What is Bushcrafting

PartialSerrations

PartialSerrations

Joined
Nov 22, 2001
Messages
1,106
If this is not the right forum for this question, then please redirect as necessary. I am not trying to be ignorant or insult anybody's intelligence but, what exactly is Bushcrafting? Is it taking knives, axes, and survival tools to a wilderness or backwoods and using them to survive? I read a lot lately on Bushcrafter knives because I bought one myself. Thx for reading my forum!!


:confused:
 
Last edited:
I wouldn't necessarily say "to survive" but certainly to fit in, to enjoy the deep outdoors without having to bring everything with you. Bushcraft is the art of using the natural environment to provide yourself with food, shelter, comforts. A short, sharp, strong unspecialized knife is a primary tool for this.

This is actually THE perfect forum for this question. :)
 
Someone on this board has the perfect signature to answer this, but I can't remember who. Hopefully they'll post in here. It says something to the effect of "a knowledge of how to live in the woods is Bushcraft. A need to stay alive is Survival." Something like that. Whatever it was, it was great.
 
I think Esav summed it up quite well.

I think of it this way. Survival means I'm in a circumstance I didn't want to be in and am doing whatever I need to do to make it through it. There is the understanding that it will likely not be comfortable but I will make it through it.

Bushcraft on the other hand implies that I wanted to be in those circumstances, meaning here that I have chosen to be in the woods and want to work with what nature provides to exist, albeit it temporarily, in a comfortable, healthy, and fun manner. In otherwords, I want to learn what all God has blessed us with through nature and to use that. As Esav implied, it generally means a lack of stuff (not minimalistic but just don't need to carry the whole house). It also means a working knowledge of nature for a given area and what all I can use from nature to exist, not just survive.

One other way to look it is this way, survival implies an adverserial relationship, fighting against nature to live, while bushcraft implies a symbiotic relationship, nature provides most of wat I need while I take care of nature.

Charlie
 
I think 'bushcrafting' is a body of knowledge on how to live in the wilds. It includes knowledge of animals, shelter making, weapons of various sorts, navigation, food and water collection, the making of clothing and shoes, and other tricks of the trade.

My grandparents in the hills of East Tennessee had expertise in bushcrafting. They had to 'survive' through hard times in rough country.
 
I found this somewhere and saved it, because Iliked it.

Bushcraft is about surviving and thriving in the natural environment, and the acquisition of skills and knowledge to do so. Bushcraft skills include; firecraft, tracking, hunting, foraging, shelter building, cordage making also know as bindcraftt, and the use of tools such as knives and axes and saws. Modern Bushcraft encompasses much more than just a collection of survival skills though. Primitive skills and technologies which are often thought of as crude or backward in the modern world can be of great importance and are seen in Bushcraft as great achievements. The respect gained for our ancestors and their skills and technologies is an important part of Bushcraft. With regards to respect and understanding, one thread of Bushcraft is also concerned with respect and understanding of the natural world, its flora and fauna and the way these elements interact.
 
Cool and interesting question. I am enjoying the informative feedback. All the time I and mine have spent traveling the wilderness, I've never sat down to ask myself this question.

Charlie,
I really like the way you said that:)

The rest of you guys are right on too:thumbup:

Mark
 
IMO Bushcrafting is a result of a combination of fundamental skills needed to enjoy the Woods etc, a great love for the outdoors, a willingness to learn all you can about the woods & the tools you might need or use while out there; which result in learning how to best harmonize those skills/knowledge & tools (natural or man made) in the most efficient & enjoyable way possible.

I think it's pretty much a life long journey in knowledge and application where the Field is the only way to see what works best - but W&S is one of the best places to get you motivated to get out of the chair and do it :thumbup:

sp
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top