What are all the skills you'd need to live deep in the woods???

a reply to: bigpatato

They utilized blood, the correct root vegetables and salt licks, as well as boiling down evaporating water. If you look around there are a lot of places with the name salt in them. They were aptly named because of the minerals available in the area. They would also follow animal trails which would usually show where a salt lick was. It is available inland you just have to know how to find it.

originally posted by: bigpatato

originally posted by: K_OS
One of the most important things is where to find salt. Salt is a must for survival. Most arm chair survivalists will list water, food, shelter, etc. but will leave out salt. Sodium is needed for most functions. We never give it any thought because our normal diets are so full of it that we live in excess but when eating naturally there is very little to be found. Learn to make food such as blood pudding, and things of this sort. Blood is high in sodium but most people can't find it palatable. It can also be found in hickory roots. If you happen to live near the ocean then you can boil water down to get salt, otherwise you have to get creative.

That's interesting. So how did the indians who lived in the interior areas get enough salt???

Probably traded for Wampum and Trinkets.

I don't think you can generate a list of "X number of survival skills" you need in order to survive indefinitely in the deep woods.

The truth is, every skill you possess must be leveraged to help you survive. The more skills and the more you leverage them, the best off you'll be.

One fellow is a great shot. Excellent. He should focus on the local game he needs to take to feed himself. Not only by tracking, but by locating water holes, attractive food plots, and bedding areas for the animals he seeks. He should invest serious life energy in getting food that way.

Someone else is a lousy hunter, but knows how to make woven mats. Good. They should make rigid mats and lash them to upright stakes in a stream, to make a fishing weir; then spear-fish in the shallows. Maybe this person is "open minded" about what shellfish can be considered "food." Even when there's not an "R" in the month.

You could get along without either or both skills. But then, you'd better have something, if you're going to make it alone.

I don't think you can generate a list of "X number of survival skills" you need in order to survive indefinitely in the deep woods.

The truth is, every skill you possess must be leveraged to help you survive. The more skills and the more you leverage them, the best off you'll be.

One fellow is a great shot. Excellent. He should focus on the local game he needs to take to feed himself. Not only by tracking, but by locating water holes, attractive food plots, and bedding areas for the animals he seeks. He should invest serious life energy in getting food that way.

Someone else is a lousy hunter, but knows how to make woven mats. Good. They should make rigid mats and lash them to upright stakes in a stream, to make a fishing weir; then spear-fish in the shallows. Maybe this person is "open minded" about what shellfish can be considered "food." Even when there's not an "R" in the month.

You could get along without either or both skills. But then, you'd better have something, if you're going to make it alone.

a reply to: bigpatato

What are all the skills you'd need to live deep in the woods???

Living deep in the woods means living without modern day conveniences - which means no ability to run to the store for something - which means having to make/create/build/forage any and all the things you need to live long-term.


Pretty much every skill our great grandparents and great great grandparents had:

- hunting (this also means skinning, gutting, butchering)
- trapping
- fishing
- gardening and foraging
- basic botany (knowing the plant life around you and how to use it)
- food preservation
- knowing all the different ways of making fire without matches/lighters
- herbalism and remedies
- basic medical knowledge (stitches, setting bones, etc)
- homesteading (making goods from scratch)
- carpentry and woodwork
- basic blacksmithing (reworking knives, axes, tools, etc)
- tool making
- weapon making
- basic repair, maintenance, and mechanical skills
- animal husbandry (optional but smart for long-term survival)
- tanning and preserving hides/furs



... just to name few

a reply to: CranialSponge

Not to mention an ability to fend off boredom.
Of course, the night sky is pretty interesting even if it isn't interactive.

a reply to: bigpatato
You would need to know how to read sky data for directional bearings.
A sharp machete or blades to cut and fabricate materials for housing sleeping and or prey capt.
A poisonous flora book to reference harmful or helpful plants.
Medikit, 3 days clothes, waterproof sleeping bags.
Sat. Phone or visual display device or communications radio.
And a map would also be helpful.