Living off the land

[lampliter]

vantramp---that's great; there are so many variations it would take a book to discuss them all---I make my own flat bands from.03 pure latex from McMaster Carr. For those who really want to get into slingshots check out USA Slingshot Forum. Another site is The Slingshot Channel on Youtube.<br>

 

[sl1966]

What have you taken down with the sling/sling arrow/blow gun?<div><br></div>

 

[vonu]

According to what I've read online, those who take up sungazing can give up eating, FWIW.

 

[vonu]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sungazing

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See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inedia under&nbsp;<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 27px; "><b>Breatharianism.</b></span></div>

 

[sl1966]

No thanks. I'll stick consuming veggies and animals.<div><br></div><div>So, anyone, about them slingshots? What has anyone taken down and how. I'm curious to learn how easy or difficult it may be to hunt with one.</div><div><br></div>

 

[lampliter]

sl1966--I don't hunt with mine--I would if I were hungry though. I have seen videos on utube of a wild hog being taken with one using arrows. If you want to see how much power can be generated with a slingshot check out The Slingshot Channel on U tube. <br>

 

[VanTramp]

For making animated gifs, such as dancing smileys, the GIMP works well! I have used it for years for that purpose in Linux and it really is a pretty easy process.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>As far as taking animals with the slingshots or blowguns, not yet! We have really just been into it since last year and so far have been just target shooting. We do plan to keep them with for hunting in the future, but have yet to have reason or been in a situation where it would have been a good time. One thing I do like a lot about the slingshots and blowguns is the ability to target shoot in fairly populated environments. We enjoy shooting, but finding locations to target shoot with more lethal gear requires more careful selection and usually driving around here.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>

 

[sl1966]

After careful research. I've learned that it's important to smell like your prey and environment in order to have the greatest success in "the hunt". I've devised a better way increase my chances after learning the social structure of the hare. They need a strong leader and I believe this will allow me to slip in and take over ....<div><br></div><div><a href="http://cdn.costumesupercenter.com/csc_inc/images/items/480x600/31594XL.jpg" target="_blank">http://cdn.costumesupercenter.com/csc_inc/images/items/480x600/31594XL.jpg</a></div><div><br></div><div>Rabbit stew for all!</div><div><br></div>

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

<P><FONT size=3><B>I will be watching for you.</B></FONT><IMG border=0 align=absMiddle src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif"></P>

 

[sl1966]

It's been almost a year since I started this thread and am giving it a bump since we've got so many more new people now. I want to see how many of you hunt small game (rabbit, hare, quail, pheasant, squirrel) to vary your menu and save some cash on food. Maybe swap some stories and/or advice.<div><br></div><div>I'm about to (finally) purchase my rifle and start hunting. I've lined up a few local farms where I can pest hunt cottontail for the farmers and am looking forward to the experiences to come.</div><div><br></div>

 

[owl]

<P>&nbsp;&nbsp; I have been hunting since I was four years old. That's 61 years. I have taken game from moose to dove and quail. I only take what I will eat. Most wild game is quite tasty if prepared correctly. Collecting and consuming&nbsp;wild plants is something I have done on occasion and is quite interesting. On my daily two hour walk this morning along the American river in the Sacramento valley I picked about two pounds of wild asparagus. In the desert it is much harder to find much edible and you have to be less finicky.</P>

 

[twokniveskatie]

Owl, I am jealous. Wild asparagus is still too elusive for me. Maybe this year though! I once thought I'd never find a morel, either. I am waiting on fiddlehead ferns now, and looking forward to sheep sorrel, lambs quarters, and all the others.&nbsp;<div><br></div><div>I love most all wild game. My favorite is caribou, thanks to one of mu brothers. &nbsp;I am back on the farm for awhile, so will do a lot of foraging and squirrel hunting for food. I like rabbit but hate digging out pellets. Squirrels are easy enough with the .22. We have been reintroducing pheasant here. Lots of duck and deer and turkey.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Steve, our time together in Texas was way too short. We have so much to talk about, so much in common. You really need to catch up with Ron cause he has an interest in blow guns....would love to add that to my arsenal! What kind of gun you getting?</div><div><br></div><div>I was planning to be in Michigan for the summer but a sick sibling mAy be changing that. I'll keep you posted.&nbsp;</div>

 

[sl1966]

<div>

<span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left; ">Steve, our time together in Texas was way too short. We have so much to talk about, so much in common. You really need to catch up with Ron cause he has an interest in blow guns....would love to add that to my arsenal! What kind of gun you getting?

</span></div><div><br></div><div>It really was! I'm hoping you won't deprive us of your presence at RTR III, and the good times to be had. We're most definitely the same kind crazy&nbsp;<img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif">. Does Ron lurk or post here? If not pass me his email address in private and I'll reach out to him.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>I'm getting the Benjamin Marauder .25 (over the .22 version) caliber PCP air rifle. It puts game down with little to no twitching. My verbal put downs only angered game into leaving the field.&nbsp;</div>

 

[Sunny1]

I've studied wild edible plants and mushrooms for years and have bookshelves full of books on them.&nbsp; I've even gone on foraging trips where all I ate was what I could forage, and I never went hungry.&nbsp; In fact, I started studying mushrooms because I got bored with just plants.<br><br>If you want the absolute best books that describe the plants in detail, how to recognize them, how to prepare them, check out books by Samuel Thayer.&nbsp; He is the new Euell Gibbons -- a true encyclopedia of wild edible plant knowledge.<br><br>He also debunks a lot of wild edible myths and even caught mistakes that Euell Gibbons made.<br><br>I thought I was extremely knowledgeable about identifying and using wild edibles, but I learned a LOT from him.<br><br>Check out the reviews of his books on Amazon.&nbsp; He really is number one.<br><br>

 

[sl1966]

Sunny , how hard is it learning to tell what's edible versus what isn't? Did it take long to learn and have you ever foraged in the southwestern deserts?<div><br></div>

 

[Sunny1]

sl1966, it's not hard, just very tedious at first.&nbsp; I used to try to teach people but noticed that a lot of people don't pay attention to details -- like whether leaves are alternate or opposite, whether leaf veins are curved or straight, how leaves are joined to the stem, etc.&nbsp; <br><br>And noticing details is critical.&nbsp; For instance, poison hemlock and wild carrot can be mistaken for each other.&nbsp; But the surefire identification is the shape of the bracts underneath the flowers and wild carrots have hairy stems while poison hemlock does not.<br><br>If you are a person who can learn to notice details, then it's easy to learn what's edible from what's not.<br><br>When I started, all weeds looked pretty much alike to me.&nbsp; I would go out two or three days a week just looking at weeds and noticing the differences.&nbsp; Once I got used to seeing differences, the rest followed.<br><br>It doesn't come quickly.&nbsp; I was able to identify one, then three, then five, and eventually dozens of edibles on sight.&nbsp; But I loved being out of doors and I loved studying the plants, so it was a natural progression.<br><br>You should have no trouble learning the most important edibles in your area with a little time invested each week as long as you have good guidebooks.<br><br>I've only foraged in the southeast, but every area of the country has its own hidden storehouses of food.<br><br>Years ago I read that during the pioneers' westward migration that many people starved to death with literally tons of food beneath their feet.<br><br>I think that Chris Nyerges has some books that specialize in wild foods of the west, although I don't own any of his.<br><br><br><br>

 

[sl1966]

Thanks. My profession is very detail oriented so I'm no stranger to that. I've a few books on edible desert plants but haven't had a chance to read them yet. I'll be relying on market produce til I can devote more time to the practice. I did learn about a few edible plants but the only plant I remember how to ID is mormon tea. It's a start I guess.<div><br></div>

 

[Sunny1]

The plants with starchy roots are the ones that will really help if you are hungry.&nbsp; I do wish Jerusalem artichokes and burdock grew in our area, but we are too far south.&nbsp; They are plants that would keep you alive.&nbsp; We do have lots of nuts and wild fruit, though.<br><br>The greens are mostly good at providing vitamins and minerals that may be missing if you are eating storage food.&nbsp; <br><br>Being able to hunt and fish probably provides a lot more nourishment.<br><br>

 

[sl1966]

Actually vegetarian diets can provide you with all you need nutritionally. The reason most of them look that way is because they didn't bother to study the diet and learn how to substitute proteins that they're used to getting from meats. Not that eating meat is bad for you. I think veggies and meats farmed/raised in captivity aren't as good as what we used to get in the wild. This is kind of why I'm learning towards hunting to start with, and learn foraging a little later. I'll still get most of my food from markets but want to balance things out with some wild foods.<div><br></div>

 

[joey]

HEY KATIE, How about moving this to "HOBBIES ON THE ROAD" ??