How to Stay Alive in the Woods

284 Pages·1962·18.81 MB·English

by  Bradford Angier

O 1956 bV Btdford Angb
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Library of Congress Cataloging-ftFlhblicadon Data
Angier, Bradford.
Fow to stay alive in the woods-
Oridnatly publisbed as: Livin g off the country.
l. dutdooi tife. 2. Wilderness survival. I- Title.
GV19I.6.A6295 1962 613.6',9 84m690
ISBN 042J28050-5
How to Stay Alive in tbe Woods gngircllu gp-peqred utder the tttlc Uvin8
Off the Country: How to Stay Alive in the Woods
This Collier Boa}c edition is publLshed bV anangement
u)ith the Stackpolc ConPang
Macmillan books are available at special dirco,ltts for bulk purchases for
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Firsf Collier Boolcs Edition 1962
44 45 46 47 48 49 50 5t 52 53 54 55 56 57
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATESO F AMERTCA
How to Stay Alive
in the Woods
BRADFORD ANGIER
originallyp ublisheda s
Living Off the Country
Illustrated by Yena Angier
COLLIER BOOKS
MacmillanP ublishingC ompany
NEW YORK
COLLIER MACMILLAN PUBLISHERS
LONDON
To my friend
COLONEL TOWNSEND WHELEN
who early began making marginal notes
on the book of nature, some of whose
most valuable chapters he is still writing.

Conlents
Chapter
PART ONE-ASUSTENANCE
1. Every Necessity Is Free 11
2. Living Of The CountrY 13
3. Science Of Staying Alive 23
4. Food In The Farther Places 31
5. Yours For The Eating 4T
6. Go And Get It 51
7. Always A IVay 67
8. No Dishes To Wash 79
g. Thirst 89
PART TWO_IVAITMTIT
10" Facts Of Ughting Fires IO7
11. Speaking Of Warmth lr7
12. Shelter For The Makirg I27
13. Wilderness Homes 135
14. Choice Of Clothing r45
15. Keeping Covered 1s5
PARTMRIENTATION
167
16. Staying Found
17. Ifuowing TVhereY ou Are 177
18. Afoot In Big CountrY 191
19. Camping And Sigpaling 195
20. Getting Out By Yourself 209
7
I I Contents
PART FOUR-SAFETY
21. Keeping Out Of Trouble 221
22. Getting Out Of Trouble 233
2,3. EmergencyA id 245
24. BackwoodsM edicine 253
25. Survival Kit 265
26. Being Ready 273
PART ONE
SUSTENA[SCE
"A party living off the country
must know how to get full value
from everything available especi-
ally in the way of f66d."-ft oyal
CanadianM ounted Police

ChopterI
Every Necessify ls Free
AlwoNB AT ANy rrMB can suddenly find himself dependento n
his own resourcesf or survival. It costsv ery little time, money,
and eftort to be ready for such an emergency.I f you are not
ready, it may cost your life.
You may becomel ost or strandedi n the woods. Thouaands
among North America's more than 30 miltion annually li-
censedf shermen and hunters do each y€tr, many fatally. Yet
almost invariably where such individuals suffer and all too
often succumb so needlessly,w ild food is free for the picking
meat for the taking, fire for the lighting, clothes for the
making, and shelter for the satisfaction of building.
You may be in an automobile that is stalled by mishap or
storm in an unsettled area, a not uncommon occurrence that
frequently results in unnecessaryh ardship and tragedy. Per-
haps you'll be a passengeri n an aircraft that has to make a
forced landing. Perhaps you'Il be shipwrecked.
It may even happen that you and yours will be compelled
to seek sanctuary in the wildernessb ecauseo f those ever in-
creasing threats to civilization itself-an atom bomb catas'
trophe or the even more terrible microscopic foes of germ
warfare,
l1
12 | How to Siay Alive in the Woods
"Man'$ capacitiesh ave never been measured;n or are we to
iudge what \ile can do by any precedents,s o little has been
tried," pointed Thoreau. "Slhat people say you can not do,
you try and find you can."
No hard and fast nrles can be laid down for survival any-
where, particularly in the farther places. Conditions vary. So
do localities. Especialtyd o individuals. Initiative on the other
hand may be guided by a eonsideration of general principles
such as tbose we can here absorb.
Many of the pitfalls, too, may be so recognizeda nd evaded
that otherwise might have to be learned by unnecessarilyh ard
and often dangerousp ersonal experience.I t will be far more
satisfactory to deal with natural difficulties by adaptation and
avoidance than by attempting to overcome them by force.
Using the ways of living oft the country discussedh erein
as a foundation for ingenuity and common sense' anybody
who suddenly finds himself dependent upon his own f€'
sources will have a better chanse both to keep living and to
walk away from any hardships smiling.
The wilderness is too big to fight. Yet for those of us
who'll take advantage of what it freely offers, nattre will
furnish every necessity.T hese necesstuiesa re foo4 warmth,
shelter, fltd clothing.