Bushcraft

Last updated
A hatchet, a knife, and sometimes a saw are staple tools for bushcraft. Knife pics 045.jpg
A hatchet, a knife, and sometimes a saw are staple tools for bushcraft.
A billhook (a common tool in Europe) with a saw blade, used as a bushcraft tool in France Bushcraft-billhook-saw.jpg
A billhook (a common tool in Europe) with a saw blade, used as a bushcraft tool in France

Bushcraft is the use and practice of skills, thereby acquiring and developing knowledge and understanding, in order to survive and thrive in a natural environment.

Contents

Bushcraft skills provide for the basic physiological necessities for human life: food (through foraging, tracking, hunting, trapping, fishing), water sourcing and purification, shelter-building, and firecraft. These may be supplemented with expertise in twine-making, knots and lashings, wood-carving, campcraft, medicine/health, natural navigation, and tool and weapon making.

Bushcraft includes the knowledge to handle certain tools such as bushcraft knives and axes. A bushcrafter can use these tools to create many different types of constructions, from dugout canoes to a-frame shelters. There are various types of shelters to construct or use in the wilderness. The first is a purpose-built shelter like a tent. Another example is an improvised shelter, like using a large tarp or blanket as a tent. Indigenous shelters include a snow cave or bark lean-to. Lastly, natural shelters include caves, underneath a tree, or within thickets. [1]

Bushcraft includes the knowledge to tie different knots for different purposes. These knots include the reef knot, figure 8 loop, improved clinch knot, clove hitch, and snare noose. The reef knot is also referred to as a square knot. It is good for bundling items together because you can tension the rope during the first part of the knot tying. Tying bondages together like a sling is a common use. The figure 8 loop is a strong knot because it forms a loop that will not draw tight. You can use a figure 8 loop at the end of a fishing line to tie on a hook or lure. This knot is also useful to hold loads or to lift or drag items. The improved clinch knot is often used to attach a hook to a line or to attach an anchor to rope, or fore tying up to a pole or tree. The clove hitch can be used when creating a raft or to attach a shelter to a tree. It is commonly used to start a lashing, binding one thing to another such as a shelter frame. The snare noose use is commonly used to catch animals. The snare consists of a noose attached to an anchor point like a shrub. As the animal moves through the noose, the line will tighten around its neck. [2]

The term bushcraft was popularized in the Southern Hemisphere by Les Hiddins (the Bush Tucker Man) as well as in the Northern Hemisphere by Mors Kochanski and more recently gained considerable currency in the United Kingdom due to the popularity of Ray Mears and his bushcraft and survival television programs. [3] The origin of the phrase "bushcraft" comes from skills used in the Australian bush. Often the phrases "wilderness skills" or "woodcraft" are used as they describe skills used all over the world.[ citation needed ] [4]

Etymology

Miniature bowdrill kit Brant park and mini bow 049.jpg
Miniature bowdrill kit

The Oxford English Dictionary definition of bushcraft is "skill in matters pertaining to life in the bush".

The word has been used in its current sense in Australia and South Africa at least as far back as the 1800s. Bush in this sense is probably a direct adoption of the Dutch 'bosch', (now 'bos') originally used in Dutch colonies for woodland and country covered with natural wood, but extended to usage in British colonies, applied to the uncleared or un-farmed districts, still in a state of nature. Later this was used by extension for the country as opposed to the town. In Southern Africa, they get Bushman from the Dutch 'boschjesman' applied by the Dutch colonists to the natives living in the bush. In North America, where there was also considerable colonisation by the Dutch, they have the word 'bushwacker' which is close to the Dutch 'bosch-wachter' (now 'boswachter') meaning 'forest-keeper' or 'forest ranger'.

Historically, the term has been spotted in the following books (amongst others):

Trademark

The word bushcraft was registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a trademark by Bushcraft USA LLC on November 12, 2013, as a service mark, for "Providing an on-line forum for bushcraft," and "Providing on-line forums for transmission of messages among computer users concerning bushcraft" (Ser. No. 85690815). This led to some concern about the validity of the mark among Internet users who asserted there were senior uses of the mark in a more general context such as Mors Kochanski as early as 1981, however no formal opposition was ever filed, nor any assertion of continuous use in commerce as the mark related to Internet forums. As of 2021, Bushcraft USA has not publicly enforced its mark against other Internet forums using the term.

Promoters

The Irish-born Australian writer Richard Graves titled his outdoor manuals "The 10 bushcraft books". [6]

Canadian wilderness instructor Mors Kochanski published the "Northern Bushcraft" book in 1981 and an expanded edition of the book in 1988. He has [7] stated on numerous occasions that book title was an explicit reference to Graves' work. [8]

The term has enjoyed a recent popularity largely thanks to Ray Mears, Cody Lundin, Les Hiddins, Les Stroud, Dave Canterbury and Mors Kochanski and their television programs.

See also

People

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tinderbox</span> Container for fire-starting materials with flint, firesteel, and tinder

A tinderbox, or patch box, is a container made of wood or metal containing flint, firesteel, and tinder, used together to help kindle a fire. A tinderbox may also contain sulfur-tipped matches.

Major Leslie James Hiddins AM, known as "The Bush Tucker Man" is a retired Australian Army soldier and war veteran who is best known for his love and knowledge of the Australian bush. Hiddins is recognized by his distinctively modified Akubra hat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Survival skills</span> Techniques for sustaining life, typically in adverse conditions

Survival skills are techniques used to sustain life in any type of natural environment or built environment. These techniques are meant to provide basic necessities for human life, including water, food, and shelter. Survival skills also support proper knowledge and interactions with animals and plants to promote the sustaining of life over time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ray Mears</span> British woodsman and TV presenter

Raymond Paul Mears is a British woodsman, instructor, businessman, author and TV presenter. His TV appearances cover bushcraft and survival techniques.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mors Kochanski</span> Canadian writer

Mors Kochanski was a Canadian bushcraft and wilderness survival instructor, naturalist, and author. He acquired an international following and instructed for both military and civilians in Canada, the US, the UK and Sweden. He died from peritoneal mesothelioma in 2019.

Scoutcraft is a term used to cover a variety of woodcraft knowledge and skills required by people seeking to venture into wild country and sustain themselves independently. The term has been adopted by Scouting organizations to reflect skills and knowledge which are felt to be a core part of the various programs, alongside community and spirituality. Skills commonly included are camping, cooking, first aid, wilderness survival, orienteering and pioneering.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mini survival kit</span> Small kit containing essential survival tools

A mini survival kit contains essential outdoor survival tools and supplies. It is intended to be carried on one's person at all times, be appropriate to all environments, and be a comprehensive kit without being too large. Mini survival kits are intended to provide the basic needs of a survival situation, self-rescue, assistance or a return to normalcy in optimum situations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siberian hitch</span> Type of knot

The Siberian hitch is a hitch knot used to attach a rope to an object. It is a type of slipped figure-eight noose. The hitch is known for having a tying method suitable even while wearing heavy gloves or mittens in cold climates. As a slipped knot it can be released simply by pulling the working end of the rope.

Bradford Angier was an American wilderness survivalist and proponent of back-to-earth living. He authored more than 35 books on how to survive in the wild and how to live minimalisticly off the land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loue (tent)</span>

A loue is an ultra-light Finnish open tent-like shelter. It is used to give reasonable protection from wind and rain during a variety of outdoor activities, including camping, canoeing, hiking and hunting. Loues are popular with Scout groups and minimalist campers. Suitable as one or two person shelters, they are compact, light and can be set up and taken down in a basic way fairly quickly. The workman-like sets shown in photographs indicate that more effort can be made to stiffen the sides and the stakes and lines used can complicate a taut setup. The open front permits fire viewing, ventilation and looking out over a scenic view. A loue consists of a roughly conical section of fabric with the semi-circular bottom edge grounded by stakes and the tip raised with a single pole. Suitable standing tree trunks may be used to suspend the tent if an open campfire is not to be used. This style of ''tarp tent" can best be raised using a scissors-pole assembly. A pole suspension system allows for positioning an open fire in front of the shelter without the risk of damaging tree trunks or roots. The panels of a true Finnish loue are designed to provide a semi-circular short wall around the shelter and a triangular piece at the tip can be let down to provide a little more shelter in front. With suitable siting and careful staking and tensioning, the side walls can be set close to the ground, providing protection from drafts and lifting from winds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woodcraft</span>

The terms woodcraft and woodlore denote skills and experience in matters relating to living and thriving in the woods—such as hunting, fishing, and camping—whether on a short- or long-term basis. Traditionally, woodcraft pertains to subsistence lifestyles, with implications of hunting-gathering. In more recent times, and in developed countries, it relates more to either outdoor recreationalism or survivalism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uni knot</span> Fishing knot

The uni knot is a multi-purpose fishing knot used in angling that can be used for attaching the fishing line to the spool of a reel, for joining main line to leader/backing lines, and for attaching lures, swivels and snaps.

<i>Ray Mears Bushcraft</i> British TV series or programme

Bushcraft is a survival television series hosted by Ray Mears. The series airs on the BBC in United Kingdom, it also shown on Discovery Channel in the United States, Canada, India, Italy, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, Czech Republic, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Romania and Russia. Following on from Extreme Survival, Bushcraft was first shown in 2004, and ended in 2005.

<i>Wild Food</i> Documentary television series

Wild Food Documentary is a documentary television series hosted by Ray Mears. The series airs on the BBC in United Kingdom, it is also shown on Discovery Channel in the United States, Canada, India, Italy, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands and Russia. The show was first broadcast with an episode set in Australia and ended with "Woodland". The theme tune is not unlike the one heard in World of Survival.

<i>Ray Mears Goes Walkabout</i> British TV series or programme

Ray Mears Goes Walkabout is a survival television series hosted by Ray Mears, showing Mears in Australia. The series aired from 2008 on the BBC in United Kingdom, and was also shown on Discovery Channel in Canada, India, Italy, Brazil, New Zealand, Australia, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Russia, and the United States. The broadcast version uses an updated Australian-themed take on the opening theme music to Ray Mears' World of Survival.

The Survival Handbook: A Practical Guide to Woodcraft and Woodlore is a book written by author, television presenter and outdoorsman Ray Mears. It was first published on 1 March 1990 by The Oxford Illustrated Press and then re-printed by The Promotional Reprint Co Ltd in 1994. It is a guidebook to outdoor life, survival and camping. The difference between the two versions being that the colour photographs were printed on glossy paper in the First Edition. It contains sections on the basics of outdoor skill, making fire by friction, obtaining food, and working with stone, flint and bone as well as working animal hide.

Paul Kirtley is a professional wilderness bushcraft instructor and noted writer on the subjects of bushcraft, wilderness travel and survival.

Andrew Thomas Price is presenter of the ITV Cymru Wales programme Coast & Country. The series began in October 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Zawalsky</span> Canadian outdoorsman, bushcraft instructor, and author

Bruce Duncan Zawalsky is a professional Canadian outdoorsman, bushcraft instructor, and author. He founded and owns the Boreal Wilderness Institute, based in Edmonton, Alberta. He is the author of A Guide to Canadian Wilderness Survival, published by Liard Books in 2017. Zawalsky guided his first backpacking group in the Rocky Mountains in 1981. In 1989, as part of a small six-person group in three canoes, he completed a 92-day 3,600 km canoe expedition between Rocky Mountain House, Alberta and Thunder Bay, Ontario. The expedition involved over sixty portages and 200 km of upstream river paddling, lining, and poling, and was conducted as the completion of an Outdoor Education training program at the University of Alberta. Zawalsky studied with bushcraft expert Mors Kochanski and at Augustana University College, PADI College, the Nordic Ski Institute, and in the Canadian military. He has been a member of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment for more than 34 years.

Camping and Woodcraft is an American classic published by Horace Kephart in 1916, detailing the practical skill-sets needed to endure the harsh conditions of the wilderness, and to make that experience more enjoyable to the amateur outdoorsman. The work is a revised and expanded edition of Kephart's 1906 Camping and Woodcraft, a pocket-manual published by the author with the expressed purpose of rendering practical advice and skills to those who travel with minimal gear in places where there are no roads. The 1906 printing of the pocket-manual passed through 7 editions in the space of ten years.

References

  1. ↑ Heiman, Scott (2018). "Bushcraft & Survival". Archery Action with Outdoor Connections. 44 (2): 54–58.
  2. ↑ Heiman, Scott (2021). "Bushcraft & survival BACK TO BASICS". Archery Action with Outdoor Connections. 47 (1): 38–42.
  3. ↑ Wade Cox, Stephen. "About Ray Mears". Ray Mears Bushcraft. Ray Mears Bushcraft. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
  4. ↑ "Info". Springfields Bushcraft.
  5. ↑ Galton Archive, Manuscripts Room, University College, London, List No. 56
  6. ↑ An on-line edition of 'The 10 Bushcraft Books' by Richard Graves
  7. ↑ Kochanski's webpage "Mors Kochanski - Survival & Wilderness Living Skills". Archived from the original on 2012-12-23. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  8. ↑ "Mors Kochanski Interview, Equip 2 Endure Podcast". www.youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2020-08-06.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.