I think everyone would agree when it comes to wilderness survival, the Canadian Bush pilots have a history of incredible survival stories.We should apply some “lessons learned” are then apply them to required gear to carry.
I did some research into Canada’s required bush pilot survival gear. Because I was told the gill net requirements said the net had to be 1.5 inch mesh. Thinking, here we go again– how do they measure the net? There are two different ways they measure gill nets. The way we measure our gill nets is from the top knot to the bottom knot this is 2.5 inch mesh but if the Canadian rules says 1.5 inch they might be talking about the other way you measure gill nets: That is from the top knot to the side knot then our net is a 1.5 inch mesh. You would think that there would be one standard way to measure nets but that would be too easy.
Here is the basic list for Canadian Bush Pilots:
Food with at least 10,000 calories per person
Cooking utensils
Matches
Stove and fuel
Compass
Axe of at least 2 1/2 pounds
Saw
Snare wire
Fishing equipment (tackle and nets)
Mosquito nets and repellent
Tents, wing covers or orange signal panels
Sleeping bags
Signal mirror
Distress signals
First aid kit
Survival manual
Believe me, we have sold lots of gear to bush pilots in Canada, Alaska, and the Lower 48. If I was a bush pilot, this is what I would carry:
A Wiggy’s sleeping bag http://www.wiggys.com [JWR Adds: I highly recommend the Wiggy’s FTRSS and the Ultima Thule.]
Small Katadyn water filter–JRH sells these: https://www.jrhenterprises.com/categoryNavigationDocument.hg?categoryId=16
A small dome tent
10-to-12 [ounce] tarp
First Aid kit
Signal mirror
Distress signal–normal signal flares typically sold at Marine stores
Small backpack stove
Small bush saw
A Estwing steel handled axe
Mosquito nets and repellents
Small emergency gill net, http://www.buckshotscamp.com/Gill-Net.htm
Emergency fishing kit, http://www.buckshotscamp.com/Fishing-Emergency-Pocket-Kit.htm
3 Yo-Yo automatic fishing reels http://www.buckshotscamp.com/Yo-Yo-Fishing-Reel-Sales.htm
Frog/fish spear http://www.buckshotscamp.com/Fishing-Frog-Spear-Sales.htm
Emergency snare kit, http://www.buckshotscamp.com/Snare-Kits-Emergency-Sales.htm
Compass, http://www.buckshotscamp.com/Lensatic-Compass.htm
The book Six Ways in, Twelve Ways Out http://www.buckshotscamp.com/Book-Six-Ways-In-And-Twelve-Ways-Out-Sales.htm
German mess kit http://www.buckshotscamp.com/Surplus-Mess-Kit-Sales.htm
Small Backpack http://www.buckshotscamp.com/Surplus-Small-Back-Pack-Sales.htm
Blastmaster http://www.buckshotscamp.com/Flint-BlastMaster-Sales.htm
Sewing awl http://www.buckshotscamp.com/Sewing-Awl-Speedy-Stitcher-Sales.htm
PAL light http://www.buckshotscamp.com/Flashlight-PALight-Sales.htm
Regarding firearms, read this article: http://www.buckshotscamp.com/Article-Only-One-Gun.htm If I was in big bear (grizzly and brown bear) country I would switch up to a 45-70. 🙂
Why the PAL light? Every survivalist should own at least one PAL for every person. The PAL light takes a 9 volt battery. Now why is that important? Talking to my good friend Craig H. from Hawaii, he told me the reason I should have already known. You see, Craig has lived through 3 hurricanes. After the mad rush to the store with everyone buying every battery in sight what is the only battery still on the shelf? The 9 volt. Think about it: Most people have flashlights that use size AAA, AA, C, or D batteries. But I am pretty sure PAL is one of the few flashlights that uses 9 volt batteries. Also, nearly every house in America has smoke detectors using 9 volt batteries. But the feature I love is the always on a real dim light that last 2 years on 1 battery great for children’s night lights, great for finding in the junk drawer when the power goes out, and great for camping to quickly find it in the dark when the bear peeks in your tent. 🙂 They are LED lights and you can tape them on your gun and shoot. LED means no filament to break from the shock of shooting.
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