What is Bushcraft? An Introduction To The Art Of Wilderness Survival

Bushcraft is a name given to something unnamable. It really shouldn’t be called anything because much of it is engraved in our instincts and souls whether we feel it or not.

Have you ever asked yourself “What is bushcraft”? Well, if you’ve ever been fascinated by the idea of being able to survive and live closely with the land, then studying this art may be for you.

Why? Because it can provide a special opportunity to learn our ancient skills of practical wilderness living methods such as creating shelters, utilizing edible and medicinal plants, primitive hunting methods, fire creation with zero tools, and much, much more. 

What Is Bushcraft? 

In this blog post, we will explore what bushcraft is all about – and how it is already a part of your human instincts.

So are you ready? Let’s dive into exploring these ancient outdoor skills!

Elements Of Bushcraft

What is bushcraft? Well, that depends. However here is what I consider it:

Bushcraft is a set of skills used to thrive in the wilderness. This involves connecting with the land and using its resources in a way similar to how indigenous people have done for thousands of years. 

So it is pretty special because it allows people to discover and create necessary items in order to be self-sufficient in the wilderness. 

Examples of some skills include tracking, building wilderness shelters, reliably igniting fires, constructing snares and traps for hunting, identifying edible and medicinal plants and fungi, foraging for food and water sources, making tools from the land, and undertaking many more activities related to outdoor survival. 

Bushcraft Gear List

I love Dave Canterbury’s 10 C’s of survival gear method that I learned about during a course he taught. All in all, a basic bushcraft kit will include gear items such as those listed below: 

• Cutting Tools: Belt knife, folding saw, Swiss Army Knife
• Cover: tarp for under, wool blanket for being in, and trash bags filled with leaves to sleep on (In, on and under)
• Combustion: Bic lighter, ferrocerium rod, magnifying glass
• Container: 2 Metal single-walled water bottles and one nesting cup (to be used directly in a fire, or creating )
• Cordage: Bankline and paracord (Bankline is used for lashings as you can fit much more than paracord)
• Cotton Material: Schmagg (for warmth and char cloth material if needed)
• Compass: Should have a mirror, moving bezel, and a magnifying glass
• Candling Device: Headlamp with batteries
• Cargo Tape: Gorilla tape- to be used as a fire starter and stickier than duct tape
• Sail needle: #14 sized needle

This list is just a general idea of what a typical bushcraft kit would look like.  However, there are many different items that could be added or taken away, depending on the environment you find yourself in.

Additionally, in a long-term situation, many of these items can be substituted with natural materials found in nature, such as cordage made out of plant fibers and fire starters made from wood shavings and animal fat. 

The great thing about bushcraft is that it allows you to use the resources available to you in whatever environment you encounter.  No matter what your level of experience, I highly recommend starting with what you have and consistently practicing one thing: Developing your knowledge.

The more you know, the less you have to carry. The less you know, the more you have to carry.

-Famous Bushcrafter Mors Kochanski

Fire Creation Methods

Bushcraft involves using multiple methods of fire creation as fire is essential to life out in the wild. From primitive to modern, here are some of the methods listed:

• Friction Fires (Hand Drill, Bow Drill, Fire Plow, Etc.)
• Flint And Steel
• Ferrocerium Rod
• Magnifying Glass
• Matches
• Lighter

Fire creation is a vital bushcraft skill as it allows one to make a campfire, boil water, cook food, and provide warmth throughout the night.

Through the more primitive methods, individuals can learn which elements are needed to start a fire and construct long-lasting fires from natural materials. 

So what is bushcraft? Well, a huge part of this is learning the ways of those from many years ago. And as we know, Firecraft has been a staple for life for many years before you and I were ever here. 

Shelter Building

There are many different types of shelters that are practiced in bushcraft. Many of them use modern tarps whereas some rely completely on the materials in the environment. I won’t dive deep into shelters as this is a topic deserving its own article, however, one important skill that is common in bushcraft is knowing how to tie lashings. 

What are lashings?  It is tying materials together to construct anything from shelters to furniture. While complex knots and lashing techniques are taught in courses, novices can easily learn how to create structures that are surprisingly stable by using simple knot systems such as the square lashing. 

Anything from bankline to paracord or natural cordage can be used, depending on what you have available. With practice and patience, constructing robust shelters with lashings alone is entirely possible – all you need is the right knowledge! 

In fact, when I attended this course, we built an entire two-story shelter using nothing but logs and lashings. 

Hunting

Hunting is a large part of bushcraft for many people and has an immense amount of elements surrounding the topic. 

Many people use different hunting techniques for the purpose of rediscovering primitive hunting techniques and using them effectively in today’s wilderness. Examples of indigenous-inspired hunting methods include primitive trapping and using an atlatl (the ancient predecessor to the bow and arrow) and more. 

These classic bushcraft methods allow crafty outdoorsmen the chance to engage with nature on a deeper level while acquiring an appreciation for primitive wisdom and its applications.

Whether it’s learning how to construct snares out of natural materials, or honing stone-tipped arrows crafted with ancient technology; hunting in a more primitive way is a particular skill to consider learning.

Edible/Medicinal Plants And Trees

If you are someone interested in bushcraft, chances are that you care about being connected with the land. One important relationship is between us and edible and medicinal plants. 

Many trees and plants can provide nuts to harvest, inner bark that can be turned into flour, berries, fruits that can provide nourishment, and much more. 

Others plants and trees have been used for medicinal remedies which is a concept that people like myself obsess over. 

There is something special about being able to rely on the land for medical and food needs. 

In Bushcraft, knowledge about plants goes beyond only being able to recognize them – understanding how they can help us survive both mentally and physically in the natural environment is valuable information that many experienced practitioners have come to know through generations of past trial and error.

Cordage

Making cordage out of plant material is a classic bushcraft skill and actually, a primitive living method that native people have used for thousands of years. Aside from making cordage, both paracord and bankline are common man-made rope material that is commonly used in bushcraft.

How do you make your own cordage? 

Well, although the materials necessary can be found almost anywhere in nature, it does require some patience and recognition knowledge/ practice before you are able to make quality cordage with ease. 

To begin, locate whatever plant resides in your area that can be shaped into durable fibers when twisted together. This is where knowledge comes in handy as knowing what to look for is essential. 

Common choices used for plant-based cordage include certain kinds of grasses, roots from certain plants, and outer tree bark strips – each of which can be made into a cord with basic techniques. 

Examples:

• Tulip Poplar tree bark
• Stinging Nettle

Once the material has been gathered, it should then be braided or twisted together to make cordage of varying thicknesses and strengths, depending on your needs and craftsmanship. There are plenty of excellent youtube videos that can portray a visual perspective for anyone interested. 

With some practice and trial-and-error, you can learn to reliably make strong cords and rope out of nature’s materials with your own primitive, bushcraft knowledge.

Wrapping It Up

At its core, bushcraft is about learning and growing from our environment, developing skills that can be applied in various areas of our lives.  The idea of living off the land and creating your resources provides an interesting challenge that allows people to get creative with their efforts. 

It breathes a sense of responsibility into us; with the proper resources and skills, we can live happily out in nature without hindering it in any way. Bushcraft tricks us into honing our very own survival instincts that are within us. 

This form of knowledge and practice should thus be shared with all generations so that they may continue to enjoy the outdoors and make use of every inch it has to offer.

So at Tanner’s Trails, my goal is to teach future generations of past knowledge before it is lost for good.

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