It has been a while since I posted to my blog, but with hunting season just around then corner I wanted the next several posts to be about survival. We generally hunt within about five miles of camp, but we teach our girls survival skills as though we are many miles from civilization. I think the most important lesson is that it makes no difference whether they are boys or girls. Survival skills are the same.
I had some decent skills from Army training, but I have learned a lot more since hunting with my husband. He likes to say, “The mountain doesn’t care.” He’s right. The mountain will kill without regard to whether a person is a prince or pauper, man or woman. The only thing that matters is whether the person has enough knowledge and skill to survive. Of course a little luck helps, but it is knowledge that will save your life.
When my children were learning to swim in the ocean, I used to tell them that panic kills. I taught them to relax and assess the situation and then act. The same is true in a survival situation. It is also true in avoiding being in a survival situation. Take a deep breath, assess the situation, take stock of what you have and think through what you need to do. Think about immediate needs like water, shelter and food. Panic is a waste of time, energy and resources. The best time to think about survival is while still in camp. Be mindful of what is in your pack. Could you live a couple days on what is in your pack? If not, rethink what you are carrying around. More about ideas for the pack later, but keep in mind that everything you are toting around should have a purpose. And remember, it’s great if your buddy has things that you need, but if you are separated you need to be able to rely of your own skills and what you have on hand.
Real Women Hunt 