I had no intention of writing an article today, but then a buddy of mine and I went into the woods behind his house to "plink" with the air rifle. We shot at the target, but inevitably got bored and started wondering around the woods like 6 year olds. We continued acting like 6 years old when we noticed a medium sized water moccasin curled up in the water next to a brush pile. It took about .549 seconds of thought before we knew we had to try and shoot it. I moved to an elevated spot where I had a clear line of sight and clear flight path for the pellet. I fired the shot, hit the snake directly in the bean, and it was floating instantly (dead). I was instantly gratified because not only is my favorite snake a dead snake, but it was a pretty good shot at around 20 meters. This was also the first live creature I had shot with the air rifle and I am pretty amazed at the power. Snakes are not ultra resilient animals, but it took it down faster than I had thought it would. The rest of this article will describe the process from kill to belly. Just as a warning, full color photos are posted in this article, so if you are weak stomached, close your eyes for those parts.

Step 1: After the snake is dead it will move for quiet some time. You need to get the head chopped off before you do anything. The longer you leave the head on the more likely the snake is going to be credited with an "afterlife kill". Pin the head down with a stick, stand on the stick, cut the head off 2-3 inches from the base of the head. The spine on a snake is stronger than you might think so a serrated edge helps.


a snake with no head!

Step 2: Split the snake the entire length of its body on the under belly side. We found this was easiest by starting in the middle and going towards the head, then starting from the middle and going towards the tail. Word of caution, about where the lighter color ends on the underneath side is where all the "gushy" organs are located. You are better off to cut that off rather than try and split all the way through the tail. Of course we cut it open because we are stupid and not only did horrible fluids go everywhere, the smell was not very friendly either.




As you can see rupturing the bladder makes a surprisingly big mess. I enhanced this with scratch-n-sniff technology so if you are man enough test it out...

Step 3: Work from the head end and start scrapping out the guts. There is a white film inside keeping everything attached and scrapping that away keeps everything in tact. It is very similar to gutting a fish.

This shows a clear picture of the white lining, cut and follow that the entire length of one side of the snake

Once you have one whole side done, start "rolling the guts over the side while you trim away and push the guts over the side as demonstrated here.

Step 4: Remove skin, the skin comes off incredably easy. Use the knife to scrape off a piece big enough to grab, then pull! Thats all there is to it.

"Starter" portion of the skin

Pull!

Step 5: Clean and eat. Make sure you cook it thouroughly. Snake is not sushi and can be harmfull if eaten less than cooked. All meat needs to reach a minimum of 140 degrees to ensure any potential parasites are killed. The best way to do this is wrap it around a stick and cook it on a hot fire for a long time.



Today's post will discuss another topic that seems so simple no one is talking about it, but it could have disastrous effects if neglected. What to wear when it is time to Bug out. This post however will disappoint any woman who accidental stumbled across this page and is reading this because we are not going to discuss the "high fashion" of how to look good while evade a crappy world, but what to wear that will last, conceal, and protect. I will cover this topic from top to bottom and offer some suggestions on how to outfit yourself. You don't need to look like Delta Dan or Scuba Steve when you are in survival mode. We can all agree that buying expensive tactical clothing is as close to bad ass as we are going to be, but it just isn't necessary and you could be spending that money on guns or knives or fun-dip, anything really so don't wast your money on a whole mess of "tacti-cool" clothing and get some stuff that is help full.

No matter what you decide to wear it needs to meet certain criteria. The criteria that I use when determining apparel is as follows; it has to provide protection from the sun. The Earth, Wind, and Fire is a super rad band and also the key elements that provide Captain Planet's team their super powers, however in the great outdoors these elements are not your friend. It would suck like a Hoover to survive the zombies just to die from exposure 3 days later. The second test measure is concealment. You need something that is going to aid in your not being discovered. This is going to be different for different environments so it takes some consideration. When in an urban environment, ATAC camouflage is probably not going to help conceal you, but make you seem suspicious to all the people around. Conversely, once you are in the woods, you probably don't want to wear your black and yellow Hammer pants. You may be 2 Legit 2 Quit with them on, but people will probably notice you and that is inconsistent with longevity after the world as gone to hell. Lastly, your clothes need to be comfortable. If it rubs you raw, gives you "hot spots" and blisters, and makes you sweat like crazy, it is probably not a good idea to wear it. This requires testing by you, as the wearer, and not copying some cool-guy picture you saw on Pinterest. The number one reason people get uncomfortable gear is because they saw someone they had a man crush on wearing it and they want to be just like them. After you have Bugged Out you are either going to turn into the guy from Duck Dynasty or Uncle Fester so the ladies aren't going to care about your North Face jacket or your American Eagle jeans.

Upper Body:

Lightweight long sleeve shirt. Even in a temperate environments (warm weather for my fellow grunts) wear long sleeves. This will provide protection form the elements and brush and preserve your skin. Some companies offer long sleeves with mesh arm pits and mesh panels in the back, this is nice and if you are a heavy sweater I would recommend it, but for the average person this is not needed. Ensure the shirts you get are lightweight, but don't sacrifice quality for weight. Cotton or a cotton/nylon mix are optimal materials for outer garments.

Lower Body:

Pants! Pants! Pants! Chopping a zombies head off in a Led Zeppelin t-shirt and some denim cutoffs is every grown mans dream, but just like many of our dreams, it's a bad idea!
 
Pants will provide protection for your legs, and since at this point your legs are your primary means of transportation it is a good idea to keep those bad boys tip top shape. Pants are great, but not just any pants will do. Denim, sweat pants, and dress slacks need to be avoided at all costs. A quality cotton or cotton/nylon mix are ideal for pants. It is also beneficial to pay attention to the stitching. The crotchal region and knees in particular need to have re enforced stitching. The last thing you want is to take a knee to tie your shoe, just to stand up and realize you upgraded your pants with a sunroof. Buying quality pants that will survive the elements and movement will result in less need to pack more pants, resulting in less weight you have to carry. Additionally, if at all possible wear cargo pants. Cargo pants are functional from top to bottom, all other pants are only functional at the top. Whatever pants you wear make sure you have a heavy duty belt. A 2 inch nylon belt is ideal.

Underwear:

A t-shirt as an undershirt is a must. Chest hair is is super awesome, but horrible for wicking away sweat from your body. As for the downstairs under garments, wear what you normally wear. Going "commando" seams like a good idea to minimize laundry, but unless you are a current and qualified Infantryman, I wouldn't recommend it. Wear something supportive that you would normally wear to do something active outdoors. If you don't know what to wear outdoors because you have never done anything active, don't worry about your underwear because you probably aren't going to make it that far in survival mode anyway. A light weight base layer needs to be in your bag as well for night time and times when you aren't moving. Polypropylene is the best material for keeping warm and minimizing weight. Just keep in mind, don't wear long underwear while moving, you will have a heat stroke, even in the cold.

Footwear

An over the ankle boot is ideal for movement. It provides support for the entire foot and minimizes the chance of injury. An over the ankle sock needs to be worn with this. I have spent my whole life making fun of my father for wearing socks entirely too high for the shoe he is wearing, but he gave good advice in response, "I would rather be functional than look good". The socks you wear need to be moisture wicking, keeping your feet dry is keeping your feet happy. To help keep your feet dry and functioning properly ensure your boot uppers are a breathable material. Mesh is a good option, just make sure you don't get mesh that is so wide that rocks and sand can get in to your boot. Make sure your boots have a good molded sole for all types of terrain. You want a good overall boot, not something that is specific to one type of terrain. A minimum of one extra pair of socks needs to be in your bag, but I recommend as many socks as you can take. Socks are probably the most important item of clothing you can take with you.
                                                                        

Headgear

Numero uno is a shemagh. Not only do they look extremely cool, but they are multifunctional. A shemagh can provide cover from the sun, provide warmth in the cold, get it wet and it will cool your body, you can use it to filter water, use it as a bandage, a splint, a carrying sack, a towel, i think you get the point... You also need to pack a lightweight beanie. Even in warm weather places, it gets cool at night so you need to keep your bean warm. Sunglasses need to be warn, preferably with ballistic lenses. Using the shemagh to protect your eyes from the sun is a technique, but sunglasses are the preferred method. Ballistic lens just provide a little more protection for your looker balls, and this is good because their is no field expedient eyeball replacement that I know of (if you do, PLEASE let me know what it is).
                                                 Maintain your pasty complexion!!


Color of Clothing

During the initial Bug Out wear earth toned colors. This will help you blend in with vegetation and draw attention to you, but allows you to move through urban areas without drawing attention as well. Once you are out of dodge and into the woods you are going to want to change into your camouflage clothing, but we are working on a separate article on camouflage so I am not going to discuss that too much here now.Just keep it simple and don't draw attention to yourself. Your kit probably includes several weapons for self defense, but if you can get out of town without anyone knowing that is preferred.

Fuel your body to stay alive

There is a lot of talk about how to "Bug Out" and get away from whatever apocalyptic event is taking place to get out of dodge. There are thousands of articles on weapons, vehicles, shelters, hunting strategies, and much more, all based on the first days and weeks you "Bug Out". This article is going to cover something I don't see a lot of discussion on in the initial phase of Bugging out, Vitamins. I think it is highly advisable to take a multivitamin in your bug out bag and here's why:

First of all, What is a multivitamin?
 A multivitamin is a supplement, either in pill or liquid form, that fills the void between what our body is designed to operate off of and what we are actually in taking through our diet. The human body NEEDS 13 essential vitamins to function properly vitamins A, B, C, D, E, K, B12, and the 7 B-complex vitamins are critical in regulating the human body's performance.

Why do I need to take a multivitamin?

1. Most of us probably should be taking a multivitamin during our day to day lives, but the need for supplemental vitamins greatly increases once we are in survival mode.
2. Stress is a risk factor which needs serious supplementation. Odds are if something is causing you to "Bug Out" your stress level is going to be elevated.
3. Hard work is another factor that requires higher levels of vitamins. There is a reason body builders, distance runners, and professional athletes take supplements, their bodies need them. During the initial phase of bugging out you are going to be moving and shaking and burning all your stored up vitamins, thus the need arises to replace them.
4. Lack of sufficient diet. During the initial phase you are going to be moving and probably not eating well. You more than likely have food in your BOB, but it is more than likely high calorie freeze dried foods. This is great for energy and travel, but not good long term. Think of your body as a two stroke motor, it runs on gas and oil mixed together. Food is the gas, vitamins are the oil. High calorie food is great gas, but lacks severely in the oil category. You don't want to wait until you are out of oil and start having engine problems to think about replenishing oil, this is where the multivitamin comes in to play. It helps maintain your body and supplement the lack of a real diet during your initial phase of your new life.
5. Retain mental acuity. During any survival situation, but specifically the escape and evade portion your brain is your most powerful and necessary tool. Maintaining proper nutrient levels is going to keep you mentally sharp and able to make good decisions on what you need to do.

Does a multivitamin really work?

Yes. There are not too many things scientist agree on, but the fact that a multivitamin does supplement a lack in diet provided nutrients is something that is widely accepted. As far as the "right vitamin for you" that is for a doctor to advise you on, or for you to do your own research. No vitamin companies are paying me to write this article so I am not going to recommend any by name, but I will give you 5 factors to consider when selecting a multivitamin.

1. The amount of vitamins and minerals. Don't just assume more is better. Your body is designed to operate on certain amounts of different vitamins, getting one with too much of any type means you are going to have very nutritious poop and pee. While this may be good for the environment, it is ultimately a waste of money and effort.
2. The type of vitamins and minerals. What vitamins are in the supplement and what forms are they in is critical. For example, pretty much all multivitamins have Calcium, but it comes in different forms, Calcium citrate and calcium carbonate. I am not an expert in the differences and how they react differently with the body, but it is something to consider when shopping around.
3. The quality. Just like anything else you are purchasing for your BOB research it. Get lab results, product reviews from independent sources, anything you can to determine the right one for you.
4. Your specific needs. Gender, age, diet and lifestyle are all factors you should consider when selecting a supplement. Again, do some research for what is right for you.
5. The price. Don't think because you are paying more you are getting a better supplement. Most testing shows that generic brands are just as effective as more expensive brands at supplementing daily nutrient levels. Don't spend a lot of money in the name of PREPPING!

How do I sustain taking a multivitamin indefinitely?

Bottom line up front, you don't. I pack my BOB for maximum sustainability, but this is something that just can't be reused or sustained. So here's my recommendation. Pack a standard 2 month supply (60 days). For the first 30 days take a pill every day. For the next 20 days (day 31-50) take a pill every other day. The next 30 days (day 51-80) take a pill every third day. For the next 40 days (day 81-120) take a pill every fourth day. Utilizing this method will get you through the first month, which should be the most demanding mentally and physically, then weens you off the supplement as you get more settled and have a better source of food and routine diet.

Hopefully this post has increased your knowledge on nutrition in survival and as covered something you didn't think of before. Please feel free to comment and give feedback on this blog. We have lots of ideas, but we also desire to tailor to what people want to know, it is also fun for us to research new stuff so give us some more ideas.

Don't overlook Air in your BOB

So for my first true article I am going to discuss one of the most controversial topics in preparing a BOB or protecting the homestead: Weapons. I am however going to avoid all controversial arguments about pistols, shotguns, rifles, or any other typical gun. I do think a pistol and shotgun are pretty much mandatory whether mobile or stationary, but which ones you have I don’t really feel like arguing. I have my personal preference as I’m sure you do as well, so let’s agree to use what’s comfortable for us and move on. The goal of this post is to hopefully inspire thought on something you may not have considered before: An air rifle. That’s right, I have recently added an air rifle to my collection after much research and I think it is pure brilliance.

First let’s talk about the benefits of an air rifle:

1.      It is light weight in comparison to pretty much any rifle, unless you have spent a lot of money on lightweight furniture.

2.      There is no need for any outside resources for propulsion.

3.      The pellets are very cheap, very light, and readily available.

4.      The Feet Per Second (FPS) rating is 1200 FPS so I can hunt small to medium game with it successfully.

5.      It is very quiet .

6.      It is cheap. I paid $134 for mine and it came with a scope (The scope sucked big time, but that’s a whole different issue).

Now for the down side of the air rifle:

A.     Single shot

B.     Not as powerful as a full size rifle

So, now that we have established 5 PRO’s and 2 CON’s, I will now go line by line and discuss why the PRO’s significantly outweigh the CON’s.

1. Lightweight is always good. Everything has to be moved at some point or another and lighter is always better.

2. I have added a break barrel model air rifle so all I do is cock the barrel and I am ready to shoot. There are models that operate on small CO2 cartridges, but then you need to maintain a supply of canisters, this results in more weight and eventually you are going to run out. Another option for air rifles are pump models. While this is passes the longevity and independence test, it fails to meet the FPS test. The highest FPS you can get out of a pump right now is around 600 FPS, half of what you get from a break barrel. The break barrel is sustainable as long as you have pellets and offers 1200 FPS of killing power.

3. Air pellets are cheap, target pellets run $3 for 250 or if you want to splurge hunting sabot pellets are $8 for 250. Now to put in perspective how lightweight pellets are to carry. The average weight of a .177 pellet is .0647 grams. Knowing numbers and stats is great, but how does this all apply to the real world? My BOB packing list calls for 10,000 pellets, so I am carrying 1.42 pounds of pellets that cost me $120 and takes up about the same space as a Nalgene bottle.

4. Now for hunting. The number one CON I receive as a rebuttal to my air rifle topic is that it won’t kill anything bigger than a fox or coyote. I agree with this statement, but I do not see this as a downside. In a mobile survival situation there is not going to be a way to store a big game kill, thus there is no need for killing big game. Once the metaphorical “shit has hit the fan” all this trophy hunting is going to go away and you are going to need to live on squirrels, rabbits, birds, and foxes. If that’s what I need to live on, why take something bigger than what I need?

5. The air rifle is very quiet. Not whisper quiet, but quiet. In a survival situation, whether it is the government or zombies looking for you, remaining hidden is the best line of defense. The ability to collect meat without letting the whole world know where you are is an invaluable resource.

I have already addressed the downside of not being able to hunt big game, so now I will talk about the single shot. Not shooting the rifle multiple times decreases wasted shots and as a forcing function you are going to have to become a much better shooter. The air rifle is solely for hunting purposes so a single shot should not present too much of an issue. If a shot is missed when hunting, the rifle is quiet enough that it will not scare away most game if you do miss. Rapid shots primarily are going to be needed during self defense situations and for those I would recommend utilizing the pistol or shotgun in your kit.

Here is mine with my homemade paint job

Hopefully this discussion gives a better understanding for the types of things we will be discussing and has provided an additional method or at least an idea for something that can help you in your survival journey.

Introduction and what we are all about

First I would like to start off by letting everyone know I hate blogs and the only reason I am doing this is to cash in on the millions to be made out there in the bloggishpere! That being said, the real reason I am doing this is because I spend so much time talking about it with my friends and co-workers, I figured I might as well write it down and share our knowledge. So with that, lets get started...

First, about me. I am 28 years old originally from Colorado and have been in the Army since 2002. I will not be talking about the military in my posts, the only reason I bring that up is to provide some credibility to my posts on survival. I am not an expert at anything survival, but I do have a passion for it and spend entirely too much time thinking/talking about (just ask my wife for verification).

Second and most importantly, what this blog is all about. Survival is serious business and is talked about way too casually all over the web in my opinion. I spend a significant amount of time discussing, researching, and planning for any and every possible survival situation and find most of the YouTube videos and Forums seriously lacking in the areas of practicality and frankly, its leading people down the wrong path. The prime example of this is the "72 hour bag", I find it ridiculous to pack for 72 hours. The #1 place for surviving is in your homestead, you should make all attempts to maintain what you have in your established living area, if it is time to "bug out" you should have no expectation of returning, thus your bag should be filled with sustainable and multi-use items. I don't want to get carried away with stuff on the intro, but that's the aspect we will take in this blog.

I am not going to commit my life to this (mostly because I am not getting paid), but I will post regularly, I am shooting for weekly to start. I can't promise excellence, but I can promise good articles will be posted and it will be inexpensive, practical ways to survive like a cockroach!