Homesteading: A Trapper’s Perspective – Part 3, by Lodge Pole

(Continued from Part 2.)

Tools and Tricks of Trapping

First, I will discuss the small arsenal of tools I always take with me on a trap line. As with any hobby, marketing campaigns from supply companies can drive the unnecessary feeling to buy things you do not really need. Remember, marketing is a corporate tactic explored through scientific research and perfected to get you to feel the need to have the newest and greatest piece of equipment that is guaranteed to help you be more successful. I have tried a lot of these newer and better tools, and I still go back to my tried-and-true tools which are listed below. I do not claim this is the one-all-and-be-all set of tools. Use what works for you. As the old saying goes, “There’s more than one way to skin a cat.”Continue reading“Homesteading: A Trapper’s Perspective – Part 3, by Lodge Pole”

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 Joe Biden’s Planned Executive-Level Gun Control Office.

Elon Musk and OpenAI President: The Singularity is Near

Linked over at the Whatfinger.com news aggregation site: Elon Musk and OpenAI president agree—the Singularity is near.

Biden to Establish Executive-Level Gun Control Office

H.L. sent this news reported by Breitbart: Joe Biden to Announce Executive Level Gun Control Office.

JWR’s Comments: This is nothing short of an Executive Policy Capture move, by Michael Bloomberg and his gun-grabbing buddies. Stefanie Feldman, “Deputy Assistant To President Biden and Senior Advisor To Director of the Domestic Policy Council” is the titular leader of the new office. She is rabidly anti-Second Amendment. She is in the back pocket of Bloomberg’s cabal and has been scheming behind the scenes since March of 2022, establishing a “Whole-of-Government Approach” to anti-gun policies and coordinating with NGO anti-gun activists. Among other things, Feldman has been pushing for Red Flag laws. “Stef” Feldman attended Duke University, graduating in 2010. She then attended Yale Law School. She is a typical Eastern Liberal who favors big government. Starting out as a policy intern when Biden was Vice President, Feldman has also shaped Biden administration policy on climate issues. Notably, her X (formerly Twitter) page is replete with reposts from Giffords.org, BradyBuzz, Brady United, Moms Demand Action, and SandyHookPromise.org. She frequently reposts tweets from anti-gunners Herbie Ziskend (the White House Deputy Communications Director) and “Moms Demand” board member Shannon Watts. Allowing outside pressure groups to set Federal policies and to drive executive orders subverts the very nature of the executive branch.

Continue reading“The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods”

Preparedness Notes for Wednesday — September 20, 2023

On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, causing more than $90 billion in damages and, according to government officials, nearly 3,000 deaths.

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On September 20, 1995, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to drop the national 55 MPH speed limit. This allowed the states to again decide their own speed limits, without fear of losing Federal highway funding.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 108 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  5. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  6. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  4. Montana Survival Seed is providing a $225 gift code for any items on its website, including organic non-GMO seeds, fossils, 1812-1964 US silver, jewelry, botany books, and Montana beeswax.
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A $300 gift certificate from Good2Goco.com, good for any of their products: Home freeze dryers, pressure canners, Country Living grain mills, Emergency Essentials foods, and much more.
  2. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  3. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $840,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. We recently polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 108 ends on September 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

 

Homesteading: A Trapper’s Perspective – Part 2, by Lodge Pole

(Continued from Part 1.)

Our goal is to limit our trips to town by producing as much food as possible. There are still a few items we will need to purchase, salt, flour, etc., but those are easily procured in bulk to limit our trips. I am a student of history. I study how and what our ancestors did as they settled this country. They had to be resilient and self-reliant. They had to deal with heartache and failures. Most that pursued manifest destiny failed, but regardless, those men and women were tough. They kept on going. It is easy to romanticize a time we did not live in, but their fortitude eventually settled a wild land.

I have heard that it took two generations for our society to lose all “coping skills.” What this means is our lives have become so easy and reliant on technology. Most of the society does not have basic skills, like building a fire. We do not know where our food comes from, and we are driven solely by corporate marketing tycoons who tell us what to buy and when. Our society now values feelings more than knowledge and grit. We praise and worship creeps and mentally deficient individuals instead of trying to better ourselves. Our society is soft. As a nation, we appear weak.Continue reading“Homesteading: A Trapper’s Perspective – Part 2, by Lodge Pole”

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.

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To start, reader Tom H. wrote:

“Just a quick note of interest, 2023 National Championship Air Races – Final Flag was carried live at Reno Air Racing Association’s website on YouTube. Sunday was the last day of the races after 59 years at Reno Stead Airport (RTS) where you will see everything from bi-planes (modern), original WWII AT-6 [trainers], and P-51 Mustangs to small passenger jets race. This is what Red Bull wishes to be. There are usually military jets and demo teams as well, not to mention static displays of all types and vintage military and civilian aircraft.  A recent addition is the STOL Drag Races- yep, Alaska bush aircraft flying a set distance <2mi, min altitudes, min speed, land, stop, turn take off, and land on a set line. Descriptions are on RARA’s site.

The back story on the race’s demise is the NIMBYs who built their home and most recently factory and warehousing adjacent to RTS property lines, then raised Hades with anyone that would listen – County, insurance, etc. to run them out. Yes, there have been tragic accidents with lives lost, but that goes with the sport and type of racing.

Sadly the lessons learned: folks with enough money and persistance will prevail when due diligence isn’t done.”

JWR’s Reply:

I remember making trips out to Stead, where we had our drone development lab, when I worked as a technical writer for Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC). That was back in the early 2000s. Back then, there were hardly any houses near the airfield.  But gradually, the housing developments marched their way north out of Reno. The same NIMBY story gets repeated again and again.  Shooting ranges are another example. The rifle and trap/skeet ranges were there first, but then, inevitably, newcomers begin to complain about pre-existing noise. Typisch!

o  o  o

SaraSue offered this snippet:

“I got lab work done this past week and thankfully my anemia has not worsened.  I was overwhelmed with the farm, and now I’m feeling like there’s a better rhythm going.  I’ve learned to work an hour, rest an hour, work an hour, rest an hour, and so on.  I’m in bed early and up early.  My part-time farm hand who works just a few hours a week makes a huge difference.  I’ve also learned how to better prioritize.  I get wrapped up around the axle if things aren’t perfect, and in reality, things are actually running very smoothly considering it’s a one-man band.  I have to remember to not react emotionally, but logically think through each task or project.  I like to ask myself, “Will an animal die if you don’t do this?” Of course not!

I harvested the rest of the elderberries and discovered that Canadian Goldenrod grows here profusely.  It’s something I normally purchase for a tea blend.  At $35 per pound, I’m thrilled to be able to harvest as much as I want, and not have to buy it.

I made some other farm decisions, which always makes me laugh at myself.  I decided to not sell one of my milk cows, and decided to raise Idaho Pasture Pigs.  A farming friend decided to get out of pigs due to an upcoming move and I am able to purchase her small herd (a boar, his buddy, and 2 sows) at half the normal pricing.  They are only three years old, and in excellent health.  I went over the farm infrastructure in detail and decided the farm can handle these animals just fine with few adjustments, along with the two piglets I am already raising for meat.  The piglets are adorable, totally trained now, and are a joy to be raising.  They don’t stink. They don’t tear up the pastures.  They require very little grain.  And get along well with the cows.  I think the pigs think they are cows, actually.  LOL.  Most of the animals are very low maintenance once things are set up properly.  I bring in supplemental hay from a neighbor, as required.

Additionally, a neighbor is selling part of the family farm, about 100 acres, that adjoins mine.  I went on a tour of the property.  The biggest problems with the property are: lack of water, everything is old (2 old homes) and in need of repair, and the land runs up the hill, wooded, with rock underneath, not fenced, but a beautiful big barn that was built to last forever.  There are a couple sink holes on the property as well.  It would take too much work to turn that place into a working farm.  And, to top it off, the homes face the main highway in this area.  I like being tucked back in the hills.  I’ve learned a lot from SurvivalBlog in assessing property potential and realize that this property would be more than I could handle.  I even thought maybe I could purchase the land that adjoins mine because there is a plateau of pasture, but again, water, fencing, etc., is a lot of work.  I need to stay focused on this farm, that I’ve put a lot of work into; it’s beautifully laid out, plenty of water now, and it functions very well.  I think I’ll stay put and keep going.”

o  o  o

My #1 Son Jonathan sent this news from South Africa:  FBI helps Mpumalanga cops arrest man in connection with robbery of US tourists near Kruger Park. A pericope:

“36 year old man arrested for the kidnapping and robbery of two American Citizens on holiday in South Africa, near Kruger National Park. The FBI assisted local Police and tracked down one suspect. Military grade signal jammer was also used in the kidnapping.”

o  o  o

Marc M. suggested this useful USCCA video: Personal Security In A Changing Environment.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog Readers’ & Editors’ Snippets”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“All people, however fanatical they may be in their zeal to disparage and to fight capitalism, implicitly pay homage to it by passionately clamoring for the products it turns out.” – Ludwig Von Mises

Preparedness Notes for Tuesday — September 19, 2023

On September 19, 1991, in the Ötztal Alps on the Italian–Austrian border, German tourists discovered a mummified human body of a neolithic hunter (later known as Ötzi the Iceman) that was subsequently determined to date from 3300 BC.

And on this date in 1796, George Washington addressed the nation in his farewell address as president.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today we present another entry for Round 108 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. The photovoltaic power specialists at Quantum Harvest LLC  are providing a store-wide 10% off coupon. Depending on the model chosen, this could be worth more than $2000.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any of their one, two, or three-day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  4. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  5. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.
  6. Two sets of The Civil Defense Manual, (in two volumes) — a $193 value — kindly donated by the author, Jack Lawson.

Second Prize:

  1. A SIRT STIC AR-15/M4 Laser Training Package, courtesy of Next Level Training, that has a combined retail value of $679
  2. Two 1,000-foot spools of full mil-spec U.S.-made 750 paracord (in-stock colors only) from www.TOUGHGRID.com (a $240 value).
  3. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC.
  4. Montana Survival Seed is providing a $225 gift code for any items on its website, including organic non-GMO seeds, fossils, 1812-1964 US silver, jewelry, botany books, and Montana beeswax.
  5. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun. There is no paperwork required for delivery of pre-1899 guns into most states, making them the last bastion of firearms purchasing privacy!

Third Prize:

  1. A $300 gift certificate from Good2Goco.com, good for any of their products: Home freeze dryers, pressure canners, Country Living grain mills, Emergency Essentials foods, and much more.
  2. Three sets each of made-in-USA regular and wide-mouth reusable canning lids. (This is a total of 300 lids and 600 gaskets.) This prize is courtesy of Harvest Guard (a $270 value)
  3. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  4. A transferable $150 FRN purchase credit from Elk Creek Company, toward the purchase of any pre-1899 antique gun.

—

More than $840,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest. We recently polled blog readers, asking for suggested article topics. Refer to that poll if you haven’t yet chosen an article topic. Round 108 ends on September 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a 1,500-word minimum, and that articles on practical “how-to” skills for survival have an advantage in the judging.

 

Homesteading: A Trapper’s Perspective – Part 1, by Lodge Pole

This will be an instructional/how to article, though I feel the need to set the stage first as to how I acquired the skills I write about and how I implement them regularly. Before attempting anything described in this article, check local laws and regulations.

Introduction

About fifteen years ago, when I was a younger man and had an answer for everything, I overheard some cowboys call their Queensland Healer dogs as “tools, not pets.” As I listened to and watched the cowboys work their dogs, I scoffed at their comments about their animals being tools. I looked at a friend of mine who was with me and said, “They’re comparing their horses and dogs to hammers and screwdrivers.” My friend and I laughed at our irrational comparison, looked once more at the cowboys and walked away. Though I had grown up in a small mountain town, most animals I knew of, be it dogs, cats, chickens, pigs, goats, etc., were all pets to their owners. Before that day, I had never heard of an animal referred to as a tool. Every animal I knew of had a name, a cozy bed, countless toys, and were typically talked to like a child.

It was not until I became an avid hunter, a federal trapper, a “homesteader”, a husband and father that I truly understood, and greatly appreciated, what those cowboys said years ago. I did not grow up in a hunting household, yet, from my earliest memories I yearned to be a hunter, a trapper, a mountain man. Even in my youth, I wanted the freedom to provide for myself, be it through trapping, hunting, fishing, gardening or trading for what I needed. I romanticized the idea of producing my own food and “bringing home the bacon” for a family that didn’t need anything I couldn’t provide or procure.Continue reading“Homesteading: A Trapper’s Perspective – Part 1, by Lodge Pole”

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 of interest to preppers and survivalists that are located in the American Redoubt region. Today, we focus on the end of a troublesome bear. (See the Montana section.)

Idaho

Judge may rule soon on whether Idaho’s ‘abortion trafficking’ law can be enforced.

o  o  o

North Idaho College releases special report to accreditor.

o  o  o

Idaho’s unemployment rate rises to 3% since 2021.

Continue reading“SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt”

The Editors’ Quote of the Day: 

“At this moment I pulled trigger, as I knew not what else to do and hardly knew that I did this, but it accidentally happened that my rifle was pointed towards the bear when I pulled and the ball piercing his heart, he gave one bound from me, uttered a deathly howl and fell dead, but I trembled as if I had an ague fit for half an hour after. We butchered him, as he was very fat, packed the meat and skin on our horses and returned to the fort with the trophies of our bravery, but I secretly determined in my own mind never to molest another wounded grizzly bear in a marsh or thicket.” –  Osborne Russell, from Journal Of A Trapper: Nine Years in the Rocky Mountains, 1834-1843

Preparedness Notes for Monday — September 18, 2023

On September 18, 1812: Great Fire of Moscow burns out after 5 days, 75% of the city was destroyed and 12,000 people were killed.

On September 18, 1811, the British East India Company force led by Baron Minto conquers Java, part of the Dutch East Indies, Stamford Raffles appointed lieutenant governor.

And on September 18, 1931:  To create a pretext for the invasion of Manchuria, China, a railway explosion is faked by the Japanese.

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Today’s feature article is a review by Field Gear Editor Tom Christianson.

Browning X-Bolt Speed in 6.5 Creedmoor, by Thomas Christianson

Back in February, I tested Browning’s X-Bolt Speed bolt-action rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. I found it to be light and well-balanced with outstanding fit and finish, moderate recoil, a great trigger, and excellent accuracy.

The X-Bolt Speed is not the most inexpensive bolt action rifle on the market, with a manufacturer suggested retail price of $1,379.99 . Due to the high quality of its materials and workmanship, this price represents a good value for the money.

Background

As I have aged, I have become gradually more sensitive to recoil. This recoil aversion has motivated me to test some potential deer rifles that kick less than the Remington 742 in 30-06 that I inherited from my Father. The possibility of more moderate recoil combined with improved long-range accuracy made rifles chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor especially intriguing.

I consulted with Browning about their rifles chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. They offered to let me test an X-Bolt Speed chambered in that cartridge. I gratefully accepted their kind offer. A few days later, the rifle arrived at my FFL.Continue reading“Browning X-Bolt Speed in 6.5 Creedmoor, by Thomas Christianson”

Recipe of the Week: Pam’s Pumpkin Soup

The following recipe for Pam’s Pumpkin Soup is from SurvivalBlog reader Pam C.

Ingredients
  • 2 small sweet pumpkins — 2 pumpkins yield about 2 1/4 cups of pumpkin puree
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 medium shallots, diced — 2 shallots yield ~1/4 cup)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced — 3 cloves yield ~1 1/2 Tbsp)
  • 2 cups vegetable broth (home-made or store-bought)
  • 1 cup canned light coconut milk
  • 2 Tbsp maple syrup or honey
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. Using a sharp knife, cut off the tops of the pumpkins and then halve them.
  4. Use a sharp spoon to scrape out all of the seeds and strings. You can save the seeds for planting or roasting.
  5. Brush the pumpkin flesh with oil and place face down on the baking sheet.
  6. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until a fork easily pierces the skin.
  7. Remove from the oven, let cool for 10 minutes, then peel away the skin and set pumpkin aside.
  8. To a large saucepan over medium heat add olive oil, shallot, and garlic.
  9. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until slightly browned and translucent. Turn down the heat if it is cooking too quickly.
  10. Add the remaining ingredients, including the pumpkin, and bring to a simmer.
  11. Transfer the soup mixture to a blender or use an immersion blender to puree the soup.
  12. Pour mixture back into your pot.
  13. Continue cooking over medium-low heat for 5-10 minutes and taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
SERVING

This serves 3-to-4 adults.

Optionally, it can be topped with chopped kale.

STORAGE

Leftover soup keeps well in the fridge for up to a few days and in the freezer for up to a month or more.

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Do you have a well-tested recipe that would be of interest to SurvivalBlog readers? In this weekly recipe column, we place emphasis on recipes that use long-term storage foods, recipes for wild game, dutch oven recipes, slow cooker recipes, and any recipes that use home garden produce. If you have any favorite recipes, then please send them via e-mail. Thanks!

Economics & Investing For Preppers

Here are the latest news items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. In this column, JWR also covers hedges, derivatives, and various obscura. This column emphasizes JWR’s “tangibles heavy” investing strategy and contrarian perspective. Today, we look at inflation and recession fears. (See the Inflation/Deflation Watch section.)

Precious Metals:

Alasdair Macleod: A brief history of the gold standard.

o  o  o

At Gold-Eagle.com: Transitory 2.0 Is Coming for Gold.

Economy & Finance:

Average American household now has $10,170 credit card debt.

o  o  o

Reader H.L. sent us this: Hedge funds have bailed on the U.S. consumer in a big way, Goldman Sachs data finds.

o  o  o

Beyond the automakers: How the UAW strike may hit the US economy. Here is a quote:

“UAW president Shawn Fain said ‘we’re not going to wreck the economy. The truth is we are going to wreck the billionaire economy.’

And while estimates of the economic impact of the strike don’t point at “wrecking the economy,” the damage could be significant.

For instance, if all UAW workers at Ford, General Motors and Stellantis strike for 10 days, it would cost the US economy $5 billion, according to Anderson Economic Group’s estimates.

Another estimate by Ehrlich assumes there would be a much smaller immediate spillover effect. He estimated $440 million worth of income would be lost nationally if all the UAW members strike for two weeks. If the strike lasts eight weeks, he estimates a $9.1 billion hit to incomes nationwide.”

o  o  o

The Smart Money: Those in the know are betting on rising inflation and rising rates for longer.

o  o  o

Breibart: Senator Durbin Thinks Your Life Is Too Rewarding.

o  o  o

At Zero Hedge: Where The World’s Ultra Wealthy Reside.

Continue reading“Economics & Investing For Preppers”