Keith McCafferty

Strike Anywhere: The Best Matches for Survival Situations

Online Editors — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:47:51 -0500

My father could reach into the pocket of his wool pants and pull out a wooden match, already lit. His trick, magic to a small boy, remains one of the most indelible images I have of nights around the campfire. Today, match light has flickered out in favor of the soulless flame of the butane lighter, but a simple stick of wood with a certain mix of chemicals in the head remains one of the most practical tools for starting fire. Nothing else has saved as many lives of those who desperately needed a flame to fend off the cold.

Quiz: How Good Are You at Reading Hunting Weather?

Joe_Cermele — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 09:38:18 -0400

Used to be that a man looked to the sky before reaching for his hunting gear. The clouds told him all he needed to know about the weather coming that day, how it would affect his hunting strategy, and what precautions he needed to take to stay alive. Today’s hunters rely on bow-tied TV meteorologists for the latest updates on God’s intentions, but a working knowledge of clouds can still go a long way toward filling a deer tag. Or saving your nervous system from a million-volt bolt of electricity.

Wrap Bait Fillets on Flatfish Plugs to Catch More Salmon and Smallmouth

Online Editors — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:16:49 -0400

No angler in the know would dream of casting or trolling a banana wobbler for king salmon without first adding a sardine or anchovy belly strip. But the effectiveness of bait-wrapping a lure to add scent isn’t limited to the Pacific Northwest. Few river smallmouths can resist a bait-wrapped Flatfish, and back-trolling a bait-wrapped Kwikfish is one of the best ways to catch Great Lakes steelhead. To wrap a lure, you’ll need a fillet knife, scissors, and a self-binding clear thread, such as Spider Thread (redwingtackle.com).

Build A Survival Fire With Condoms and Underwear

Joe_Cermele — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:58:22 -0400

When my wife notices the small, square foil wrapper on my desk, she regards me with a coolly level gaze.

“I can explain,” I tell her. And I do, but she remains skeptical. After all, it’s not the kind of wrapper she’s used to seeing when I’m conducting research for this column. She becomes even more skeptical when I tell her I need it to start a fire.

10 Best Public Lands for Elk (And How to Hunt Them)

Joe_Cermele — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:27:16 -0400

Mark Seacat likens hunting on public lands to a game of chess—not one you play with the wapiti so much as with other hunters.

What's the Best Survival Weapon?

colinkearns — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:20:58 -0400

If you’ve watched Survivorman, it’s hard to ignore the fact that Les Stroud, the star of the show, seems to starve during every episode. I don’t mean this as a criticism; Stroud is the real deal. But his hunger pangs raise a point: Boy Scout improv works better on the page than in the forest. If you want to bring down enough bacon to keep up your strength, you’re going to need bullets—and the more, the better. With this in mind, I recently tested two different approaches to the survival question.

The Pocket Protector

Field & Stream's Lake-Fishing Weather Quiz

Joe_Cermele — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:38:03 -0400

Start a Survival Fire With a Bullet

colinkearns — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:33:01 -0400

Gunpowder can provide a hot flame to ignite damp tinder. Tap out a bullet to access the powder. Pour a small pile of powder onto a fabric square and place the cloth onto a nest of tinder. Ignite the driest tinder and stand back. The powder will flare up long enough to help dry out and catch fire to the damp tinder.

The Pros & Cons of Survival Walkie Talkies

colinkearns — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 13:24:28 -0400

I hail from a generation who could do no more than shout to gain the attention of fellow sportsmen, and my first experience with two-way radios was far from encouraging. Through snowflakes I could make out my brother working down the opposite ridge less than 200 yards away, and I still couldn't raise him on the radio.

How to Make a Knife Handle Out of an Antler Shed

Online Editors — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 11:26:41 -0500

It was a hunt to remember, but the antlers weren’t big enough to justify a mount. So you’ve hung them from the workshop rafters, where soon they’ll be forgotten. Why not make a memento before the mice start nibbling? That way you not only have a keepsake that recalls a special day, but an heirloom you can pass down to the next generation. I’m talking about crafting a knife. All you need is a steady hand and a few tools, plus a stick-tang blade and a brass guard that you can order from a knife supply outlet such as Ragweed Forge (www.ragweedforge.com).