do with CHILD BIRTH. I have no doubt that all of us...if we had to could survive mother nature...its "human nature" that most concerns me..
Its sad, but I dont have a really positive outlook towards the general public..I believe that as a whole..we (I say we, because "we" are all part of society) make pretty bad decisions...about everything, from the food we eat, to the laws we make..to the leaders we choose. I just look at the news..and I figure that we would be in a world of hurt if we had to survive the wild way as a community.
I have girls also..and that is why..as they get older..outdoor training and the use of firearms will be required. Some hand to hand also..but, that doesnt work in a real world scenario ( most of the time) meaning woman vs. man. They will still be taught hand to hand..and to use it wisely.
Some might call me negative..(myself included) but I believe that I am right. People treat each other poorly in traffic..because they are late for work, now imagine that they are looking for food...because the stores are empty..forever.
Doo doo dooooooo! (musical punctuation)

 

[KiljoyKutlery]

So with all the people running around, trying to remember what Les, Bear and Ray said last week.
How long would it take before every single tree in the US is burned to a stump. Not as fire wood, but in wild fires.
And how would you try to protect yourself (and others) from others who does not know how to treat a fire, only stare one.

Myself, I do not live in the US, and going to the woods here WSHTF is not an option, the woods are not big enough.

I mean that, practesing survival in the woods you know is thing, getting lost and finding your self in a survival situation comes close to what you have practised.
But in a SHTF situation, changes the hole scenario, it's no longer what you have practised because all the people who goes to the woods normally decides to go ALL at the same time. And a lot of people who does not normally go decides to go also.

The water stream you used to get water from is now a toilet to 50 idiots living up stream.
All the squirrels are dead or to scare to show them self, making you relay on traps, which only traps post-it notes with the words "thx for the meat sucker"
And every where you look is people with more ammo then brains.
My point is: I don't think its you normal trips to the woods any more...

I agree..this is why collecting outdoor gear is JUST fun for me...I dont think that its even a good idea to worry..if the SHTF thing happens..its a roll of the dice, really. I do think that I have some good skill sets for this SHTF scenario..but still..your really just living on the edge. I used to have AR15,s stacked up, and all kinds of gear...then it dawned on me..man, maybe, just maybe....someone else might want all this gear...and then its a fight for sure. having A gun is a good idea..an armory, not so good. I think that finding guns wont be a problem...if you live through the first few months...things are gonna get lonely.

 

[Foilist]

I think the most accurate (fictional) depiction of the scenario we are imagining is Cormac McArthy's The Road. It is several years after some sort of apocalyptic event; the entire landscape is burned, and there is hardly a living thing anywhere,except for a few ragged people whoe are mostly eating each other.

Absolutely terrifying; I don't know that I'd want to survive it.

BTW, there is supposed to be a film version coming out in the next couple of months.

 

[dextersp1]

I think we already determined...that most of the life expectency numbers had alot to do with CHILD BIRTH.

That is part of it. For men it was war. But those are the dramatic ones. Many more died due to more mundane things.

Women - smoke inhalation and burning from cooking fires
Men - work related accidents
Of course there are the little things we take for granted:
Infections from a cut
Food poisoning from rancid food
Stupidity - using lead in water systems; drinking polluted water - human/animal waste, dead animals
Crime
Plagues
Parasites

Just think about some of the things that sent you or your children to the doctor and how without medical attention the person would have died.

 

[dextersp1]

I think the most accurate (fictional) depiction of the scenario we are imagining is Cormac McArthy's The Road. It is several years after some sort of apocalyptic event; the entire landscape is burned, and there is hardly a living thing anywhere,except for a few ragged people whoe are mostly eating each other.

Absolutely terrifying; I don't know that I'd want to survive it.

BTW, there is supposed to be a film version coming out in the next couple of months.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/27/movies/27road.html

 

[PB Wilson]

Cotton clothing in the winter
Dirty water
Infections
Toothaches
Sunburn
Lack of sanitation
Improper storage of food

All of these would become considerable problems if our infrastructure were to fall out from under us. Compounded with the lack of skills and knowledge people have today, many, MANY people would be hard pressed to make it on their own. Predation of others would be the norm.

Yes we have fantastic brains that can comprehend amazing things, but if you don't know how to treat the water you drink, all the quantum phisics, sports statistics and the ability to program your iphone won't mean squat.

 

[dextersp1]

I think the most accurate (fictional) depiction of the scenario we are imagining is Cormac McArthy's The Road. It is several years after some sort of apocalyptic event; the entire landscape is burned, and there is hardly a living thing anywhere,except for a few ragged people whoe are mostly eating each other.

Absolutely terrifying; I don't know that I'd want to survive it.

BTW, there is supposed to be a film version coming out in the next couple of months.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/27/movies/27road.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09i72zZ04ts

 

[dipbait]

I would stay put, at least for awhile. Bring my travel trailer home. It would be a life boat in the winter. Id rig up a wood stove. My fence would see me through fuel for the first winter.I have a freezer full of venison, so there will be food for awhile. No prescription medicine . My wife would likely be the first to go. She needs her medicine. Id try to be a part of the community. I have a lot of good stuff to trade. Guns , knives , ammo, outdoor gear... Id be a wealthy man in that department. Im a lousy trader though.

 

[PrimitiveMan]

Yeah, and you could get eaten by a bear, and a tree could fall on you, or you could get flesh eating bacteria.

But SOME people are going to survive, and I am going to bet they are going to be like minded people.