Just out of curiosity.............

[Spacemonkey]

Ah, ES, welcome to British Humour... We're a weird bunch, but you'll get the hang of it eventually..!

And anyway, isn't survival simply bushcraft by any other name? It's all about living comfortably off the land is it not?

As I said, I like to blend in with my envornment when outdoors not stick out like a dayglo sore thumb. This season I shall mostly be wearing my olive green SASS smock and trousers, but on the odd occasion I might wear cammo, not because i am a soldier wannabe, but because I like it, and I'm an individual not a sheep. Baah...


ps, One of my favourite winter jacket is my WW2 BD jacket in green proudly diplaying it's Hampshire regiment badges. Does this make me an army wannabe too? (oh, and you try and find one that actually fits!!)

 

[East Scout]

Ah, ES, welcome to British Humour... We're a weird bunch, but you'll get the hang of it eventually..!

And anyway, isn't survival simply bushcraft by any other name? It's all about living comfortably off the land is it not?

As I said, I like to blend in with my envornment when outdoors not stick out like a dayglo sore thumb. This season I shall mostly be wearing my olive green SASS smock and trousers, but on the odd occasion I might wear cammo, not because i am a soldier wannabe, but because I like it, and I'm an individual not a sheep. Baah...


ps, One of my favourite winter jacket is my WW2 BD jacket in green proudly diplaying it's Hampshire regiment badges. Does this make me an army wannabe too? (oh, and you try and find one that actually fits!!)

Fine post SM,

The humor dosnt bother me nor do the pokes....I just find it odd/interesting that as a whole I was recieving the same treatment, via the net postings, as many members in this thread recieved in person for wearing camo..

I spent 4 years in the Infantry fresh from high School..I loved everyday I woke up and was able to put on my uniform and be a Soldier. I will always be a Soldier, regardless..Even if i had never been in the service that dosnt make someone a "wannabe" because they wear camo in the woods..Only thing that qualifies a person for that is a deliberate mis-representation of one self to appear to be what they are not..eg; awards, tall stories and just a general round of bullocks to make folks think otherwise...

On the bushcraft survival subject..I'll agree w/ you there..They go hand and hand. However I have a friend on this board that mentioned he had a long discussion about the very subject here on this forum somewhere..He told me many here do not agree that bushcraft and survival are the same...I think they just dont want to be called Survivalist (its a dirty word) and get a bad rap just like wearing camo might give them,,Bushcraft is so much more PC..

ES

 

[C_Claycomb]

Like so many things, bushcraft/survival, as an idea, does not readily transfer from one side of the Atlantic to the other without some differences. Most Americans that are interested in survival view bushcraft as hand-in-glove with those skills. Those in Britain who are interested in bushcraft are not neccesarily interested in survival, and do not see them as the same thing. It can be argued every which way with no resolution at all. Semantics, and differences in culture and geography all come in.

I have dual nationality, and it always grieves me when Americans and British bump heads on stuff like this

When I used to shoot, I loved camo (I particularly liked mesh camo face nets ), I still have a fair bit left over, but wear it a lot less now than I did. I find that now that I am not trying to sneak into killing range of animals, the few percentage points that camo may have given me aren't really important. More than that, there are so many people around where I live now that I prefer to be camouflaged as a "normal" slightly witless towny out for a bumble in the woods than to try to be totally invisible to the hordes of bumblers. Greens, grays and khaki is low key and hard to spot, but when I am spotted I still don't stand out

Afterall, isn't that the purpose of camo, to blend with your suroundings

 

[East Scout]

Like so many things, bushcraft/survival, as an idea, does not readily transfer from one side of the Atlantic to the other without some differences. Most Americans that are interested in survival view bushcraft as hand-in-glove with those skills. Those in Britain who are interested in bushcraft are not neccesarily interested in survival, and do not see them as the same thing. It can be argued every which way with no resolution at all. Semantics, and differences in culture and geography all come in.

Good points.......

ES

 

[C_Claycomb]

Just out of curiosity...which Kent County are you from?

 

[East Scout]

Just out of curiosity...which Kent County are you from?

Kent County In Maryland..Ever been here? Only County in MD besides Allegany worth seeing..


ES

 

[East Scout]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushcraft

Bushcraft
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Bushcraft is, to a certain extent a version of what have always been called survival skills. A popular term for wilderness skills in Australia and South Africa, the term was popularised in the northern hemisphere by Mors Kochanski and recently gained considerable currency in the United Kingdom due to the popularity of Ray Mears (an ex-student of Mors Kochanski) and his bushcraft and survival television programmes.

Bushcraft is about surviving and thriving in the natural environment, and the acquisition of skills and knowledge to do so. Bushcraft skills include; firecraft, tracking, hunting, shelter building, the use of tools such as knives and axes, foraging, hand-carving wood, container construction from natural materials, rope and twine-making, and many others.

This modern form of Bushcraft encompasses much more than just a collection of survival skills though. Primitive skills and technologies which are often thought of as crude or backward in the modern world can be of great importance and are seen in Bushcraft as great achievements.

The respect gained for our unknown ancestors in the acquisition of these skills can be an important part of Bushcraft. With regards to respect and understanding, one thread of Bushcraft is also concerned with respect and understanding of the natural world, its flora and fauna and the way these elements interact.

'Bushcraft' is also the title of a British magazine catering for the above skills published by BushcraftUK

[edit]
Origin of the Term
Before the recent popularity of Ray Mears and his programmes, the term was also used by the Irish-born Australian writer Richard Graves and Canadian bushcraft teacher Mors Kochanski. The word has been used in its current sense in Australia at least as far back as the 1800's. The accompanying term Bushman (in the sense of someone adept in bushcraft) has been used in South Africa and Australia since a similar time. It is more common to hear the term bushcrafter to describe someone interested in bushcraft.

The term was used in the following books (amongst others):

The History of Australian Exploration from 1788 to 1888 by Ernest Favenc; published in 1888.
My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin; published in 1901.
Campaign Pictures of the War in South Africa (1899-1900) by A. G. Hales; published in 1901.
The Explorers of Australia and their Life-work by Ernest Favenc; published in 1908.
We of the Never-Never by Jeanie (Mrs. Aeneas) GUNN; published in 1908.
The Life of Captain Matthew Flinders by Ernest Scott; published in 1914.
[edit]
External links
Bushcraft & Outdoor Skills
ThinkSurvival.com
Bushcraft UK
Backyard Bushcraft blog
BushcraftWiki.com
Bushcraft & Survival Skills Magazine
The original UK bushcraft magazine
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushcraft"

 

[scoops_uk]

Hi All,

IMHO the british suspicion of DPM is directly related to the media's delight in portraying "martial arts survivalist AK47 toting knife weilding fruit loops" as the source of all violent crime. As a result if you wear DPM in the woods people are immediately suspicious of your motives.

I do a fair bit of wildlife watching. Interestingly, if I wear DPM with a pair of binoculars I get a few dodgy looks. If I wear my Advantage timber kit no-one seems so bothered. (Maybe they just can't see me )

Long time no post, glad to be back.

scoops_uk

 

[Zodiak]

None of my clothes are what you would call DPM, I have a pair of tousers and jacket that were described as Belgian Army camo, but they are shades of dark blue, so perfect for night time

Some of my gear has DPM covers, mapcase, water bottle cases, sleeping bag case, day sack, but thats just because they were the colours they came in!

One thing I did deliberatly buy as DPM was the large tarp that we bought from www.tarpaflex.com which my Explorers use as a dining shelter or mass basha. I chose that because when we camp I want us to be discrete and not an eysore to the rest of the world.

 

[Brendan]

I frequently go bushcrafting on a private estate and use og or camo kit, on occasion my shelter is made to blend in so as not to be seen by any passers by who could potentially come and steal something when I was elsewhere.
It is also good on the eye to blend into your surroundings, however during hunting season especially deer season If I'm walking the estate I wear hi viz vest so as not to be shot by deer stalkers. I had a close shave a couple of years ago when I was cammoed up collecting shrooms and shots were fired at a deer I was behind.
I was some 40 meters away from the deer but invisible to the hunters, well I have never moved so fast and truly ate the dirt.

 

[wizard]

A lot can be said about this subject and obviously has beed said. From my perspective, I wore camo most of my 20 year military career and appreciated the benefits and the style of the clothing, loads of pockets and such. While I still own some, I never wear any of it anymore. Although I "earned" my camo clothing, I just feel uncomfortable in public with pieces and parts of camo. Nothing wrong with it, you do see people regularly in the US with camo pants or jackets, just not for me. I prefer olive, khaki or some plain color.
There is truth in the statement that dressing in military clothing can get you into trouble in parts of the world too. Some travel recommendations often mention not to wear camo or even olive clothing while in the country. However, in some countries, you can be in danger no matter how you dress! Best option there is look poor!
Bottom line, wear what you like, if you like wearing camo, go for it. Remember the best camo is to blend in and often blending in may require shorts, sandals and a straw hat Cheers!

 

[SowthEfrikan]

I don't think there is any problem with people wearing camo in the backcountry here. In fact I didn't know it was any kind of an issue anywhere unless you are lurking in the woods during hunting season.

As for blending in, it's orange and yellow jackets and raingear for me. Stuff that can help get me found if I get lost or need help. There is a lot more empty space here.

Absolutely no living off the land either, except for water, but carry in carry out.