Preface

  

   There are a few skills I think should be considered essential for every family in the U.S. These are how to hunt, fish and trap. Not only are these skills essential but the tools needed to perform these skills are needed. These are skills and tools that up until rather recently at least one person in every family processed. Every family had firearms, fishing gear and most had at least a few traps. These skills and tools gave people independence by giving them the ability to feed their family. Without these skills and tools you must depend on someone else in order to feed your family. This would be the local supermarket, butcher, or farmer. What happen when these people shut down?

   In a long term survival situation, hunting, fishing and trapping will be the only way you will be able to feed your family and/or Group. There will be no supermarket to run down to and pick up something for supper. If your Family or Group is to eat then you or someone in the Group will have to provide the food.

   Hunting, fishing or trapping will be your only source of meat, at least for the short term. Any animal beef, hog, goat, sheep, chickens you may have should be keep as breeding stock.

   Most of the information contained in the following pages comes from writers in the earlier 1900's or late 1800's. I feel that these Authors' situations more closely fit the conditions your Group will be facing. Most of today's Authors cater to trophy or sports hunters and fishermen rather than someone hunting or fishing to feed their family. You will find the information in this book is geared towards survival, long term survival.

   Keep in mind the methods described in this section are aimed for the most part, but not entirely, for the novice. Also, remember some of the methods are to be used only in a survival situation. In normal times and situations these methods may be unlawful and considered unsportsmanlike. You must also keep in mind, with few exceptions; the hunting of any wild game is strictly controlled, allowed only in specific seasons and with a license. Of course in a long term survival situation there will be no game laws. Another point to remember is; in normal times you should always have permission from the land owner before hunting or trapping on their property. The same is true, in most cases for fishing.

   You may be surprised to find we have included a lot of information on trapping. Trapping will not only help in saving ammunition but can be a very productive method of harvesting food, especially smaller animals and birds. Keep in mind that most of the animals that you harvest will not only be a source of food but also a source of clothing. Not only will trapping allow you to conserve ammunition but also allow you to trap fur bearing animals for use in making leather and for the fur.

   Each Group should have a person designated as the "Hunter" for the Group. Initially this is necessary in order to allow the other members to work on other task, such as gardening, building shelters, etc. The Hunter should be a person chosen for his hunting experience. This should be someone experienced in hunting, preferable in the area or similar area as the evacuation point.

   Once permanent shelters are completed, crops planted, etc., then each family should be capable of doing their own hunting.

   As previously stated, hunting, fishing and trapping will without doubt be the only methods of providing meat for your Group. It would be a mistake to think your Group can survive without hunting, fishing and trapping and locate your evacuation point in an area where there is little game or fish.

   Man has been hunting, fishing and trapping since he first appeared on earth. Even though, as far as I can determine in the Bible there is no mention of Adam hunting I am sure he had some way of getting meat for the table, other than a herd of sheep. In any event in a long term survival situation these methods will be a key source of food.

   As I said earlier, on the following pages I have endeavored to give information geared to the novice. After all if you are already an avid hunter you could most likely teach me a thing or two.

   However, every male in your Group should endeavor to become a competent hunter, fisherman and trapper. The information I have supplied is to help you along the way. The information given in this book is also intended to help you decide what equipment and supplies are needed to cache. As I say in the article below hunting is an art developed through practice.