Why Bush Crafting?

B34NS said:
How many of you would say you've got the hang of the hand drill method over bow drill?

Haven't seen anyone comment on flint knapping. Cordage production... anyone?
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What is it you want to see? Here's a tutorial on cordage making. I would say I've got the hang of hand drill but not over bow drill if you're implying that it's a superior method - it's not, although under certain circumstances, where you have to gather all your own material first, hand drill can be faster to flame than bow drill. In a survival situation, it's bow drill all the way - mechanical advantage rules.

Hand drill friction fire is not all that difficult with the proper materials. I've taught people how to achieve a coal on their first attempt. See here.

Flint knapping - I can, though not very good. All these skills and more are yours for the learning.

There are a lot more threads on the subjects you mentioned. You just have to use the search function.

As far as why Bush Crafting? Everyone has there own reasons, it doesn't have to be justified to death.

Doc
 
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Back in the 70s and 80s I did many, many months of wilderness backpacking and never batoned a single piece of wood. Nor did it ever occur to me. I did virtually every cutting chore I needed to do with a cheap, but sharp, carbon steel stockman. I've field dressed deer with that same knife--it's not the optimal tool for that job, to be sure, but it worked. I would not feel the least bit ill equipped to set out on a month long trip with the Benchmade 943 I have in my pocket right now. So I guess I don't get the appeal of bushcrafting. Most of what I see called bushcrafting seems best practiced at a paid campground or in your backyard, and not mucking up a pristine wilderness environment like you think it's 1840 all over again.
 
Thanks for sending Doc, that's a great read! Search isn't all that ideal on here, but I've been lurking through some pretty corpus convos that are great reads too.

Just to clarify, I fully understand why people have a passion for bushcraft. I do plenty that most people would probably consider bushcraft, but I wouldn't necessarily consider myself a bushcrafter. Few styles of outdoorsmanship display such a welcoming mentorship and appreciation for knowledge. Anyone with a love for the outdoors is a brother of mine.

I'm just more interested in understanding some of the other styles of bushcrafting out there. Just seems like a lot of the popular resources out there tend to be variants of 19th/20th century European/Frontier based kits. I grew up with a passion for learning native american techniques for harmonizing with one's environment from a young age and pursued a path to teach the skills I was fortunate to develop. There's a lot of crossover in those worlds because we're outdoors. I think it's great there are resources out there teaching people the benefits of utilizing nature to one's benefit. Although it always seems to get heated around the same subjects of acceptable tool use, fire production, and shelter theory. Great things to discuss, just looking for more input on natural living skills, edibles and medicines, trapping techniques, that bushcrafters have in their mental toolkits.
 
Fireform said:
Back in the 70s and 80s I did many, many months of wilderness backpacking and never batoned a single piece of wood. Nor did it ever occur to me. I did virtually every cutting chore I needed to do with a cheap, but sharp, carbon steel stockman. I've field dressed deer with that same knife--it's not the optimal tool for that job, to be sure, but it worked. I would not feel the least bit ill equipped to set out on a month long trip with the Benchmade 943 I have in my pocket right now. So I guess I don't get the appeal of bushcrafting. Most of what I see called bushcrafting seems best practiced at a paid campground or in your backyard, and not mucking up a pristine wilderness environment like you think it's 1840 all over again.
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LOL- ok, I suppose but that really doesn't matter except to you and perhaps other Gaia worshipping individuals. Not to say that you are but, frankly your perspective is one dimensional, exclusive and most definitely judgmental.

Personally, I've never "mucked up" an area deliberately, let alone on purpose. The earth's resources are to be respected but plentiful, and for our use- Period. Anytime I have ever been in a ....."biosphere" , either by myself or with others we have left the area we inhabited in as good or better than how we found it. Most people are like that despite the conditioning by eco-pukes to convince the populace otherwise.

Perhaps you've never been in a back woods environment where necessity requires certain measures, not relegated to batoning. AS stated in another thread, I have been in an area where no human foot had been for a period of a couple of years at least. Pristine is/was a matter of perspective there due to the plethora of bleached bones from wolf predation and deadfall. While this is another topic entirely, the wolf population needs to be significantly culled or eradicated altogether in many areas due to the mass devastation their predatory effects have had on elk, deer and moose populations.

Nature left to itself is anything but pristine for extended periods of time. Man's stewardship is what makes the difference- both good and bad. Modern stewardship records and methods of management attest to this fact.

In any case, we can engage in endless discourse as to "why bush-crafting" yet people with your perspective still wouldn't get it , or agree. That is ok- for you according to your perspective . On the other hand, as Doc says it does not have to be justified to death-for us.

Those who don't get it won't. So it is just fine to back out of the thread.
 
Wolves are a natural part of the ecosystem... They do good work weeding out sick animals and forcing herds to move, thus preventing overgrazing.

Man's stewardship has been pretty piss poor over the course of our history and it has only gotten worse in modern times.

I am not an "eco-puke", but your statements are wrong. If you want to get into this I am down, but we can do it in another thread. :)
 
Back in the 70s and 80s I did many, many months of wilderness backpacking and never batoned a single piece of wood. Nor did it ever occur to me. I did virtually every cutting chore I needed to do with a cheap, but sharp, carbon steel stockman. I've field dressed deer with that same knife--it's not the optimal tool for that job, to be sure, but it worked.
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You sound like most guys I know. We did with what we had at the time and there was no term or name for what we were doing. But what you described are bushcraft skills.

I would not feel the least bit ill equipped to set out on a month long trip with the Benchmade 943 I have in my pocket right now.
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Yep you doing more with less is a skill! Many call that bushcrafting.

Most of what I see called bushcrafting seems best practiced at a paid campground or in your backyard, and not mucking up a pristine wilderness environment like you think it's 1840 all over again.
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Its not really about time period, but skills. Many practice those skills in their backyards. Many take the time to get out in true wilderness areas. I have many friends that are always planning their next adventure. And non of them think its 1840. HA!!!
 
B34NS said:
I'm not a bushcrafter so I don't count. Just curious what other enthusiasts are learning about some of their favorite time periods.
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I think you're asking too much from a thread titled "Why Bush (space) Crafting". For example in another post you included wild edibles. That topic could cover page after page but I don't expect people expending time and effort thoroughly explaining skills within this thread. Maybe they would be more inclined within a thread about a particular skill. All of this is IMHO and not intending to offend this thread's OP. Just pointing out the obvious. It's like asking why hunt or fish then people expecting others to come forth with essays on Tenkara or Deer hunting. Why hunt when most people can go to the market and buy dead cow? :rolleyes:
 
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sideways said:
Wolves are a natural part of the ecosystem... They do good work weeding out sick animals and forcing herds to move, thus preventing overgrazing.

Man's stewardship has been pretty piss poor over the course of our history and it has only gotten worse in modern times.

I am not an "eco-puke", but your statements are wrong. If you want to get into this I am down, but we can do it in another thread. :)
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If you've been to Idaho or Montana, to name just two you would understand that your perspective on wolves is limited at best. That is what Channel 13 or Wikipedia might say but that is not the case in the least. In fact the notion is laughable. I speak from experience, not theory . Wolves prey on all animals, not just the sick and weak. They do so to the point that the population numbers for all game animals has been significantly affected.

We can get into this all you 2want because if your statement about wolves is part of your position it will be an easy argument to show you just how mistaken you are. Over the course of history nature has not really suffered the way it has been cast, especially when considering the effects of nature on itself. No man can rival it.

For starters look at the numbers for each game animal as well as the environment as a whole before regulation starting in the early 1900's or so. Then compare those numbers to this century. After that we can discuss the tree populations and the requirements for planting vs harvesting here in the US. We can further discuss private donor groups such as the RMEF and NTF and their contributions to the environment and so forth.

Stick to facts as opposed to politically motivated theory and reality will become obvious..
 
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waveone said:
If you've been to Idaho or Montana, to name just two you would understand that your perspective on wolves is limited at best. That is what Channel 13 or Wikipedia might say but that is not the case in the least. In fact the notion is laughable. I speak from experience, not theory . Wolves prey on all animals, not just the sick and weak. They do so to the point that the population numbers for all game animals has been significantly affected.

We can get into this all you 2want because if your statement about wolves is part of your position it will be an easy argument to show you just how mistaken you are. Over the course of history nature has not really suffered the way it has been cast, especially when considering the effects of nature on itself. No man can rival it.

For starters look at the numbers for each game animal as well as the environment as a whole before regulation starting in the 1920's or so. Then compare those numbers to this century. After that we can discuss the tree populations and the requirements for planting vs harvesting here in the US. We can further discuss private donor groups such as the RMEF and NTF and their contributions to the environment and so forth.

Stick to facts as opposed to politically motivated theory and reality will become obvious..
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Sorry. This is utter and complete BS. Here is a graphic that will give you a little perspective, and the data behind it are solid.

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/land_mammals.png
 
Fireform said:
Sorry. This is utter and complete BS. Here is a graphic that will give you a little perspective, and the data behind it are solid.

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/land_mammals.png
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We aren't going to hi- jack this thread.

Keep your cartoon graphics and your wayward notions about reality. If that graphic is meant to enunciate your point, whatever that is, by comparing what amounts to a cultivated food source such as livestock to the population of wild animals that includes areas outside the US or N.America, where there is significantly less regulation, then you might have somewhat of an argument. Past that, it is failed because we are talking apples and oranges...

Oh and no- I do not buy the charade about global warming, mass reduction of the ice cap or how C02 which is necessary for the sustainment of life on earth must be controlled.

PM me if you like but we're done here.
 
waveone said:
We aren't going to hi- jack this thread.

Keep your cartoon graphics and your wayward notions about reality. If that graphic is meant to enunciate your point, whatever that is, by comparing what amounts to a cultivated food source such as livestock to the population of wild animals that includes areas outside the US or N.America, where there is significantly less regulation, then you might have somewhat of an argument. Past that, it is failed because we are talking apples and oranges...

Oh and no- I do not buy the charade about global warming, mass reduction of the ice cap or how C02 which is necessary for the sustainment of life on earth must be controlled.

PM me if you like but we're done here.
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Well since you had nothing to add to my question, why'd you bother replying?

Why try and start a fight about something that you have no business getting into. The read isn't about global warming, in case you didn't read anything anyone had to say, but appearently are the only one with a solution to our planet's problem. For shame for not fixing the problem if you've had the answer all this time. Well there's one primitive skill I've seen before...
 
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This is not directed to anybody in particular.

This is supposed to be a Wilderness and Survival Skills forum. Over the years I have seen less and less skills being discussed. Perhaps that is the reason for the migration to other discussion forums by members including our own moderators.

It is time to get back to the basics and forget all this political and non-political squabbling ranging from man's contribution to global warming to the pros and cons of batonning.

Got a skill to share? Let's hear it. Working on a skill and having problems? Let's hear that too. Somebody else has surely experienced the problem that you are having and can help.

Want to hear about how to perform a skill? Ask. I'm sure that no matter the skill, there is somebody here that has some experience.

My 2 cents.

Doc
 
DOC-CANADA said:
This is not directed to anybody in particular.

This is supposed to be a Wilderness and Survival Skills forum. Over the years I have seen less and less skills being discussed. Perhaps that is the reason for the migration to other discussion forums by members including our own moderators.

It is time to get back to the basics and forget all this political and non-political squabbling ranging from man's contribution to global warming to the pros and cons of batonning.

Got a skill to share? Let's hear it. Working on a skill and having problems? Let's hear that too. Somebody else has surely experienced the problem that you are having and can help.

Want to hear about how to perform a skill? Ask. I'm sure that no matter the skill, there is somebody here that has some experience.

My 2 cents.

Doc
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hear hear, that'sall I was trying to gleam earlier, we have a lot of collective experience here. i'd like to hear from it.

Waveone, if I want to hear at how much trouble you have with natural tinder, I'll check out your own thread, but don't make fun of other's beliefs and way of life, bushcrafter's don't deserve it and neither do those who aren't. Some of the people trying to help you might believe in things you don't agree with. Get over it, welcome mentorship instead.
 
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I've never heard it said or even suggested that bushcrafting is all about using one knife to do everything. Obviously the knife is a very important tool, but most people into bushcraft and wilderness skill also use folding saws, hatchets or tomahawks etc. for wood processing. Perhaps the OP has confused this concept with that promoted by some survivalist websites or books, in which the knife is perhaps the only tool available to a survivor...
 
DOC-CANADA said:
This is not directed to anybody in particular.

This is supposed to be a Wilderness and Survival Skills forum. Over the years I have seen less and less skills being discussed. Perhaps that is the reason for the migration to other discussion forums by members including our own moderators.

It is time to get back to the basics and forget all this political and non-political squabbling ranging from man's contribution to global warming to the pros and cons of batonning.

Got a skill to share? Let's hear it. Working on a skill and having problems? Let's hear that too. Somebody else has surely experienced the problem that you are having and can help.

Want to hear about how to perform a skill? Ask. I'm sure that no matter the skill, there is somebody here that has some experience.

My 2 cents.

Doc
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I hear your cry brother. The problem IMHO is the average response to threads showing skills garners much fewer replies than Batoning etc etc etc. It won't stop people who contribute signal rather than noise but might make others reconsider spending time and effort making videos, taking pics and doing the write-ups. It takes hours to produce "signal" and seconds to make "noise".

For example start fire with a micro hawk head, chaga and gathered then processed quartz in wet conditions.
















Even a short video.

[video=youtube;3VeYnj3D45M]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VeYnj3D45M&list=UUyiVQqLC0A-ocbxknOQ5Ung[/video]

It takes effort to film, upload then post pics and or videos but a second to argue about wolves, becoming the center of an inane debate. Seems inevitable as time passes the signal to noise ratio favors the noise despite those who post signal. Darn shame.
 
Woods Walker said:
I hear your cry brother. The problem IMHO is the average response to threads showing skills garners much fewer replies than Batoning etc etc etc. It won't stop people who contribute signal rather than noise but might make others reconsider spending time and effort making videos, taking pics and doing the write-ups. It takes hours to produce "signal" and seconds to make "noise".

For example start fire with a micro hawk head, chaga and gathered then processed quartz in wet conditions.

It takes effort to film, upload then post pics and or videos but a second to argue about wolves, becoming the center of an inane debate. Seems inevitable as time passes the signal to noise ratio favors the noise despite those who post signal. Darn shame.
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This is like deja-vu for me. I complained about this a bunch of years ago to no avail so I quit posting skills threads, for the most part. And when I do, I usually post them with the required Becker knife content in the Becker sub-forum where the atmosphere is much, much better.

Doc
 
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Never did go on that plant walk. Speaking of wild edible been working on a paw paw thread. Took pics of said paw paw. Insides and out then ate the delicious fruit. :) Will take pics of the little grove plus maybe some video. It will be my first wild edibles thread in months.
 
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