10 Ways To Be Self-Sufficient In The Backwoods

Do you have what it takes to live life in the rough?

- Josh Honeycutt

I’ve lived most of my life outdoors: I’m a hunter and a fisherman; I’ve also lived the life of a farmer. When it comes to self sufficiency, I’ve been around the block a time or two. It’s a familiar road, and I love it.

Few things beat knowing that you have the skills to survive in the backwoods. Self sufficiency isn’t just for campers and doomsday preppers; these are skills everyone should know. The following 10 tips will get you ready for whatever the wilderness throws at you.

1 Know How to Hunt

We could write a 500,000-word book on hunting without scratching the surface, so I’ll keep this brief. If you’re in the business of surviving in the backwoods, it’s a mandatory skill.

The first thing you must know is how to shoot a gun or bow proficiently. You can’t afford to head afield without being skilled with your equipment. Opportunities to take game are precious and rare.

Knowing how to scout for and locate the animal species you’re hunting is another invaluable skill. Learn the feeding, watering and bedding habits of your prey for success. You must think like they do to kill them consistently.

Hard work follows the kill. Gutting, skinning and processing game takes time and knowledge. Learn how to do it.

If you lack hunting skills, spend time with a successful hunter; nearly everyone knows one. Simply ask if they’ll mentor you. I’m sure they’ll be happy to help. We hunters are a friendly bunch.

2 Be a Fisherman

Pardon the cliché, but learning to fish is the gift that just keeps giving. Fishing tactics— even for the same species of fish—change throughout the year. To best accommodate survival needs, learn how to fish for at least one species of fish for each month of the year.That way, you’ll always have the knowledge to catch dinner.