My first deer

It was a cold September morning in 1995. My grandpa was taking me hunting for the first time. It was a family tradition to go Thanksgiving weekend to "the spot" It was in the Hoosier National Forest just outside of Birdseye Indiana. Many deer had been taken from there and I was hoping to get one of my own. It was still dark when we got to the woods. We suited up and loaded our guns then headed in. After getting settled in my tree stand I waited for daylight. It felt like forever, the leaves were rustling all around me but I couldn't see anything. The sun began to peek over the pine thicket and I began to see the beauty of the place. It was cold and my feet were going numb, but just then the forest erupted with gunfire. By this time it was almost 8 am when I heard another shot. When I looked in the direction of the shot I seen a deer 35 yards in front of me. I can still see him standing there eating acorns and wagging his tail. It looked huge to me and I knew I was going to get him. I slowly stood up and brought my dad's 20 gauge single shot shotgun up to my shoulder. I tried to aim at the front shoulder but I was shaking so much it was very difficult. I took the safety off and pulled the trigger. The smoke was so thick I couldn't see if he went down or not. I waited for what seemed like forever before I decided to check it out. I was so excited that i nearly jumped out of my stand. I headed to where I seen him and there he lay. My shot placement was a bit off, severed his spine, but it got the job done. After dragging it out of the woods we took it to the weigh station and it weighed in at 95 pounds. It was just a small button buck, but I was proud of it.

Sleeping Bags

Anyone whose been camping, has probably used a sleeping bag at least once. They sure make things more comfortable when out in the bush. There are several popular styles on the market that all have their advantages and disadvantages. There are your typical "blanket" bags, mummy bags and finally bivy sacks. They are made using either synthetics or natural materials. Synthetics are heavier and bulkier, but still work well when wet. Natural or "down" bags can be compressed easier and are lighter, but don't work so well when wet. It really depends on how you plan to use them. I still remember the sleeping bag I used as a kid. It was warm but man was it bulky. It barely fit in the car. It looked similar to the one below. These types would work well for car camping but not so much if you are backpacking.


This is a bivy sack or "bivouac sack." This is ideal for backpacking and hiking. It provides a waterproof sleeping area and that's about it. These are not to be confused with a bivy shelter/tent.




These are the bags my wife and I use. They are REI Zephyr mummy bags. The top one is my wifes and is rated at +15 degrees and mine is rated at +20 degrees. They are made of synthetic material and only weigh about 3 pounds. They serve us very well in Alaska.

Bags/Packs

Having a good quality pack to carry all your precious gear is a necessity. There are literally hundreds of packs to choose from, all shapes, sizes and designs. Personally I like having several different kinds to choose from. Now I don't keep all of them stocked and ready to go, depending on the situation, I will choose which one I need. These are a few of the packs that I have used. I have several others that are slightly different, but you get the point.





This bag is my old deer hunting pack. It's made by Mad Dog and is made from sturdy material that is fairly quiet. It's nothing fancy, but it held what I needed it to and matched my camo (Advantage Timber) clothing.


My wife and I both have one of these bags. It's a Bug Out Gear Tactical Backpack. They are hydration compatible and can haul 2,436 cubic inches of gear. These can be used for almost everything. Currently we use one of these for the babies BOB that is kept in my wife's Jeep Cherokee.

This is my Military Issue CFP-90 Combat Pack. It has a rugged internal frame and is made of 1000 denier nylon which is heavier than cordura. It can carry 60-70 pounds comfortably and has 3,042 cubic inches of storage space. The main compartment can be split into 2 separate pockets with their own access. Mine also has a separate Patrol Pack that can be attached to the front. This pack is also hydration compatible.

My day hike bag is a Camelbak M.U.L.E. It holds 3 L of water and 540 cubic inches of gear. I have even used this on an overnight trip. It's light and compact, which is very important for rapid movement through the bush.




My wife's hiking bag is a Granite Gear Vapor Ki. It is meant to be a lightweight pack for day hikes, but she uses it for extended hikes as well. It will hold 30 pounds of gear comfortably, and has 3,600 cubic inches of storage space. It is hydration compatible and only weighs 2lbs 5oz.




My hiking bag is a Kelty Coyote 4750. It's an internal frame pack with 4,750 cubic inches of storage space. The pack weighs just over 5 lbs and is very comfortable. The top lid doubles as a separate fanny pack, it's hydration compatible and has front access to the main compartment. I use this in lieu of my Military Issue Combat Pack, depending on the situation.

Short Trip

Got to get out and do some exploring. Headed to the North side of Elmendorf AFB near Six Mile Lake. Hiked about 5 miles along the lower end of the lake, and even made a quick debris shelter. It was pretty cold, 20 degrees, but my Berber Fleece kept me nice and warm. I ended up needing my first aid kit after mistaking my finger for a limb. Took awhile to stop the bleeding, but it's all good now.

Shooting a SAW

I had the chance to fire a SAW or Squad Assault Weapon while deployed to Kuwait. I'm the shooter on the left. Much harder to stay on target than I thought. I have to say it was a blast though.

Shooting a .50 cal

This was probably one of the coolest things I got to while deployed. Nothing better than shooting a .50 caliber machine gun from a moving HMMWV or Humvee.

Types of Shelter

Having shelter is a huge factor in surviving any situation. It keeps you warm, dry and safe. It also helps the morale and makes you feel "human." Depending on the situation you may have to build your own shelter from local materials. There are many variations and techniques in building a "debris" shelter. Here are a few examples of debris shelters.

Using branches and leaves

Using pine boughs

If you have done a bit of preparation than you may be lucky enough to have a more water tight shelter. I have a tarp in my BOB and each vehicle. They come in very handy and make a great shelter. Again there are many different variations, this is just one example. Remember if you are in a situation where you want to be rescued, having a brightly colored tarp where rescuers can see it, well help greatly.

The next step up would be a tent. There are literally hundreds of different sizes, types and styles of tents on the market. Finding one that will fit your needs could be a daunting task. Things to consider when looking for a tent are... how many people will need to fit in it, will it be light enough to carry with you, what type of terrain/weather will you most likely encounter. All of these will dictate what type of tent to get.

This is a small 2 man tent

Now we get into a little more comfort. Having a truck or SUV gives you many more options for shelter. You can throw a few sleeping bags in there and have instant shelter. Of course this is assuming you have your vehicle. This type of shelter is very useful and I have used it many times.

Finally the most comfortable of all, the camper. Nothing beats having a real bed to sleep in. These have all the comforts of home and can make any survival/disaster situation more tolerable.