@media (max-width:576px) { .read-more-content { height: 440em; } }

The post REVIEW: Testing the Wilson Combat NULA Model 20 appeared first on Athlon Outdoors.

The war in the Middle East that began in 2023 is going to go to an entirely new level in 2024.  As you will see below, fighting along Israel’s northern border has escalated significantly in recent days, and this is causing a great deal of concern.  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly stated that he plans to finish the conflict in the south before dealing with Hezbollah, but he may not have a choice in the matter.  Hezbollah forces continue to fire at targets in northern Israel and the IDF continues to carry out strikes in response.  In fact, it is being reported that the IDF just attacked “a Hezbollah military headquarters in Lebanon”…

The IDF says fighter jets have hit a Hezbollah military headquarters in Lebanon in response to attacks on northern Israel today, including one that left a soldier moderately wounded.

The IDF also says it carried out artillery shelling at a number of areas near the border today, presumably to foil planned Hezbollah attacks.

Several projectiles were fired from Lebanon at areas in northern Israel, with the IDF saying it struck the launch sites.

Meanwhile, we are being told that an IDF airstrike on Damascus has killed a senior Iranian military commander…

A senior officer in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was killed in an alleged Israeli airstrike in the Syrian capital of Damascus, Iranian media reports.

Razi Mousavi “was killed during an attack by the Zionist regime a few hours ago in Zeinabiyah district in the suburbs of Damascus,” the official IRNA news agency reports, using a different name for Sayeda Zeinab, or Sitt Zaynab as it is more commonly called, south of the Syrian capital.

The Iranians are absolutely furious about this.

We are much closer to a point of no return than most people realize.

Even before this military commander was killed, the Iranians had become a lot more active.

On Saturday, the U.S. blamed the Iranians for “a drone attack on a chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean”…

The US has accused Iran of being behind a drone attack on a chemical tanker in the Indian Ocean.

The attack on the Chem Pluto on Saturday resulted in a fire, though no casualties were reported.

Though Iran has not commented on the attack, the US military said the ‘one-way attack’ was delivered by a ‘drone fired from Iran.’

Subsequently, the Iranians actually threatened to shut down the entire Mediterranean Sea…

Iran threatened Saturday that the Mediterranean Sea could be “closed” if the U.S. and Israel continued “crimes” in Gaza, state media reported, according to Reuters.

The Iranian government has showed support for the militant group Hamas in its war against Israel, while the U.S. has strongly backed Israel — despite growing criticism of the Israeli military’s war effort.

Of course the Israelis have no intention of ending their campaign in Gaza.

According to the Wall Street Journal, it may take “months” for the IDF to finish their work in the south…

The Israeli military says it could take months to assert control over a key city in southern Gaza, as Hamas guerrilla tactics are causing casualties to mount among Israeli troops.

At least 16 Israeli soldiers were killed across Gaza over the past three days, as the military is now focusing on killing Hamas’s leaders and dismantling its extensive tunnel network.

Once the war in the south is finished, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the IDF will push Hezbollah north of the Litani River.

Hezbollah will never pull back to the Litani River willingly, and so a catastrophic conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is coming.

It is just a matter of time.

But even if Hamas and Hezbollah could be completely wiped out, the truth is that the threat of radical Islam would not go away.

Thanks to our very foolish politicians, millions of Muslims have been brought into the U.S. in recent years, and some of them are extremely radical.

For example, a jihadist that is located in Michigan is calling for a global jihad against the “infidel West”…

Ahmad Musa Jibril, a Michigan Islamist preacher, has called on American Muslims to wage Jihad against the “infidel West” and declared Muslims in the US should start “normalizing” Jihad.

An X account associated with the radical imam shared several clips, including one that labels Joe Biden a “terrorist” for his administration’s policy toward Israel.

“You have seen that senile Pharaoh of our time, he has lost his mind of everything, except his loyalty and support for Jewish occupiers is more to blame for the genocide in Palestine that the occupying Jews.”

“Yes, there is holy war in Islam, it is Jihad. This may be a surprise to many who grew up in the West, especially those who were born or grew up post 9/11, because of the growing number of hypocrites, who are spreading the American-Zionist Islam, and it has nothing to do with Islam, that version of Islam is and Islam that suits the enemies.”

“If you can’t raise your child telling him you want him to be mujahid and martyr, then you are the root of the problem.”

Sadly, he is far from alone.

In fact, radical Muslims have essentially taken over significant portions of the state of Michigan at this point.

And in New York City, a prominent Jewish rabbi was just told to kill himself by a group of radical Muslims that included an 11-year-old girl…

A Muslim family aggressively accosted a prominent Rabbi in New York City’s Times Square, telling him to kill himself if he has a problem with a free Palestine.

The widely viewed video captured the family’s smirking demeanor as a young girl, claiming to be 11 years old and from Canada, delivers the disturbing message.

‘If you have a problem with free Palestine, kill yourself,’ she said to the man on camera. ‘Yeah, go ahead .. you can’t do anything about it because I live in Canada.’

‘You want me to kill myself because I am Jewish? You want Jews to die?’ Rabbi Shmuley Boteach asked. The girl replied, ‘Yes – go ahead.’

They are literally teaching their kids that anyone that does not submit to Islam needs to be wiped out.

According to Google, there are currently 1.8 billion Muslims in the world.

That is almost a quarter of the entire global population.

Needless to say, they are going to play a major role in the period of unprecedented chaos that is coming to our planet.

So this war in the Middle East will not be the end of the story.

Instead, it will be just the beginning…

Michael’s new book entitled “Chaos” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can check out his new Substack newsletter right here.

About the Author: My name is Michael and my brand new book entitled “Chaos” is now available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com.  In addition to my new book I have written seven other books that are available on Amazon.com including “7 Year Apocalypse”, “Lost Prophecies Of The Future Of America”, “The Beginning Of The End”, and “Living A Life That Really Matters”. (#CommissionsEarned)  When you purchase any of these books you help to support the work that I am doing, and one way that you can really help is by sending copies as gifts to family and friends.  Time is short, and I need help getting these warnings into the hands of as many people as possible.  I have also started a brand new Substack newsletter, and I encourage you to subscribe so that you won’t miss any of my articles.  I have published thousands of articles on The Economic Collapse Blog, End Of The American Dream and The Most Important News, and the articles that I publish on those sites are republished on dozens of other prominent websites all over the globe.  I always freely and happily allow others to republish my articles on their own websites, but I also ask that they include this “About the Author” section with each article.  The material contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and readers should consult licensed professionals before making any legal, business, financial or health decisions.  I encourage you to follow me on social media on Facebook and Twitter, and any way that you can share these articles with others is definitely a great help.  These are such troubled times, and people need hope.  John 3:16 tells us about the hope that God has given us through Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  If you have not already done so, I strongly urge you to invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior today.

The post 2024 Will Be A Year Of Catastrophic War In The Middle East appeared first on End Of The American Dream.

Today I’ve got something really special to share…

A Complete Guide To Buying (& Storing) Freeze-Dried Food For Emergencies

Because there’s a TON of confusion around freeze-dried food.

People have questions, such as:

• What is it?
• What it’s not?
• Why you should care…
• How long will it last?
• Can you make your own?

That’s why today I’m going to clear up the confusion…

TOPICS IN THIS GUIDE…    ↓(click to jump)

• What’s Freeze-Dried Food?
• Freeze Drying Vs. Dehydration
• Freeze Dried Foods Vs. MRE’s
• Why Choose Freeze-Dried Food
• The Story Behind Freeze-Drying
• Foods To Freeze Dry At Home
• Best & Worst Foods To Freeze Dry
• How To Rehydrate Your Food

Want a free family-first food planning guide?

Click here to instantly download this Complete Checklist PDF. No purchase necessary.

What Is Freeze Drying Anyway?

It’s a food preservation method using the science of low-temperature dehydration.

This process results in a lightweight, shelf-stable, and decay-resistant food product.

But this process is only possible using a tightly controlled series of temperature and vacuum settings.

And this can only take place in a sealed chamber that takes advantage of sublimation.

Sublimation is when ice changes directly from a solid to a gas, entirely skipping over the liquid state.

Once the ice is in its gas form, the freeze dryer extracts it from the chamber and away from the food.

We can break the entire process down into three simple steps:

• Step 1: Freeze the food
• Step 2: Decrease air pressure
• Step 3: Slowly warm the food to allow ice to sublimate, removing water vapor

Repeating this process several times will gradually reduce the water locked within the food.

Ultimately, the food retains its original appearance, taste, and smell.

But with a fraction of the moisture and weight.

Resulting in dehydrated food – with nearly zero moisture.

Here’s a quick 40-second video that gives you an overview of this process:

↓ How Freeze Drying Works

Freeze Drying Vs. Dehydration

Now, let’s address the differences between freeze-drying and other dehydration methods.

All conventional home dehydration methods depend on warm, dry air moving over food, as opposed to the cold temperatures of freeze drying.

For example:

Countertop Dehydrators

Nearly all outdoor and home goods stores carry all-in-one countertop dehydrators.

These include a stackable series of open trays and a combination fan/heater.

This fan circulates warm air past the food, gradually extracting moisture until completely dried.

↓ The Ultimate Food Dehydrator Guide

Solar Dehydrators

Solar dehydrators (sometimes called Solar Ovens) also use gentle heat to remove moisture from food.

This can be as simple as open trays in the sun in a hot climate.

An enclosed warm space (i.e., a greenhouse) works best in colder climates.

Regardless of the temperature, adding air circulation speeds up the dehydrating process.

↓ How To Use A Sun Oven As A Dehydrator

Smokers

Smoked meats and fish are a traditional way to dehydrate and preserve a seasonal catch.

Smoke takes advantage of the dry heat and smoke produced by a fire.

The natural chemicals in the smoke dry out the food’s surface layers and prevent spoilage.

Smoked meats can have a very long shelf life depending on how dry the end product is (and how well it’s packaged).

Most alternative techniques use similar temperature ranges (100-150 degress).

And they’re all easy to do at home (you can even use the oven with the door cracked).

And they provide decent results, especially with vegetables and fruits.

I’ve eaten my own body weight in venison jerky prepared this way over the years.

Unfortunately, they do an unsavory job with liquid foods (such as soups).

They are also not a suitable method for delicate foods like berries.

Because they lose their structure with heating.

Want a free family-first food planning guide?

Click here to instantly download this Complete Checklist PDF. No purchase necessary.

Freeze Dried Food Vs. MREs

Often people get confused between freeze-dried foods and MREs.

Why? Because they are both considered “survival”, or emergency food.

Yes, many people buy and stockpile them for a future emergency.

But they’re not the same.

The easiest way to explain the difference is MREs require no rehydration.

MRE (meal ready to eat) is ready to consume immediately after opening.

With freeze dried meals, you add boiling water to rehydrate.

This requires a portable stove and fuel.

With MREs, the main entrée often includes a chemical heating pad.

This allows you to warm up the food without a separate stove.

MREs also include extra items, such as gum, a spoon, a candy bar, matches, tabasco sauce, crackers, etc.

However, this extreme reduction in moisture and no extras has some significant benefits, especially for survival.

First, it significantly extends the shelf life of the food.

With nearly no moisture, this type of food has a 25 or even 30-year shelf life (as long as it remains in a cool, dry environment).

However, with MREs, you’re lucky if they last a decade.

Also, they weigh much less than MREs on a calorie-by-calorie basis.

So if you plan to carry food in a pack, you can carry more calories vs. MREs.

So, I think the only reason to choose MREs is if you know preparation will not be possible.

This can be the case in battle zones.

In my experience, MREs tend to be more expensive as well.

So weighing all the pros and cons, I prefer investing in freeze-dried meals.

↓ MRE vs. Freeze Dried Food – 10 Years Trials

7 Reasons To Choose Freeze-Dried Food

1. It Tastes Better!

Canning and dehydrating can be great options.

But they can leave a bland end product.

Freeze dried foods taste FRESH!

2. It Looks Better!

Look, and taste are not the same thing.

Adults have learned this through experience.

Sometimes food may look gross but taste amazing.

Or the other way around…

But getting a kid to eat a strawberry that “looks” like a strawberry instead of a sad, dried nugget is easier.

3. Better Nutrition!

The nutrients in fresh foods are often damaged or lost in preservation.

Luckily, freeze-drying retains nearly all the nutrients and no added preservatives!

4. Less Food Waste!

You can freeze-dry small portions (even single servings).

Perfect for leftovers you didn’t finish.

5. Amazing Shelf Life!

It can last decades with proper packaging.

That’s compared to months for freezing and a couple of years for canning.

6. Lightweight Storage!

You can store them on regular cabinet shelves.

You don’t need heavy reinforced steel can storage racks for mason jars and #10 cans.

Plus, it travels exceptionally well in your survival pack or bug-out bag.

7. Easy Preparation!

You don’t have to add anything extra to your food before processing.

For example, I’ve seen an entire lasagna freeze-dried directly in a pan!

Want a free 78 item prepper checklist?

Click here to instantly download this Complete Checklist PDF. No purchase necessary.

The Story Behind Pre-Packaged Freeze Drying

The easiest way to find this type of food is to buy some online.

Nowadays, the selection of commercially-made pre-packaged options is incredible.

Many companies provide a vast menu of options.

So there are flavors to suit everyone.

But not all these food companies are equal.

Some are reputable and provide an excellent product and customer service experience.

While others are “fly-by-night” operations, who are good at marketing but not much else.

These quality brands have delicious menu offerings with lots of time-tested favorites:

• Valley Food Storage (click here for deals / here for our detailed review)
• Legacy Food Storage (click here for deals / here for our detailed review)
• Mountain House (click here for deals / here for our detailed review)

Choosing The Right Meals

As for which meals to choose, there are a few things to look out for:

Taste

Taste is, of course, a huge factor in which meals you’ll want to select.

Sure, after a long day on the trail or post-emergency, it is easy to wolf down anything.

But eating a tasty meal makes life a little easier.

This is especially true if you’re eating a meal during times of emergency or chaos.

So my advice is to stick mostly with meals you’re confident you’ll enjoy.

For example:

If you love lasagna or beef stroganoff, get several of those meals with your order.

But also, try to add in a few new options as well.

You’ll never know unless you give it a try.

The “safest” way to do this is to buy as small a quantity of the new meals as possible.

So if you have a choice between a 4-serving package or a 2-serving meal, go with the smaller one.

Then if you love it, you can always buy more next time.

Calories

Serving size and ingredients help determine how many calories a meal can provide.

If a package claims to be 2 servings, check out how large those servings are before purchasing.

Just be sure you order enough calories to replace them…

Whether it’s a backpacking trip or for a dire national emergency, you don’t want to run out of calories…

Going hungry – even for a short duration is not an enjoyable experience.

Not to mention the horrors of starvation…

Sodium

One of the common gripes is the high sodium content.

While your body loses salt during exertion, the amount in many meals is quite high.

Higher than necessary for typical replacement.

Unfortunately, you cannot do much about the sodium level in most of these meals.

You can’t remove it.

But it’s worth noting which ones are lower if you’re concerned about the extra salt intake.

Cost

Unfortunately, they’re NOT cheap.

The price can add up if you plan a long excursion or an extended emergency backup.

Some manufacturers (i.e., Mountain House and Valley Food Storage) have bulk packages.

These deals can help to keep the cost down a bit.

But these deals generally come with pre-determined menus.

So you don’t have a lot of options if you don’t like the selection.

They also often include stand-alone vegetable sides.

These can sometimes be disappointing in both taste and texture.

But they offer balanced, often with a better nutritional profile than ala carte meals.

Also, some vendors offer a small discount if you buy a given item by the case (generally 6-10 packages per case).

Pack Size

As we discussed before, freeze-drying removes a considerable amount of the weight from a meal.

But they can still take up a lot of space – especially if air remains in the packages.

That’s why some manufacturers take the extra step of using vacuum sealers.

This can significantly reduce the package size.

Depending on your situation and how tight you are on space, this can be a game-changer.

Cooking Instructions

Most commercially available pre-packaged meals come with detailed cooking instructions.

This usually includes precisely how much water to add and how long to let them rehydrate before eating.

This may seem like a small detail.

But an extra quart of water, or overcooking, can make a delicious meal not taste its best.

Plus, at the end of the day, it’s nice to have fewer things to remember when you’re hungry and tired.

↓ Mountain House Food Review

Can You Freeze Dry At Home?

Yes, you can.

But if it were easy, everyone would freeze-dry their gardens each autumn.

And there would be cookbooks targeting these meals.

So what’s the problem?

It’s expensive and/or complicated.

Commercial manufacturers can afford massive, efficient, high-quality dry chambers.

Most freeze dryers targeted at home users are considered expensive.

How About Without A Vacuum Chamber?

Sure, some sites out there claim to show how to do it at home without a vacuum chamber.

I’ve read enough that their methods are; to allow things to get “freezer burned.”

They discuss exposing food in the freezer on wire racks for days or weeks.

And while this does extract some moisture from foods, it’s also prone to many problems.

Dense foods will never completely dehydrate this way.

Delicate items will suffer texture and consistency changes and won’t rehydrate properly later.

Have you ever eaten meat that’s been severely freezer burned?

If so, chances are it wasn’t that great…odds are it was straight-up terrible.

Complicated

I hope you agree that drying without a vacuum chamber is not really “freeze”-drying.

So what about building your own?

Well, it’s complicated.

You can forget about advanced DIY projects if you’re not into advanced DIY projects.

However, if you feel like you have the skills and you’re up for a challenge:

↓ How To Build A Freeze Dryer

Expensive

All this to say – yes, freezing dry food at home is possible.

However, it usually involves buying an expensive unit or building a complicated drying chamber.

Either way, this is NOT simple or inexpensive.

For example:

The popular Harvest Right brand starts at around $2,000 and is about the size of a small toaster oven.

Prices rise exponentially with the larger models.

I can order a large bulk of commercially produced meals for $2000!

So it’s hard to justify unless you’re planning to start your own small food operation.

The capital it takes to DIY a vacuum chamber is cost-prohibitive.

With that said, if you plan to stockpile a ton of food and want ultimate control, it may be a price you’re willing to pay.

↓ How Your Harvest Right Dryer Works

Want a free 78 item prepper checklist?

Click here to instantly download this Complete Checklist PDF. No purchase necessary.

Best Foods To Freeze Dry At Home

If you decide to try it at home anyways, remember not all foods are created equal.

It’s always best to start with fresh foods.

Use fresh fruits and vegetables. Stick with fresh herbs and spices – mushrooms and meats (cooked or raw).

Also, try freezing liquids such as coffee, soup, and stew…

And even whole meals (seriously, try lasagna!) or bread & pasta.

There are some things to avoid as well, such as high-fat foods.

Also, avoid high water-content fruits like watermelon or cucumber.

Leafy vegetables, like lettuce and spinach, produce poor results, as well as high-sugar foods, such as jam and jellies.

↓ What Can Be Freeze Dried?

How To Rehydrate

While freeze-drying can take 24-48 hours to remove all the moisture, you can prepare a meal in mere minutes!

For most foods, you soak them in hot water for a few minutes before draining them.

That’s it.

If you need to heat them further, a few minutes in the microwave should do the trick.

If you’ve dehydrated something more delicate, like bread or pasta, it’s often best to steam them gently.

That way, they keep their shape and texture.

I like to rehydrate meals on the trail in an insulated mug with a close-fitting lid.

Rehydration is fast, easy, and convenient, so there is nothing to worry about.

↓ How To Rehydrate Your Foods

Final Thoughts

This process isn’t as simple as dehydrating or as quick as canning.

That’s why I like to think of it more as a valuable complement to your overall food preservation plans.

Whether you buy survival food kits or invest in a home freeze-dryer, the results are the same.

Excellent prepper food at the ready you can store for the long term.

Lightweight, shelf-stable, easy to use, and tasty, freeze-dried food is a winner!

Why Trust Skilled Survival…

Go here now to review a full breakdown of:

Who We Are

Our Credentials

Our Mission

& Product Recommendations…

Here are a few highlights of our teams credentials & certifications:

• Certified Member of a Mountain Search & Rescue Organization
• Plant Emergency & Safety Leader for a Major Food Manufacturer
• Member of the 10TH Mountain Division Hut Association
• Certifications: Avalanche 1, WFR, CPR
• Official Gear Tester for Numerous Outdoor Gear Companies
• Countless Multiday Backpacking trips into Remote Wilderness
• Bachelor’s Degree In Mechanical Engineering 
• Bachelor’s Degree In Civil Engineering
• Bachelor’s Degree In Biomedical Engineering

“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.” – Warren Buffett

We’re fully aware that trust is NOT something you GET but is EARNED.

And we’ll continue to earn YOUR trust through our forthright and honest approach with each new Blog Post, Guide & Product we create…

Prepare, Adapt & Overcome,

Cofounder Of Skilledsurvival.com & TheResilientLife.com

Born & Raised On A Rural Farm In The Midwest

Mechanical Engineering Grad From A Major University

Engineer With A Major Food Manufacturing Company

10+ Years Researching, Writing, & Teaching Preparedness

Mission: Help Folks Stop Living A Life Fragile To The Future

P.s. Do You Live In A ‘Danger Zone’ County?

Find out now using my Danger Zone County List & Special Report it’s absolutely FREE.
In minutes you’ll know EXACTLY where you stand and if you should be worried or not..

So click here to get my FREE Danger Zone County List & Report….

Click on the image to get the List & Report for FREE and find out if YOU live in a ‘Danger Zone’ County…”

The post Best Freeze Dried Foods To Get NOW (before SHTF) appeared first on Skilled Survival.

Russia is claiming that NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) has crossed the lines into direct involvement by deploying troops in the war with Ukraine. Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has claimed that the United States, the United Kingdom, and Polish military personnel are operating air defense and multiple-launch rocket systems.

The Russian defense chief says that more than 5,000 foreign fighters have been killed since hostilities broke out in February 2022. Of those, 1,427 were Polish, 466 were from the U.S., and 344 were from the U.K.

According to a report by RT, Shoigu made the comment while speaking at a meeting of Defense Ministry officials on Tuesday, where President Vladimir Putin was also present. Shoigu stated that “NATO service members are directly operating air defense systems, tactical ballistic missiles, and multiple launch rocket systems” in Ukraine. He cited radio intercepts featuring English and Polish speakers. According to the minister, Western officers are also playing an active role in preparing Ukrainian military operations as well as training troops, both in their home countries and in Ukraine.

“Working in the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ interest are 410 NATO military and dual-purpose space devices,” Shoigu estimated. He also said applauded Russia’s defense industry for ramping up production in the past 18 months and helping prevent ammunition shortages on the front lines. “Despite the sanctions, we are manufacturing more high-tech weaponry than NATO countries,” Shoigu continued.

U.S. Announces More Sanctions Of Russia

The minister concluded by stating that “as of today, the Russian army is the best-prepared and most combat-ready in the world, armed with cutting-edge weapons tested in combat.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin also said at the same meeting that the West’s efforts to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia have failed. Russia has been destroying much of the military equipment sent to Ukraine by the West during the war.

Putin: Russia Has Destroyed 30% Of Heavy Equipment Sent To Ukraine

Learn from these Native American survival skills from the past and learn more survival hacks you can use in the future!

RELATED: Native American Survival | What You Can Learn From These Experts

Native American Survival Skills We Can All Learn From

Learning from the Native American

Native American survival skills included crafting survival tools and building shelters. They foraged for their food and hunted their prey, all by hand.

It is astounding to think of how well they survived and thrived based on necessity alone. Would someone like you or me be able to do the same if put into such a hostile environment?

Probably not, and that is why it is good to be aware of old-school Native Indian survival techniques.

How did the Native Americans survive? How were they so deftly able to sustain themselves in the unforgiving wilderness?

It is very easy to forget, in this digital age that people use to live a much simpler and much harder life before the advents of these modern comforts.

The Native Americans are the prime example of how people use to live off the land. They also survived the threats of nature with basic and cultivated survival tactics.

Though the methods and practices of Native Americans varied from tribe to tribe, the innovation for the sake of survival was universal. They borrowed methods from each other and created ones unique to their tribe.

They even borrowed from foreign settlers and visitors. The Native Americans were a group of humans who had to learn how to adapt and we are all the richer and wiser for their survival efforts.

Native American Survival Skills You Should Know

This list will highlight 25 of some of the more interesting Native American survival skills commonly used by the tribes of North America. Let this list be an insight into the lives of these fascinating people.

May this also be an educational tool for our modern culture–a means of appreciating a society so rare and thin today. Let this remind us too that the human spirit and will are much stronger than what we give them credit for.

25. Native American Community

The tribal mindset and lifestyle of the Native Americans of yesteryear play a huge role in their survival tactics. As you probably are already aware, Native Americans distinguished themselves by tribes.

|

You have probably already heard of the more common and prominent tribes like the Apache, Navajo, and Mohican. Their sense of community, sharing of resources, and wisdom matters in each tribe.

Their collective protection between tribesmen cannot be understated when considering how Native Americans were able to survive.

24. Native American Footwear

If you have ever worked a day in your life wearing the improper pair of shoes then you know how important footwear is to comfort and bodily health. Footwear is just as important to the Native Americans.

In fact, they make some of the most comfortable and durable footwear. Moccasins were the common footwear, made from tanned leathers they sewed and crafted with their own hands.

Designs and cuts vary from tribe to tribe, but it has common features like hard rawhide, rabbit pelt for added warmth and durability.

23. The Fox Walk

The fox walk was a method of tracking, traversing, and hunting stealthily for Native Americans. This specific style consists of wearing thin moccasins to feel the ground better.

They land on the heel first and roll their foot down, then travel in lines to conceal their numbers. This style played a part in battles and in hunting.

22. Preserving Meat

Meat got many Native American tribes through harsh winters. Yet there were no chemical preservatives or refrigerators back then.

Instead, Native Americans would preserve meat by cutting it into lean strips, eliminating fat, and drying it in the sun. This is essentially what we know today as beef jerky.

|

This thin, dried meat can keep for a very long time and was an essential food supply for Native Americans. We put together a guide to preserving meat in the wilderness.

21. Animal Hides

Animal hides were essential to Native American life and key to their survival. By the process of tanning and smoking, they turn raw animal hides into moccasins.

|

They also made clothing and even shelter from the animal rawhides.

20. Natural Observation

Being able to tell what kind of weather was on the horizon was a huge asset for Native Americans. They used the natural signs of the environment to predict the weather and to prepare accordingly.

|

They would study the behaviors of animals who have much keener senses for weather than we do and read the clouds.

19. Using Plants

How Native Americans were able to discern the healing powers of certain plants is a mystery. But we do know these practices got handed down from generation to generation.

It was probably a case of trial and error. They would use plants, herbs, and other life found in nature to heal wounds and treat illnesses.

18. Native American Artful Crafting

Native American skills and crafts work with materials from their environment. They turn the crafting of basic survival tools and shelters into works of art.

|

Native Americans made their everyday essentials stand up to the rigors of their environment. They took their time and paid attention to details.

In turn, it ensured durability and quality which helped them survive in harsh conditions.

17. Body Paint

Before hunts, Native American tribes would paint their bodies. This way, they blend into the natural scenery.

|

Stealth was a very important aspect of survival in those times, indeed.

16. Native American Clothing

Proper clothing is essential for anyone to survive in any situation. The Native Americans had their clothing crafting skills down to a science.

They used animal hides and smoked leather to create warm clothing for the cold winters. They also used certain colored clothing for stealth when hunting prey.

15. Native American Camps

The Native Americans often built temporary camps for hunting excursions. But they still needed to maintain a certain level of stealth.

They would build these camps with earth-toned materials and animal skins. They tuck them into the base of foothills or other strategic natural sites so they would be hard to spot from a distance.

RELATED: Top Survival Skills | Learn Now, Survive Later

14. Blow Guns

Blowguns have become somewhat of a novelty in today’s day and age. Yet blowguns are weapons for hunting and warfare by Native American tribes such as the Cherokee.

They would fashion these weapons out of cane or reed. They would hollow out the tube where the dart comes in.

|

A strong breath or blow through the hole towards a target propels the dart. Blowguns can kill small game like birds, rabbits, and squirrels.

Sometimes they are also tipped with poison extracted from venomous snakes and even Gila Monsters to hunt bigger games.

13. Deadfalls

Deadfalls are a kind of trap used by Native Americans to kill their prey. A heavy rock or log would be elevated by rope or a lever made of wood over a piece of meat or food to entice an animal.

The deadfalls usually had a trigger that when the animal touched it, would activate the primitive trap and send the heavy object crashing down on them.

12. Snares

Trapping was one of the main ways Native Americans used to catch their food and snares were among the most common types of traps utilized. A snare uses a vine tied in a loop and attached to a young sapling bent over and is fastened by tying it to a stick driven into the ground.

The loop goes around a piece of meat to entice an animal. The animal then puts its head through the loop and tries to make off with the bait.

The stick dislodges and the loop turns into a noose around the prey’s neck and is suspended in the air as the sapling, free of its fastener, springs back into an upright position.

11. Trapping Pits

This is one of the more straightforward survival tactics utilized by the Native Americans. As the name suggests, this trap is simply a dug pit sometimes fitted with spikes at the bottom to kill or bleed the trapped animal.

The dug pit would be covered up by branches and earth so unsuspecting animals would walk over it and fall in.

10. Fishing Weirs

Fish is an indispensable food for Native Americans and among the ways they would catch fish were fishing weirs.

Fishing weirs are essential traps built by rock or wood that would lead fish migrating up or downstream to a corridor built to be narrow, ultimately trapping the fish.

9. Spearfishing

Another way the Native Americans caught fish was by spearfishing. There were different methods of spearfishing employed depending on the time of year.

In the winter when the lakes would freeze over, a hole was cut into the ice and a lure made of bone was used to entice the fish toward the hole. Then, a spear made of wood for the shaft and copper or bone for the tip punctured the fish.

8. Native American Hunting Tactics

It may seem simple now that we look back but many hunting tactics devised by Native Americans were learned over the generations and used to help them survive.

|

Simple tactics like reading the wind and standing downwind from a target increased the chances for success of a hunt dramatically.

7. Native American Nomadic Practices

Not all Native American tribes stayed in one place. After the Spanish visitors brought horses to the great plains, many tribes such as the Blackfeet, Crow, and Comanche adopted a nomadic lifestyle.

|

They then went on to hunt buffalo across the plains all year round. This supplied for them a stable food source and ensured, to a certain degree, survival.

6. Teepees

Of course, there can be no survival without some form of shelter. The Great Plains Native Americans knew this very well and built teepees which are essentially tents.

They were commonly made from buffalo hides and long wooden poles.

5. Dedicated Native American Tribe Roles

Survival drives the Native American way of life. This is even true of the gender roles of the Native Americans.

The men were the hunters and to prevent any waste which could mean the difference between life and death in the North American frontier, the women were the cooks.

They would prepare the meat the men brought back immediately so as not to waste a single morsel and ensure that they had plenty of food.

4. Bows

An indelible image most people have of Native Americans is the bow and arrow which was vital for the survival of all tribes in North and South America.

|

They can fashion bows out of wood which they support with animal tendons. Natural fibers, on the other hand, are made into strings and serve as bowstrings.

3. Axes

There are certain tools that are as essential now as they were in the days of the Native Americans for survival. Among them is an ax.

|

Axes are the common Native American weapon, but it also serves other purposes. It is a common household tool especially for cutting firewoods and also for hunting.

2. Water

This may seem a simple and almost thoughtless aspect of survival but the fact of the matter is if the Native Americans did not have sources of fresh water to draw from, they would have never survived.

|

The plentiful rivers and lakes of the Americas helped sustain the Natives and they regarded water sources with great reverence.

1. Fire

There is no life without food and warmth and fire is number one on the list of 25 essential survival skills that kept Native Americans alive because it provided both.

Native Americans are savvy with the different methods and techniques in starting a fire. Striking stones like pyrites together to create a spark is one.

The spark catches a tinder and you know what happens next. By rubbing two sticks together, it generates enough heat for the friction to combust tinder.

Bow drills and fire pump drills were also some of the common Native American fire-starting techniques. These contraptions used string wrapped around a stick and controlled by a bow to generate the heat needed to start a flame.

Check out this cool video from Tim Jones for some Native American fish trap idea:

It is hard to separate the survival tactics we employ today from those introduced to us by the Native Americans. Thus, we owe a debt of gratitude to these people who learned how to tame the wild Americas and make them a place hospitable for human life.

Have you tried any of these Native American survival skills in real life? Share your thoughts about them with us in the comments section below!

Up Next: 

• Homesteading And Sustainability – How To Become Self-Reliant
• Outdoor Survival Skills | Tell Time In The Wild Without A Watch
• 8 Outdoor Survival Tactics You Need To Master NOW

 

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on February 3, 2016, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.

The United States and the United Kingdom are claiming to have shot down 14 “suspected” drone attacks over the Red Sea on Saturday. Additionally, a Royal Navy destroyer downed another drone that was targeting commercial ships, the British and American militaries said.

These attacks are just one more way to ratchet up the tensions and expand this war even further.

U.S. Warship Responds To Houthi Terror Attacks In Red Seas

According to a report by the Associated Press News, Houthi rebels in Yemen have launched a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, one of the world’s busiest shipping routes, and have launched drones and missiles targeting Israel, as the Israel-Hamas war threatens to spread.

U.S. Central Command said that the destroyer USS Carney “successfully engaged 14 unmanned aerial systems” launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

The drones “were shot down with no damage to ships in the area or reported injuries,” Central Command tweeted. –APNews

The U.K. Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said that the HMS Diamond fired a Sea Viper missile and destroyed a drone that was “targeting merchant shipping.” The overnight action is the first time the Royal Navy has shot down an aerial target in anger since the 1991 Gulf War.

Most reports are using the word “suspected” though, meaning the U.S. and U.K. didn’t know if these drones were going to attack, but decided to down them anyway. That could definitely be seen as a provocation.

“The U.K. remains committed to repelling these attacks to protect the free flow of global trade,” Shapps said in a statement. He added that the attacks on commercial ships in the global trade artery by Yemen’s Houthi rebels “represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security.”

War Expands: Yemen Houthis Strike 3 Commercial Ships In The Red Sea

Houthi rebels did admit to firing a barrage of drones on Saturday toward the port city of Eilat in southern Israel. The announcement came hours after Egypt’s state-run media reported that Egyptian air defense had shot down a “flying object” off the Egyptian resort town of Dahab on the Red Sea.

The threat to global trade is getting intense.

Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdel-Salam said Saturday that the rebels have engaged in “communications and discussions” with international parties, brokered by Oman, on the Houthis’ attacks on ships in the Red and Arabian seas.

U.S. Warship Responds To Houthi Terror Attacks In Red Seas

@media (max-width:576px) { .read-more-content { height: 350em; } }

The post Cheating Death: Four Extreme Survival Stories appeared first on Athlon Outdoors.

Colt continues its push into the highly competitive bolt-action rifle market. The new Colt CBX Tac Hunter comprises a hunting rifle package built to enhance accuracy without pushing into the stratosphere when it comes to retail price.

Colt CBX Tac Hunter Details

The CBX Tac Hunter comes with a sub-MOA guarantee from the factory, doubling down on the promise of accuracy and performance. The design comprises a hybrid rifle, according to Colt. It brings “the precision, ergonomics, and reliability of a competition rifle within a lightweight, field-ready platform.”

The CBX Tac Hunter comes chambered in either 308 Win or 6.5 Creedmoor, featuring 20- and 22-inch sporter-profile barrels, respectively. The configuration balances ballistic performance and carrying convenience, according to Colt. Each muzzle comes threaded 9/16″-24 for attaching aftermarket accessories, also equipped with a thread protector. The 6.5 Creedmoor rifle weighs in at 7.2 pounds. It a Black Nitride treatment to protect the carbon steel, button-rifled barrel.

The bolt-action features a 60-degree bolt throw for fast cycling. A user-adjustable trigger ranges from 2.5 to 5 pounds of pull. The receiver follows the Remington 700 pattern for scope mounts and bases, with #8-40 threads and included Colt blue thread protectors.

A two-position safety, vertical pistol grip, adjustable length-of-pull (12.75-14.25 inches) via three spacers, and an ambidextrous magazine release round out the rifle’s features. Each gun ships with a five-round, AICS magazines as well.

The Colt CBX Tac Hunter retails for $999. For even more info, visit colt.com.

Colt CBX TAC HUNTER Specs

• CALIBER/GAUGE: .308 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor
• FINISH: Black Nitride
• FINISH TYPE: Black
• STOCK: Synthetic Stock
• STOCK/GRIPS: Gray Polymer Tac Hunter
• BARREL: 20, 22 inches
• OVERALL LENGTH: 39.75 inches
• DRILLED / TAPPED
• MAG DESCRIPTION: 5-round Magpul AICS
• Magazines Included: 1
• SIGHTS: No Sights
• THREAD PATTERN: 9/16×24
• SPECIAL FEATURE: Threaded Barrel
• SAFETY FEATURES: 2-Position Tang
• Ambi Mag Latch
• 60-Degree Bolt Throw
• MSRP: $999

Editor’s Take:

Back in January, we first reported on the Colt CBX Precision Chassis Rifle, an impressive-looking competition-ready rifle. Also chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor and 308 Win, it pushed Colt into some new territory following the acquisition by CZ. Now Colt aims in on the hunting market, bringing a lightweight sporter that seems to borrow heavily from the competition variant. With a sub-MOA accuracy guarantee and priced under $1K. this one is certainly worth a look!

The post Colt CBX Tac Hunter: The New Sub-MOA, $1K Hunting Machine appeared first on Athlon Outdoors.

@media (max-width:576px) { .read-more-content { height: 290em; } }

The post The Girsan Witness2311 5” Government Model 9mm Now Shipping appeared first on Athlon Outdoors.

If you’re traveling for the holidays, you should carry a get-home bag in case you get stranded or run into bad weather. Check out our tips below to learn how to make your own.

Essential Items for Your Get-Home Bag

1. Pack one bag for each person.
2. Pack the basics: food, water, and clothing.
3. Have light sources such as headlamps or flashlights. Bring a fire starter too.
4. Keep a prepared map with routes marked. Use a small compass to assist.
5. Bring a paracord.
6. Have a multi-tool on hand, or a survival knife.
7. Keep first-aid paraphernalia close to you.

---

As we move into the holiday season, it’s more and more common to find yourself far away from home. Whether you’re flying to meet up with your family or heading out for the day to celebrate with some friends, travel is almost always involved.

As we travel more, the danger of a disaster or emergency situation happening when you’re away from home becomes all too real.

Sure, you have your bug-out bag and possibly even a full-home prep waiting at your house, but that doesn’t do you any good if you’re not there to use it.

What you need is a way to get home and deal with the situation at hand. Whether that means bugging-in or bugging out and hitting the road again, home is truly where the heart is.

Because of this, you need what’s known as a get-home bag. We’ve looked at get-home bags before for basic use and for vacations, but things change when you’re traveling around the holidays, especially during colder months.

Let’s take a look at how to make a quick yet effective get-home bag to use for all your holiday needs this year and beyond.

Before You Start

1. Know how many people you’re packing for.

When building a get-home bag, you need to know how many people would be trying to get home with you. If you’re on your own, your bag will look very different than if you have a few people you are responsible for.

2. Pack a separate get-home bag for each person.

The best case scenario is to put together separate bags with necessities for each person to help spread out the liability in case a bag is lost or damaged.

Plus, they’re easy to carry. Have a backup of the slightly less important items if possible and have a second person carry them as added insurance.

3. Keep things simple.

Remember, we’re not looking to make this a foolproof survival bag, but instead a way to get you home to your real prep without looking like you’re packing an entire suitcase of things just to go to Grandma’s house.

This isn’t meant to keep you surviving for a long period of time, but instead solely to get you home safely.

Get-Home Bag Contents

Because we’re just trying to get home, a get-home bag will have much less than a traditional BOB. This being said, the makeup of both the get-home bag and the BOB can be very similar.

1. Water

You should have one liter of water for every person you’re prepping for.

This should be enough to get you going for a day or two. Longer distances mean more water.

2. Energy Bars

The need for long-term food isn’t very important since the goal is to get home to your supplies, so the plan is for 3 energy bars per day for each person.

Think about how long it would take to get back home by walking or driving and plan accordingly. Mind you, this is far from a well-rounded diet, but it’ll be enough to get you home, and that’s all that matters.

If you’re traveling from farther away than 3 or so days’ walk, this still applies, but know that you will definitely need to find supplies on the way home, as it’s simply not feasible to carry enough food for weeks of travel time while going on a trip.

3. Headlamp(s)

The hurry to get home means there will be a lot of walking at night, so having your hands free to eat, climb, and use a weapon are vital, and a headlamp will give you just that.

In a perfect world each person would have a headlamp, but to keep the pack small, one should be enough for two people.

4. Flashlights

The flashlight goes to whoever isn’t using the headlamp because you should have a second light for backup.

Light can mean the difference between walking safely at night and falling into a ditch, breaking an ankle or worse.

5. Map and Compass

This is possibly the single most important part of a good get-home bag. You should have a map that covers the area from where you’re visiting to your home.

On the map should be two plotted routes: the path you’d take with a car and the best path for walking. Remember, the highway might not be your best bet for walking, so plan that out now while you have the Internet as a resource.

Make sure you’re prepared to use a map and compass, and finally it doesn’t hurt to learn how to navigate without a compass, too.

As stated above, it’s best practice to give one person the map and the other the compass; in case you get separated, you would each have at least something to help you get home safely.

6. Paracord

It should go without saying that you basically always need to keep paracord close at hand.

You should have about 100 feet of the amazing rope in your bag to use for everything from lashing a shelter together to sewing up damaged bags and clothing.

7. Multi-Tool

Ideally you should have your multi-tool on you at all times as part of your EDC, but since we’re talking about a family trip where you may be dressed nicely, it’s OK to keep this in your bag, as long as it’s easy to get to.

The best practice here is to have a knife/multi-tool for each person you’re traveling with.

8. Personal Defense

This is a tricky one. Since many vacations take you across state borders, you need to know the laws regarding the transportation of weapons.

More often than not you should be safe transporting a handgun if it’s unloaded and partially disassembled in your bag. Some states require it to be locked in a box as well, so just check the laws to make sure you’re working inside of what’s legal while staying prepared.

Take Note: It’s critical that you know the laws of transporting weapons in the states and municipalities you’re traveling through. Simply having a weapon in the car can mean jail time in some states.

9. Survival Knife

Your survival knife definitely needs to come along for vacation and will be indispensable in an emergency. Make sure your knife is sharpened and ready for use before leaving.

If you don’t have a good survival knife, check out this post on choosing the perfect survival knife. Only one survival knife is necessary for this, even if you have multiple people. If you have room for two, that’s even better.

This limited-edition survival knife is essential for survivalists – click HERE to get your own!

10. Fire Starter

A simple flint and steel will do wonderfully and take up very little space. You can store these without fear of combustion, unlike lighters and matches. Your get-home bag should have two of these so there’s a backup.

11. First Aid Kit

All you need here is a basic first-aid kit that aligns with where you’re going. If you’re heading down south, you should make sure it has bug repellant and sunscreen in it as well as the other basics like bandages.

Since the holidays are typically colder months, consider including some instant hand warmers.

12. Rain Poncho

Finally, you definitely need to include a rain poncho. This will keep you dry in the case of rain and give you shelter for sleeping at night. Each person should have their own.

As you can see, everything you need to hopefully get home safely can fit into a standard, nondescript backpack, which is exactly what you want.

By blending in, you won’t attract the attention of anyone who sees you carrying it. Leave the camo and military-style bags behind and opt for a traditional backpack that’s both comfortable and has great storage capability. Your stuff will be safe and nobody will know what you’ve got.

Courtesy of Survival Based.

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Disclaimer: All content on this site is for informational purposes only. Please read our full disclaimer here.