Why Bush Crafting?

B34NS said:
Another question, sorry if these are frustratingly obvious to some, just trying to understand the bushcraft kids a little better.

So after a day of making toggles, tripods, traps, bow drills, do you take them home with you or do you leave them where you found them so to speak?
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I don't carry them back home. The more you know, the less you carry kind of mentality.
They served their usefulness out in the wild, and to the wild they return.
 
We did it when we were kids. back then it was called playing in the woods. "Bushcraft" to me is the lable they put on stuff so that,

1.You know you need it so that you dont die in the city park and,

2. so that they can charge a primium for thr cheesy crap they are selling.
 
thumbtack01 said:
We did it when we were kids. back then it was called playing in the woods. "Bushcraft" to me is the lable they put on stuff so that,

1.You know you need it so that you dont die in the city park
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If you're cutting down trees and setting fires in the city park, you don't need a bushcraft anything...you need bail money.
 
thumbtack01 said:
Lol, yeah true. That was silly how I put it.
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You could say "So you don't die 20 feet from the SUV"...that would have a great deal of truth in many cases. :D

To me, bushcrafting is just about making stuff in the woods.
It passes the time, and it's strangely fun to sleep in a shelter you made yourself rather than a tent...even though the tent will keep rain off you better in most cases.

The marketing hype comes when people try to convince you that a particular type of knife is required; truth is that just about any quality knife that doesn't give you blisters in a hurry will do the trick. :)
 
Its like playing with legos, except with a knife and outside
 
I guess my definition of bushcraft is different than yours. It takes a real skilled person to survive indefinably in the woods with just a knife or a ax. Those people are few and far between, probably practiced all their life at it too. But bushcraft is all about using nature to your advantage and developing the skills/knowledge to do so.
 
If the "the ten essentials" you always have, or should have, are somehow lost or damaged, then bushcraft skills can help find or make substitutes. :)
 
The cow said:
I guess my definition of bushcraft is different than yours. It takes a real skilled person to survive indefinably in the woods with just a knife or a ax. Those people are few and far between, probably practiced all their life at it too. But bushcraft is all about using nature to your advantage and developing the skills/knowledge to do so.
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Skill not withstanding I think it would take a real lucky person to survive indefinably in the woods with just a knife or axe.
 
I just find it fascinating and interesting what you can do with minimal tools and technology. It's actually what got me interested in knives fairly recently. I'd like to try some Ultra Light backpacking versus carrying my 60lb pack around, which bushcrafting could help lighten the load by me building my shelter, instead of packing a tent or hammock.
 
supertac916 said:
I just find it fascinating and interesting what you can do with minimal tools and technology. It's actually what got me interested in knives fairly recently. I'd like to try some Ultra Light backpacking versus carrying my 60lb pack around, which bushcrafting could help lighten the load by me building my shelter, instead of packing a tent or hammock.
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Take my advice and carry your shelter unless the actual goal of the outing is building that bush shelter.
 
Woods Walker said:
Take my advice and carry your shelter unless the actual goal of the outing is building that bush shelter.
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I'm sure it'll be interesting building the shelter a few times, but I agree that I will more than likely use my Hennessey, rather than have to build one regularly for a weekend trip. I just want to see if I can do it properly versus just reading and watching videos:)
 
supertac916 said:
I'm sure it'll be interesting building the shelter a few times, but I agree that I will more than likely use my Hennessey, rather than have to build one regularly for a weekend trip. I just want to see if I can do it properly versus just reading and watching videos:)
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Truth be told, I have also "used" Hennessey out on the the trail. I have a backpacking buddy who will carry a whole damn bottle sometimes. Me, I just carry some nice whiskey in a flask, and me and my friends do some sharing and sampling around the camp fire.

Or maybe you are talking about a hammock. ;)
 
Dacus_Nomadic said:
Bushcraft is a way for me to feel like i'm doing what human beings were designed to do. Being out in the wilderness, having nothing to do but survive with a few essentials, and just living helps me forget about being stuck behind a desk for 40 hours a week. Human beings weren't meant to sit in little cubicles or offices for 8 hours a day. It helps you get in touch with your primal self, and teaches you valuable life lessons in the process.
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I agree. I think it confuses us at a deep neurological level, to be sitting and staring at a computer, hours on end. We evolved for hundreds of thousands of years walking among grass/ bushes/ trees. I'll look for any excuse to be outside.
 
redsquid2 said:
I agree. I think it confuses us at a deep neurological level, to be sitting and staring at a computer, hours on end. We evolved for hundreds of thousands of years walking among grass/ bushes/ trees. I'll look for any excuse to be outside.
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Yes sirs! I am with both of you. I find any reason to get out in the woods. It is one of the best stress relievers for me and I find completing basic wood working, shelter, cooking, etc tasks to be very satisfying to my soul.
 
B34NS said:
How come there are so few women in bushcraft?!
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Interesting question 'cos I know quite a few women that are into all sorts of outdoor stuff that surrounds it.

I suspect a very closely related question is; “are there any female players of Dungeons and Dragons that aren't fat or ugly?”.
 
For most people it is enjoyment. I love the ability to go into the woods with nothing and have fire, shelter, and a cutting tool.
 
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