1. Knot-Tying
Can you tie an Evenk Hitch or a Taut-Line Hitch to secure a ridgeline for shelter? If not, you should learn.
Why it matters:
• Knots save lives—literally.
• Improper knots can lead to collapsed shelters or lost gear.
• Mastering knots means mastering control over your environment.
2. Shelter Building
Do you know how to build a debris hut, tarp shelter, lean-to, super shelter, wigwam, or tepee? If not, you should learn.
Why it matters:
• Exposure is a top killer in survival situations.
• A good shelter regulates temperature and protects from the elements.
• Shelter is your first line of defense against nature.
3. Fire-Making
Can you start a fire with a ferro rod, bowdrill, hand drill, fire plow, flint and steel, or solar ignition? If not, you should learn.
Why it matters:
• Fire means warmth, safety, clean water, and cooked food.
• Lighters fail. Matches get wet. Primitive fire skills don’t.
• Fire boosts morale and keeps predators away.
4. Water Purification
Do you know the difference between filtration and purification? Can you make water safe to drink in the wild? If not, you should learn.
Why it matters:
• Dehydration kills faster than hunger.
• Contaminated water can disable you in hours.
• Clean water is survival gold.
5. Patching, Sewing, Darning, Repairing
Can you fix torn clothing, repair a tent, or darn socks in the field? If not, you should learn.
Why it matters:
• Gear failure in the wild is a serious threat.
• Small repairs prevent big problems.
• Self-reliance means fixing what breaks—on the spot.
6. Fishing and Hunting
Do you know how to catch or hunt your next meal? If not, you should learn.
Why it matters:
• Nature provides, but only if you know how to take.
• Protein is essential for long-term survival.
• These skills turn wilderness into a pantry.
7. Trapping and Snaring
Can you build a figure-4 deadfall, spring pole snare, or squirrel pole? If not, you should learn.
Why it matters:
• Traps work while you rest.
• Passive food gathering increases survival odds.
• Knowing how to trap is knowing how to eat.
8. Dressing Game
Can you field dress a squirrel, rabbit, pheasant, turkey, or deer? If not, you should learn.
Why it matters:
• Harvesting is only half the job.
• Waste nothing—use everything.
• Clean, efficient dressing prevents spoilage and disease.
9. Land Navigation
Can you use a map and compass? Do you know your pace count? If not, you should learn.
Why it matters:
• GPS fails. Batteries die.
• Knowing where you are means knowing how to get out.
• Navigation is freedom.
10. Foraging and Plant Knowledge
Do you know which plants are edible or medicinal? If not, you should learn.
Why it matters:
• The forest is a pharmacy and a grocery store—if you know what to look for.
• Foraging extends your food supply.
• Medicinal plants can save lives when help is far away.
Learn these skills before you need them.
Train with experts. Build confidence. Become unshakable.
Sign up for survival training under classes on my Homepage.
“I’ll see you in the wild!”
Start now at survivalschoolmichigan.com
