Year: 2024

Hunting in Desperate Times – Part 3, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 2.) Two .30 Caliber Big Game Hunting Loads My bolt action rifles are in two separate groups, precision rifles, and hunting rifles. All of my 6.5mm rifles are precision rifles capable of extreme long-range shooting. They will be handled with care and not bumped around while hunting. They are too valuable because of what they can do. Of course, the ammunition they use can also be used on deer out to 300 yards, and elk in a pinch with well-placed shots inside of 200 yards, yet they are not suitable for bear and elk when the angle …


The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods

SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods. This column is a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from JWR. Our goal is to educate our readers, to help them to recognize emerging threats, and to be better prepared for both disasters and negative societal trends. You can’t mitigate a risk if you haven’t first identified a risk. In today’s column, we look at The FBI’s updated report on “Militia Violent Extremists”. FBI Considers Gun Owners Militia Violent Extremists First up, over at Ammoland: FBI Document Leak: Gun Owners …



Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — September 4, 2024

On September 4, 476, Romulus Augustulus, the last Western Roman Emperor, abdicated after forces led by Odoacer invaded Rome. This date is traditionally known as the end of the Western Roman Empire. — September 4, 1862 is the fateful day that General Lee invaded the North with 50,000 troops. — Some sad but expected news: Paul Harrell has passed away. Rest in peace.  I hope that his vlog archives are available for many years! — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: …


Hunting in Desperate Times – Part 2, by Tunnel Rabbit

(Continued from Part 1.) Every year I see lots of hunters hunting from their vehicles. This is more like drive-by shooting than hunting. Most modern hunters are seasonal hunters who mostly shoot off-hand and are lousy shots. Haste makes waste. It is best to use a rest or shooting stick if possible, and it helps to use a cartridge that is perhaps more than needed to help compensate for a poorly placed shot. I would rather risk losing meat than risk losing the entire animal. Standard “cup and core” soft point ammunition is plenty for deer, yet some cartridges could …


SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets

This weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — Germany’s Response to Knife Attacks After Festival Tragedy. JWR’s Comments: Since the police cannot be everywhere to protect everyone, the logical response would be to recognize the right of the citizenry to be armed. Their typically statist response will cost many innocent lives. Solingen is world famous as “the city of blades” …


The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few… No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.” – James Madison


Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — September 3, 2024

On September 3, 1976, after a nearly yearlong journey, NASA‘s robotic spacecraft Viking 2 landed on Mars this day in 1976 and began relaying information about the planet’s atmosphere and soil as well as color photographs of the rocky surface. — English general and statesman Oliver Cromwell died on September 3, 1658. — On September 3, 1752, Great Britain and its colonies, including the future United States of America officially adopted the Gregorian calendar, and it immediately became September the 14th. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 114 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The …


Hunting in Desperate Times – Part 1, by Tunnel Rabbit

I hope that this article will serve as a starting point for novice hunters who should continue to seek more on the topic. Even after decades as a hunter, I continue to learn more. Hunting will be a serious business in the near future. So I will do my best to present tried and true practices and advice, and attempt to describe what I believe hunting conditions and practices might be during the coming bad times. If we are hunting to survive, then losing a game would be unacceptable and perhaps tragic. High-quality protein during a famine or lean times …


SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. (Idaho, Montana, eastern Oregon, eastern Washington, and Wyoming.) Much of the region is also more commonly known as The Inland Northwest. We also mention companies located in the American Redoubt region that are of interest to preppers and survivalists. Today, a look at the famed Beartooth Highway. (See the Region-Wide section.) Region-Wide A fun backcountry flying video: Hells Canyon-Backcountry Flying with all sorts of new friends. Look closely for the pilot dancing his wheels on the river at the 7:11 mark. Clearly, these gents have …



Preparedness Notes for Monday — September 2, 2024

On September 2, 1666, the Great Fire of London began at 2 A.M. on Pudding Lane. It is estimated that 80% of London was destroyed in the fire. Some 13,200 homes were destroyed, along with St. Paul’s Cathedral (which had stood for 500 years), and 84 out of London’s 109 parish churches. Thatched roofs had been formally banned since the Great Fire of Southwark in 1212, but that roofing method was still widely used in defiance of the ban up until the Great Fire of London. — September 2, 1969 was the day that the first American automatic teller machine …


1791 Gunleather Premium Rifle Sling, by Thomas Christianson

The 1791 Gunleather Premium Rifle Sling is a nicer-than-average, leather, two-point rifle sling. It is expertly handcrafted in the USA of American heavy native steerhide with a slip-resistant suede backing. The workmanship is excellent, with outstanding cutting, stitching, and finishing work. Full Disclosure: 1791 Gunleather is an affiliate advertiser of SurvivalBlog. SurvivalBlog will receive a small commission if you use our link to order. The sling cost $54.99 at the time of this writing from 1791gunleather.com. That is surprisingly affordable for a high-quality, handcrafted, American-made product. SurvivalBlog readers who use the discount code “survival10”, will receive an additional 10% off …


Recipe of the Week:  Roasted Yellow Summer Squash

The following simple recipe for Roasted Yellow Summer Squash is from SurvivalBlog reader Carol in Delaware . Ingredients Yellow Summer Squash  — either straight or crookneck type. Olive Oil Ground Black Pepper Salt Grated Parmesan Cheese Herbs (optional) Chopped almonds (optional) Directions  Slice squash into rounds (or quarter-rounds if the squash is huge.) Coat them in olive oil, by tossing. Add salt, to taste. Add pepper, to taste. Place the squash in a single layer on a lipped baking sheet. Top with Parmesan cheese. Roast in a preheated oven for 12-to-14 minutes, or until the squash is tender. Move the …


SurvivalBlog Graphic of the Week

Today’s graphic is a map that shows the 116 U.S. counties that are more populous than the entire state of Wyoming. (Graphic courtesy of Reddit.) The thumbnail below is click expandable.       — Please send your graphic ideas to JWR. (Either via e-mail or via our Contact form.) Any graphics that you send must either be your own creation or uncopyrighted.