Bushcraft is exciting, (potentially) free, satisfying and provides an internal peace that few other activities can match. The skills that are learned in nature may also save your life or those of your loved ones in a survival situation.
Mastering essential skills like primitive cooking, natural cordage, animal tracking, outdoor hygiene, wilderness first aid, tree identification and foraging for food can help you thrive in the wild.
Origins
Bushcraft is a broad collection of wilderness survival skills that promotes self-reliance and a deep connection with nature. It draws inspiration from indigenous cultures and traditional practices, and combines them with modern outdoor and survival techniques.
The word “bush” is derived from the Australian and South African term for woodland and country that is wild and untamed. It is often associated with the wilderness survivalist movement led by Mors Kochanski, Cody Lundin, Les Hiddins, and Ray Mears.
These outdoorsmen have written books, started survival schools, and hosted television programs. Their teachings have helped popularize the concept of bushcraft among modern outdoors enthusiasts. They encourage people to take the time to learn how to survive in the wild without resorting to modern technology.
Core principles
Bushcraft involves the mastery of ancient survival skills that foster self-reliance and a deep connection to nature. It promotes primitive living and teaches outdoor skills like shelter building, fire-making, foraging for food, water sourcing, and navigation. It also emphasizes utilizing natural resources and upholding wilderness ethics and safety.
Knoke and Wescott agree that there’s a huge body of knowledge about primitive survival skills from around the turn of the 20th century. They recommend that beginners begin by reading older books and seeking out online bushcraft resources.
Survival skills focus on enduring unexpected situations in the wild with the aim of returning to safety as quickly as possible. Bushcraft, on the other hand, is about thriving in the wilderness with a more holistic approach to outdoor living.
Shelter building
The ability to construct a survival shelter is fundamental to bushcraft skills. This may include a fully-framed shelter or an improvised lean-to, depending on the environment and available resources.
Start by finding a good location for the survival shelter. It’s important that the bed of the shelter is elevated off the ground to prevent cold air from sucking heat away from your body. Find a ridgepole – this can be a tree limb, a sapling or even a piece of branch.
Build the shelter skeleton and then cover it with branches, leaves and other debris to create an insulated layer. Check that the debris is thick enough by poking your head inside and adding more material as necessary.
Fire-making
One of the most vital skills to have in a survival situation is the ability to start a fire. Without a reliable means of lighting your fire, you are at the mercy of nature.
Having multiple, reliable ways to make a fire will ensure that you always have the tools needed to keep yourself warm and dry. Practicing your primitive fire-making skills during the worst possible conditions will prepare you for any survival scenario.
This primitive skill involves using two sticks to create friction to ignite tinder and wood shavings into a flame. To get started, find a flat piece of wood to use as your base board.
Foraging for food
The foraging aspect of bushcraft involves finding and collecting edible plants, fruits, nuts, seeds and fungi in the wild. This is often combined with cooking skills and can help people become more familiar with their local flora.
Foraging should always be done sustainably and with caution. Always be sure that a plant is safe to harvest before picking it, and try new foods slowly to ensure that you’re not allergic or sensitive to them.
Most people will engage in foraging without really thinking about it, plucking a handful of berries from a hedge on a summer walk, but the practice can be incredibly rewarding. It creates a heightened connection with the natural world and can foster an appreciation for sustainable living.
Navigation
Navigation is one of the key skills to master if you want to become a proficient bushcrafter. It allows you to explore off-the-beaten-track and enjoy the wilderness with confidence. It is a skill that should be honed over time (months and years) before it can be trusted in any situation.
A compass is the most important tool for bushcraft navigation. It’s essential to understand the difference between Grid, Magnetic and True north declination. This is necessary when relating a compass bearing to the N/S grid lines on a map. To do this you need to subtract the grid bearing from the magnetic bearing.