[tlarkin]

Quote:       Originally Posted by leomort

Here's a thought for consideration for everyone. What percentage of the population do you think are hunters? Perhaps 10% would be my quess. Thus I don't think the majority of the population would be able to survive off the land. If you're not a hunter, but more a gun nut (using that term affectionally) many have not consider the implication of the importance of other gear and their accompying weigh restrictions. In short, how many people are really going to run into the woods to be squatters trying to survive? Many of the Katrina people just sat their waiting for it. When it did hit, they didn't run into the woods to try to survive, they stayed put and turned to looting their city and neighborhoods to survive. Thus most stayed in "civilization" and didn't turn to the wilderness.

I think it depends on the person. I don't hunt and have never really hunted but I know once you kill something the blood is the first thing to go rancid. So you need to drain it. I am pretty sure given the pressure to survive if I had to, I could easily hunt and survive. I can clean a fish, so I can probably clean any small animal I hunt. Now, building a fire from scratch may be hard, but I'd carry a survival knife with flint and steel for that.

[LEE3370]

Quote:       Originally Posted by tlarkin

I think it depends on the person. I don't hunt and have never really hunted but I know once you kill something the blood is the first thing to go rancid. So you need to drain it. I am pretty sure given the pressure to survive if I had to, I could easily hunt and survive. I can clean a fish, so I can probably clean any small animal I hunt. Now, building a fire from scratch may be hard, but I'd carry a survival knife with flint and steel for that.

I'll give you one that 99% of hunters don't know.
There is NO way to drain all the blood from a dead animal. If you are going to bleed an animal, it must be done while the heart is still beating.
You can soak some out in salt water after you cut it up.

[KingMusa45]

i have a "goodie bag" with thirty 30 round mags for the ak and 16 12rounders for the 45.my choice of food and water depends on if im alone or not.this is a really good questin, ill be giving this some thought for the next couple of days.i will say a tac vest and alice bag with a water blatter would be perfect for just such a situation.

[leomort]

Some more thoughts. In regards to what handgun to take, I'd voted for a 9mm but would consider a 4" barrel .357mag revolver a good alternative as well.
And while a .22lr rifle has been question as a survival weapon with criticism of poor self-defense one has to remember, or at least take into consideraton, that in a "Survival" situation no one is going to have acess to hospitals or other medical procedures so while a .22lr might not immediately kill, after a few days with that wound, you'd probably wish you were dead. A very agonizing and suffering way to go.

[tommy]

a nice crossbow would be good.

[squirrelblaster]

^ if it comes down to it i can make an atlatl and some spears.

[andrew cochran]

Quote:       Originally Posted by LEE3370

I'll give you one that 99% of hunters don't know. There is NO way to drain all the blood from a dead animal. If you are going to bleed an animal, it must be done while the heart is still beating. You can soak some out in salt water after you cut it up.

That's what I do! But I don't worry about all the blood. At least in small game. I drain deer some. But soaking is one of the best ways.

[tlarkin]

Quote:       Originally Posted by LEE3370

I'll give you one that 99% of hunters don't know. There is NO way to drain all the blood from a dead animal. If you are going to bleed an animal, it must be done while the heart is still beating. You can soak some out in salt water after you cut it up.

Ah yes, I know that actually, but not from hunting animals, from watching a series called Dexter, where the main character is a serial killer. Another serial killer drains all the blood from his victims and he lets the heart do all the work.


I just never paralleled it to hunting, but thanks for tip however. I think I may go deer hunting this fall for the first time. I am not a big hunter, but I think it is something I would like to learn, just in case I ever had to provide for myself. I am not into hunting for sport, but to each their own.

[Mike Franklin]

Lord, most folks couldn't survive in a Walmart Superstore much less the 'wilderness'. Did you know that a guy in California died of thirst next to a stream. He left a note saying that he was afraid of getting sick from drinking dirty water. So he didn't get sick, he got dead.

[DWFan]

My own opinion and I've been wrong as much as right. First of all, a high-powered, long distance rifle isn't going to get you anything. If someone out there has one and can use it equally as well as you and you meet in open territory, it's 50-50 that you lose and you probably won't ever hear the shot. (We're talking SHTF here...every man for himself.) If you are entering someone else's "territory" armed with a "sniper rifle", same difference. Country folk, as pointed out by Lee3370, will not tolerate "city" invaders. They will close ranks very quickly to only those they know; everyone else is the enemy. You don't pose as much of a threat armed only with a shotgun and a pistol. Best tactic...avoid the open and stay in close cover and travel at night as much as possible. My choice...a short-barrelled 12ga SxS double and a .357 Magnum revolver plus a "hideout" .357 with ammo on my belt and in dual bandolier/packstraps and at least four high quality knives. (Carry one, stash three. A knife is an excellent barter object in a survival environment.) A smart move might be to put a large "pocket" with a ballistic plate between the packstraps to cover your chest and invest in a mil spec helmet. It could save your life to be seen, at first glance, as possibly military or National Guard seeking only refuge.

[patrick70]

If I had to grab one weapon it would be an AK

[leomort]

Kinda funny when someone was talking about looks, but what's the "common man/people" reaction going to be when they see one of us walking around with a AR or AK47 type weapon? I betcha it aint going to be" "hey, this person might be a friend/ally". The media has brainwashed most of the nonhunter&shooters that anyone one with those "blac rifles", "assult rifles" are bad guys. You're not going to draw a good impression as just a typcial guy trying to survival, more so that you're the type looking for trouble. Thus they might shoot first, as when in doubt. Not what I would necessary do, but if there is a community organization looking to protect "their turf" it might be a different story.

[tlarkin]

I have some advantages, for one I can run and walk long distances (not as much as I used to, but I started running again a few weeks ago). I am in decent shape, and lot of people in this country are not. Most of them are over weight, have some sort of medical issue, and probably couldn't survive with out some sort of medical attention for very long.

I also have a few books on natural medicines. Things you can use from nature to help combat disease and illness.

I have a bit to go to get back in total shape but I should reach my goal in a few months. Running kills me, but after a few weeks more of this my body will adjust to it.

[squirrelblaster]

^NOT running could kill you faster in a shtf situation!

[tlarkin]

Quote:       Originally Posted by squirrelbaster

^NOT running could kill you faster in a shtf situation!

I've never ran carrying a bunch of crap though. I gave it some thought the other day I would probably just run with a back pack, mostly water, some food, and possibly a pistol. I can see my rifle getting pretty damn heavy after a while.

[leomort]

Well, just wait for all those guys running with 50,000 to 100,000 rounds of ammo to die of heart attack from the sheer weight. *tease*

[tlarkin]

Quote:       Originally Posted by leomort

Well, just wait for all those guys running with 50,000 to 100,000 rounds of ammo to die of heart attack from the sheer weight. *tease*

LOL, yup then I can just pick up their guns and ammo, hahaha

Man I wonder if Knightrider is in good shape, but its not like that dude could carry his collection. I wonder if he'd protect his money tree in a SHTF situation haha!

[Deersniper]

Boy, we are going to be funny looking coming up on those FEMA check points and cameras everywhere. Better get ahead of the rush. I have four, I'll take my .Springer 45, S/G, Bushy and my Stevy.308. My Gerber Gator, and it's little brother. My bug out bag, meds, my receipts for my guns. Camp bag and food, water. I'll be using my motorized trike. But being in the suburbs, we will try to stick it out, while we get groups organized. The neighbors will be key here. Better start watching Hogans Hero's again. If they got you on foot, you better stand.

[leomort]

Well, I know that two to four bricks of .22lr is very portable without too much weigt. Same, same for 200 round of 9mm ammo. As much as I like the appeal of an AR .223rem for the survival weapon, I have a hard time getting past the 11lb carry weight of the weapon and not sure how portable 500 rounds of .223rem would be. I'd be concern with being able to carry a four season tent, water filter and portable water, sleeping bags, fire starter, suitable backpack, necessary change of clothing for weather conditions, and relavent medicines, first aid kit. General anything needed for an extended backpacking session makes most sense in a SHTF scenario.

[thundercat1977]

8mm Mauser, ammo plenty and cheap
mosin nagant m38, ammo plenty and cheap
scoped 22 rifle
12 gauge mossberg 500 camo 24 inch barrel
cz 52 powerful tough and cheap ammo