Survival Skills

Contrary to popular belief, learning any survival skill isn't as difficult as it seems. It's a simple matter of staying prepared and being ready for anything. Fortunately, there are many ways you can do just that. Here are a few things to consider when preparing for your next outdoor excursion.

One of the first things many beginners imagine when they imagine emergencies in the wild is what they would do if they got hurt. Whether you're going on a short fishing trip or a lengthy camping vacation, there is absolutely no excuse not to have a quality first aid kit with you. These are useful for treating everything from minor sunburns and rashes to broken bones and serious gashes.

Their contents vary depending on their size, of course, and you may need to invest in specific kits if you're going on a specific expedition. For example, many first aid kits come with devices for removing fish hooks or treating bullet wounds, making them useful for hunting or fishing trips.

Finding food is another important survival skill. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can keep from going hungry. One way is to simply pack a few snacks that are nourishing and are naturally long lasting. These include beef jerky, granola, nuts, trail mix, and fruit strips.

However, if you plan on spending more than a few days in the woods, it's a good idea to pack something a bit more substantial. Such supplies include canned food, dehydrated meals, freeze dried snacks, or vacuum sealed meals. Fortunately, these survival foods are lightweight and easy to pack.

Foraging is a useful survival skill to have regardless of what you bring with you. After all, having a nice hand gathered salad or some fresh berries and mushrooms to supplement your food supply is always a treat.

However, if you're inexperienced it's best to keep a field guide with you. This will prevent you from accidentally eating something poisonous. In addition to this, it should help you learn how to prepare various foraged foods as well.

Finally, having a navigational survival skill or two can't hurt. These include learning how to mark trails, identify landmarks, read maps, and use compasses.

If you plan on venturing deep into the wilderness, it will behoove you to carry a GPS device with you. Many such devices come with an emergency beacon that can be quite useful should you become lost.

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