Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2021 i American Outdoor Guide

“THE TREES YOU SELECT FOR ATTACHMENT SHOULD BE HEALTHY AND LARGE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT YOUR SHELTER, YOUR BODY WEIGHT AND ANY GEAR THAT’LL BE SHARING YOUR ‘CRIB’ FOR THE NIGHT.” hen setting up shelter, W one of the basic rules in the survival world is, Get yourself off the ground. This is important because, in addition to avoiding cold and wet conditions, the ground can come alive throughout the night (and the day too) with all types of Mother Nature’s critters—from biting and stinging bugs to slithering snakes and larger animals such as raccoons, rats and others. Being elevated above the surface can provide a worry-free night’s sleep when it comes to wildlife, as well as being quite comfortable suspended several feet in the air and not having to endure…

“WHILE THE KORPISOTURI DID WELL WITH GENERAL CONSTRUCTION TASKS, THAT’S NOT WHY I BOUGHT IT. THIS KNIFE WAS TO ACCOMPANY ME IN THE WOODS FOR HUNTING, CAMPING, BUSHCRAFTING, AND PRACTICING AND TEACHING SURVIVAL SKILLS.” For me, the word, “puukko,” conjures images of World War II-era Finnish guerrilla fighters clad in white camouflage, living off the land and battling Soviet invaders. While the Finnish national hero, Simo Hayha, is better known for his incredible record as a sniper, I often imagine him in a mythical Red Dawn environment, using his traditional puukko to create sniper hides, shelters and traps as he wages a one-man war against the Red Army. While this image is equal parts conjecture and fantasy, the rugged individualism of a man with a rifle and blade defending what…

“FOR CLOSE-ACTION ENVIRONMENTS, A SHORT, FAST-HANDLING AND LIGHTWEIGHT MIDRANGE CARBINE WITH HEAVY BULLET PUNCH MIGHT JUST BE THE BEST OPTION.” I used to be convinced that whenever I had the ability to take a long gun along, it should be a powerful centerfire rifle that could really reach out accurately at great distances. Such a gun would be effective in a plethora of circumstances and environments. It’s still not a bad idea. But then, I started thinking about the terrain in the Northeast, where I’ve spent most of my life. I typically camp and hunt in thick woods with rolling hills that limit my line of sight. Rocks and blowdowns make travel difficult. The weather is typically lousy. I’ve shot many deer over the years. Looking back, the shots probably…

Being without a knife when you need one is inconvenient, at best, and a bad situation, at worst. Additionally, most people don’t carry knives regularly, so when a crisis hits, they lack this valuable tool. Here are some simple and common options that are easy to carry or find: Pocketknife. A simple pocketknife can do wonders when you need it to. Keep it in your pants pocket or attached to your keyring, and you’re good to go when an emergency hits. Pocketknives with multiple blades can perform numerous small tasks as well. Multi-tool. What’s better than just one tool? How about 12 or more in one, compact unit? That’s the beauty of a multi-tool. Enjoy the use of several blades, in addition to bottle openers, scissors, tweezers, saws,…

The last year has been a financial challenge for many folks, and lots of people are still taking a financial hit from the effects of the pandemic. Some have found new ways to create income, while others have found ways to leverage skills they learned in order to be more self-sufficient. And, as we’re all aware, prepping doesn’t come free. With every day a national or global celebration of something, it seems only fitting that someone decided Americans should dedicate the month of April to exploring and improving our financial literacy. National Financial Literacy Month began in 2000 as Youth Financial Literacy Day and has since grown to the point at which it’s even promoted by the U. S. Department of Education to help younger citizens learn how to manage…

With winter in the rearview mirror and spring almost upon us, it’s time to begin thinking about restocking our preps and provisions. If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that the improbable might not be so improbable. This month, we have a variety of new items designed to meet a diverse range of needs. From instructional books to firearms accessories and from clothing to camping gear, we’ve collected a group of quality items to see you into 2021 ... and beyond. 1 Garmont T8 NFS 670 Boots The Garmont T8 NFS is an ultralight version of the original T8 tactical boot. The same rugged upper is now combined with a featherlight sole designed for speed and agility. Superior support and protection provide extreme comfort, even when you’re standing for long…

“KEEP IN MIND THAT A KNIFE IS JUST A SHARP OBJECT USED FOR CUTTING OR PIERCING, AND YOUR OPTIONS FOR REPLACING IT ARE NUMEROUS.” A knife is, without question, the most important tool every survivalist or outdoors-man should carry at all times. This valuable item offers a variety of functions that cross over into nearly every category of survival: It’s valuable for shaving tinder and as a striker to create fire. It can cut cordage and shape tarps for building a shelter. It can help secure game by crafting weapons or as a spear tip. It can then be used to process the animal for later use and also as a utensil when it’s time to cook and eat your catch. It can help fend off those who are out…

In this article’s first installment, which appeared in the January 2021 issue of American Survival Guide, I identified many of the “best” food plants for one’s yard or garden. Obviously, there are many variables in these choices, but I asked various gardeners to share with readers what they determined to be the “best plants” based on the following criteria: • Which plants are the most nutritious? • Which plants are the most productive with the least work? • Which plants are easiest to grow (in your area), almost taking care of themselves? • Which plants offer more than food, providing multiple uses (such as fiber, medicine, soap and even fragrance)? In this issue of ASG, I asked another group of gardeners and self-reliance experts to share what they regarded as…

I’ll tell you right up front: The only downside about this bike is that I was smiling the entire time I was riding it. If it had been summer, I would've had bugs stuck on my teeth. From my first ride on the E-Cells Super Monarch Crown AWD 1500 Off-Road E-Bike, I confirmed that my money had been well-spent. This solidly made bicycle offers more power, more range and more features than anything I’ve seen on the market. And, it comes with more extras thrown into the deal as well. Take it hunting, take it on a fun trail ride, or use it as a daily commuter. When things get serious, load it up with your bug-out gear and escape to a remote outpost out of harm’s way. It’s rated…

“CHOOSE A TENT TOO SMALL, AND YOU CAN FEEL TOO CROWDED IF YOU’RE FORCED INSIDE FOR LONG PERIODS DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER ... CHOOSE A TENT THAT’S TOO LARGE, AND YOU’LL HAVE MORE DIFFICULTY TRANSPORTING IT, SETTING IT UP AND HEATING IT.” I now have a mobile base camp ... and it fits in the back of my Toyota Rav4: I recently invested in a White Duck Outdoors Alpha Wall Tent. Although this tent is easy to set up, it’s not the type of thing you’d normally bring for a summer weekend campout. This is a four-season tent that’s roomy and comfortable for more-extended stays. (I understand that some “glamping” resorts offer them as an alternative to renting cabins for those who don’t want to rough it.) However, there are other…

What more can be said about the necessity of clean drinking water that hasn’t been said already? Not much, except for this most important fact that must be repeated constantly: Go three days without water, and you’re as good as dead. However, not just any water will do. While you can drink directly from a natural water source and get hydrated, the aftereffects can be disastrous for you and make a situation go from bad to much, much worse. Unseen by the human eye in otherwise clear water lurks a large number of pathogens just waiting to wreak havoc on your digestive tract—or worse—with the finale being severe vomiting, diarrhea and extreme dehydration ... leading to possible death. It’s up to you to avoid this barrage of “bugs” upon your…

“WHEN DISCUSSING SELF-DEFENSE ITEMS YOU COULD CARRY, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT NO MATTER WHICH ITEM YOU CHOOSE, PROPER TRAINING WITH THAT WEAPON PRIOR TO CARRYING IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST.” here’s no doubt that in the T United States, passenger cars and light trucks are the most dangerous modes of transportation a person could use to move from one place to another. According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, over 61 percent of 2019’s transportation fatalities resulted from riding in cars, pickups, vans and other similarly sized vehicles. Luckily for most people, the option to use other modes of transportation is readily available in cities, suburbs and some rural areas of the country. However, just because someone lowers their statistical chance of being injured or killed by avoiding using…