Into Bear Country- Part 2, by George Fox

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In part 1 of this article series, I wrote about the likelihood of people encountering bear, the different types of bear, and began with an overview of how to detail with one in the event of an encounter. Today, we’ll go into more detail about preventing encounters and what to do if you have one.

Setting Up “Triangle” Camp to Avoid Bears

When you set up camp, there are procedures that should be followed to keep your food secure, to keep you safe, and to prevent bears from coming to the tent to look for snacks. I was taught to establish a camp in a type of triangle with each side at least fifty yards long.

Food Storage

At the first point of the triangle you should have your food storage area. Your food can be stored in bear-proof containers or on a line between two trees at least twenty feet off the ground. I have used Garcia Bear-Resistant containers and have not had any problems.

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Economics & Investing For Preppers

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Here are the latest items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor.) Today’s focus is on Natural Gas Land, for retreats. (See the Tangibles Investing section, near the end of this column.)

Precious Metals:

First off, there is this from John Rubino, at Seeking Alpha: Gold And Silver Futures Swing From Bearish To Bullish In Just 2 Weeks

Stock Markets:

On to this at Fortune magazine:  Commentary: Four Reasons Investors Should Be Psyched for Next Year’s Market. JWR’s Comment:  Just keep in mind that Fortune is famous for being in the Perpetual Cheering Section, for the Dow. So view that commentary with suspicion.

 

Commodities:

Next, over at MarketWatch: How palladium and lumber defied the 2017 commodity slump


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JWR’s Recommendations of the Week

Here are JWR’s Recommendations of the Week for various media and tools of interest to SurvivalBlog readers. This week, the focus is on movies about The Reformation.

Books:

Small-Scale Grain Raising: An Organic Guide to Growing, Processing, and Using Nutritious Whole Grains for Home Gardeners and Local Farmers, 2nd Edition

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The Survival Doctor’s Complete Handbook

 

Movies (Reformation):

John Hus — A  Journey of No Return. (Available on DVD, or free streaming to those with Amazon Prime.) JWR’s Comment: Hus has been called a “Proto-Reformer.” He died in 102 years before Martin Luther nailed up his famous 95 Theses. It is noteworthy that the Hussite revolution started after the death of Hus, and was led by Jan Zizka. It is Zizka who is sometimes credited as the father of modern guerilla warfare. The concept of “circling the wagons” came from Zizka, and was later popularized by both the Voortrekkers in South Africa and pioneer wagon train parties in American West. I would have preferred to a see this movie in the original Czech with subtitles, but the dubbing into English was passable.

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And a century later, when the Reformation began in earnest, comes the setting of this much more fictionalized film (also dubbed into English): Storm: Luther’s Forbidden Letter. It is suitable for older children. (It too is available on DVD, or free streaming to those with Amazon Prime.)

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Preparedness Notes for Tuesday – December 19, 2017

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December 19th is the birthday of physicist Albert A. Michelson (born 1852, died May 9, 1931), who was the first American to be awarded a Nobel Prize in science, for measuring the speed of light.

On Dec 19, 1776, Thomas Paine published “American Crisis”. “These are the times that try men’s souls; the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph.” These words were an inspiration to Washington’s dispirited men, having suffered humiliating defeats and encamped at McKonkey’s Ferry on the Delaware River. The beleaguered troops mustered their remaining hopes for victory, crossed the Delaware, and defeated the hung-over Hessians. The revolution had been salvaged.

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Into Bear Country- Part 1, by George Fox

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As a result of moving into remote retreat areas, you may begin to have encounters with North America’s bear population. Even in suburban/urban areas, a lack of hunting and the return of forests has seen bears make a comeback, raising the likelihood of bear-human encounters. Even if you live somewhere with a low likelihood of bear encounters, you should know the proper actions and make preparations, because bears can turn up anywhere.

Steps For Bear Camping

I’m going to outline the steps for bear camping. Knowing this is helpful for keeping your homestead secure from bears, traveling in bear country, and knowing tactics for a bear encounter and bear defenses that will help keep you, your family, and your property safe. There is much confusion surrounding bears, so I hope I can clear things up for people who have limited bear experience, and I hope to remind experienced back country folks about good habits.

False Information About Bears

Over the years, I have heard a lot of poor information about bears that is silly, wrong, or dangerous but is passed off as fact. Everything in this piece comes from personal experience or what I have been taught by friends with first-hand experience.

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SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

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Here is SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt. This weekly column features news stories and event announcements from around the American Redoubt region. We also mention companies of interest to preppers that are located in the region. The emphasis this week is on Radio Free Redoubt.

Region-Wide

Once in a while, I post a list of churches with Open Pulpits, here in the American Redoubt. This serves two purposes: First, it keeps us in prayer for continuity of church congregations and the gospel-spreading work of the church. Second, it alerts pastors–mostly new seminary graduates–about opportunities to serve.  So if you know of a congregation anywhere in The American Redoubt that is currently seeking a pastor, then please let me know. You can do so either via e-mail or via our Contact form.

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This is for anyone living in the Redoubt, or who is considering moving here. I recommend that you bookmark: Radio Free Redoubt. It is hosted by amateur radio enthusiast and survival expert “John Jacob Schmidt” (a pseudonym).  For more than seven years he has put in yeoman service in promoting the American Redoubt movement, with weekly podcasts.  There are now 430 shows in their archives, and the show is now carried on Saturdays by commercial radio station KTRW  (630 KHz, AM) in Spokane, Washington.

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Another great source of news and event announcements for Redoubters is of course Redoubt News. We often link to their news and commentary articles.

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Mapping the Fiscal Burden of Illegal Immigration on the United States. Once again, the Redoubt region shines!


Idaho

A blog reader wrote to mention: The University of Idaho Extension is teaching a Master Gardener class in Bonners Ferry, Idaho.  It will begin Jan. 16th, 2018 at the U. of I. Extension office behind the Bonners Ferry courthouse. It is generally offered in alternating years. The cost is $125, of which $100 will be reimbursed if community garden volunteer hours are completed at the end of the course. The textbook also included in that price. There is information about what is covered in the class here.  There will also be a shorter course taught in early 2018, titled: Starting Your Sustainable Small Farm in Idaho.

The longer class will be held Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 1 to 4 PM, for a period of several months. I attempted to discover the ending date but that is not certain as it depends on out of town speakers they are still scheduling. March? or April? Approximately 10 weeks, and a total of 60 class hours. Last year they accepted a homeschooling teen into the class, so that is also open for discussion. The phone number at the Extension office is: (208)267-3235.

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Are you making some summer plans? Mark your calendar for Jun 29, 2018 – Jun 30, 2018. The Salmon Ready Preparedness Fair will be held at the Sacajawea Center, in Salmon, Idaho.
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The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods:

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SurvivalBlog presents another edition of The Survivalist’s Odds ‘n Sods— a collection of news bits and pieces that are relevant to the modern survivalist and prepper from “HJL”. Today we feature a review of the national reciprocity bill by the AK show. If you are backing this bill, you need to see this review!

National Reciprocity

SurvivalBlog has long discouraged the use of the federal government to obtain national reciprocity. It’s never a good idea to involve the feds in anything that the states should control. Now, reader T.J. send in this video with an attorney’s take on the proposed legislation. Unlike what some claim, the bill will not mandate that all states honor CCW permits. States like NY and California have the ability to yank the entire permitting process leaving the situation even worse off. To add insult to injury, the bill mandates that a “special” class (like judges) do get national CCW capability. These, as well as others, are direct issues in the bill before the government even has a chance to mangle and distort it (and you know they will). Despite the fact that the NRA supports this bill, it needs to be defeated.

Pistol Reloads

Valor Ridge has a video out dealing with the practical matter of reloading your pistol. Do you use the slide lock release or do you rack the action after a reload. While many have been taught to rack the action, this video shows that there is a definite time penalty. When seconds count, that could mean 3 or 4 more rounds on target. Personally, I think it depends on your firearm. There are some firearms where a racking motion is warranted and it universally works on all common pistols, but it is slower. If you are training with one pistol and you know it inside and out, the thumb release will save you that critical second.

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The Editors’ Quote of the Day:

“Finally, let us not forget the religious character of our origin. Our fathers were brought hither by their high veneration for the Christian religion. They journeyed by its light, and labored in its hope. They sought to incorporate its principles with the elements of their society, and to diffuse its influence through all their institutions, civil, political, or literary. Let us cherish these sentiments, and extend this influence still more widely; in the full conviction, that that is the happiest society which partakes in the highest degree of them mild and peaceful spirit of Christianity.”  – Daniel Webster, speaking at the bicentennial of the founding of the Plymouth colony, in 1820.

Preparedness Notes for Monday – December 18, 2017

December 18th is the birthday of Charles Wesley (18 December 1707 – 29 March 1788). He wrote more that 1,700 hymns. Today is also the birthday of Jørgen Haagen Schmith (born December 18, 1910, died October 15, 1944). He was better known under the codename Citron and was a famous Danish resistance fighter in occupied Denmark. His biographical sketch at Wikipedia describes his death, after he was tracked down by the Nazis: “German soldiers arrived at the house to arrest or kill Schmith. He fought for hours against an overwhelming force of enemy troops killing 11 and wounded scores of others before the house was set on fire and he was shot attempting to escape the flames.” His exploits were dramatized in the movie Flame and Citron.

Ammunition Depot, by Pat Cascio

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No matter how expensive of a firearm you might have, it won’t run without ammunition. Today we’re taking a close look at Ammunition Depot and their line-up of available ammo.

A Few Things About Me

Long-time SurvivalBlog readers will know a few things about me. Number one is, I love a bargain, and number two is, I demand quality. Quality never goes out of style, and it beats junk every time.

Free Ammo For Testing Firearms

I receive a lot of ammo for my firearms articles for free, from Black Hills Ammunition and Buffalo Bore Ammunition. Without these kind folks, I wouldn’t be doing as many firearms articles as I do. I once had a very large ammo company tell me that the average gun writer only fires 64 rounds of ammo during their testing, so they didn’t want to continue sending me cases and cases of ammo for my articles. Believe me, I know a lot of other gun writers out there, and that is pure hogwash; they all shoot a lot more than 64 rounds of ammo in their testing.

Continue reading“Ammunition Depot, by Pat Cascio”

Economics & Investing For Preppers

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Here are the latest items and commentary on current economics news, market trends, stocks, investing opportunities, and the precious metals markets. We also cover hedges, derivatives, and obscura. And it bears mention that most of these items are from the “tangibles heavy” contrarian perspective of JWR. (SurvivalBlog’s Founder and Senior Editor.) Today’s focus is on Predictions for 2018.

Precious Metals (Predictions for 2018):

First up, at Kitco: Decrypting 2018: The Outlook. (Has auto-start video.) JWR’s Comments: Any SurvivalBlog readers who has not already hedged into precious metals hasn’t been paying attention to the world around them. The stock market  and the U.S. Dollar are poised for a huge break, and possibly a grandiose collapse.  Hedge your way out of your Dollar-denominated investments.  Small physical silver (nothing larger that 1 ounce) is still your best bet. Silver is both a hedge on the Dollar and a form of insurance to keep your family fed, in the event of a full-blown collapse. It is wise to have some silver coins on hand for barter!

 

Stock Market (Predictions for 2018):

On to this at Seeking Alpha: 2018 Economic & Stock Market Outlook – December 6, 2017

Commodities (Predictions for 2018):

Next, over at USN&WR: The Outlook for Investing in Metal in 2018

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Also at Seeking Alpha, there is this by Andrew Hecht: North Korea And Commodities In 2018
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Preparedness Notes for Sunday – December 17, 2017

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December 17th, 1905, was the birth day of Simo Häyhä, who was the world’s most successful sniper. Using an iron-sighted Mosin–Nagant in Finland’s Winter War, he had an astounding 505 confirmed sniper kills. He died April 1, 2002.

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SurvivalBlog Writing Contest

Today features another entry for Round 74 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The nearly $11,000 worth of prizes for this round include:

First Prize:

  1. A $3000 gift certificate towards a Sol-Ark Solar Generator from Veteran owned Portable Solar LLC. The only EMP Hardened Solar Generator System available to the public.
  2. A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used for any one, two, or three day course (a $1,095 value),
  3. A course certificate from onPoint Tactical for the prize winner’s choice of three-day civilian courses, excluding those restricted for military or government teams. Three day onPoint courses normally cost $795,
  4. DRD Tactical is providing a 5.56 NATO QD Billet upper. These have hammer forged, chrome-lined barrels and a hard case, to go with your own AR lower. It will allow any standard AR-type rifle to have a quick change barrel. This can be assembled in less than one minute without the use of any tools. It also provides a compact carry capability in a hard case or in 3-day pack (an $1,100 value),
  5. Two cases of Mountain House freeze-dried assorted entrees in #10 cans, courtesy of Ready Made Resources (a $350 value),
  6. A $250 gift certificate good for any product from Sunflower Ammo,
  7. Two cases of Meals, Ready to Eat (MREs), courtesy of CampingSurvival.com (a $180 value), and
  8. American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) is providing a $300 certificate good towards any of their DVD training courses.

Second Prize:

  1. A Model 175 Series Solar Generator provided by Quantum Harvest LLC (a $439 value),
  2. A Glock form factor SIRT laser training pistol and a SIRT AR-15/M4 Laser Training Bolt, courtesy of Next Level Training, which have a combined retail value of $589,
  3. A gift certificate for any two or three-day class from Max Velocity Tactical (a $600 value),
  4. A transferable certificate for a two-day Ultimate Bug Out Course from Florida Firearms Training (a $400 value),
  5. A Trekker IV™ Four-Person Emergency Kit from Emergency Essentials (a $250 value),
  6. A $200 gift certificate good towards any books published by PrepperPress.com,
  7. RepackBox is providing a $300 gift certificate to their site.

Third Prize:

  1. A Royal Berkey water filter, courtesy of Directive 21 (a $275 value),
  2. A large handmade clothes drying rack, a washboard, and a Homesteading for Beginners DVD, all courtesy of The Homestead Store, with a combined value of $206,
  3. Expanded sets of both washable feminine pads and liners, donated by Naturally Cozy (a $185 retail value),
  4. Two Super Survival Pack seed collections, a $150 value, courtesy of Seed for Security, LLC,
  5. Mayflower Trading is donating a $200 gift certificate for homesteading appliances, and
  6. 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).

Round 74 ends on January 31st, 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.