Live Free or Die

[cyndi]

A new national geographic show

Live Free or Die explores one of America’s most remote subcultures, following five people who have left the modern world behind to live in backwoods and swamps where they hunt their own food, build their own shelters, and survive only on what they can produce with their own two hands and sharp intuition

http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/live-free-or-die/

 

[caseyc]

Probably a prelude to a new Survivor reality TV show, haha!

 

[SoulRaven]

Way too much work, just go down to the D.P.W. office and sign up.

http://downtrend.com/robertgehl/welfare-payouts-top-20-per-hour-in-eight-states/

 

[user 423]

Wow. If I could do that for a year I could lose the extra 35lbs. I carry around and also save about $13,000 for a newer rig.

 

[GotSmart]

No thank you. I enjoy hot showers way to much to go totally feral.

 

[highdesertranger]

although I find the idea great I don't think it's to practical. but I do love the motto "live free or die". I think we as a country need more of that attitude. highdesertranger

 

[Bdog1]

Also "Mic Dodge" on Nat Geo and "Death Valley" that I think is on Discovery. Seems a whole new crop of basic living shows.

 

[Patrick46]

I'm IN!!


I really don't understand what the fuss is.
Folks lived like this for 10,000 years before mechanized man made such a mess of things.


There are acouple places here in Oregon and in Northern California, where they teach you how to live completely off the land using primative tools. I'd love to go sometime. SERIOUSLY.

of course, this come from a guy who.....
(I'd also love to spend 9 months living in a true Tibetan Buddhist monastery. 3 months just to cleanse mysself of my reliance to modern life, 3 months to learn how to do things the 'right' way, and 3 months to absorb living this way.
I DO understand that to do this 'right' takes years of dedication and committment...but I think 9 months will give me a good taste of what it's really like.)

I live for new experiences!

 

[akrvbob]

I just watched it about an hour ago. Very, very good!
Bob

 

[ccbreder]

Where do they go off camera, after the filming is finished?

 

[akrvbob]

They have remote land they live on, they go home because they are already home!

Two are in NC, one in Georgia and one in CA.

Bob

 

[highdesertranger]

well I have never seen the show but just from this thread I can see a couple of issues. they hunt and fish? to they have the proper licenses and tags? who pays their property taxes? where do they get money? highdesertranger

 

[akrvbob]

The problem with hunting and fishing licenses occured to me too. They live there year around and most things aren't in season year around. They could put in a couple deer for year around use but they don't seem to be in very rich areas to me so that doesn't really make sense. It's easy to hunt-out small game real fast unless you have a lot of land. Last night the couple in NC ate a bobcat they got as road kill, the guy in Georgia caught a beaver in a trap and the other guy in NC ate a squirrel.

For the little money they need I think they sell pelts and make crafts. Seems a little far-fetched to me though. I've only seen one episode so I can't be sure yet.

I watch another show on History called Mountain Man and it seems much more realistic. They are on big chunks of land and the get lots of game and put in moose, deer and buffalo which is LOTS of meat. The get a lot of pelts and some make crafts or sell logs from their land. They are more balanced and aren't true subsistence living. That is a very hard thing to do anymore.
Bob

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

There are exemptions to licensing, depending on the state. They usually have a lot of restrictions.

For example in FL:
"Food stamp, temporary cash assistance, or Medicaid recipients

The "food stamp" exemption below only applies to Florida residents who are saltwater fishing from the shore or a structure attached to the shore. It does not apply to freshwater fishing or to saltwater fishing from a vessel or when swimming or diving."

 

[Lostinspace]

And don't forget over 65, which is me, can hunt and fish anything for free. This of course is for a Florida resident and you have to obey the limits, size and season. Not sure about stamps, permits for ducks and 'gators though. I imagine you have to get permit for 'gators still. Road kill should still be free.

Just last week I fished for a week with a bud on the three lakes his home sits on.

 

[PeterG]

Most places I have been you don't need a license to fish on your own land, either. But I agree that you would need a pretty big area to live off the land by hunting game. Deer move around, but smaller game not so much. Maybe they raise rabbits and chickens? I could see that working. Native peoples spent a significant part of their time hunting and gathering, and also did some agriculture. They also over generations planted (or selected for) food-bearing trees like chestnut to supplement their diets.

I like camping, but I think I will continue to enjoy modern medicine and dentistry....and pastries...and the occasional video game...did I already mention pastries? Ok, I'm going to Panera. Later.

 

[highdesertranger]

well here in kalifornia there are no exemptions. everyone pays, some get discounts, seniors, handicap, military. also here in kalifornia it's very rare to get more than one tag for deer per season. in some popular areas the state even runs lottos to see who gets tags and if you get one you can't apply for tags for a few years. even with fishing there are seasons and limits on most fish and you need a license to hunt/fish even if it's private property. also the fish and game can go on your property at anytime, no warrant needed. they can and do set up roadblocks and can search your vehicle/ice chest at anytime. they have more search powers then the leo's. highdesertranger

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

I read you can fish in the sea off certain piers in cali.

American indians and native alaskians get fed level exemptions.

 

[highdesertranger]

I read you can fish in the sea off certain piers in cali.

you still need a license. I believe there a two days per year when you don't. highdesertranger

 

[cyndi]

American indians and native alaskians get fed level exemptions.

Another urban myth. Like the one where they don't pay taxes.