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Hey buddy,
Let’s face it, getting stuck in the wild without a clue about finding food is a real tough spot. Imagine, all you wanted was an adventure, but here you are, battling hunger. There might be no other way than to find food in the wild for yourself and your company.
That’s where survival skills come in. They’re that friend who’s always got your back when things get rough. They help you stave off hunger, find food, and keep your energy up. This way, you can focus on important stuff, like building a shelter, securing water, keeping critters at bay, and whipping up a meal.
So, let’s chat about some surefire ways to find food when you’re out in the wilderness. This way, you’ll be all set to weather the storm!
Every survivalist and prepper should have the ability to make a rope, a versatile tool that can be used for a variety of survival tasks, such as securing food, constructing traps and shelters, or even crafting basic weapons.
The process doesn’t require complex methods – a simple yet sturdy rope is more than sufficient.
You have the choice to purchase a paracord or a survival rope from a brick-and-mortar store or online platforms and keep it in your bug out bag.
However, if you find yourself stranded in the wild without a rope, you can construct one using dead plants.
Concentrate on plant species rich in fiber. You can obtain these fibers by breaking the plant’s top and branches.
Then, split the plant’s core into two parts. Carefully rinse the fibers and delicately rub them between your thumbs after moistening them. Keep doing this until they become soft and begin to separate slightly.
After drying the strands, start twisting the fibers tightly together. Continue this process until it begins to curl and form into a rope.
Apart from dead plants, other materials like stinging nettle, grass, milkweed, and dogbane can also serve as effective raw materials for rope-making.
For more detailed tutorials on how to make survival ropes from these mentioned materials, you can turn to online resources such as YouTube.
Prioritize videos with a high number of views or positive feedback for reliable and practical instructions.
While learning how to find food in the wild, finding berries is surely one of the best things to do.
To ensure you get the necessary nutrients, consider incorporating wild fruits such as berries into your diet. These fruits are packed with antioxidants and various compounds that combat inflammation.
Berries offer an excellent source of vitamins, carbohydrates, and dietary fiber.
Berries that are orange or red are typically half edible, while berries like mulberries and raspberries, which form in dense clusters, are almost entirely consumable.
Berries of black, blue, and purple hues are generally safe to eat, with a 90 percent global edibility rate.
However, it is crucial to perform an edibility test to prevent accidental ingestion of poisonous berries.
Berries that are yellow, white, or green should generally be avoided as their edibility rate is low, at just 10 percent.
There are several types of berries that are safe to consume, including huckleberries, cloudberries, cranberries, chokeberries, wild strawberries, elderberries, mulberries, serviceberries, gooseberries, buffaloberries, raspberries, and saskatoon berries.
However, not all berries are safe. Be careful to avoid potentially harmful ones such as mistletoe, bittersweet, baneberries, holly berries, ivy berries, horsenettle fruit, Jerusalem cherries, yew berries, and pokeweed berries.
Other wild fruits like wild grapes and pawpaw also make for safe and nutritious options.
The next thing you’ll look for when trying to find food in the wild are edible greens. You should definitely consider incorporating foraged greens into your meals as they are abundant and packed with nutrients.
Numerous types of wild greens are edible and can be used in your cooking. These include, but are not limited to, clover, chickweed, lamb’s quarters, mallow, wild lettuce, chicory, dandelion greens, wild mustard, plantain, cattail, sweet fennel, and even wild onions.
However, identifying wild onions can be tricky, so it’s prudent to conduct an edibility test before they are consumed.
You can consume these greens raw, mix them into your meals, or use them as ingredients in your cooking.
It’s also worth noting that wild mushrooms are commonly consumed by survivalists due to their high nutritional value and their safety when properly identified.
Identification is crucial when foraging for mushrooms as many varieties can be toxic.
Among the safe-to-eat varieties are the oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus Ostreatus), Lion’s Mane Mushrooms (Hericium Erinaceus), Chanterelles (Cantharellus), and Maitake Mushrooms (Grifola Frondosa).
While heading out to find food in the wild, understanding how to distinguish between edible and poisonous plants is crucial to prevent diseases and infections.
Toxic plants, such as poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak, are ones to steer clear of due to the presence of urushiol, an oil that triggers contact dermatitis and skin rashes.
The removal of this oil from the skin is challenging once exposed.
It’s advisable to forage for plants, berries, and mushrooms under the guidance of an expert, as they are adept at distinguishing between safe and harmful ones, ensuring you only gather the edible varieties.
However, even experts can err. For this reason, you should exercise extreme caution when foraging to avert serious health issues or even death, as some berries and plants can be fatal if consumed.
You can perform an edibility test to ascertain if a plant is safe to eat.
This involves a skin test, searching for signs of toxicity, conducting a taste test, and doing comprehensive research.
To commence, rub a part of the plant you intend to consume on your outer lip or inner forearm and wait for a quarter of an hour.
If there’s no adverse reaction, proceed to the taste test.
Taste a small portion of the plant and wait for 5 minutes. In the absence of a bitter or soapy taste, or any numbing sensation, chew the same part of the plant for 5 minutes, spitting out any excess saliva. If you experience any gastrointestinal discomfort, discard the plant as it may be poisonous.
Otherwise, consume 1 tablespoon of the same part of the plant. Wait for 8 minutes and monitor for any symptoms. If there are none, the plant is likely safe to eat.
Insects are a great source of protein, are easy to catch than animals, and very few of them are poisonous. No matter how disgusting it may seem to you at first glance, insects could just save your life when you’re buggibg out and are forced to find food in the wild.
Insects can be found on the ground or hiding inside or under dead tree branches and leaves.
Examples of safe-to-consume insects are mealworms, earthworms, crickets, ants, and grasshoppers.
If you catch grasshoppers, make sure you remove the wings and legs before eating.
When eating ants, boil them first and make sure you avoid fire ants.
Learn about which bugs are safe to eat and avoid to ensure you stay away from deadly ones.
Consider smell and appearance when catching insects. If they have a strong, bad smell, avoid them. Although the stink bug has an exception because they are edible despite their scent.
Stay away from bugs that have bright colors as this is nature’s signal of danger and they can be deadly.
Avoid bugs that bite or sting unless you know they are edible and understand how to cook them properly.
Some of the critters that are safe to consume are black ants, tomato worms, and most caterpillars.
Tarantulas and scorpions can also be great protein sources when cooked right.
Other bugs you can eat are termites, woodlice, bees, locusts, dragonflies, aphids, beetles, and giant water bugs. It is very important to learn the best ways to clean, process, and cook insects to avoid illnesses while on the way.
Learning how to make a weapon when outdoors is a very important skill, not only to find food in the wild, but also for self defense. The skills required to craft a weapon are invaluable for any survivalist. They not only enable you to protect yourself from potential threats but also serve various purposes in your camping vicinity, and even aid in hunting for sustenance as well as help you to find food in the wild.
Survival is largely dependent on your ability to create the frequently used survival weapons such as a spear, a stone ax head, and a bow.
The construction of a spear is rather simple and mostly depends on the materials you have at hand. Spears can be crafted from a variety of materials, including a tree branch, bamboo, or even a knife.
In the case of a branch or rope spear, ensure that the length is slightly taller than your own height for better grip and reach.
Ideally, the diameter of your chosen material should lie somewhere between 1 – 1.5 inch (2,5 – 3,8 cm).
Your spear could be fashioned from fresh wood, or a branch from a deceased tree. Prioritize hardwoods such as oak or ash for a sturdy weapon you can trust. You can employ a rough surface like a sidewalk, stone, or brick wall to sharpen your spear in order to be more efficient. By rubbing your spear against the surface, you can achieve the desired sharpness.
With the help of a small ax or knife, whittle a pointed tip on one end of your branch or pole. Carve the point with small, even strokes, always cutting away from your body to avoid injury. Remember, patience is key when shaping your weapon, and caution must be exercised to avoid any accidents.
Persist in cutting and shaping until the result is to your satisfaction. Once the shape and sharpness of your spear meet your demands, hold the pointed end close to a small fire until it changes color. This process of turning the tip in the fire serves to eliminate any moisture and dry the wood, thereby making it both harder and lighter.
Bamboo spears are another viable option, being sturdy, reliable, and relatively easier to construct. Sharpen the edges and scrape the inner layer. Use wood pieces to split the bamboo ends, then sharpen each resulting end to a point. After the prongs have been adequately sharpened, spread the blades and bind them securely with a rope to finalize your weapon.
This spear can be effectively used for fishing or hunting small game effectively helping you to find food in the wild.
A knife spear can be crafted from dead trees. Seek out a limb with a diameter of 1 inch (2,5 cm) that is both easy to cut and durable enough to serve as a weapon. Remove any knobs or branches from the limb to ensure a smooth handle. Identify the end of the limb where the knife will be attached. Use a sharp knife to carve thin, long, vertical strips off the branch, creating a ‘shelf’ for the knife or a spot to secure your knife. Finally, use a rope to fasten your knife securely to the branch.
Crafting a bow and arrow can be a time-consuming and challenging task. Nonetheless, this weapon can be incredibly useful when foraging and trying to find food in the wild.
For a detailed guide on how to construct a bow and arrow, consider looking up relevant instructional videos and blog posts online. Choosing the correct wood and cordage is critical. It’s important to comprehend the methods and techniques involved in crafting this weapon. Adhere to the instructions and keep practicing until you’re comfortable with the process.
Mastering the art of trapping animals is a crucial skill to nourish your dietary needs and stave off hunger, and should definitely become a part of your preparations when preparing to find food in the wild.
While hunting methods using spears and other similar tools can often be challenging and potentially hazardous, trapping proves to be a more efficient approach for capturing small creatures in the wilderness, particularly when compared with spear usage.
The key lies in understanding how to set traps properly.
Among the top traps to get proficient in setting up include the likes of deadfall traps, ground traps, body grip traps, foothold traps, cage traps, and hunting snares.
In the case of a deadfall trap, a large stone is propped up on a stick with bait placed underneath. Small animals are caught when they notice the bait, dart towards it, causing the stick to topple. Your primary task is to select a stone large enough to crush the prey and a stick robust enough to sustain the stone’s weight. Ensure both ends of the stick are sharpened to guarantee its dislodging when an animal dashes towards the stone.
As for ground snares, they are structured using cordage or paracord. You will need to create a noose knot and tie one end of the rope to a tree. The loop should be hung at the height of the animal’s head to snare your prey. The trap is sprung when the animal walks a certain distance through the loop.
When trying to find food in the wild, fishing is one skill that can actually help you get through many challenges.
Fishing is a highly efficient way to find food in the wild mainly due to its safety and the minimal energy it requires. If you’re prepared properly, some fishing gear is probably already in your bug out bag.
If you find yourself near a water body such as a lake or stream, your fishing abilities can prove to be extremely beneficial. It’s essential to familiarize yourself with the temperature ranges, prevailing weather conditions, and the varieties of fish in and around your survival location.
You can use fishing gear like a net or a fishing line equipped with a hook and bait. In case you find yourself stranded in the wilderness without any of these tools, a spear or a makeshift fishing net could be your saviors. The previously suggested bamboo spear could be a practical aid in this situation. Fishing with a spear is relatively straightforward and energy-efficient. The trick is to position yourself in the water, preferably near the bank, and simply wait. The moment you sight a fish, quickly jab it with your spear.
Do bear in mind that mastering this skill requires plenty of practice. So, make it a point to practice as frequently as possible to remain prepared and capable of securing your catch during a crisis. The perspective of a fish in a water is disturbed by the water itself (optical illusion), which makes the fish seem a bit lower than it actually is, so be sure to count that in when targeting.
Another alternative is to craft a fishing net using rope.
This task calls for a substantial quantity of rope, so you’ll have to have it ready in your bug-out bag or learn to make rope in the wild.
Tie the rope into knots in a row, thus forming a net-like structure. Take care to ensure uniform spacing between the knots to prevent the fish from slipping in and out of the net.
If you’re scavenging for food during the winter, consider learning ice fishing.
Ice fishing can be a handy skill for sourcing food in the wild but comes with its share of risks if not executed with caution. Hence, it’s crucial to adhere to safety measures and employ the appropriate tools. Ice fishing can be undertaken using a fishing rod, spears, and ice augers.
The initial step is to gauge the thickness of the ice on which you intend to stand to prevent accidental falls and avoid hypothermia. It’s important to steer clear of black or gray ice as it’s unsafe. Blue ice and completely opaque white ice are safe to tread on and are typically sturdy enough for ice fishing.
Once you’ve located a safe patch of ice to stand on, proceed towards the center of the water body and commence fishing. Pierce the ice with your spear or auger to create a hole. When you see water seeping in, wait for the fish to swim by and then spear it. If you have a fishing rod at your disposal, you can use it by lowering the hook and bait into the water and patiently waiting for your catch.
As previously stated, ice fishing warrants extreme caution. The last thing you want is to risk your safety and potentially get trapped in the water. So, if you notice the ice cracking while you’re drilling, don’t hesitate or wait to see what unfolds next. Swiftly vacate the ice and refrain from attempting to fish in the same spot.
I know, learning how to find food in the wild can seem like a real challenge, especially when you’ve got no clue where to begin. It’s like being thrown in the deep end without a life jacket, right?
But hey, don’t fret! With some practice and a bit of know-how, you can totally become a pro at foraging.
It’s all about knowing your greens. You’ve got to learn which wild plants are good to eat and which ones could make you sick.
And that’s not all! You should also get the hang of how to make rope, how to craft basic survival weapons, set up traps, and even fish with or without the fishing gear in your bug out bag.
If you learn these foraging skills, you’ll be able to pull through any tough situation, find food in the wild and never worry about going hungry.
So, use what we’ve chatted about today to find food in the wild when you’re forced to bug out. It’ll keep you well-fed and ready to take on whatever comes your way!