15. Know your snakes
Anyone who spends time in the woods will likely come across a snake or two. Knowing the difference between poisonous and non-poisonous snakesis essential.
As a general rule, diamond-shaped heads are typically poisonous, while round headed snakes are not. Also as a guide, remember “Red and yellow kill a fellow but red and black is your friend, Jack”. To be on the safe side, avoid snakes unless you are hunting them for meat.
16. Know how to use knives and axes
In bushcraft, a lot of skills require the use of bladed implements. Knowing how to use them correctly is important for security but also to be able to carry out many skills such as hunting, fishing, and building shelter. It’s crucial to know what your blade is capable of to prevent breakage and possible injury. You should also learn how to sharpen, store, repair, and even make a blade yourself.
17. Wood Carving
Wood carving serves a variety of purposes from making primitive wooden tools and weapons such as:
- wooden spoons and forks
- mortar and pestle
- traps
- snares
- clubs
- atl-atls
- tomahawks
- wooden spears
- bows, arrows
- a bow drill set for starting fires
18. Using Rope and Tying Knots
One of the first things they teach in camping is making rope and tying knots. It is essential for building shelters, making traps, and securing knots for climbing. You can make a rope from fibrous leaves around you in the woods if you take time to learn it. By adding rope craft to your list of bushcraft skills, you can increase the strength of the materials you build which can significantly improve your other bushcraft skills.
19. Treating Wounds
When there’s no doctor in sight, you’ll have to deal with any injury that may come your way, whether it’s a cut, an open would or a broken bone.
Since I’m not a doctor, I can’t give you medical advice, but I strongly encourage you to take a first aid course, and don’t be shy about asking what to do in case of hiking accidents, particularly how to clean and seal a wound and how to make a splint.