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Post by pheniox17 on Nov 2, 2014 14:25:12 GMT 10
My largest belief (crystal ball wise) when the S really hits the fan (a generational changing event) we as survivers will revert back to pre industrial age living but with a modern twist...
But a few things are becoming difficult to get a lot of info on... (Some exists some don't :/ )
Early Australia (both as the English prison settlement and how the aboriginal population survived)
The skills needed to survive for a extended period of time (wills and Burke?? And their failure)
Weapons and hunting techniques of the period??
Tools and equipment (the minimum to thrive) of the period
Then with modern "luxuries"
So with what we know as preppers and the questions I'm caught up on, if you as a individual had to (by foot or human power only) relive a scouting trip through Australia what would you be willing to take? Use? Skills to improve on? Any other questions or hang ups on this??
This is more with my inch bag focus, but also I'm stumped, as we activate the bug out plan, dissapare into the woods, or where ever, yet the bag is all you have...
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
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Post by scoutmum on Nov 2, 2014 16:20:00 GMT 10
Personally, I think we make a mistake when we rely overly in our plans on modern technology. Fuel will inevitably run out, and solar power batteries eventually need to be replaced. I take great comfort, though, in the fact that most of our ancestors were able to live pretty comfortably.
The only modern things that I can see spending much time on are things like those insulating blankets, etc, that can protect you from extreme heat/cold. It would also be a comfort to have antivenom supplies (although, again, these are finite) because if you have run in with, say, a taipan, I think we know who's likely to come out on top!
If I were planning a scouting trek across Australia, I would probably go for a good bush pony and mule. Camels might be good too, in that they require very little in the means of fuel, but who wants to take the time to catch and break in a camel??
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Post by Whisperer on Nov 2, 2014 17:36:08 GMT 10
I agree Pheniox,the collapse will leave us slightly ahead of the the dark ages.
So our reliance on electronic devices will ultimately not help us and our lack of skills will affect us as well. Not our hunting and gathering skills but the actual day to day skills of existence. Sewing of clothing without electrical devices, manufacturing of tools and implements. How many of us know a bowyer of flectcher? Can any of us do this ourselves? What about simply making a chair from scratch without power tools.
I think we need to broaden our knowledge base personal and as a group so we can share our information before comms drop out. I know NSW TAFE used to run an introduction to blacksmithing and I am sure there are other courses around.
Should we be stacking our Bug Out Locations with tools and books with the intent of being there for the long haul.
Net time you are considering what to buy as your next prep item consider some hand tools and stocks of nails and screws or items that may help you for an extended period at your locations be they be bug in or out.
Just my thoughts feel free to comment or disagree.
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scoutmum
Senior Member
North Queensland
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Post by scoutmum on Nov 2, 2014 18:26:45 GMT 10
I've thought a bit more, re. the scouting trip across Australia, and what I would bring that our predecessors didn't have access to... I'd take a map, and also a book on edible native plants.
Also... if you have an idea of where you would be camping along the way I have a story/tip my husband shared with me: it used to be on the cattle stations (and sometimes still is) that the men would have camps set up on various parts of the property where they would stay for only a few nights/weeks out of the year. The old-timers, before they left the camp, would plant potatoes, pumpkin, cherry tomatoes, etc... That way, the next year, when they came to the same camp they wouldn't be stuck eating nothing but meat and canned food. I should also mention, that a lot of these old camps are still out there, although they are rarely used these days. It's not unusual on a station to come across a patch of pumpkin just groing out in the middle of nowhere!
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on Nov 2, 2014 18:51:37 GMT 10
I've thought a bit more, re. the scouting trip across Australia, and what I would bring that our predecessors didn't have access to... I'd take a map, and also a book on edible native plants. Also... if you have an idea of where you would be camping along the way I have a story/tip my husband shared with me: it used to be on the cattle stations (and sometimes still is) that the men would have camps set up on various parts of the property where they would stay for only a few nights/weeks out of the year. The old-timers, before they left the camp, would plant potatoes, pumpkin, cherry tomatoes, etc... That way, the next year, when they came to the same camp they wouldn't be stuck eating nothing but meat and canned food. I should also mention, that a lot of these old camps are still out there, although they are rarely used these days. It's not unusual on a station to come across a patch of pumpkin just groing out in the middle of nowhere! Actually I'm going to take that idea and go put some spuds and whatnot in a few random locations along my expected travel routes, spuds are great as once you get them in they will almost grow in spite of you. Great thread by the way, we are lucky these days in that we have water filters, I know they will eventually run out but that is something I would be packing.
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Post by Fractus on Nov 3, 2014 14:11:09 GMT 10
If you can subsist long enough and start with a some helpful basic skills like growing food and possibly raising meat etc then some of the old skills will be re discovered. At least most of Australia is snow free and even in the coldest parts can be survived without the skin of a mammoth. Luckily one of my few skills is fetching and string making and I have geese for the feathers. So a rudimentary bow would be possible. But that is why people group so that skills are are shared and mutual safety enhanced. We should all be growing English yew
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wolfstar
Senior Member
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Post by wolfstar on Nov 3, 2014 15:38:08 GMT 10
As for pre modern hunting, sling or slingshot for small prey like bunnies and birds, spear, dogs and bow and arrow are still highly effective for anything too big for a pebble to kill. Our forefathers were able to feed themselves this way so it wouldn't take us long to adapt to being proficient hunters again imho. Then you add snares, fishing and traps..... I can't imagine us going hungry. Not for meat anyhow. Lol
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Post by Peter on Nov 3, 2014 16:24:24 GMT 10
As for pre modern hunting, sling or slingshot for small prey like bunnies and birds, spear, dogs and bow and arrow are still highly effective for anything too big for a pebble to kill. Our forefathers were able to feed themselves this way so it wouldn't take us long to adapt to being proficient hunters again imho. Then you add snares, fishing and traps..... I can't imagine us going hungry. Not for meat anyhow. Lol If we have access to such animals, you're absolutely right. Even in my part of the metropolitan area, I can get some fish, prawns and crabs in a nearby river (there are also dolphins, sharks, etc - but that's a whole different scenario). There are also lots of birds (pelicans, swans (which I believe to be delicious), seagulls, ducks, cormorants, plus a heap of little birds that don't do much other than crap on my windscreen). There are a few rabbits in some nearby parks. I'm thinking an air rifle would be really handy, but when I was a kid I'd make slingshots with elastic bands or diving spear rubbers. We'd take down a seagull at 20m without any problems. I like the idea of a sling as there are pretty much always suitable stones to be found, they'll take down a bird/small animal, and they're silent (both in terms of remaining unheard by other prey and people). They could possibly be used as a defensive weapon if all other avenues were exhausted.
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krull68
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Post by krull68 on Nov 3, 2014 18:14:51 GMT 10
I would first get a book on Amish living, including tech drawings for making wheels, carts, plows, harvesters etc. I would also have books on other pre industrial farming level technology, such as metallurgy, also maps of known metal locations. also books on plants to eat and not eat in Australia. basically books, books, books, you can never have too much knowledge. Second I would have basic tools, picks, axes and the likes, also a way to purify water off grid, such as a desalination system.
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on Nov 3, 2014 18:51:43 GMT 10
If you are forced into a colder climate, go for deer skins, the hairs are hollow and thus make excellent insulation.
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Frank
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Post by Frank on Nov 4, 2014 15:57:28 GMT 10
Good topic/discussion starter Phen
If talking about a post-shtf scouting party into the outback, I am going to assume the satellite system is down so no mobiles, no GPS etc. A few dot points of what I would think about taking are below:
- Compass and map (if you have one of the area) - Handhelf UHF and small solar panel to charge it (if other parties have these aswell, pretty useless if you are the only one) - Rifle and ammunition - Bow and arrows (help save the ammo) - Hatchet, knife and small shovel - Water as well as Lifestraw or equivilent - Emergency blanket, plastic bags, poncho - Rope - Lighter, matches, firestarter - Spare clothes. Must cover all climates, be quick drying and tough - Food is where it gets tricky. Flour, rice, canned/longlife goods (if still available somewhere), dried fruit
I am sure there is something I have forgotten and there is always more then one way to skin a cat. Would be a range of options, limited to what you can scavenge and imagination
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Post by Peter on Nov 4, 2014 18:45:18 GMT 10
Paracord is a must. Along with knowledge of a variety of snare designs.
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Post by pheniox17 on Nov 8, 2014 19:20:49 GMT 10
Its still got me a little stumped ..
Rifle, would have to be a quality flint lock with the knowledge to make black powder etc..
Map + compass... With all roads and streams clearly marked
Good knife, radio is a good idea, a good torch... I'm thinking at light as possible...
This line of thinking doubles with bug out plans as a redundancy... As tough as it is in the outback, it may allow you time to recover/escape from some horrible worse case type of events, idk its a interesting thought
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