SurvivalBlog’s News From The American Redoubt

38 Comments

1. https://thecounter.org/covid-19-shutters-meatpacking-plants-meat-shortages-smithfield-south-dakota/

   Great article on what’s happening in the meat supply chain. The President retweeted it, so I took a look.

   My only comment is this would be a great time for the feds to de-regulate in this area. Farmers and ranchers (slaughterhouses and meat packers) need to be unchained, at least have other options, from the big meat companies who determine most everything and rake in profits at the expense of the ranchers. I realize this won’t be simple, but the laws need to change.

   1. Wyoming is deregulating: https://healthimpactnews.com/2020/is-wyomings-food-freedom-act-with-farm-to-consumer-direct-sales-a-model-for-food-security-for-the-rest-of-the-u-s/

      1. Hello there! Are there currently any websites to buy from Wyoming sources directly?

         1. Hi Ethan,

            I am currently working to find sources in Wyoming to purchase direct from the farm. I will share those once I have made contact and find them to be reputable. In the meantime, please share if you find any.

   2. Massey is also reviving the Prime Act. Contact your congress critters to co-sponsor.
      https://www.facebook.com/RepThomasMassie/

      1. I was just reading through Massey’s twitter feed. He’s on fire. Wonderful!

         1. Yes, he is on fire! We heard him speak at a “liberty-minded” conference in Kentucky a few months ago, and wow, we wish we had a lot more congressmen and senators like him! He is smart in picking up the swamp “system” and how it works, but he won’t be bought and paid for!

   3. SaraSue! You make an excellent point…

      From your post: “…who determine most everything and rake in profits at the expense of the ranchers.”

      This is the result of the rise of “Corporate America” which has been fostered largely by the rise of regulatory activity.

      Certainly some protective regulatory measures are important (supporting safe environments, and the confidence consumers require in order to smooth the economic pathways of trade or exchange). Unfortunately… We left that level of government intervention long ago. Government regulation in its present form is far too often destructive.

      We hope Trump’s team is looking at all of this very closely.

      1. I hope so too. I have no problem with “corporate America” as a business structure. I do have a problem with foreign ownership, replacing American workers with H1B visas (which was done, and still being done, in high tech and software dev), globalism in general, and lobbyists in general. So far, so good, with Trump initiatives. Americans should not be the slaves for the globalists. If we’re gonna “slave away”, it should be in our own self-interest. Our farmers and ranchers should be getting the largest profits, not the smallest (which is why I buy local). But, in beating up what “corporate America” has become, I want to steer clear of collectivism, socialism, and communism. We need to keep the good, and toss the bad.

         Pipe dream: I personally would like all politicians (and their relatives) to be required, going forward, to be audited 5 years prior to running for office, and continually to be audited while in office, and 5 years afterward, with those records being made public. That would deter, potentially (although they are so tricky), politicians getting rich while in office. Most of them are guilty of insider trading, but just inside the current law, so they don’t go to jail. I think that might make people think a lot before becoming so-called “public servants”. That would get rid of the lobbyists too. I know, wishful thinking. The corruption is so deep and wide, it’s unfathomable. I’m really not for more legislation. But, there’s got to be a way to clean up Congress, and politicians in general. Eh, I dunno. It’s just kind of sickening.

         1. SaraSue!
            From your post: “I do have a problem with foreign ownership, replacing American workers with H1B visas (which was done, and still being done, in high tech and software dev), globalism in general, and lobbyists in general.”

            AGREE 100%.

         2. SaraSue, the easy and effective way is to limit campaign contributions and only from registered voters in district (pure local control and no influence buying). End dialing for $ and no big $$$ purchase of politicians.

            1. That could work too. Seems so ridiculous to spend multi-millions (Bloomberg for example) on advertising. I don’t want to take away anyone’s right to say whatever they want, but the kind of money that’s spent on it seems immoral. But, what do I know.

      2. Telesilla of Argos, always love your comments and input, but have to take issue with your comment,

         “Certainly some protective regulatory measures are important (supporting safe environments, and the confidence consumers require in order to smooth the economic pathways of trade or exchange). ”

         This regulatory nightmare we are in is because we have accepted breaches of Constitution in the name of General Welfare. Our government is not tasked with keeping us safe, but preserving our Liberty.

         Again, appreciate your input in this forum, but hopefully you understand both my respect but disagreement on this point.

         1. Nathan Carroll!
            Absolutely appreciate your thoughts, and actually do agree substantially with what you’ve said.

            The idealism within me cries out for perfect liberty, and I share with you a great love and respect for the Constitution.

            At the same time, I understand the terrible reality of predators and predatory behaviors — where ever they are found.

            I am deeply troubled by the fact that any time the government is involved in any aspect of life, that involvement comes with great risk including political predation. There is no denying this… We see the evidence of political predation all around us, every day.

            True liberty demands values I fear have been lost — at least greatly suppressed — in human “civilization”. The restoration of a foundation that can support and sustain liberty, and the recovery of liberty itself are compelling subjects.

            Many thanks to you for sharing your thoughts as these are appreciated and valued!

   4. I agree Sara- but my cousin is a private butcher, who receives payment for butchering and smoking/ processing in live beef, high quality. I’ve just procured another 1/4 beef from him, picking it up in 2 Days at 55 to 60 % of store price. I’m spoiled!

      But I recommend all readers find their neighborhood local butcher, you will get better deals and higher quality, and more often than not get grass fed, grain leaned, steroid free beef!

2. Man, I’m glad I sold my herd when I did.

   I saw where someone posted that getting a big game animal would only cost @ $50 or so for the license. Do you think those animals are just gonna walk up to you on your back porch and wait for you to strangle them with your bare hands, then fall into convenient little steaks and roasts and chubs of ground meat in front of you? Harvesting big game can easily take an investment into the $thousands. You can amortize most of it if you hunt regularly over many years, but no guarantee of getting animals every time either, so you could end up wasting a lot of money for nothing. I recently purchased 40 lbs of halibut for $360. If I had to go get it myself, it would’ve ended up costing me a lot more, and still no guarantee I would have brought anything home despite the effort.

   What makes hunting and fishing justifiably worth the time and effort is the pleasure of the experience (for some, that experience is priceless). Very few people still hunt and fish (we call it subsistence up here in AK) as a marginally reliable means of providing for themselves. Most are either independently wealthy or live off welfare predominantly. There’s a reason why agriculture took over from the hunter/gatherer culture; it is more reliable, more productive, and far more economical. You can build a civilization on agriculture. Much as I would rather be out hunting and fishing, it is a lot easier to fill my larder with the job I have. What wrecks it for me and others is always neglect. Despite all my efforts, I do not stockpile, train, or otherwise provision like we all should be as contingent for the maladies life brings. Now, like everyone else, I am realizing some risk and scrambling to hedge.

   It is the way of things. Hunting for survival is never a sure thing. In a crisis situation, we will have to deal with Hemingway hunters as well, which only exacerbates the problem.

   1. This is the truth. And exposes the “I will just hunt up food” myth.

      You absolutely can “live off the land” provided you “work” the land your living off of.

      Instead of only going out to “shoot bucks” you should also attempt to catch the young uns. Feed fatten see if you can turn one in to a few. It’s how ancient people did it…. Worked pretty well.

      And you certainly can’t hunt a salad… I know I know it’s true that salads don’t run fast and are easily over powered but free range Cobb salad has gotten pretty scarce.

      Main point is you should grow as much as you can.

      1. Truth, I completely agree with your statement that ‘You absolutely can “live off the land” provided you “work” the land your living off of.’ However, I don’t agree with the idea that ‘…You certainly can’t hunt a salad……’. Actually, edible wild plants are far more common than most people think. But they also take a lot of work, and time and effort to (1) get to know and easily identify them, what parts are edible, and how to prepare them, (2) locate them (3) harvest and prepare them – they’re generally quite seasonal, as well as spread very thin on the ground, and easily over-harvested within a limited area. Additionally, while abundant for small numbers of people, they are far from being productive for large groups. I recommend starting with the commonly known stuff that’s everywhere, such as dandelions, acorns and cattails. and get and study/cross-reference several several edible wild plant guide books (for example, some by Linda Runyan or Christopher Nyerges). Deeper research may show a lot of landscaping plants used in the cities and suburbs can produce edible parts for those stuck in higher-population areas. I’m a guy who just hit 70, and I get my regular exercise walking my outskirts suburban neighborhoods – and as a hobby, working my way down the Oregon Coast Trail – to help keep myself in shape. While I’m walking, I’m also noticing all the edibles, including squirrels, rabbits, ponds with fish, frogs, and crayfish that nobody seems to notice. This can also be a good supplement even to those who can set up a fully-productive retreat-ranch-farm. And help out for a G.O.O.D. situation. But it does take real work and on-going study.

         1. It’s true what you said and I’m glad to hear you point out that natural uncultivated veg is easily over harvested. That was my point round about.

            There is nothing wrong with grabbing a salad when your out hunting. In fact I stand in encouragement of it. It’s a good way to get extra vitamins.

            But unless your gonna roam a huge territory devoid of any other competitors the land will have its carrying limit exceeded quickly.

            When I get rural will I hunt … Yup. Deer hog dove squirrels raccoons rabbits and maybe a bear when I can (I like bear fur).

            But what I’m also gonna do is look to trap alive some rabbits deer. One wild doe tied up could possibly beget me a line. Certainly a doe couldn’t hurt in luring some bucks around to shoot and eat. Even if it doesn’t work living meat don’t spoil when held in reserve.

            Same with rabbits… If I can live trap enough I can breed them. Less energy invested to raise them then hunt them.

            If I set aside a section of dirt for the wild onions I can have them on hand since they grow like weeds … Etc.

            But the point (and I think you got it) was that the land is there to be worked with and provided for and if you do it will return the favor

   2. Just to reiterate your important points, although I’ve been canning wild organic and hormone free meat up for years here in Montana. As hyper stagflation, or generally bad times sets in, competition for game will devastate the herds. Do not rely on hunting in the future. Can it up now while you can, as it will not be a reliable source latter. That said, as some one who is planning on subsistence hunting during bad times, there are ways to improve the odds of success, that I can share.

      As I refuse to become dependent on the government in any way, as do not receive a check from any source, I’ve had the motivation and time to think about this sort of thing. A good reason to have an accurate and flat shooting cartridge is that it increases the range at which game can be had. If I could, I’d have a .25-06 or other barrel burner for that job, but the old ’06 can do real good if loaded properly. If one does not load, try factory loaded Superformance with 150, or 165 grain SST’s in .30-06 from Hornady, which ever shoots best in yours. Try the 165’s as those can do elk a tad better than the 150’s. Stay off the shoulder of elk with this bullet as it is design to expand faster than standard cup and core bullets. Take only broad side shoots on elk if possible, especially at longer distances. The speeds listed on the box that are 3,080fps for the 150’s, and about 3,000 for the 165’s, and can be duplicated with a 24 inch barrel. You’ll be about 3 inches low at 380 yards with either load with a 275 yard zero. These loads tend to be accurate enough for hunting ranges in most .30-06 rifles. With this ammo, 400 yards is possible with standard 3 x 9 scopes. You’ll have to correct for the breeze at that range, but it is doable. Modern powders turned the .30-06 into a light magnum, and is almost as flat shooting as the .25-06 with the heaviest bullets, and flatter shooting than the .270 Winchester with factory loads.

      Another good reason for night vision is for hunting at night in desperate times. Put a Picatinny rail to accept NV on your favorite flat shooter, and you may get some supper. An advantage of using inexpensive digital night vision scopes is that they do well in low light conditions just before dusk, and before dawn when the getting is good. Set up on a hill and hunt from dawn to day with the same rifle and scope. As the price of protein goes up, night vision looks cheaper. Clamp a piece of hose on the end of the barrel for a make shift flash hider. The beauty of the 06′ is that it can also be loaded with heavy or light, flat or round nosed bullets for subsonic speeds, or 150 grain spire pointed bullets for quieter low velocity rounds using many powders, or heavy 220RN bullets that busts right through brush. Hornady 160 FTX, or Hornady 150 grain SST #30303 made for .300 savage loads, are perfect for reduced recoil loads. .30-30 bullets are also useful, yet do not have as long of range or as flat a trajectory. If you have to defend yourself from a bear in a huckleberry patch, the 220RN Remington Cor-lokt will bust through, and be on target. I would not hesitate to take a shot on game hidden in the brush with this load either.

      Have a .308 in the arsenal, but do not sell your 06′, it really is the most versatile cartridge for North America, and the bullets and brass is found everywhere. It is the most popular cartridge in Alaska for good reason. There are many who handload in The American Redoubt. Buy your reloading dies now just in case. All the components, except the brass, that is used for .308 Winchester that is wildly popular in the lower 48, can be used in the .30-06. Just add a tad more powder. .308 ammunition can also be pulled apart and used in the .30-06. It is also the ideal cartridge for AP ammunition.
      While it is a close second, .308 cannot do everything that the .30-06 can, especially with all old and modern powder choices now available.

      1. Rabbit- my 29 years of handloading the 06 and my Sierra software accurately concur with your statements regarding the 06.

         1. Thanks for your confirmation. I’m sure it help others. The .30-06 is not just a reloader’s most versatile rifle, the heavy 220 grain RN loads are still available through Remington, and the super flat shooting Superformance loads are available through Hornady. Of course there is so many others to choose from as well. The 220 grain bullet turns the .3006 into brush buster. This means any game in the deep woods can be take with confidence. Most light and fast cartridges will deflect, and either miss or wound the animal that runs away. Heavy and slow round nose and flat point bullets will punch though. The .45-70 are even better brush guns. If you are a subsistence hunter and the game is getting hard to find, having brush buster, and a long range load in one rifle increase the odds of eating. Rolling your own with subsonic and light 110 grain RN, or better yet 150 grain plated flat point, or cast bullets that cost only 9 cents each, we then have small critter gitter round for 50 yards, or less. There more load data, and powder and bullets options available for the .30-06 than any other cartridge out there. This means the odds are higher that the reloader can make the rifle useful. He is less likely to find published data, and the correct powder or bullet for other .308 diameter cartridges.

            In the Great Depression when a family might only own one rifle, the .30-06 was adapted to all tasks, and many experimented included the big names, Col. Whelen, and O’Conner. There is ton of articles and load data on the net. It would be a shame if 100 years of experience and history was forgotten, but with so many cartridges out there, the cartridge de’jour get most of the attention. It really is in it’s own class, and stood the test of time.

            One Hundred Years of the .30-06
            https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/100-years-of-30-06/

3. You ain’t seen nothing yet ,, a main grocery distribution center as of last Friday was shipping earmarked for September shipment stock out now ,,,blaming hording for shortages, ,,
   Just when you think you have seen it all things are about to get interesting,
   My little trading post has been cut off from reordering,,,
   Who is John Galt ,that book has come to life.

   What to do????

   1. Hmmm. Cut off from reordering… Another concerning crack in the supply chain sidewalk. We hope and pray that this is a “near miss”, and the worst of what is possible does not come. But… We are deeply troubled by the signs, and there seem to be many.

      We have emailed companies directly re: retailer “out of stock” notices to inquire about some of our favorite product lines. The content in the replies is not unexpected and cover the usual communications checklist: “we’re doing the best we can during the course of the pandemic”, and “we must remain committed to safety.”

      Thank you for sharing your insights!

4. I live in Rathdrum Idaho where the yard sale was. There’s a local retail store where people shop all day but that’s ok, the going joke in Rathdrum is Everytime we hear a police siren we say, must be another yard sale. Meanwhile across the border in Washington their releasing inmates. I’ve stopped trying to make sense of it all.

5. So I wanted to hit the hardware store today. I cruise by Ace Hardware, there is a line of maybe 30 people waiting to get inside. I knew it was a fruitless gesture, but I then went to Home Depot. I found the same story, but only on steroids, maybe a 150 people waiting in line to get in. OK, no joy. So I stopped by 7-11 to get a soda, not as bad, but the same story, one out, one in. My only thought, at this point; Welcome to the Soviet Union.

6. Another great article on difficulties in the meat food supply chain: https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2020/04/28/president-trump-may-use-defense-production-act-for-u-s-food-supply-chain/

   1. Great article. Very informative… Thank you!

7. Compare the article link I posted above, which is factual and logical, to what Ice Age Farmer just posted: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TffJSaVlME

   Logically compare the information and decide for yourself what the truth is.

   1. Although I don’t actively track the Ice Age Farmer reports, I did listen to this one… My impression is that SaraSue’s prior link regarding the possible use of the Defense Production Act provides a lot of information re: market mechanics, but that Ice Age Farmer is touching on other areas of concern including the darker motivations that might underlie policy decisions. It’s possible — perhaps likely — that these exist side by side, and are not necessarily in conflict with one another. Just a thought!

      Remain steady. Be safe. Stay well everyone!

      1. I can agree with that.

      2. Ice Age Farmer is alluding to the “Mark of the Beast” system without saying so. It is the darker side and it IS the Elite the PTB that are purposely reducing our food supply and bringing us into famine, coupled with major crop losses due to adverse weather events.

         To paraphrase Henry Kissinger, “Control the oil and you control the nations, control the food and you control all people”.

         Who was Henry Kissinger? What were his affiliations? What really is the New World Order? Who is promoting a New World Order? Why? Who are the Elite? Who runs the media, Hollywood, banking, Wall Street, the Fed, the government, and the medical system? Who wants to own the world? Who is controlling the narrative? Greece “invented” communism way back when they were at the height of their empire, but who developed its modern expression?

         Consider this: There are people who do not believe the Bible, and who knowingly or unknowingly worship the Satanic Messiah. Who are the Elite??? Who in the background are controlling everything that goes on globally, at the macro level? Who are utilizing the Hegelian Dialectic? Why is there such a focus on racism? Most Christians are not racist at all. We love all as Jesus taught us to do so. So why are we being called racist? Who is focusing on that? Why has immorality become such a terrible issue at least since the 1960s? Why did the mass media promote immorality? Who are the people who wrote the movies and the TV shows making them more immoral every year? Start researching and you’ll find out.

         Out of each people group in the world there are a few bad eggs. You cannot judge, based on a few bad eggs — the same with the Elites. They are an evil yet infinitesimally small group out of a larger innocent and ignorant group of people. Therefore, pointing out who the Elites are, does not make one racist against their whole group of people who don’t understand what is taking place… It’s these Elites who need to be exposed for their evil corruption and greedy control of the world and it’s resources, and for enslaving the whole world with their taxes and oppressive laws. They need to be brought to true justice!

         Pray, stock up on food, grow gardens, know the Word of God, and resist them. How? By staying alive, refusing their economic system, and preaching the Gospel of Christ in love to all — “both Jew and Gentile”. Jesus is the final judge.

         1. Avalanche Lily!
            An excellent point about exposure… It’s something that must occur on many, many levels. We think this is happening before our very eyes. We pray that people have enough strength in every way to understand what is being revealed to them, and to be able to act upon that information. We pray for a course correction for our country, and really for the world.

8. Hit the lumber yard again today. As I was loading my lumber in the lot, a doctor in scrubs was yapping on the phone heading into the store, and not wearing a mask. He took one look at me wearing my respirator and smurf gloves and stopped dead and said, “Oh shiff…I forgot my mask!” I then said, “This is how we got in the situation we’re in.” He paused, and then said, “Thanks, that’s a good reminder!”

   It was just one breakdown that led to this mess!

   1. Capt Nemo!
      From your post: “It was just one breakdown that led to this mess!”

      Exactly correct. Most people, unfortunately and in this case tragically, do not understand the nature of infectious disease. Making matters more difficult, the transmission rate on this one is high indeed. It takes one error to create a catastrophe like the one we’re in now. For those who haven’t read it, we would suggest HOTZONE cover to cover.

      Another suggestion is to be cautious about headlines, to read deeply on the subject of interest, and to ferret out the facts. Opinions are interesting and insightful and can be informative, but don’t let these govern the views you can develop from an assessment of the facts. It’s not always possible to do this for lots of reasons… Point stipulated. Even so, do the best you can! The statistical assessments of the current pandemic, and the models used to forecast its impact, are good examples of why the above is critically important.

      Remain steady. Be safe. Stay well everyone!

9. This is really the wrong place for this, but this is a MUST READ! A little honest prespective, finally.

   Coronavirus Truths
   https://coronavirustruths.godaddysites.com/

   Maybe Jim or Lily can re-post this somewhere more appropriate.

10. Really….this is what our country has devolved to, police citing people for yard sales. Don’t give up your liberty for the so-called safety from coronavirus. Use common sense instead.

11. This whole “sky is falling” mentality is going to get us all killed, or worse.

    “Everybody gotta die sometime, Red.”

Comments are closed.