Small game/ self defense bow

Here is a pic from a upcoming article on how to make a field expedient bow capable of taking small game and fish. This bow punches through a 3 layer cardboard target with 7 inches of penetration. In a must use scenario it could take out squirrels and rabbits and other varmint sized game as well as small fish provided you have enough string.

Improvised fish hooks (Guest Article)

Today I am going teach you how to make fishing hooks from the stuff around you. Start looking around for suitable thorns to use. In this article I will be using Wild Orange Thorns. The sharpest and sturdiest the better. Be careful not to dull the sharp tip of the thorns because this makes the hook so much more effective. I started by scraping the thin bark layer off my thorns this is not necessary, You can see how the tree has allowed the tip of the thorn to die so that it is harder and sharper. You need to find the strongest thorn branch possible, look for it to be thick at the base (next to the branch) and thin at the tip the thorns should be facing up. you could whittle it at the top for the string to fit and stay in place.

The thorn in the picture is not attached to the wood...but you could stick it to the wood with a very small amount of Pine tree resin or other glue to make binding the thorn less fiddly

Make a length of very thin cordage or you can just use a plain length of some kind of strong fiber or even a shoelace. Put the thorn through a loop knot on the end of the cordage. Hopefully the following pictures explain themselves and show how to bind the thorn to the wood.

 Continue wrapping the string around the stem of the hook and then to finish it off pass the end underneath the last couple of wraps and pull tight

Finished hook... It would have been better to carve the top of the hook so that it is easier to attach the line. Have fun!

Survival Kit

In this video I go over the basic load out of a grab and go survival kit. This kit at the bare minimum minus the knife and magnesium fire starter cost around 15 dollars to build and will make any emergency night in the woods more comfortable. This is something that should be in a drawer or cupboard that is easy to get to and grab for any emergency or natural disaster. Just throw this bag into your backpack any time you go on a hike go hunting or fishing and if you need to make a emergency night stay you will be set. Any questions just post in the comment section and I will answer them.

550 cord storage.

Parachute cord storage. Probably the best way to have easy tangle free storage and deployment. I am working on a how to for tying this. It will work on other rope as well.

Some projects

Here are a couple of pictures from some projects I am working on. Comments are welcome as I am going to try and sell these on etsy to help fund this site. One is a Turks Head bracelet and the other is a key fob. On the key fob I made the top half double and the bottom half single which one would you prefer? Single or Double?

Fillet a Fish

This is a Guest Article written by my brother Corbin.

For someone in the forest near a river/lake/stream a major priority is
food. To catch a fish you need bait. In fresh water worms,bread, and
various bugs can be used. If you lack a fishing rod or net the best
substitute could be any form of string material and a stick/limb at
about 7-12 feet that wont break easily. If you lack hooks for a fish
to bite find some wood or bone, anything that can be
carved/ground/whittled down to the shape of a hook and sharp enough to
pierce the scales. If by any luck or use of manliness you find a fish
on the end of a line without a reel pull the string down to your waist
and pull as hard and fast as humanly possible. When your fish is on
the shore and dead, it's time to figure out how to skin/scale it.
first you'll need a knife that can be used to fillet the fish. Once
you obtain a knife/razor, put the blade next to the gills and push
down, Without cutting the fish in half, and slide it toward the tail.
Cut along the side of the spine without cutting off at the tail, leave
a little skin attaching the fillet and the fish together. Flip the
skin over so the meat is facing up and slide the knife along the
bottom of the meat between it and the skin. After a little
blood,sweat,and tears you have a cook-able fillet! 


If you prefer skinning the fish here is how
"Cut the skin behind the head and pectoral fins. Use pliers to remove
the cut skin from the catfish, starting at the head and pulling toward
the tail. Then, grasp the head of the fish with one hand and the body
with the other. Using both hands, break the backbone of the catfish at
the head, and then pull the head and guts away from the skinned body."
[Source: Take Me Fishing]


this is a catfish be careful for the spines in their fins

Survival Bracelets Vid1

Here is the first video of the series for uses of the survival bracelets. Any questions feel free to post and I will answer to the best I can. 

Etsy Store

I have an Etsy store now as well to sell different things that I make that will make life easier in a time of need. Such as mini first aid kits, mini survival kits and 550/Para chord survival bracelets and key fobs.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/sparky25c

WELCOME!

Hello and welcome to Average Joe's Survival Guide. In future posts you can expect to read watch and learn about different survival methods. Along with product reviews and other useful information pertaining to the great and vast outdoors and at home. I plan on having the first How To article up in about a week and a half or sooner so please stop back by!


Have a Good one!