Tips for Finding Sustenance in the Wild, Do You Bite off More Than You Can Chew?
Whether you’re settled for the night in your camp or just sheltered for a while, you’re going to need to find food. Even if your supplies are substantial, you might want to consider providing an additional source of food when the opportunity presents itself.
This way you will assure that your supplies will last for a longer period of time, and this can be a crucial advantage in survival situations.
Let’s say you set up your camp for the night, you’re settled, and you still have some time before nightfall. You now have a perfect opportunity to look for dinner.
The process of providing a meal for yourself has several benefits. Nutrition, of course, is the logical one, but successfully finding food can also do wonders for your morale and confidence and give you a much-needed boost and reassurance.
With a full stomach and a sense of accomplishment, you’ll feel reinvigorated and prepared for the new day. In critical circumstances, this confidence can be a life-saving element.
There are several things to consider when looking for food in the wild. You’ll have to consider your capabilities, your time, and the equipment you have.
Venturing off unprepared and without a plan can be a waste of time and energy, so always make sure you know how far you can go and what exactly you’re looking for.
Depending on the level of your preparedness and knowledge of your surroundings, there are two main sources for acquiring food in the wild. In the following section, we’ll try to introduce you to the basics of both and familiarize you with the options available.
Hunting
A skilled outdoors person and a prepared hiker should always be well equipped and ready to hunt and kill for sustenance. In survival scenarios, the ability to track, find, and successfully hunt game can save your life.
When hunting, consider and pursue smaller prey like hares, rabbits, squirrels, and game birds. Observe your surroundings and use your knowledge of the wildlife; taking advantage of the terrain and your familiarity with the animals will give you an upper hand and a better chance of scoring a kill. Retaining a silent approach and composure will ensure a much better chance of a successful outcome in every situation.
Gathering
In a different scenario, and for a quicker way, you might want to turn to gathering to acquire your meal. Nature provides a plethora of herbs and vegetables that can be great for sustenance through eating as well as used as infusions for teas. Learn beforehand about the different edible plants in the wild.
Literature is vast and detailed when it comes to wild herbs and other wild edibles, and reading up can help immensely with preparation.
The number of these is too vast to list here, but here are a few to keep in mind if you come across them: dandelions, buckwheat, brambles, wild rose, hawthorns, crab apples, and wild onions.
These are just some of the common edible plants that are readily found in temperate climates. With sufficient knowledge and care, you can easily sustain yourself with the plant life around you.
Be Prepared
Knowledge is the key to success in every matter – nature as well. Being familiar with your surroundings, the game you are hunting, and the secrets of the nature around you is essential for success.
Going out unprepared can often leave you disappointed and hungry as well as waste a lot of your time and resources. You want to be certain that you are as familiar with the process as possible. Take a trip to a library before you go out, read up on the internet, or talk to a local hunter.
Learning those important little tips and tricks of the trade from a variety of books or from someone with previous experience can help a lot when the time comes and you need to fend for yourself in the great outdoors.
Equip Yourself
Another aspect of preparation is suitable equipment. Invest in some recommended tools and equipment to add to your survival setup. A weapon of your choice and a good hunting knife are unavoidable choices in these circumstances.
A suitable recommendation for the casual camper and outdoorsman could be a hunting slingshot. These compact, well designed weapons can be easy to use and deadly when small game is in the crosshairs.
Perfect for hunting rabbit, fowl, and squirrels, slingshots are an affordable and reliable addition to your backpack. Always consider every option at your disposal and listen to advice from those with previous experience. If you are on a tight budget that prevents you from buying a gun of your own, renting one is also a viable option.
Following these tips closely can ensure a successful stay in the wild, whether you’re camping or just hiking through. Always evaluate your own capabilities and never “bite off more than you can chew,” settling for less when you’re in doubt of success.
With this in mind and with small steps taken successfully, your wits and renewed confidence can and will take you towards safety and success!