Charlie Chaplin “Charlie is a rich, famous, arrogant, borderline genius…I like him anyway. We first met in 1914. His star was just then breaking on the far horizon. I got introduced to him in a beachside diner by an old Montana horse wrangler pal of mine who was working in the moving picture business at […]
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Firestarters: Fatwood
When I got out of college back in the 90’s, I thought I had the best job in the world as a ‘dirt’ forester. Responsible for all land management activities on 100K acres, I spent over half my time in the field cruising timber, mapping, writing management prescriptions for reforestation, prescribed burning, and more… Then […]
Adaptation – No Sleeping Bag Winter Trip by Tim Smith, Registered Master Maine Guide
February 2002. I had been up late packing food and gear for our 10-day snowshoe trip in the mountains along the Maine and Quebec border, and after driving four hours to the trail head I was feeling tired and groggy despite 2 cups of coffee. The temperature had warmed throughout the morning, rising to near […]
FUROSHIKI YOUR SURVIVAL KIT
Bandanas (neckerchief), cloth in general, have many uses. Put it in your survival kit and you’ll use it all the time. Here are just a few of the top uses for the Woodsman… Signal Scarf Dust mask Hood (page 131 Camping & Woodcraft, Horace Kephart) Emergency rope Bandage Sling Tourniquet Water filter Sponge (dew collection) […]
Camping Gear On A Budget: The Do’s and Don’ts
Camping gear costs thousands of dollars for products, that if used enough, are going to fail when you least expect it. Let the hedgerow campers spend all that money on survival gear they don’t need. You’re here because you are camping on a budget. I know. I’ve had no money and the desire to do […]
The S’moreo
The first time I heard about this too good to be true treat was from Cody Lundin… he claimed to come up with idea, the S’moreo that is — and I am not one to argue having known him for many years now, I simply believe. It was yet another one of those times I […]
Gypsy Jack’s Camping Journal ~ old Kep
“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 […]
Join the Kneel Diamond Fan Club
Sweet Caroline… Bohm, Bohm, Bohmmmm…. Good times never seemed so good… Wait, that’s Neil Diamond. I am talking about KNEEL Diamond! Wish I could remember the name of the fellow that taught me this trick. I am almost certain he was on the BOSS staff. Very simply, to increase the oxygen to your campfire, make […]
INTRODUCTION TO MASTER WOODSMAN
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 […]
How To Haft An Axe by Dale L. Spaht Jr.
So, you’ve come up with an old axe head, or your current axe has a damaged handle, and you want to get it back into serviceable condition. Here are the steps involved in taking this project on. (Figure 1) (more…)
Wilderness Sewing Kits by Kyle R. Ver Steeg II, M.D.
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 […]
Figure 4 Spring Snare by Alan Halcon of Dirt Time
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 […]
The Harlton Hacienda (Supershelter) By Kyle R. Ver Steeg II, M.D.
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 […]
Gypsy Jack’s Camping Journal ~ TR
“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, […]
Gypsy Jack’s Camping Journal ~ Nessmuk
“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 […]
THE COOLEST TREE YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF
Western Soapberry Sapindus drummondii This picture was taken in January, and you’ll note the fruit is still firmly attached to the tree. They will only drop when the new season’s growth begins. This is probably an adaptation of the tree in drought-prone areas, where it is planted extensively. The Western Soapberry is a very adaptable […]
Mors Kochanski’s Wilderness Living Skills/Survival Course 2013 by Kyle R. Ver Steeg II, M.D.
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 […]
Custom Carry Axe Sheath
Had the recent pleasure of spending time with my good friends Joe Flowers and Steve Watts. On this particular day, Steve led a small group of Outdoor Living Skill enthusiasts in the manufacture of a custom carry axe sheath. Have to say, I am very fond of this new way to carry an axe… Suspect […]
Machete 101 with Joe Flowers
Introduction to Machetes by Joe Flowers Nowadays, the machete is probably one of the most used edged tools in the world. In this day and age of chainsaws and machines, the machete has held its place in remote countries throughout the globe. The machete is the working classes tool, the poor man’s tool. In places […]
“Lost Teenage Skier Credits Reality TV Survival Skills” ~ update with TV Show Credit
Don’t get your panties in wad over this article just yet, it probably isn’t going to go the way you think based on the title. If you haven’t seen the news recently, here is a link to an article and video from a local news report about a 17 year old lost skier from New […]
Introduction to Classic Camping with Steve Watts
This is a great video for anybody that may be interested in the “Classic” style of camping. A big thank you to Steve Watts, author and living history teacher, for your time and generosity. To learn more about the Classic Camping revival or Steve Watts, visit our Classic Camping page.
Virginia Tech Forestry; Tree ID Mobile App for North America
I rarely get excited about technology, but I have to say, this app is the bomb. Videos and link will speak for themselves. LINK TO APP On a final note, we have added a Mobile Apps section to Online Resources under Resources.
USING THE SIBERIAN ELM FOR BUSHCRAFT
To most it’s a weed tree. Considered useless and unwanted. To me, it’s a part of the heartland now. A permanent fixture across wind breaks and homesteads as well as in the cities and for Bushcraft. It was after the dust bowl that started in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, that these trees were widely planted […]
Camp Life by Steven M. Watts
“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 […]
Beauty Berry; Herbal Bug Repellent by Darryl Patton
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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Survival Entertainment, Friend or Foe? An exclusive interview with Cody Lundin
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Leave No Trace killed Woodcraft… almost
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Steven Miles Watts
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Promoting Outdoor Living Skills
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Your Guide To Survival Using A Trash Bag
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