Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2019 i Survivor's Edge

Battle of the Mamas Ten-year-old boy dodges certain death thanks to bear spray rental The old saying, “Never get between a mother bear and her cub,” took on new meaning after one family’s close call in Yellowstone National Park. The two parents and their son and daughter were only half a mile into their hike along the Divide Trail when a mama grizzly bear wandered out of the brush and into the middle of their path. Even worse: She had a cub not far behind. Startled by the family hiking toward her, the grizzly charged. Before the parents had a chance to react, their 10-year-old son took off running in the opposite direction, switching on the bear’s prey/predator instinct. It didn’t take long for the griz to knock the boy…

The first sign of trouble was the dog barking in her neighbor’s yard. DeDe Phillips, 46, had just come back outside after grabbing her phone; she wanted to snap a photo of the new sticker on her truck emblazoned with “Women who behave rarely make history” when she heard the pup next door going crazy. It didn’t take long to see what was causing the ruckus: Prowling the perimeter of her ride was a wild bobcat. Phillips had never seen one in this part of rural Georgia—110 miles north-east of Atlanta—but she knew from her trapper father-in-law to stay back. “They go for your jugular,” she said. But this cat was acting strangely. “As soon as it took the first step, I was in trouble and I knew it.” The…

The hatchet used through-out this article is the Hoffman Blacksmithing Mini Camper Axe. This cutting tool is entirely made in North Carolina by Liam Hoffman. From the forged steel head to the handshaped American hickory handle and vegetabletanned leather edge guard, all of it is made in-house and under strict quality control. Hoffman’s hatchet is sent shaving-sharp out of the box, and the hammer poll is hardened to function like an actual hammer. The edge geometry allows the axe to perform equally well on hard and soft woods, and the handle makes using the axe in different grips extremely comfortable. Simply put, Hoffman’s axe is one of the finest that money can buy. For more info, visit HoffmanBlacksmithing.com.…

You’re not going to get any better if you don’t practice. There’s no way to know if your scope is dialed in, if the ammo you reloaded is functioning, or if you are at the level of comfort with your firearm that you wish to be if you don’t get to use it. And there’s no way to gain target practice experience if you never get out there and hole up some targets. There is an easy solution to this problem if you enjoy a homestead of a few acres of space and distant neighbors, but if you’re a city dweller, Johnny Law and Billy Neighbor frown on popping off a few hundred rounds in the backyard. With target practice enthusiasm on the rise around the country, there are no…

Let’s face the facts–special survival food is expensive. Regardless of the name brands you might consider, dehydrated or freeze-dried food options are pricey. If you want true sticker shock, check out MREs (Meals Ready to Eat). It might take you most of their shelf life to pay off the loan you’ll need to invest in a few pallets of MREs for the long haul. But rather than take out a home equity loan to stock the shelves in case the apocalypse strikes, head to your local grocery store. There, you’ll find an incredible array of shelf-stable foods that are perfectly suitable for any prepper’s pantry. RICE AND BEANS These are staples in the survivalist meal plan, going back decades. Cheap and filling, when eaten together they form a complete protein…

A book recommended by Steve Hesse of Alabama’s Brunson Net and Supply Inc. (brunsonnets.com) is How to Make and Mend Cast Nets by Tod Dahlem, available at Amazon. To see the ins and outs of cast nets, and pictures and drawings of various cast net parts, you can do a simple Google and/or YouTube search. Here are the titles of a few must-see videos on net casting: GARY DAVIS CAST NET VIDEOS FILMED BY JOHN E. PHILLIPS: Newest Best Cast Net How Davis Throws the Cast Net Getting the Net Ready to Throw How to Pull Your Cast Net In What a Cast Net’s Braille Lines Do Fish Don’t Have to Bite if You Have a Cast Net How to Find Bait to Catch Why I Catch My Own Bait…

THEY’RE OUT THERE… SOMEWHERE. At least that is what we have been told for years, dating back to the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. Bioweapons of mass destruction, such as anthrax and smallpox, have literally “plagued” the thoughts of our government for years, even though there has not been a single mass-casualty attack associated with biological weapons in the recent history of the United States. But even if the Homeland hasn’t been attacked with biological weapons, does that lessen the threat that we potentially face every day? Most security officials would say no. In fact, the threat may be more substantial today than it ever has been in our history, due to advances in the medical, social, and geopolitical sciences. It is vital to understand that the U.S.…

A FLASH OF STEEL CAN CAUSE INSTANT PANIC. A casual walk down the street or an unexpected confrontation in a market or parking lot can turn bad when confronted by an armed assailant. When facing an edged weapon, the danger level increases ten-fold and you can instantly be facing a life-or-death situation. Whether your attacker is threatening with a large flashy blade, a pocket boxcutter or a sharpened screwdriver, following common-sense principles may lessen your chances of becoming a victim. Some strategies may allow you to avoid the confrontation entirely, while others can come to your aid when there are no other options available but to engage your attacker. While it’s true no two situations are alike, these general principles can give you an edge, even if ever so slightly,…

I met a young man recently who, when I mentioned that I live in Oregon, replied that his family once made the news there by getting stranded in their car for several days. He told me his name, and I remembered the story: A family heading to visit relatives tried to save some time by taking a back road across Oregon’s vast eastern desert. The car broke down in the middle of nowhere with winter weather coming in, so the father walked back for help while the mother made camp in the car with the children. It’s a story that’s all too common, and in this case, it had a happy ending. After a couple days, the father returned with help, and everyone survived. But not all such stories turn…

It was a beautiful summer day for a swim on Cape Cod’s Longnook Beach. William Lytton was only a few yards from shore, in sight of his wife and daughters, when he felt an excruciating pain in his left leg. “Initially, I was terrified, but really, there was no time to think,” he said. Turning, Lytton saw the massive head of a shark firmly clamped down. “I felt like I was in a wrestling match because this animal was trying to flip me.” Then he remembered something he had seen on TV that might save him. “You know, Nature Documentary 101. I knew dolphins always hit the gills. That’s the place you go to attack the shark.” So, he lifted his left arm and whacked the shark in the gills…

The names Sandy Hook Elementary, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, and Columbine High School, as well as many other locations of recent senseless tragedies, are ever present in the American consciousness, especially among parents. The tragic victimization of children, including the very young, during these mass homicidal crimes gives pause to every parent, every day. The feeling of wanting to protect our children often gives way to the feeling of helplessness as your child boards a bus and heads off to what you hope will be a safe and nurturing environment. As minutes pass every day, communities around our nation hope that their hometown isn’t next, that the criminal intent in the deviant mind doesn’t pop and override the last vestiges of decency and humanity in their neighborhood. Though hope is nice,…

GROWING UP, WE HEAR MANY MYTHS, LEGENDS AND OLD WIVES’ TALES, SUCH AS PLUCKING A HAIR WILL CAUSE MORE TO GROW IN ITS PLACE; OR THAT EVERY DECEMBER 24, AN OVERWEIGHT GUY DRESSED IN A RED SUIT VISITS EVERY CHILD ON THE PLANET. THE SURVIVAL WORLD HAS ITS OWN VERSIONS, TOO. THE DIFFERENCE BEING RELYING ON A SURVIVAL MYTHS COULD LEAD TO FAR MORE DRASTIC OUTCOMES THAN JUST BEING DISAPPOINTED ON CHRISTMAS MORNING. LET’S EXAMINE A FEW OF THESE MYTHS. MYTH # 1 A SOLAR STILL IS A GREAT WAY TO PROCURE WATER IN THE WILD. REALITY CHECK: Building a solar still involves digging a hole in the ground, placing a container into the hole and then covering the hole with a piece of plastic. A small stone is placed…

Tom Cruise stands in a dark parking lot surrounded by half a dozen drunken toughs, “Remember, you wanted this.” he says. Then, in a manner of seconds, he brutally takes down most of the group. Breaking bones, dislocating joints and knocking men unconscious. Scenes like this appeal to our inner primate. The hero establishes his dominance of the situation, he doesn’t back down when threatened, and he prevails, walking away from the encounter to continue his life. Now for a reality check. When Cruise moves on the first man, the others rush in and dog pile him. He manages to inflict a few injuries; he has been well trained after all. When the dust settles, the police and paramedics arrive to clean up the mess. Cruise is taken to the…

EVERY single task that you will ever try to accomplish to mitigate an emergency or survive a disaster is made monumentally worse in the dark. From stumbling over a rocky trail trying to find camp in the dark to merely finding the breaker box and fuses in the dark during a thick winter storm. Having a flashlight or headlamp in your employ is a good thing; having a good flashlight or headlamp is a great thing. Did you know that Leatherman, the world’s largest maker of multi-tools, makes flashlights and headlamps too? Well, more specifically, in 2011, it bought a company that produces one of the most popular line of flashlights and headlamps in the Europe, Ledlenser, and has brought them to America. WHY LEDLENSER? This company was responsible for…

The Willys MB jeep was the first production vehicle to become a major tool of the U.S. military. From Europe to the Pacific, no unit moved or advance occurred without these jeeps. They carried troops, materials, and, over time, many of our Allies. This proliferation of the jeep cemented it in militaries’ motor pools around the world. To this day, Willys MB jeeps can be found, and many are still being used, in various corners of the world. The ROXOR is the modern update to the Willys MB jeep, and it adds a dose of modern power, performance and precision to a well-respected and long lasting tradition.…

A nimals are mostly opportunists. Very few of them actively go out of their way for any length of time to hunt down their prey, but there are exceptions to this, and those are the animals you should fear when traveling in the backcountry. Take the mountain lion, for example. The mountain lion has established populations in 16 states and is suspected to live in 11 more. Its diet consists primarily of deer, but it will also include a wide variety of other animals, including elk and bighorn sheep, and smaller wildlife species such as rabbit, turkey, raccoon and porcupine. They kill large prey with regularity, usually one deersized animal is killed every six to 12 days. Considerable skill is needed to stalk and kill its prey, and although you’re…

1 HOWARD LEIGHT BY HONEYWELL UVEX Genesis with Hydroshield Nothing is more distracting than foggy eyewear when you’re out on the range. With the UVEX Genesis from Howard Leight you get superior eye protection featuring anti-fog coating and a ventilation channel between the frame and lens to help shooters focus on what really matters, the target. MATTE BLACK FRAME, CLEAR PC LENS WRAP-AROUND LENS FOR PERIPHERAL VISION PROTECTION VENTILATION CHANNEL BETWEEN THE FRAME AND LENS 99.9 PERCENT UVA/UVB PROTECTION MADE IN THE USA HOWARDLEIGHT.COM MSRP: $19 2 HOWARD LEIGHT BY HONEYWELL UVEX Hypershock with Hydroshield Protective eyewear is survival 101. It’s time to upgrade from the basic level specs and get a pair that not only offers protection from strong winds and harsh UV rays but also stays fog free…

One of the most popular young adult survivaladventure stories of the 20th century is found in the book Hatchet. The story follows 13-year-old Brian as he is stranded in the Canadian wilderness after the pilot of the Cessna 406 plane he’s traveling in has a heart attack and crash-lands in the woods. Alone in the wild, Brian is left with only a few supplies and his hatchet. Like so many junior high students, I read this book as a teenager and considered what it would be like to survive in similar conditions. The author, Gary Paulsen, wrote from experience, and his detailed descriptions of certain survival techniques reveals his competence in outdoor survival skills. Since the idea of the one-tool option is a frequent topic of discussion among bushcraft, survival…

Black bears can be dangerous creatures. Very dangerous. Anyone who pursues ursus americanus thinking otherwise is only thinking with a half a brain. Indeed, black bears can and do kill humans despite the “fun-loving” rhetoric PETA espouse and other equally illogical writings nitwit animal rights groups like to publish Over the past 35 years or so of wilderness bowhunting, I have had hundreds of close encounters with black bears, and most of them have been peaceful. I’ve had bears walk to within inches of my head while I lay dozing in my cot, and pay me no heed. I have had other bears sneak to within 10 yards of me, stand on their hind legs, look me straight in the eye—and then disappear into the darkness with a loud WOOF!…

Situational awareness is obviously important when you are dealing with people, but it is just as important when dealing with animals and your environment. In this article we are going to delve into the variety of animals, reptiles, fish, and birds that you might wind up interacting with. And that interaction can be in many environments. The backcountry is an o bvious location, but as mankind expands our reach into natural habitat we find ourselves interacting with wildlife in parks, at the beach, and even at tourist locations like monkeys at religious shrines in the Far East. MOOSE Moose in general are normally gentle animals that don’t pose any threat to people. However, you don’t want to put them in a bad mood. Because, then they will become dangerous. Moose…

IF YOU don’t have the right tools for the job, that job becomes much more difficult. You don’t change a tire with chopsticks; you don’t climb a mountain with twine; and you don’t field dress this season’s harvest with an ordinary knife. Sure, you can, but why would you want to when there are so many other effective, efficient and more apt options? Meet the RaptoRazor Big Game Skinner Mano Knife Combo and the Fillet Mano Kit: the right tools for the job. Field dressing large game takes skill, finesse, and the right tools to do it properly. Pierce the stomach or bladder and you may have ruined 50 pounds of meat and killed an animal in vain. RaptoRazor has developed a series of tools that are unique and versatile,…

Excited to be on Alabama’s Magnolia River flowing into the Gulf of Mexico, I crawled out of bed before daylight as a child and ran barefoot down to the nearby pier to watch Bill Collins throw his cast net. Collins eyed the water in front of the wharf and swung his 10-foot cotton net with the rhythm, precision and speed of an accomplished ballet dancer. The net opened wide and hit the water in a full circle before vanishing, with only the hand line showing, still attached to Collins’s wrist. Pulling in the net and putting the silver sided, one- or two-pound mullet on the deck, Collins opened the net up and told me—“Take those home for dinner.” The land that the Collins’s family originally owned near Foley had been…

If you’re looking for a new knife (and who isn’t?), purveyors of sharp blades at this summer’s Outdoor Retailer Show (ORS) had offerings that will hold a nice edge. Held at the Denver Convention Center, the ORS is an outdoor-trade-only show that brings together all manner of products for use in the outdoors—except for any type of gun. Obviously, what constitutes “Best of Show” is always subjective and it’s a tall order to select one from each manufacturer when most exhibitors release multiple new knives every year. Some introduced new products at this ORS, while others displayed items released early in 2018 or at the SHOT (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade) Show, another large trade show held each January in Las Vegas. The diversity and design ingenuity demonstrated by these manufacturers…

IT WAS 1940 and war raged in Europe. The Nazi war machine had invaded all of its neighbors and taken hold of almost half of the European continent. Countries were falling like dominos and the Nazi’s overwhelmed any resistance. England looked like one of the last bastions of resistance but could only hold out for so long, they needed help. As the United States watched and saw the war grow, the American military recognized it needed new and different tools to potentially fight this war. Early in 1941, the U.S. War Department started to award contracts to build what would ultimately become one of the workhorses of World War II. In April of 1942, U.S. patent no. 2278450 for the WW II jeep, titled “Military vehicle body” was awarded to…