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Gypsy Jack’s Camping Journal ~ old Kep

By on April 8, 2013 in Master Woodsman

“Jack London told me years ago that a steady diet of train smoke and canned beans will kill you.  It was time to get off the road for a while.  I had a well worn hat and a fully stocked bindle.  What I needed now was a hot bath and a square meal– served up […]

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INTRODUCTION TO MASTER WOODSMAN

By on March 23, 2013 in Master Woodsman, News & Updates

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTMy4MtsPs8 Master Woodsman™ is a blog.  Why is that important to you?  Well, it’s fed by woodsmen for woodsmen.  Some pretty darn good ones too!  We write about the stuff you want to read.  The great outdoors and everything in it.  From the golden age of camping and living historical reenactments to modern wilderness survival […]

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Wilderness Sewing Kits by Kyle R. Ver Steeg II, M.D.

By on March 22, 2013 in Books, Master Woodsman, Wilderness Survival

There is a lot to be said for traveling light.  The main reason I am a fan of carrying less gear is because I am lazy.  There are, however, other benefits to traveling light.  For instance, carrying less weight means you can travel faster, farther and arrive more rested.  Given the same amount of calorie […]

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Figure 4 Spring Snare by Alan Halcon of Dirt Time

By on March 17, 2013 in Master Woodsman, Primitive Skills, Ropecraft, Wilderness Survival

When I saw the Spring Snare video below on the Dirt Time website I immediately reached out to Alan and asked if he would mind me posting this on Master Woodsman.  So here it is and kudos to great bunch of guys at Dirt Time.  Like us here, it’s all about the sharing.  Check them […]

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Schematic of the Harlton Hacienda

The Harlton Hacienda (Supershelter) By Kyle R. Ver Steeg II, M.D.

By on March 14, 2013 in Master Woodsman, Wilderness Survival, Woodcraft

I recently took a winter course with Mors Kochanski at Karamat Wilderness Ways.  We covered many different shelter types, but one in particular caught my attention. One of the things that Mors Kochanski has done with wilderness shelters is to update them with modern materials.  A piece of plastic, a piece of nylon and a […]

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Gypsy Jack’s Camping Journal ~ TR

By on March 13, 2013 in Master Woodsman

“Dear Mr. President, Its been a while since we shared a campfire, a meal or a joke. Here’s hoping you are well and that job of yours is not keeping you too long from the hunt. You ask me for my opinion prior to your California visit as it relates to our mutual friend. So, […]

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Gypsy Jack’s Camping Journal ~ Nessmuk

By on March 11, 2013 in Master Woodsman

“The pilgrim’s passion drives him to extremes—spending time and treasure in pursuit of sacred sites, holy shrines and points of power. The zealot’s dream may lead him through the snow, along steep yak trails to a hermit’s cave (high in the Himalayas)…or far upstream by dugout canoe on a remote black water river to a […]

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Cooking Salmon over the fire.

Mors Kochanski’s Wilderness Living Skills/Survival Course 2013 by Kyle R. Ver Steeg II, M.D.

By on March 9, 2013 in Master Woodsman, Wilderness Survival

My approach to the outdoors has always been to learn what is needed to be comfortable in a given environment.  With the advent of shows like Dual Survivor and others, there seems to have been a shift towards ‘Survival’ as a mentality towards the outdoors.  While the term ‘Survival’ creates great marketing opportunities, it tends […]

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Camp Life by Steven M. Watts

By on February 25, 2013 in Classic Camping, Master Woodsman, Woodcraft

“Here I am camped by a rushing river between forest-clad hills. It is close on ten in the morning. I turned out at five, and yet those five hours have been full of work for me, albeit it was no more than little camp jobs. The fire had to be lit, coffee and scones to […]

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Beauty Berry; Herbal Bug Repellent by Darryl Patton

By on February 25, 2013 in Master Woodsman

DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is a wonderful product! On several trips to the jungles of the Amazon as well as countless hikes here in the Deep South, I have found this bug repellent to be just the thing to keep biting insects at a safe distance. DEET was introduced by the U.S. Army as an insecticide back in […]

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