Monday 12 November 2012

Hunting Skills Might Save Your Life in a Long Term Disaster

By Stan Linerode


Your life may depend on whether you have the skills and knowledge to hunt game for food. Food is an immediate concern in any situation where supply chains are disrupted because of some type of disaster so to survive you will need to find your own food. Hunting is the most reliable way to obtain food if you have the skills and have practiced those skills. Skills needed include the use of weapons to hunt with and where to find game.

Hunting weapons can be virtually anything, you can use spears, clubs, slingshots and more advanced weapons such as crossbows, longbows and then on to firearms. The most reliable of course are firearms, crossbows and longbows.

Animals can be found virtually anywhere and practically all mammals are edible, with some being more appealing than others, but for the most part any mammal to include water fowl and other birds can be consumed once properly cooked to destroy all bacteria and parasites that may be present.

When hunting small game you want to avoid damaging the animal and rendering it unusable as food so having the right weapon and knowing what ammunition to use is important. Migratory birds are typically hunted with a shotgun using birdshot. You can use number two or even number four shot for most fowl. Shotguns are the recommended weapons for all around hunting, but having the right ammunition for your shotgun is important, as well.

You cannot expect to pass a driving test if you have never driven a vehicle, meaning you must practice to acquire the needed skills. The same theory applies to hunting, so you must practice before you can expect to provide for yourself and family. Weapon handling skills should be practiced in a controlled area with safety in mind. However, to become good at hunting you must go out and hunt after you have learned the basics about your weapon.

You must learn the habits of the game you are hunting and the most likely places to find game. All this knowledge comes with experience and being in the environment so you can observe. Do not load yourself up with weapons and think the more you have the more game you will come back with.

You can use birdshot for small game, buckshot for bigger game to include deer and slugs for larger game such as moose, elk and even bear. It is recommended you have a smaller caliber rifle for squirrels, rabbits and other small game to prevent damage to edible parts, but it does require more shooting skill to kill small game with a .22 caliber. Birdshot and buckshot once it exits the bore will expand into a shot pattern covering more of the target (depending on the choke setting) so you may not need as much shooting skill to bring down game with birdshot.




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