Wilderness Survival - Snares. Overview of snares The main purpose of snares is to capture animals for the purpose of food. Of course, all parts of a captured animal should be utilized. A snare consists of a loop (noose) of cordage placed across an animal trail or other place where an animal is likely to walk through, a trigger mechanism, and a spring stick of some sort that will quickly jerk the animal up into the air when triggered. The noose is placed at such a level above the ground that when the target animal walks into it, only its head will go through the noose.
When the trigger is released, a stick or tree branch that has been bent down and is under tension springs back up, pulling the animal suddenly up with it. Properly built and set, a snare is an effective and humane way to kill an animal for food in a survival situation. If you wish to practice with snares in a real-life situation, replace the noose string with thin, easily broken thread. Outdoor Skills | Outdoor Survival Skills | NatureSkills.com.
Wilderness Survival. Wilderness Survival: Free info covering all aspects of survival. Finding Food in the Wilderness. Unless you have the chance to take large game, concentrate your efforts on the smaller animals, due to their abundance. The smaller animal species are also easier to prepare. You must not know all the animal species that are suitable as food. Relatively few are poisonous, and they make a smaller list to remember. What is important is to learn the habits and behavioral patterns of classes of animals. Insects The most abundant life-form on earth, insects are easily caught. Worms Worms (Annelidea) are an excellent protein source. Crustaceans Freshwater shrimp range in size from 0.25 centimeter up to 2.5 centimeters. Mollusks This class includes octopuses and freshwater and saltwater shellfish such as snails, clams, mussels, bivalves, barnacles, periwinkles, chitons, and sea urchins.
Fish Fish represent a good source of protein and fat. Amphibians Frogs and salamanders are easily found around bodies of fresh water. Reptiles Reptiles are a good protein source and relatively easy to catch. Birds. Wilderness Survival Foods. By Jason Knight Knowing core survival foods is a key to wilderness survival. Though humans can survive for three weeks without food, we probably wouldn’t choose to go that long. Most natural environments are filled with a variety of items that can meet our nutritional needs. Plants can often provide the most readily available foods, though insects and small wild game can also support our dietary needs in a survival situation. Common and Abundant Plant Food Sources in North America include: Cattails (pictured above) Cattails are known as the “supermarket of the swamp”, as no matter which season it is, there are always edible parts available on the cattail plant.
The roots, shoots, and pollen heads can be eaten. Conifers The inner bark of conifers, know as the cambium layer, is full of sugars, starches and calories. Grasses All grasses are edible. Be sure to properly identify any plant you plan on consuming (using field guides and/or the guidance of an experienced naturalist). Survival food. It is essential to understand where to find survival food, even food is the least pressing wilderness survival need. With plenty of water and a comfortable resting place, most of us can live many weeks without food. However, food is important for your mental and emotional state, as well as a source of energy and to maintain a normal body temperature. Natural food In a survival situation, you have to take advantage of everything available to eat. Most wilderness areas are full of natural food, ranging from plants to insects.
The food sources you can exploit are determined by the habitat you are in. Vary your diet to make sure you get the appropriate proportions of fat, protein, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins. Meat and fish are good sources of protein and fat and provide virtually everything a long-term survivor would need. Wild edible plants Depending of the time of the year you will almost always find edible plants, unless you are in the middle of an arid desert. Edible insects Fishing.