Badlands Fieldcraft: Reader question: Where to start?

Originally appearing at Badlands Fieldcraft, BR answers a question that a lot of folks have. Just where the heck do you start? And wherever you think you are right now, how to your continuously self-evaluate? I say it begins with training. Buying stuff is fine, but knowing what you really need, and more importantly, how to use it, is critical. You can’t replace working knowledge and right now its more critical than ever. -NCS


The following is my response to a readers question on “where to start?” in reference to training.

You bring up a great point in “where to start?”

Forgive me for making any assumptions, but just for the sake of discussion let’s say you didn’t know anything. It can be like trying to take a drink from a fire hose answering that question.

I’d say first priority is just surviving nature itself, forget bad guys and guns for the time being. Nature was and still is our most basic adversary. Can you live out of a pack 3-4 days out in the bush without succumbing to hypo/hyperthermia and dehydration? Do you understand the natural resources available and how to utilize them? I’m a big proponent of adopting a sort of “modern frontiersman” mentality when it comes to my training. If I can’t/ wouldn’t do it in the bush, I don’t waste my time with it. That’s why you’ll never see me shoot from a bench.

Now I understand that’s a pretty big task to undertake, I’ve been spending years on it myself and still feel like there’s still so much to learn. But I do feel the knowledge gained is worth the effort and look forward to sharing it with future generations.

As far as shooting is concerned, I would suggest working your way out. From a self defense viewpoint, the biggest threats are typically the closest. I would strongly advocate learning to shoot and carry a pistol good as well as a carbine type weapon. Probably best to stick to an AR or AK. A 16” AR with a red dot zeroed at 25Y will hit dead on at 250Y with little deviation in between. It’s a stupid simple defensive weapon.

The point to all this is that you have to be able to survive the elements and the enemies at a fundamental level before you can begin moving into the “high speed” stuff. It’s the crawl, walk, run mentality. When cold, tired, hungry and scared a person definitely falls back to their most proficient skills, so make sure you are most proficient at the ones you’ll use most often.

Once again, please forgive me for any assumptions I’ve made, it’s just a subject I’ve spent alot of time on and that is my generic answer to that question.

Have a great day!

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About the Author: NC Scout

NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at [email protected] or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .

4 Comments

  1. anonymous June 9, 2020 at 06:53

    The book SIX WAYS IN – TWELVE WAYS OUT is a gold mine of outdoor living information. Much of the content can be practiced at home or in your backyard. Well worth the price – I purchased two more and intend to wrap in plastic for leaving inside my go bag. The 1st one purchased is still read and re-read.

    If its homesteading information, Carla Emory’s ENCYCLOPEDIA OF COUNTRY LIVING is a fantastic resource as well.

  2. Michael June 9, 2020 at 08:25

    I tell folks to remember what kills you when: A mob can kill you now (Defense) mother natures elements can kill you soon (Shelter) bad water or no water can weaken you in a day and kill you in a couple of days (Water), most of us carry a weeks worth of food around our middles (Food).

    Prepare in that order but prepare for all of them ASAP as it’s far better to be over prepared too soon then a day too late when bad water has you suffering and dying.

    If they ask for examples then I tell them:

    Defense means more than guns, it’s avoiding the situation as best as possible like NOT Wearing I don’t dial 911 Shirts or bumper stickers that make you a target, avoiding crowds like Uncle Remus is famous for saying. Mobs are dangerous but Able was murdered by his brother so even a single person that hates you is dangerous.

    Shelter is more than clothing and tents, it’s having a safe haven to rest and recover. Trusted friends are the best shelter-support system. Shelter *MIGHT* be like Col Mosby of Civil War Mosby’s Raiders fame was hidden as a very sick TB Grandfather when a large Union Patrol came by. Shelter thusly was why the VC could hide as harmless peasants until the US Military went somewhere else.

    Water a most critical issue most of us are unprepared for. Yes my backpack hydration system and that little water filter helps UNLESS there is no open water available OR that still wet water filter FREEZES at night and thus destroys the micro pore filter. No you will NOT see it but your Bowels will be telling you in a day or so. At 8 pounds a gallon water is a heavy critical need.

    Food buy what you eat, EAT what you buy. A lot of the “Survival” foods out there is nothing you want to eat under a serious situation. IF you’ve eaten it before SHTF then at least your body is used to it.

    Often water-food and shelter comes together as even SEAL Team 6 had a support base and helicopter support.

  3. Anonymous June 9, 2020 at 08:33

    5

  4. Jim Wilkins June 12, 2020 at 19:03

    The Foxfire books are good. If you have access to a used book store look for old cookbooks. I have one titled Household Hints and Mrs. Curtis’ Cookbook. Good stuff from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

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