whats your specialty

[hawsome34]

A very good question Gaz, and quite difficult for people to answer, self analysis isn't usually done day to day. Nice for someone to prompt people to look inside and see what they can do and would like to develop.

I think my speciality(s) would probably be:

Optimism, and realism. I know when things are beyond me, but then I'm never afraid to ask for advice or assistance in sussing something out. Also that I know my weaknesses.

My best skill would be navigation (without a GPS) and the ability to pass these skills on, without causing confusion or making it seem daunting.

I'm pretty good with shelters, but would like to get more practise. As for all the other skills, I'm happy to admit I'm a beginner in the realm of Bushcraft, but very eager to learn and solve problems, and try new things.

 

[Infragreen]

My strongest point is keeping the mood up (Joker when I can, serious when I must).

I'm a good marksman and I can pass the knowledge on.

I know a thing or two about forging.

And I just LURV construction/tinkering.

GREAT thread, Gaz!

 

[Longstrider]

I guess my strong points in bushcraft are all things that I've brought along from other interests in one form or another. Knifework, axework, (and the ability to sharpen almost anyhting made of metal so I can shave with it), trapping, leatherworking and problem solving.
My weak points are things like plant and fungi identification, cooking over fires and camp tidyness. Me and my kit always seem to expand in area to fill all the available space. I'm pretty useless at flint knapping but I hope to remedy this in part at least this year with a lesson or two.

 

[cicelythepotter]

I wouldn't say I've got a specialty. I'm into bushcraft, for about 2 years now - so that would be to early to call myself a specialist.

But I've got a firm interest in traps and (since I was a youngster) edible / medicinal plants. Don't know lots, but I'm working on it, and it's great fun.
Fire ... well, of course I love to start a fire (we all are small pyromaniacs, aren't we?) - but I really hate to make fire by friction (bow drill), to much hard work So I prefer my fire flash

Also hate tracking ... Had the basics covered in my Woodlore Fundamental course, and it was done a bit fast / hasty (sp?) - so that may be the cause ... But I do like to spot wildlife when I come across them (deer, squirrels, bunnies, birds, etc.)

And I'm interested in the antropological aspects of bushcraft / world's people (think that would be very similair to Stuart's interest): did you guys knew the boomerang (as used by the Aboriginals in Australia) is also used in Western Europe? One was found in an archeological excavation (earth layers 4000 years ago) in Vlaardingen (a town nearby). After reconstruction it worked perfectly!!

Love the stories different people tell: the Aboriginals and the people on Madagascar tell the same story about the Boabab tree, although they are thousands of miles apart.

Also love to learn flint knapping one day ...

flint knapping is great, but if you cant get hold of flint, try knapping glass. use beer pottles and a nail or mini screwdriver- cover your hand with a piece of seriously thick leather or neck rawhide and have a play

(its a good idea to wear goggles when glass knapping coz the bits are soo tiny they can get blown around) they also have a tendency to get stuck in your hands. try this book- 'the nature and subsequent uses of flint 'by John lord. john does the flintknapping on the woodlore primitive tech. course and Will, his son does the natural pathways one.

i love doing pottery, both on a wheel and by hand though i have yet to actually fire any pots bushcraft style i have fired some in a wood fired kiln.

i also enjoy plant identification and know quite a lot about the culinary, medicinal and other bushcraft uses of plants. i would really like to learn tracking and fire lighting by friction.

natural pathways do good flintknapping courses near canterbury

 

[Lord Farquhar]

Knowledge comes from knowing and practicing. To be a master at a skill is to know and to practice but the real masters are the ones who experiment with new things and new ways of doing things. people learnt to be master trappers/tracker etc but knowing and doing but the real masters are the ones who have a good basic skill but then try somthing new and find it works better at least for them. We are not all the same. Lighting a fire using a bow may be quite simple for some one who is large and strong as he has an advantage in that way but a fire is still a fire even if you have used a box of matches. the lighter guy may be better at shimming up a clif face or tree and collecting eggs while the big guy might just shake the tree. As they say their is more than one way to skin a cat.

I think a very important skill to keep in mind is that we are all human and no matter how much skill and preperation we have it can all go very wrong very quickly.

if there were three traits for a bushcrafter i think they would be humbleness, fortitude and foresight.

If i were to have a bushy related skill its making tools for people from bits and bobs. i have made knives from garden forks, files, truck springs and even basket ball hoops and i have just finished my first bushy axe made from a hammer

 

[Topcat02]

My strong point is an insatiable interest in those things that interest me, my downside is that I easily get side tracked into equally interesting things, and lose track of where I was, and what I was doing. Now, er, where was I?

 

[Graywolf]

My trouble is I am not special at anything,I would say a jack of all trades and master of none.Maybe I should specialise but like the wife is always saying to me,you have to many interests why dont you just concentrate on one subject.
Clayton

 

[Graham_S]

hmm tough one.
i'd say i'm best at firelighting (although friction is another matter).
also i'm not bad at sharpening things.

 

[Pablo]

No specialist skills here, in fact I'm deliberately aspiring to be jack of all and master of none as I enjoy all the aspects of bushcraft and they all suit my bushcraft philosophy.

I tend to go out with a different project in mind on each bushcraft excursion, which takes a bit of self discipline, 'cos usually all I want to do is sit and take in just being in the wood. In most cases I do this anyway

I do admire people who excel in a number of areas. Where else would we get our knowledge and advice from?

Pablo

 

[Salix]

I would like to think that I have a good general all round knowledge in wildlife, Identification of plants/fungi ect, Im'e a pretty good forester and arborist (when i can get out the office), and i like preciouse things - kit, books and anything that shines and looks like a knife or axe

Im'e not that good at firelighting, carving andthings that need patience

Mark

 

[Saskia]

I don't have a real specialism yet. I'm just started with 'real' bushcraft. But I have quite some knowledge of flora and fauna and the processes in a forest. I'm interested in edible plants, but I should be more often outside looking for them.
Also making fire with a bow drill is something I like, but I need to practice it more often. And as I read overhere, there's a lot more to try.

 

[Nathan Sturgess]

Fire lighting, knots and cordage making, shelter building, traps, preparing and cooking food, carving, navigation, first aid and knife sharpening.
I am not so good with plants, I know which I can eat but if I don't I leave them well alone.

 

[Abbe Osram]

I think I am pretty good in setting snares.
Snow Survival in general.
Then I know a lot about awareness, mind control and the spiritual aspects of Bushcraft.

cheers
Abbe

 

[Carcajou Garou]

I am pretty good at converting oxygen into carbon dioxide
I guess I am very (awares?) of my surroundings when out and about, the rest of the skills like everyone else. CG

 

[sodajoe]

Don't have a speciality but want to learn more about plant uses.

 

[gaz_miggy]

i was realy suprised how well this thred took off but if u notice i never comented so,
i would say what im good at is makeing the most of a situation, and im pritty handy with an air rifle i can track rabbits and tell u were there living but i wouldnt say im good at tracking, my map reading is not bad but apart from that i need to practise most other things, :You_Rock_

 

[FruitBatInShades]

My best areas are probably herbal knowledge and shelter building.

 

[Eric_Methven]

I'm good with wood. I can navigate well by day and night (astral navigation). I feel confident in any outdoor environment. My camp craft skills are acceptable although I can be untidy and lose stuff by laying it down then kicking leaves over it.

My weakest points are wild plant food recognition. I know a few plants that I can eat, but I also know there are hundreds more that I can't recognise.

I do OK, but as my report cards used to say, Can do better!

Eric

 

[Graham_S]

I'm good with wood. I can navigate well by day and night (astral navigation). I feel confident in any outdoor environment. My camp craft skills are acceptable although I can be untidy and lose stuff by laying it down then kicking leaves over it.

My weakest points are wild plant food recognition. I know a few plants that I can eat, but I also know there are hundreds more that I can't recognise.

I do OK, but as my report cards used to say, Can do better!

Eric

Eric is also good at getting an entire woodworking workshop into one transit van

 

[JonnyP]

My best area is wild plants, though I am not all that good on their uses, I can identify most of our wildlife apart from the different types of gulls. I am not good at cooking in the bush and usually stick to sausages and beans and easy stuff like that. I am always amazed at the imaginative cooking that a lot of you guys I meet do. I am not good at sleeping in a hammock, though I find them really comfortable. I am rubbish at fungi id, I can't sew and am not crafty. I will stop there.........

I have noticed that a lot of you guys state that plant id is your weak area's. I would recommend trying to identify all plants that you come across on a bimble, with the help of a field guide. If you can't find the plant in your field guide then take a few photos of it, there are many websites that can help you. This is what I do and find it a good way of learning. It is a big subject though and I still have loads to learn.................Jon