Survival in the Outdoors
Although most careful hunters never face a serious survival situation, anyone that goes afield is wise to be prepared to cope with those situations. Survival situations arise from getting lost, some type of injury, lack of preparation, boating or wading accidents, unexpected weather changes or a variety of other reasons. Prior planning and preparation are very helpful in avoiding problems, and prudence adds an additional level of prevention. Successfully coping with these situations depends upon self-control, knowledge or survival skills, and practice in applying. One of these factors without the others is not adequate. Maintaining a positive attitude and self-control is greatly enhanced by the confidence that comes from knowledge mixed with practice.
Recognizing reality in a survival situation starts the coping process. Just knowing that most survival situations last less than two nights can be a calming influence. Start by recognizing the situation and realizing that your best option if you are lost, hurt, stranded, or caught where getting back to camp is dangerous and simply to stay put. Staying put simplifies things, making it easier to cope with the prevailing conditions and easier to be found if you are lost. It also conserves your energy reserves and other resources. Having practiced survival skills provides reassurance that you can manage and helps you to remain calm.
Most hunter survival situations result from getting lost. Once the decision is made to stay put, the other matters affecting survival can be addressed. Any injuries should be handled, and a basic knowledge of first aid, along with a personal first aid kit, is important here. In cool or cold weather, a fire can provide assurance and comfort, even if it is not essential for warmth. In cold weather, providing a night’s worth of fuel before darkness sets in is a good precaution against hypothermia. Every hunter needs to understand the dangers of hypothermia and the use of proper clothing, emergency blankets, shelter, hot food or drinks, and activity as a means to prevent losing heat from the body core.
Factors Affecting Survival
Attitude and Mental State – The attitude and mental state of the person in a survival situation have a profound impact on the outcome of that event. Panic is among the most dangerous mental states, but fear of any kind tends to erode the individual’s ability to cope. It can lead to depression and a sense of hopelessness – an extremely dangerous situation for even healthy, well-prepared people. Loneliness and boredom also have negative impacts on survival.
Positive mental states, on the other hand, promote survival, even when conditions are severe. A person’s sense that they are doing something to cope with the situation at hand and that those efforts will have a positive impact provides a positive impact on its own. Shelter, a bright fire, and adequate food and water will increase that sense of a successful outcome from a survival situation. Strong personal relationships contribute to the will to survive as well, and focusing on those relationships can quell fears and increase desire to cope. Finally, determination, persistence, and perseverance are powerful, positive influences on survival under any conditions, often turning a potential disaster into an adventure.
Shelter – Shelter is important in most survival situations because it moderates temperature extremes. While most hunters are conscious of the dangers of hypothermia, many do not know the dangers of dehydration and hyperthermia. Over-exposure to heat and sun can result in dehydration as well as dangerous increases in body temperature. Heat exhaustion is the milder form of heat-induced problems. Its symptoms include profuse sweating with a hot, wet, flushed skin. It may result in relatively minor weakness and disorientation in its milder forms, but it may also cause a loss of consciousness. Rehydration and shelter from the heat usually bring a quick return to normal. Heat stroke, on the other hand, is much more serious. Usually, the victim loses consciousness. The skin is hot and dry. Heat stroke is a life-threatening situation that requires cooling, rehydration, and immediate medical attention. Obviously, taking advantage of shelter from the sun and keeping yourself hydrated is important in preventing these two heat-induced problems.
Hypothermia is on the other end of the heat spectrum. It occurs when the body’s core temperature begins to drop. Cool or cold temperatures, particularly when they are accompanied by dampness and wind, strip away the envelope of warm air around the body and cause it to give up heat from the core to warm that air. Immersion in cool or cold water quickly reduces body temperature, and may become life threatening in a very short time. The effects of hypothermia range from misery and loss of dexterity in the mildest forms to life-threatening situations in the more serious ones. Hypothermia shows a number of symptoms, some of which are mimicked by other problems. Nausea, slurred speech, confusion or disorientation, and a sense of physical weakness may be present. Uncontrollable shivering is a serious danger sign. Cessation of that uncontrollable shivering is even more serious. A person in this condition needs help to recover, since without that help they may become lethargic, yield to the cold, and freeze to death even in warm to cool temperatures. Treatment involves shelter from the cold and wind, removal of cold, wet clothing, provision of fire or another source of heat, and adding adequate dry clothing. In serious situations, the person may need to have shared body heat from a donor.
Prevention is far easier than curing hypothermia, particularly for persons who find themselves in survival situations alone. Dressing for the weather is one of the nest prevention and survival strategies. Using layered clothing and clothing that retains its insulating properties even when wet is also wise. Carrying some form of shelter that can help to break the wind is also important. Providing for fire or other heat sources also contributes to maintaining the body temperature and preventing hypothermia. Finally, eating properly and having adequate food and water are helpful.
Water – Thirst and dehydration are serious problems in some survival situations. Water is a critical need for humans, regardless of the weather or temperature. Dehydration saps energy and it may result in a feeling of malaise or depression. Some people experience headaches or other pain, and many feel a sense of physical weakness when exposed to modest dehydration. Dehydration reduces blood flow, inhibits evaporative cooling, and may lead to heat stroke. Water loss takes place constantly. In cold temperatures, particularly at higher elevations, considerable amounts of water are lost through simple breathing. In hot weather or during periods of intense physical exertion, both sweating and respiration contribute to water loss. The key to preventing dehydration problems is to rehydrate before the body presses the need by showing thirst. Water or other fluid replenishers, water is about the best, should be used frequently. Wise hunters include water or even hot drinks in their gear.
In a survival situation, water is far more likely to be a need than is food. Surface water can be used, but using it without some purification can cause other problems. A filter capable of removing pathogens and parasite cysts can be carried relatively easily in a day bag or fanny pack. Boiling is a good purification method, as is the use of iodine or other water purification tablets. Water can be extracted from the soil using a solar still. Ice or snow can be melted to provide water, but one should be careful about becoming chilled if the frozen article is melted in the mouth. The outside bends of streambeds, even intermittent streambeds, can have water available below the surface. Digging can locate a water source, even in dry climates. Finally, some plants store adequate water to aid a person in surviving. Knowing these plants can be an asset, particularly in desert survival.
The body requires about two to three quarts of water each day to function normally. It adjusts water loss to some degree when moderately dehydrated, so people can survive several days without water if necessary. This requires care in staying out of direct sun in hot climates and seeking shelter during the day. Survival gear should contain the needed materials to build a solar still in dry climates, a pan or foil to melt snow or boil surface water where it is available, and other gear as appropriate to the area. It does the hunter no good if it is in camp or in the vehicle when the survival situation presents itself.
A solar still is simply a 4x4 foot hole covered tightly by a large piece of plastic. A small stone placed in the center of the plastic forms a depression that will allow water to drip into a container placed in the soil directly under it. Many solar still makers like to use a piece of plastic tubing to connect their water container to the surface so they do not need to disturb the still while getting a drink. Practice in making a solar still will generate confidence if the need for one arises.
Pain or Injury – Pain or injury can be a complicating factor in survival situations. It may inhibit rest or movement, making it more difficult to stay alert or to find needed materials. Chronic pain can be a negative influence on the mental attitude of the person, leading to depression or a sense of hopelessness. Stabilizing injuries and treating them to minimize discomfort contributes to positive attitudes and better survival. Where several persons are in a survival situation, care should be taken to avoid shock in any injured person, and both encouragement and support should be provided more or less constantly.
Hunger – While hunger is seldom a serious consideration in a survival situation, it contributes to a sense of discomfort and may increase the incidence of fear and depression. Prolonged hunger can reduce vitality and vigor. Hunters are usually equipped with the means to harvest some food from the wild, but shooting an elk or a moose for a one-day stay in the field is seldom advisable. A small amount of high-energy food can be a great morale builder, and it should be part of the hunter’s day bag or fanny pack cargo. Use of wild plants requires knowledge of the edible and poisonous plants in the area, and hunters must learn them before the need to use them might arise. It might be wise to learn to recognize and prepare some of the local plants before needing them in a survival situation. Starvation is unlikely in short to moderate survival situations. In fact, a day or so without eating might do some of us some good.
Fatigue – Physical fatigue or exhaustion can be a serious factor in survival, because it affects the mental attitude, decision-making ability, and dexterity. It seems to reduce both energy and strength, and that may contribute to fear. Mental fatigue, the simple stress of coping with the survival situation, can also be exhausting. Rest is the cure for both of these factors. A modest amount of comfort, a cheery fire is a morale builder, and shelter from the wind and elements can help a person obtain needed rest and refreshment.
Adequate rest and the resulting active mind defeat the sense of boredom and loneliness by keeping the person busy. Building rescue signals, making shelters, collecting firewood, preparing water, or anything else that keeps a mind occupied will help.
Preparing for Survival
The best survival technique is to prevent oneself from getting into a survival situation. This requires a hunter to think through situations, exercise some common sense and caution, and to plan well before taking to the field. Preparation for support and quick location can minimize the time spent in a survival situation. Start by telling someone where you are going and for how long. Prepare an itinerary and leave it where it can be found by a friend or family member. Once at the planned location, leave a note on the automobile or in camp indicating the direction you are planning to take, including any shared landmarks or preferred spots. Plan to hunt with one or more partners, sharing plans, arranging emergency signals, and setting r5endezvous times and locations. Carry some basic emergency signaling tools, like a whistle, flashlight, signal mirror, pocket flare kit, and fire starting materials.
Be prepared to take to the fields, forests, marshes, and mountaintops. Get into reasonable physical condition to go hunting. Start with aerobic conditioning. Add some endurance training and a little strength training. Eat and drink properly, fueling the body for exercise. Carry emergency rations and water as needed. Plan and prepare for the weather by selecting proper clothing that can be layered and adapted to the conditions that might be encountered on a hunt. Be prepared for foul weather with at least modest foul weather gear that will let you cope with serious weather changes. Carry a compass or GPS receiver and map and know how to use them, practicing enough to make sure you can use them with confidence. Use them as needed and trust them! Carry a basic first aid kit that is adapted to your needs and local conditions. Include any personal medications that you must take on a regular basis or in emergencies. Anticipate your needs by trying a shakedown trip to determine what is required and what is simply extra weight.
Build, maintain, and carry a personal survival kit. Basic contents might include some means of making a shelter, a cutting tool, fire starters, water purification tablets or filters, a “canteen” composed of items as diverse as a piece of foil or a non-lubricated condom, and signaling devices of your choosing appropriate to the area being hunted. Add to the basic items that are appropriate to the area, prevailing conditions, potential hazards, or changes in conditions, and personal wants and needs. Keep the kit small enough to make it easy to carry, and make a habit of keeping it with you in the field. Practice using basic survival skills and techniques before they are needed. Practice builds skills and confidence in one’s ability to use them effectively when use is required. Sometimes being prepared makes the difference between discomfort and misery. At other times, it can be the difference between life and death.
Basic Survival Techniques
Fire Building – The ability to build a fire successfully under a variety of conditions is one of the most fundamental and important of all survival skills. Fires provide warmth, signals for rescuers, comfort and security, and something to keep you busy. They also provide the means of purifying water or cooking a meal. Practice building fires in wet conditions, snow, low fuel situations, and with different materials. Know where to find dry materials and how to safely start a fire with a variety of aids such as smokeless powder, fuels, starter sticks, wax, birds’ nests, pine knot chips, frizzle sticks, and various other materials. Always have matches in a waterproof container with you. Other fire starting devices such as cigarette lighters, flint and steel, or magnesium sticks are nice to know how to use, but the reliability of matches in a waterproof container is hard to beat. Other aids for starting fires such as candle stubs, paper, cloth, gas and starter cubes are nice if you have them but in many survival situations, you are lucky just to have your matches.
A good fire needs fuel, air, and an ignition source. Fuel can be divided into tinder, kindling, and fuel wood. Tinder is composed of fine, dry materials that burn hot enough to ignite the kindling material. Knowledge of regionally available tinder sources can be very helpful. Items like the outer bark curls of birch, tiny pine or hemlock twigs, or even pack rat nests can be very useful as tinder. Fine, dry grass wadded into balls can work effectively as can abandoned bird nests or shavings from dry, light woods. Kindling increases in size progressively, starting with toothpick to match-sized materials, and progressing up to items about the thickness of a person’s thumb. Often dry kindling can be found under the shelter of dense woods in the form of smaller dead branches still attached to the tree. Larger branches, small dead saplings, split logs, or whole logs all can be used as fuel. Long pieces of wood can be ignited in the center of a fire and pushed into it as they burn. Logs can be used as both fuel and a reflector to bounce heat into a shelter. Split, dry wood lights more quickly, but round wood burns longer. Some wood burns well when it is green, but most wood burns much better when it has dried.
Fire lays should be selected for the purpose of the fire. Open fire lays tend to burn quickly and draw considerable air into the fire. They produce coals rapidly but at the cost of more rapid fuel wood consumption. The “Indian fire” described above uses less fuel and allows long pieces of wood to be burned by simply shoving them deeper into the central fire as burn to coals. Along with this fire that can use very long pieces of wood, outdoorsmen should know how to build a teepee fire, a criss-cross of cabin fire and a forester or reflector fire.
Fires should be located carefully to avoid creating a disaster from a minor inconvenience. The area around the fire should be cleared down to mineral soil. Sheltering the fire from the wind and the elements makes it easier to maintain and conserves fuel, and using a rack ledge or logs for a heat reflector can increase its efficiency.
Shelter Building – Many natural shelters can be helpful, either as they stand or with a little construction work. Deadfalls can provide a basic framework for a lean-to with little effort required, and existing vegetation can be used to construct a brush or grass-covered lean-to. Caves or rock overhangs can be excellent shelters as well. Shelters can also be made of man-made materials that are light, weather proof, and easily carried. Mylar or heavy polyethylene sheeting can be used effectively, and a Mylar emergency blanket makes a good, small shelter that reflects heat inward as well. In snow country, snow or ice caves or shelters can be excavated or constructed of blocks. These should be vented, but they can increase the ambient temperature significantly. When it is below zero outside, a 32-degree Fahrenheit environment inside the insulating layer of snow or ice can seem warm.
Rescue Signals – Numerous signals and signaling devices can be helpful. The traditional three shots in the air can be helpful under some conditions, but in other circumstances, they are a waste of time. Fired after hunting hours are over and it is too dark to shoot safely at game, this signal can be effective for hunters who are relatively close to other hunters, camp, or a vehicle. Whistles can also be effective under these conditions, and they are also useful during the day, at least over short ranges. Fire makes an excellent signal at night, particularly in relatively open country. Smoke is similarly effective during the day. A signal mirror can be used to reflect a bright flash of light toward airborne searchers or distant searchers that can be seem. Pocket-sized aerial flares can be useful night or day, but their use should be confined to times and situations where they are likely to be seen by searchers. Although a variety of ground to air signals are available, the basic include an X stamped into the snot and lined with branches to make it obvious, strips of cloth in the same pattern, or other obvious markers to indicate one’s position. These should be placed where aerial searchers are able to spot them easily. Similarly obvious arrows with a point in the direction of travel can be used if you have figured out your route to camp or vehicle and have started in that direction.
Water – Finding water has been discussed above. Surface water, either temporary or permanent, can be used if adequate precautions are taken against pathogens and parasites. Ice and snow are good sources if they are melted first. Underground water is often present in dry streambeds, with the outside bends being the best places to look. Soil water can be extracted using a solar still, although some areas do not yield significant amounts of water because of the soil type and structure. Water in plants may be both palatable and abundant, but it must be used with some caution because of materials that may be in some plant tissues.
Food – Food is not a critical concern in most survival situations since most people can survive several weeks without any food at all. It is helpful to morale and energy, however. High-energy foods should be part of the survival gear, particularly for wilderness hunters. Gorp, high-energy bars, or similar foods with a balance of nutrients are excellent choices. Plant identification is vital if one is going to use wild plant foods, and both poisonous and edible plants must be identified carefully before eating them. Wildlife and fish can be used for food, and a bit of salt or pepper helps their flavor. Saving some ammunition and providing a line with some hooks and lures or flies can produce good meals in survival situations.
Summary
Avoiding survival situations is the best way to cope with them, but prior preparation helps significantly when a survival situation arises. A calm, positive attitude is one of the greatest assets in these types of situations, and developing survival skills before they are needed aids in maintaining that mental condition. The vast majority of survival situations last less than 72 hours, with most of them becoming adventures rather than life threatening situations.
