FOOD PROCUREMENT

After water, man’s most urgent requirement is food. In contemplating
virtually any hypothetical survival situation, the
mind immediately turns to thoughts of food. Unless the situation
occurs in an arid environment, even water, which is
more important to maintaining body functions, will almost
always follow food in our initial thoughts. The survivor
must remember that the three essentials of survival—water,
food, and shelter–are prioritized according to the estimate
of the actual situation. This estimate must not only be
timely but accurate as well. Some situations may well dictate
that shelter precede both food and water.
ANIMALS FOR FOOD
Unless you have the chance to take large game, concentrate your efforts
on the smaller animals, due to their abundance. The smaller animal

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species are also easier to prepare. You must not know all the animal
species that are suitable as food. Relatively few are poisonous, and they
make a smaller list to remember. What is important is to learn the habits
and behavioral patterns of classes of animals. For example, animals
that are excellent choices for trapping, those that inhabit a particular
range and occupy a den or nest, those that have somewhat fixed feeding
areas, and those that have trails leading from one area to another.
Larger, herding animals, such as elk or caribou, roam vast areas and
are somewhat more difficult to trap. Also, you must understand the
food choices of a particular species.
You can, with relatively few exceptions, eat anything that crawls, swims,
walks, or flies. The first obstacle is overcoming your natural aversion to
a particular food source. Historically, people in starvation situations have
resorted to eating everything imaginable for nourishment. A person who
ignores an otherwise healthy food source due to a personal bias, or
because he feels it is unappetizing, is risking his own survival. Although
it may prove difficult at first, a survivor must eat what is available to
maintain his health.
Insects
The most abundant life-form on earth, insects are easily caught. Insects
provide 65 to 80 percent protein compared to 20 percent for beef. This
fact makes insects an important, if not overly appetizing, food source.
Insects to avoid include all adults that sting or bite, hairy or brightly
colored insects, and caterpillars and insects that have a pungent odor.
Also avoid spiders and common disease carriers such as ticks, flies,
and mosquitoes.
Rotting logs lying on the ground are excellent places to look for a
variety of insects including ants, termites, beetles, and grubs, which are
beetle larvae. Do not overlook insect nests on or in the ground. Grassy
areas, such as fields, are good areas to search because the insects are
easily seen. Stones, boards, or other materials lying on the ground provide
the insects with good nesting sites. Check these sites. Insect larvae
are also edible. Insects such as beetles and grasshoppers that have a
hard outer shell will have parasites. Cook them before eating. Remove
any wings and barbed legs also. You can eat most insects raw. The taste
varies from one species to another. Wood grubs are bland, while some
species of ants store honey in their bodies, giving them a sweet taste.

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You can grind a collection of insects into a paste. You can mix them with
edible vegetation. You can cook them to improve their taste.
Worms
Worms (Annelidea) are an excellent protein source. Dig for them in
damp humus soil or watch for them on the ground after a rain. After
capturing them, drop them into clean, potable water for a few minutes.
The worms will naturally purge or wash themselves out, after which
you can eat them raw.
Crustaceans
Freshwater shrimp range in size from 0.25 centimeter up to 2.5 centimeters.
They can form rather large colonies in mats of floating algae
or in mud bottoms of ponds and lakes.
Crayfish are akin to marine lobsters and crabs. You can distinguish
them by their hard exoskeleton and five pairs of legs, the front pair
having oversized pincers. Crayfish are active at night, but you can
locate them in the daytime by looking under and around stones in
streams. You can also find them by looking in the soft mud near the
chimneylike breathing holes of their nests. You can catch crayfish by
tying bits of offal or internal organs to a string. When the crayfish
grabs the bait, pull it to shore before it has a chance to release
the bait.
You find saltwater lobsters, crabs, and shrimp from the surf’s edge out
to water 10 meters deep. Shrimp may come to a light at night where you
can scoop them up with a net. You can catch lobsters and crabs with a
baited trap or a baited hook. Crabs will come to bait placed at the edge
of the surf, where you can trap or net them. Lobsters and crabs are
nocturnal and caught best at night.
Mollusks
This class includes octopuses and freshwater and saltwater shellfish
such as snails, clams, mussels, bivalves, barnacles, periwinkles, chitons,
and sea urchins (Figure
1). You find bivalves similar to our freshwater
mussel and terrestrial and aquatic snails worldwide under all water
conditions.

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River snails or freshwater periwinkles are plentiful in rivers, streams,
and lakes of northern coniferous forests. These snails may be pencil
point or globular in shape.

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In fresh water, look for mollusks in the shallows, especially in water with
a sandy or muddy bottom. Look for the narrow trails they leave in the
mud or for the dark elliptical slit of their open valves.
Near the sea, look in the tidal pools and the wet sand. Rocks along
beaches or extending as reefs into deeper water often bear clinging
shellfish. Snails and limpets cling to rocks and seaweed from the low
water mark upward. Large snails, called chitons, adhere tightly to rocks
above the surf line.
Mussels usually form dense colonies in rock pools, on logs, or at the
base of boulders.
CAUTION
Mussels may be poisonous in tropical zones during the summer!
Steam, boil, or bake mollusks in the shell. They make excellent stews
in combination with greens and tubers.
CAUTION
Do not eat shellfish that are not covered by water at high tide!
Fish
Fish represent a good source of protein and fat. They offer some distinct
advantages to the survivor or evader. They are usually more abundant
than mammal wildlife, and the ways to get them are silent. To be successful
at catching fish, you must know their habits. For instance, fish
tend to feed heavily before a storm. Fish are not likely to feed after a
storm when the water is muddy and swollen. Light often attracts fish at
night. When there is a heavy current, fish will rest in places where there
is an eddy, such as near rocks. Fish will also gather where there are
deep pools, under overhanging brush, and in and around submerged
foliage, logs, or other objects that offer them shelter.
There are no poisonous freshwater fish. However, the catfish species has
sharp, needlelike protrusions on its dorsal fins and barbels. These can
inflict painful puncture wounds that quickly become infected.

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Cook all freshwater fish to kill parasites. Also cook saltwater fish caught
within a reef or within the influence of a freshwater source as a precaution.
Any marine life obtained farther out in the sea will not contain
parasites because of the saltwater environment. You can eat these raw.
Certain saltwater species of fish have poisonous flesh. In some species
the poison occurs seasonally in others, it is permanent. Examples of
poisonous saltwater fish are the porcupine fish, triggerfish, cowfish,
thorn fish, oilfish, red snapper, jack, and puffer (Figure
2). The
barracuda, while not actually poisonous itself, may transmit ciguatera
(fish poisoning) if eaten raw.
Amphibians
Frogs and salamanders are easily found around bodies of fresh water.
Frogs seldom move from the safety of the water’s edge. At the first sign
of danger, they plunge into the water and bury themselves in the mud
and debris. There are few poisonous species of frogs. Avoid any brightly
colored frog or one that has a distinct “X” mark on it’s back. Do not
confuse toads with frogs. You normally find toads in drier environments.
Several species of toads secrete a poisonous substance through their skin
as a defense against attack. Therefore, to avoid poisoning, do not handle
or eat toads.
Salamanders are nocturnal. The best time to catch them is at night using
a light. They can range in size from a few centimeters to well over
60 centimeters in length. Look in water around rocks and mud banks
for salamanders.
Reptiles
Reptiles are a good protein source and relatively easy to catch. You
should cook them, but in an emergency, you can eat them raw. Their
raw flesh may transmit parasites, but because reptiles are cold-blooded,
they do not carry the blood diseases of the warm-blooded animals.
The box turtle is a commonly encountered turtle that you should not
eat. It feeds on poisonous mushrooms and may build up a highly toxic
poison in its flesh. Cooking does not destroy this toxin. Avoid the hawksbill
turtle, found in the Atlantic Ocean, because of its poisonous thorax
gland. Poisonous snakes, alligators, crocodiles, and large sea turtles
present obvious hazards to the survivor.

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Birds
All species of birds are edible, although the flavor will vary considerably.
You may skin fish-eating birds to improve their taste. As with any wild
animal, you must understand birds’ common habits to have a realistic
chance of capturing them. You can take pigeons, as well as some other
species, from their roost at night by hand. During the nesting season,
some species will not leave the nest even when approached. Knowing
where and when the birds nest makes catching them easier (Figure
3).
Birds tend to have regular flyways going from the roost to a feeding
area, to water, and so forth. Careful observation should reveal where
these flyways are and indicate good areas for catching birds in nets
stretched across the flyways (Figure
4). Roosting sites and waterholes
are some of the most promising areas for trapping or snaring.
Nesting birds present another food source—eggs. Remove all but two or
three eggs from the clutch, marking the ones at you leave. The bird
will continue to lay more eggs to fill the clutch. Continue removing the
fresh eggs, leaving the ones you marked.

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Mammals
Mammals are excellent protein sources and, for Americans, the most
tasty food source. There are some drawbacks to obtaining mammals. In
a hostile environment, the enemy may detect any traps or snares placed
on land. The amount of injury an animal can inflict is in direct proportion
to its size. All mammals have teeth and nearly all will bite in
self-defense. Even a squirrel can inflict a serious wound and any bite
presents a serious risk of infection. Also, a mother can be extremely
aggressive in defense of her young. Any animal with no route of escape
will fight when cornered.
All mammals are edible; however, the polar bear and bearded seal have
toxic levels of vitamin A in their livers. The platypus, native to Australia
and Tasmania, is an egg-laying, semiaquatic mammal that has poisonous
glands. Scavenging mammals, such as the opossum, may carry diseases.
TRAPS AND SNARES
For an unarmed survivor or evader, or when the sound of a rifle shot
could be a problem, trapping or snaring wild game is a good alternative.

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Several well-placed traps have the potential to catch much more game
than a man with a rifle is likely to shoot. To be effective with any type of
trap or snare, you must—
Be familiar with the species of animal you intend to catch.
Be capable of constructing a proper trap.
Not alarm the prey by leaving signs of your presence.
There are no catchall traps you can set for all animals. You must determine
what species are in a given area and set your traps specifically with
those animals in mind. Look for the following
Runs and trails.
Tracks.
Droppings.
Chewed or rubbed vegetation.
Nesting or roosting sites.
Feeding and watering areas.
Position your traps and snares where there is proof that animals pass
through. You must determine if it is a “run” or a “trail.” A trail will
show signs of use by several species and will be rather distinct. A run
is usually smaller and less distinct and will only contain signs of one
species. You may construct a perfect snare, but it will not catch anything
if haphazardly placed in the woods. Animals have bedding areas, waterholes,
and feeding areas with trails leading from one to another. You
must place snares and traps around these areas to be effective.
For an evader in a hostile environment, trap and snare concealment is
important. It is equally important, however, not to create a disturbance
that will alarm the animal and cause it to avoid the trap. Therefore,
if you must dig, remove all fresh dirt from the area. Most animals will
instinctively avoid a pitfall-type trap. Prepare the various parts of a
trap or snare away from the site, carry them in, and set them up. Such
actions make it easier to avoid disturbing the local vegetation, thereby
alerting the prey. Do not use freshly cut, live vegetation to construct a
trap or snare. Freshly cut vegetation will “bleed” sap that has an odor
the prey will be able to smell. It is an alarm signal to the animal.
You must remove or mask the human scent on and around the trap you
set. Although birds do not have a developed sense of smell, nearly all

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mammals depend on smell even more than on sight. Even the slightest
human scent on a trap will alarm the prey and cause it to avoid the area.
Actually removing the scent from a trap is difficult but masking it is
relatively easy. Use the fluid from the gall and urine bladders of previous
kills. Do not use human urine. Mud, particularly from an area with
plenty of rotting vegetation, is also good. Use it to coat your hands when
handling the trap and to coat the trap when setting it. In nearly all parts
of the world, animals know the smell of burned vegetation and smoke. It
is only when a fire is actually burning that they become alarmed. Therefore,
smoking the trap parts is an effective means to mask your scent. If
one of the above techniques is not practical, and if time permits, allow
a trap to weather for a few days and then set it. Do not handle a trap
while it is weathering. When you position the trap, camouflage it as
naturally as possible to prevent detection by the enemy and to avoid
alarming the prey.
Traps or snares placed on a trail or run should use channelization. To
build a channel, construct a funnel-shaped barrier extending from the
sides of the trail toward the trap, with the narrowest part nearest the
trap. Channelization should be inconspicuous to avoid alerting the prey.
As the animal gets to the trap, it cannot turn left or right and continues
into the trap. Few wild animals will back up, preferring to face the direction
of travel. Channelization does not have to be an impassable barrier.
You only have to make it inconvenient for the animal to go over or
through the barrier. For best effect, the channelization should reduce
the trail’s width to just slightly wider than the targeted animal’s body.
Maintain this constriction at least as far back from the trap as the animal’s
body length, then begin the widening toward the mouth of the
funnel.
Use of Bait
Baiting a trap or snare increases your chances of catching an animal.
When catching fish, you must bait nearly all the devices. Success with an
unbaited trap depends on its placement in a good location. A baited trap
can actually draw animals to it. The bait should be something the animal
knows. This bait, however, should not be so readily available in the immediate
area that the animal can get it close by. For example, baiting a
trap with corn in the middle of a corn field would not be likely to work.
Likewise, if corn is not grown in the region, a corn-baited trap may
arouse an animal’s curiosity and keep it alerted while it ponders the

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strange food. Under such circumstances it may not go for the bait. One
bait that works well on small mammals is the peanut butter from a meal,
ready-to-eat (MRE) ration. Salt is also a good bait. When using such
baits, scatter bits of it around the trap to give the prey a chance to sample
it and develop a craving for it. The animal will then overcome some
of its caution before it gets to the trap.
If you set and bait a trap for one species but another species takes the
bait without being caught, try to determine what the animal was. Then
set a proper trap for that animal, using the same bait.
Note: Once you have successfully trapped an animal, you will not only gain
confidence in your ability, you also will have resupplied yourself with bait for
several more traps.
Trap and Snare Construction
Traps and snares crush, choke, hang, or entangle the prey. A single trap or
snare will commonly incorporate two or more of these principles. The
mechanisms that provide power to the trap are almost always very simple.
The struggling victim, the force of gravity, or a bent sapling’s tension
provides the power.
The heart of any trap or snare is the trigger. When planning a trap or
snare, ask yourself how it should affect the prey, what is the source of
power, and what will be the most efficient trigger. Your answers will
help you devise a specific trap for a specific species. Traps are designed
to catch and hold or to catch and kill. Snares are traps that incorporate
a noose to accomplish either function.
Simple Snare
A simple snare (Figure
5) consists of a noose placed over a trail or den
hole and attached to a firmly planted stake. If the noose is some type of
cordage placed upright on a game trail, use small twigs or blades of grass
to hold it up. Filaments from spider webs are excellent for holding
nooses open. Make sure the noose is large enough to pass freely over
the animal’s head. As the animal continues to move, the noose tightens
around its neck. The more the animal struggles, the tighter the noose
gets. This type of snare usually does not kill the animal. If you use cordage,
it may loosen enough to slip off the animal’s neck. Wire is therefore
the best choice for a simple snare.

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Drag Noose
Use a drag noose on an animal run (Figure
6). Place forked sticks on
either side of the run and lay a sturdy crossmember across them. Tie the
noose to the crossmember and hang it at a height above the animal’s
head. (Nooses designed to catch by the head should never be low
enough for the prey to step into with a foot.) As the noose tightens
around the animal’s neck, the animal pulls the crossmember from the
forked sticks and drags it along. The surrounding vegetation quickly
catches the crossmember and the animal becomes entangled.
Twitch-Up
A twitch-up is a supple sapling, which, when bent over and secured with
a triggering device, will provide power to a variety of snares. Select a
hardwood sapling along the trail. A twitch-up will work much faster and
with more force if you remove all the branches and foliage.
Twitch- Up Snare
A simple twitch-up snare uses two forked sticks, each with a long and
short leg (Figure
7). Bend the twitch-up and mark the trail below it.
Drive the long leg of one forked stick firmly into the ground at that
point. Ensure the cut on the short leg of this stick is parallel to the

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14
ground. Tie the long leg of the remaining forked stick to a piece of cordage
secured to the twitch-up. Cut the short leg so that it catches on the
short leg of the other forked stick. Extend a noose over the trail. Set the
trap by bending the twitch-up and engaging the short legs of the forked
sticks. When an animal catches its head in the noose, it pulls the forked
sticks apart, allowing the twitch-up to spring up and hang the prey.
Note: Do not use green sticks for the trigger. The sap that oozes out could
glue them together.
Squirrel Pole
A squirrel pole is a long pole placed against a tree in an area showing
a lot of squirrel activity (Figure
8). Place several wire nooses along the
top and sides of the pole so that a squirrel trying to go up or down the
pole will have to pass through one or more of them. Position the nooses
(5 to 6 centimeters in diameter) about 2.5 centimeters off the pole.
Place the top and bottom wire nooses 45 centimeters from the top

15
and bottom of the pole to prevent the squirrel from getting its feet
on a solid surface. If this happens, the squirrel will chew through the
wire. Squirrels are naturally curious. After an initial period of caution,
they will try to go up or down the pole and will get caught in a noose.
The struggling animal will soon fall from the pole and strangle. Other
squirrels will soon follow and, in this way, you can catch several
squirrels. You can emplace multiple poles to increase the catch.
Ojibwa Bird Pole
An Ojibwa bird pole is a snare used by native Americans for centuries
(Figure
9). To be effective, place it in a relatively open area away from
tall trees. For best results, pick a spot near feeding areas, dusting areas,
or watering holes. Cut a pole 1.8 to 2.1 meters long and trim away all
limbs and foliage. Do not use resinous wood such as pine. Sharpen the
upper end to a point, then drill a small diameter hole 5 to 7.5 centimeters
down from the top. Cut a small stick 10 to 15 centimeters long
and shape one end so that it will almost fit into the hole. This is the
perch. Plant the long pole in the ground with the pointed end up. Tie
a small weight, about equal to the weight of the targeted species, to a
length of cordage. Pass the free end of the cordage through the hole,
and tie a slip noose that covers the perch. Tie a single overhand knot in
the cordage and place the perch against the hole. Allow the cordage to
slip through the hole until the overhand knot rests against the pole and
the top of the perch. The tension of the overhand knot against the pole

16
and perch will hold the perch in position. Spread the noose over the
perch, ensuring it covers the perch and drapes over on both sides. Most
birds prefer to rest on something above ground and will land on the
perch. As soon as the bird lands, the perch will fall, releasing the overhand
knot and allowing the weight to drop. The noose will tighten
around the bird’s feet, capturing it. If the weight is too heavy, it will
cut the bird’s feet off, allowing it to escape.
Noosing Wand
A noose stick or “noosing wand” is useful for capturing roosting birds or
small mammals (Figure
10). It requires a patient operator. This wand
is more a weapon than a trap. It consists of a pole (as long as you can
effectively handle) with a slip noose of wire or stiff cordage at the small
end. To catch an animal, you slip the noose over the neck of a roosting
bird and pull it tight. You can also place it over a den hole and hide in a
nearby blind. When the animal emerges from the den, you jerk the pole
to tighten the noose and thus capture the animal. Carry a stout club to
kill the prey.
Treadle Spring Snare
Use a treadle snare against small game on a trail (Figure
11). Dig a
shallow hole in the trail. Then drive a forked stick (fork down) into the
ground on each side of the hole on the same side of the trail. Select two
fairly straight sticks that span the two forks. Position these two sticks so
that their ends engage the forks. Place several sticks over the hole in
the trail by positioning one end over the lower horizontal stick and the
other on the ground on the other side of the hole. Cover the hole with
enough sticks so that the prey must step on at least one of them to set
off the snare. Tie one end of a piece of cordage to a twitch-up or to a
weight suspended over a tree limb. Bend the twitch-up or raise the suspended
weight to determine where You will tie a 5 centimeter or so long
trigger. Form a noose with the other end of the cordage. Route and -

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spread the noose over the top of the sticks over the hole. Place the
trigger stick against the horizontal sticks and route the cordage behind
the sticks so that the tension of the power source will hold it in place.
Adjust the bottom horizontal stick so that it will barely hold against
the trigger. A the animal places its foot on a stick across the hole, the
bottom horizontal stick moves down, releasing the trigger and allowing
the noose to catch the animal by the foot. Because of the disturbance on
the trail, an animal will be wary. You must therefore use channelization.
Figure 4 Deadfall
The figure 4 is a trigger used to drop a weight onto a prey and crush it
(Figure
12). The type of weight used may vary, but it should be heavy
enough to kill or incapacitate the prey immediately. Construct the figure
4 using three notched sticks. These notches hold the sticks together in a
figure 4 pattern when under tension. Practice making this trigger beforehand;
it requires close tolerances and precise angles in its construction.

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Paiute Deadfall
The Paiute deadfall is similar to the figure 4 but uses a piece of cordage
and a catch stick (Figure
13). It has the advantage of being easier to
set than the figure 4. Tie one end of a piece of cordage to the lower end
of the diagonal stick. Tie the other end of the cordage to another stick
about 5 centimeters long. This 5-centimeter stick is the catch stick.
Bring the cord halfway around the vertical stick with the catch stick at
a 90-degree angle. Place the bait stick with one end against the drop
weight, or a peg driven into the ground, and the other against the catch
stick. When a prey disturbs the bait stick, it falls free, releasing the catch
stick. As the diagonal stick flies up, the weight falls, crushing the prey.
Bow Trap
A bow trap is one of the deadliest traps. It is dangerous to man as
well as animals (Figure
14). To construct this trap, build a bow and
anchor it to the ground with pegs. Adjust the aiming point as you anchor
the bow. Lash a toggle stick to the trigger stick. Two upright sticks
driven into the ground hold the trigger stick in place at a point where
the toggle stick will engage the pulled bow string. Place a catch stick

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between the toggle stick and a stake driven into the ground. Tie a trip
wire or cordage to the catch stick and route it around stakes and across
the game trail where you tie it off (as in Figure
14). When the prey
trips the trip wire, the bow looses an arrow into it. A notch in the bow
serves to help aim the arrow.
Pig Spear Shaft
To construct the pig spear shaft, select a stout pole about 2.5 meters
long (Figure
15). At the smaller end, firmly lash several small stakes.
Lash the large end tightly to a tree along the game trail. Tie a length of
cordage to another tree across the trail. Tie a sturdy, smooth stick to the
other end of the cord. From the first tree, tie a trip wire or cord low to
the ground, stretch it across the trail, and tie it to a catch stick. Make a
slip ring from vines or other suitable material. Encircle the trip wire and

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the smooth stick with the slip ring. Emplace one end of another smooth
stick within the slip ring and its other end against the second tree. Pull
the smaller end of the spear shaft across the trail and position it between
the short cord and the smooth stick. As the animal trips the trip
wire, the catch stick pulls the slip ring off the smooth sticks, releasing
the spear shaft that springs across the trail and impales the prey against
the tree.
Bottle Trap
A bottle trap is a simple trap for mice and voles (Figure
16). Dig a
hole 30 to 45 centimeters deep that is wider at the bottom than at the
top. Make the top of the hole as small as possible. Place a piece of bark
or wood over the hole with small stones under it to hold it up 2.5 to
5 centimeters off the ground. Mice or voles will hide under the cover
to escape danger and fall into the hole. They cannot climb out because
of the wall’s backward slope. Use caution when checking this trap; it is
an excellent hiding place for snakes.

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KILLING DEVICES
There are several killing devices that you can construct to help you
obtain small game to help you survive. The rabbit stick, the spear, the
bow and arrow, and the sling are such devices.
Rabbit Stick
One of the simplest and most effective killing devices is a stout stick as
long as your arm, from fingertip to shoulder, called a “rabbit stick.” You
can throw it either overhand or sidearm and with considerable force. It
is very effective against small game that stops and freezes as a defense.
Spear
You can make a spear to kill small game and to fish. Jab with the spear,
do not throw it. See spearfishing on page
29.
Bow and Arrow
A good bow is the result of many hours of work. You can construct a
suitable short-term bow fairly easily. When it loses its spring or breaks,
you can replace it. Select a hardwood stick about one meter long that is

23
free of knots or limbs. Carefully scrape the large end down until it has
the same pull as the small end. Careful examination will show the natural
curve of the stick. Always scrape from the side that faces you, or the
bow will break the first time you pull it. Dead, dry wood is preferable to
green wood. To increase the pull, lash a second bow to the first, front to
front, forming an “X” when viewed from the side. Attach the tips of the
bows with cordage and only use a bowstring on one bow.
Select arrows from the straightest dry sticks available. The arrows should
be about half as long as the bow. Scrape each shaft smooth all around.
You will probably have to straighten the shaft. You can bend an arrow
straight by heating the shaft over hot coals. Do not allow the shaft to
scorch or bum. Hold the shaft straight until it cools.
You can make arrowheads from bone, glass, metal, or pieces of rock. You
can also sharpen and fire harden the end of the shaft. To fire harden wood,
hold it over hot coals, being careful not to bum or scorch the wood.
You must notch the ends of the arrows for the bowstring. Cut or file the
notch; do not split it. Fletching (adding feathers to the notched end of
an arrow) improves the arrow’s flight characteristics, but is not necessary
on a field-expedient arrow.
Sling
You can make a sling by tying two pieces of cordage, about sixty centimeters
long, at opposite ends of a palm-sized piece of leather or cloth.
Place a rock in the cloth and wrap one cord around the middle finger
and hold in your palm. Hold the other cord between the forefinger and
thumb. To throw the rock, spin the sling several times in a circle and
release the cord between the thumb and forefinger. Practice to gain
proficiency. The sling is very effective against small game.
FISHING DEVICES
You can make your own fishhooks, nets and traps and use several methods
to obtain fish in a survival situation.
Improvised Fishhooks
You can make field-expedient fishhooks from pins, needles, wire, small
nails, or any piece of metal. You can also use wood, bone, coconut shell,

24
thorns, flint, seashell, or tortoise shell. You can also make fishhooks
from any combination of these items (Figure
17).
To make a wooden hook, cut a piece of hardwood about 2.5 centimeters
long and about 6 millimeters in diameter to form the shank. Cut a notch
in one end in which to place the point. Place the point (piece of bone,
wire, nail) in the notch. Hold the point in the notch and tie securely so
that it does not move out of position. This is a fairly large hook. To
make smaller hooks, use smaller material.
A gorge is a small shaft of wood, bone, metal, or other material. It is
sharp on both ends and notched in the middle where you tie cordage.
Bait the gorge by placing a piece of bait on it lengthwise. When the fish
swallows the bait, it also swallows the gorge.
Stakeout
A stakeout is a fishing device you can use in a hostile environment
(Figure
18). To construct a stakeout, drive two supple saplings into the
bottom of the lake, pond, or stream with their tops just below the water
surface. Tie a cord between them and slightly below the surface. Tie two
short cords with hooks or gorges to this cord, ensuring that they cannot
wrap around the poles or each other. They should also not slip along the
long cord. Bait the hooks or gorges.-

25
Gill Net
If a gill net is not available, you can make one using parachute suspension
line or similar material (Figure
19). Remove the core lines from
the suspension line and tie the easing between two trees. Attach several
core lines to the easing by doubling them over and tying them with

26
prusik knots or girth hitches. The length of the desired net and the size
of the mesh determine the number of core lines used and the space
between them. Starting at one end of the easing, tie the second and the
third core lines together using an overhand knot. Then tie the fourth
and fifth, sixth and seventh, and so on, until you reach the last core line.
You should now have all core lines tied in pairs with a single core line
hanging at each end. Start the second row with the first core line, tie it
to the second, the third to the fourth, and so on.
To keep the rows even and to regulate the size of the mesh, tie a guideline
to the trees. Position the guideline on the opposite side of the net
you are working on. Move the guideline down after completing each
row. The lines will always hang in pairs and you always tie a cord from
one pair to a cord from an adjoining pair. Continue tying rows until the
net is the desired width. Thread a suspension line easing along the bottom
of the net to strengthen it. Use the gill net as shown in Figure
20.

27
Fish Traps
You may trap fish using several methods (Figure
21). Fish baskets are
one method. You construct them by lashing several sticks together with
vines into a funnel shape. You close the top, leaving a hole large enough
for the fish to swim through.

28
You can also use traps to catch saltwater fish, as schools regularly
approach the shore with the incoming tide and often move parallel to
the shore. Pick a location at high tide and build the trap at low tide. On
rocky shores, use natural rock pools. On coral islands, use natural pools
on the surface of reefs by blocking the openings as the tide recedes. On
sandy shores, use sandbars and the ditches they enclose. Build the trap
as a low stone wall extending outward into the water and forming an
angle with the shore.
Spearfishing
If you are near shallow water (about waist deep) where the fish are large
and plentiful, you can spear them. To make a spear, cut a long, straight
sapling (Figure
22). Sharpen the end to a point or attach a knife,
jagged piece of bone, or sharpened metal. You can also make a spear by
splitting the shaft a few inches down from the end and inserting a piece
of wood to act as a spreader. You then sharpen the two separated halves
to points. To spear fish, find an area where fish either gather or where
there is a fish run. Place the spear point into the water and slowly move
it toward the fish. Then, with a sudden push, impale the fish on the

29
stream bottom. Do not try to lift the fish with the spear, as it with probably
slip off and you will lose it; hold the spear with one hand and grab
and hold the fish with the other. Do not throw the spear, especially if
the point is a knife. You cannot afford to lose a knife in a survival situation.
Be alert to the problems caused by light refraction when looking at
objects in the water.
Chop Fishing
At night, in an area with a good fish density, you can use a light to
attract fish. Then, armed with a machete or similar weapon, you can
gather fish using the back side of the blade to strike them. Do not use
the sharp side as you will cut them in two pieces and end up losing
some of the fish.
Fish Poison
Another way to catch fish is by using poison. Poison works quickly. It
allows you to remain concealed while it takes effect. It also enables you
to catch several fish at one time. When using fish poison, be sure to
gather all of the affected fish, because many dead fish floating downstream
could arouse suspicion. Some plants that grow in warm regions of
the world contain rotenone, a substance that stuns or kills cold-blooded
animals but does not harm persons who eat the animals. The best place
to use rotenone, or rotenone-producing plants, is in ponds or the headwaiters
of small streams containing fish. Rotenone works quickly on fish
in water 21 degrees C (70 degrees F) or above. The fish rise helplessly
to the surface. It works slowly in water 10 to 21 degrees C (50 to 70
degrees F) and is ineffective in water below 10 degrees C (50 degrees F).
The following plants, used as indicated, will stun or kill fish:
Anamirta cocculus (Figure
23). This woody vine grows in southern
Asia and on islands of the South Pacific. Crush the bean-shaped
seeds and throw them in the water.
Croton tiglium (Figure
23). This shrub or small tree grows in waste
areas on islands of the South Pacific. It bears seeds in three angled
capsules. Crush the seeds and throw them into the water.
Barringtonia (Figure
23). These large trees grow near the sea in
Malaya and parts of Polynesia. They bear a fleshy one-seeded fruit.
Crush the seeds and bark and throw into the water.
Derris eliptica (Figure
23). This large genus of tropical shrubs and
woody vines is the main source of commercially produced rotenone.

30

31
Grind the roots into a powder and mix with water. Throw a large
quantity of the mixture into the water.
Duboisia (Figure
23). This shrub grows in Australia and bears white
clusters of flowers and berrylike fruit. Crush the plants and throw
them into the water.
Tephrosia (Figure
23). This species of small shrubs, which bears
beanlike pods, grows throughout the tropics. Crush or bruise bundles
of leaves and stems and throw them into the water.
Lime. You can get lime from commercial sources and in agricultural
areas that use large quantities of it. You may produce your own by
burning coral or seashells. Throw the lime into the water.
Nut husks. Crush green husks from butternuts or black walnuts.
Throw the husks into the water.
PREPARATION OF FISH AND GAME
FOR COOKING AND STORAGE
You must know how to prepare fish and game for cooking and storage in
a survival situation. Improper cleaning or storage can result in inedible
fish or game.
Fish
Do not eat fish that appears spoiled. Cooking does not ensure that
spoiled fish will be edible. Signs of spoilage are—
Sunken eyes.
Peculiar odor.
Suspicious color. (Gills should be red to pink. Scales should be a
pronounced shade of gray, not faded.)
Dents stay in the fish’s flesh after pressing it with your thumb.
Slimy, rather than moist or wet body.
Sharp or peppery taste.
Eating spoiled or rotten fish may cause diarrhea, nausea, cramps, vomiting,
itching, paralysis, or a metallic taste in the mouth. These symptoms
appear suddenly, one to six hours after eating. Induce vomiting if symptoms
appear.

32
Fish spoils quickly after death, especially on a hot day. Prepare fish
for eating as soon as possible after catching it. Cut out the gills and
large blood vessels that lie near the spine. Gut fish that is more than
10 centimeters long. Scale or skin the fish.
You can impale a whole fish on a stick and cook it over an open fire.
However, boiling the fish with the skin on is the best way to get the
most food value. The fats and oil are under the skin and, by boiling, you
can save the juices for broth. You can use any of the methods used to
cook plant food to cook fish. Pack fish into a ball of clay and bury it in
the coals of a fire until the clay hardens. Break open the clay ball to get
to the cooked fish. Fish is done when the meat flakes off. If you plan to
keep the fish for later, smoke or fry it. To prepare fish for smoking, cut
off the head and remove the backbone.
Snakes
To skin a snake, first cut off its head and bury it. Then cut the skin down
the body 15 to 20 centimeters (Figure
24). Peel the skin back, then

33
grasp the skin in one hand and the body in the other and pull apart.
On large, bulky snakes it may be necessary to slit the belly skin. Cook
snakes in the same manner as small game. Remove the entrails and
discard. Cut the snake into small sections and boil or roast it.
Birds
After killing the bird, remove its feathers by either plucking or skinning.
Remember, skinning removes some of the food value. Open up the body
cavity and remove its entrails, saving the craw (in seed-eating birds),
heart, and liver. Cut off the feet. Cook by boiling or roasting over a spit.
Before cooking scavenger birds, boil them at least 20 minutes to kill
parasites.
Skinning and Butchering Game
Bleed the animal by cutting its throat. If possible, clean the carcass near
a stream. Place the carcass belly up and split the hide from throat to
tail, cutting around all sexual organs (Figure
25). Remove the musk
glands at points A and B to avoid tainting the meat. For smaller mammals,
cut the hide around the body and insert two fingers under the hide
on both sides of the cut and pull both pieces off (Figure
26).
Note: When cutting the hide, insert the knife blade under the skin and turn
the blade up so that only the hide gets cut. This will also prevent cutting hair
and getting it on the meat.

34
Remove the entrails from smaller game by splitting the body open and
pulling them out with the fingers. Do not forget the chest cavity. For
larger game, cut the gullet away from the diaphragm. Roll the entrails
out of the body. Cut around the anus, then reach into the lower abdominal
cavity, grasp the lower intestine, and pull to remove. Remove the
urine bladder by pinching it off and cutting it below the fingers. If you
spill urine on the meat, wash it to avoid tainting the meat. Save the
heart and liver. Cut these open and inspect for signs of worms or other
parasites. Also inspect the liver’s color; it could indicate a diseased animal.
The liver’s surface should be smooth and wet and its color deep red
or purple. If the liver appears diseased, discard it. However, a diseased
liver does not indicate you cannot eat the muscle tissue.
Cut along each leg from above the foot to the previously made body cut.
Remove the hide by pulling it away from the carcass, cutting the connective
tissue where necessary. Cut off the head and feet. -
Cut larger game into manageable pieces. First, slice the muscle tissue
connecting the front legs to the body. There are no bones or joints
connecting the front legs to the body on four-legged animals. Cut the
hindquarters off where they join the body. You must cut around a
large bone at the top of the leg and cut to the ball and socket hip
joint. Cut the ligaments around the joint and bend it back to separate
it. Remove the large muscles (the tenderloin) that lie on either side
of the spine.

35
Separate the ribs from the backbone. There is less work and less wear
on your knife if you break the ribs first, then cut through the breaks.
Cook large meat pieces over a spit or boil them. You can stew or boil
smaller pieces, particularly those that remain attached to bone after the
initial butchering, as soup or broth. You can cook body organs such as
the heart, liver, pancreas, spleen, and kidneys using the same methods
as for muscle meat. You can also cook and eat the brain. Cut the tongue
out, skin it, boil it until tender, and eat it.
Smoking Meat
To smoke meat, prepare an enclosure around a fire (Figure
27). Two
ponchos snapped together will work. The fire does not need to be big or

36
hot. The intent is to produce smoke, not heat. Do not use resinous wood
in the fire because its smoke will ruin the meat. Use hardwoods to produce
good smoke. The wood should be somewhat green. If it is too dry,
soak it. Cut the meat into thin slices, no more than 6 centimeters thick,
and drape them over a framework. Make sure none of the meat touches
another piece. Keep the poncho enclosure around the meat to hold the
smoke and keep a close watch on the fire. Do not let the fire get too
hot. Meat smoked overnight in this manner will last about 1 week. Two
days of continuous smoking will preserve the meat for 2 to 4 weeks.
Properly smoked meat will look like a dark, curled, brittle stick and you
can eat it without further cooking. You can also use a pit to smoke meat
(Figure
28).
Drying Meat
To preserve meat by drying, cut it into 6-millimeter strips with the
grain. Hang the meat strips on a rack in a sunny location with good
air flow. Keep the strips out of the reach of animals and cover them to
keep blowflies off. Allow the meat to dry thoroughly before eating.
Properly dried meat will have a dry, crisp texture and will not feel cool
to the touch.

37
Other Preservation Methods
You can also preserve meats using the freezing or brine and salt
methods.
Freezing
In cold climates, you can freeze and keep meat indefinitely. Freezing is
not a means of preparing meat. You must still cook it before eating.
Brine and Salt
You can preserve meat by soaking it thoroughly in a saltwater solution.
The solution must cover the meat. You can also use salt by itself. Wash
off the salt before cooking.

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