Young new bushcrafter!

[Aquabilly]

Ok so, here is my story.

I'm 14 years old and I want to get into bushcraft for a few reasons:

#1

I'm a scout and I have been from the minimum age you can join them at 5 or 6 years old (I'm not sure, don't quote me on that!) and obviously I am therefore interested in the outdoors.

#2

While I am writing this I am sitting on a balcony of my hotel in Saigon, Vietnam (I'm on holiday) and the noise and amount of people and the smell and the pollution just makes me want to run into a forest somewhere and forget all modern civilisation!

#3

The biggest reason, is I recently finished reading a series of fictional books set in Europe in the Stone Age (before farming, the wheel, metal and writing reached this area of the world). It was about a young boy and girl about my age and the detail of all the things they did to survive like hunting, foraging, for berries, tracking etc. was fascinating, and really inspired me to learn these skills and try it myself!

So I have a few questions.

First, what equipment would you recommend for me starting off with bushcraft(and where to buy it, I live in Hertfordshire), bearing in mind I'm only 14 so my budget isn't big at all. I have a few things that may be useful, from being a scout and army cadet like Swiss Army knife, full British army Dpm(woodland camouflage), British army webbing and pouches and a .177 air rifle.

Second, how and where can I get bushcraft training (again, near Hertfordshire) or is it best just to go into a forest and discover for yourself?

Finally, what laws are there against hunting and other bushcraft things?

Now I just want to say, my ultimate goal, I know it sounds very cheesy, is to be able to go into a forest somewhere and just live "off the land" without any modern technology, and no noisy, polluted cities!

Thanks for reading and sorry for the massive amounts of text, help would highly appreciated!

 

[Bushcraftsman]

Welcome to the forum! Just out of interest...these books dont happen to be by Michelle Paver do they? if not what are the books because they sound very similar to the Chronicles of ancient darkness...starting with Wolf Brother. If you haven't already read it...I suggest you do.

As for equipment. You dont need an air rifle to do the things you mentioned. I suggest (if you can get one) a Mora Clipper, about 12-15 quid on amazon...great starter knife! Maybe get a tarp so you can practice getting out there and doing things. The tarps wont cost you much either and gives you somewhere to sit and practice skills like carving even when it's raining. They are a lot lighter and more versatile than a tent and means you can practice things like knots etc. Get a couple of books to read up on the subject, I'm sure there are loads but I suggest the SAS Survival handbook. Has a lot of useful info in there.

as for training. I personally have never had any training, a lot of people have, but for me I just went out and practiced the skills I read about/watched ray mears and bear grylls do on tv! Like you I was about 14 when I started and I'm now 20.

Hope some of that helped...learn what you can, get out there and practice, and most of all...enjoy yourself!

Cheers
Jordan

 

[Mesquite]

Hello and welcome to the forum

Best suggestion is to read the forum, there's lots of answers to the questions you've asked.

As for kit, the nearest places in Hertfordshire that I know of is the Bushcraft Store and Ronnie Sunshines but bear in mind you can't legally buy a knife until you're 18. Ronnie Sunshines do do bushcraft course but I don't think they do them for under 18's. But there are other Bushcraft schools that do do junior courses, just have a look round on the net.

As for learning skills there's lots you can do by yourself such as tree and plant ident, fire lighting (where you have permission to light a fire or your back garden), knot tying etc.

You can also meet up with fellow local bushcrafters for days out learning these skills as well.

Hope that helps you out for a start

 

[Aquabilly]

Aha! Thanks so much for the help, and yes, the books are chronicles of ancient darkness I just didn't mention the name because I didn't think anyone would know of it! And do you agree about the detail she puts into the tracking and hunting especially in the last book, ghost hunter.

 

[rg598]

Welcome to the forum.

My first recommendation would be to re-frame your thinking about bushcraft and transform it into a more realistic approach to the wilderness. No matter how much you learn, you will not be living off the land by yourself. It's just not going to happen. Hunting regulations are usually very strict. I live in the US where there are fewer regulations, but still, it is impossible to hunt year round. Don't get caught up into the mysticism of bushcraft. It will waste many years during which you could be learning more practical skills.

As far as gear, if you have ever been camping, then you have all the gear you need. Bushcraft is not much more than that in practical terms. It is more or less camping with people obsessing about expensive gear that they don't actually need. For me my bushcraft and my backpacking gear are one and the same. Here is a list of my three season gear: http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2013/02/my-three-season-camping-and-bushcraft.html and here you can see my winter gear: http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/2013/03/my-winter-backpacking-and-bushcraft-gear.html

As far as training, my personal opinion is to stay away from any specialized bushcraft training. I find it to be too centered around mysticism. The best way to learn what works and what doesn't work is to actually go out into the woods. Depending on how you spend your time there, certain skills will be more important to you than others. Don't limit yourself to what other people define as bushcraft. Look more broadly at the range of outdoor activities, and see what people use and do. If you are interested in long range hunting, look at guys like Mark Seacat and Steve Rinella; for long distance backpacking look at Andrew Skurka; for mountaineering look at guys like Conrad Anker. A combination of all those skills is what will make you a good woodsman, not carving spoons and sporting the latest retro gear.

Anyway, that has just been my experience. I started out much as you did, and these are the pitfalls that I have encountered.

 

[MattF]

Hello forget the air rifle here is a extract from the section 21 firearms act
[h=2]14 – 17 years You can

· Borrow an air rifle and ammunition

· Use an air rifle, without supervision, on private premises where you have permission

You cannot

· Buy or hire an air rifle, or ammunition, or receive one as a gift. Your air rifle and ammunition must be bought and looked after by someone over 18 – normally your parent, guardian or some other responsible adult.

· Have an air rifle in a public place unless you are supervised by somebody aged 21 or over, and you have a reasonable excuse to do so (for example, while on the way to a shooting ground).[/h]

 

[crosslandkelly]

Hi, Welcome and enjoy. You'll find just about everything you need to know here.

 

[Niels]

Hello forget the air rifle here is a extract from the section 21 firearms act
14 – 17 years You can

· Borrow an air rifle and ammunition

· Use an air rifle, without supervision, on private premises where you have permission

You cannot

· Buy or hire an air rifle, or ammunition, or receive one as a gift. Your air rifle and ammunition must be bought and looked after by someone over 18 – normally your parent, guardian or some other responsible adult.

· Have an air rifle in a public place unless you are supervised by somebody aged 21 or over, and you have a reasonable excuse to do so (for example, while on the way to a shooting ground).

So can young people shoot bunnies with one in the UK?
And welcome Aquabilly, enjoy the rest of your holiday

 

[thedawnawakens]

Hiya and welcome, I like the sound of the books.....any chance of a title please? Looks like from what you say you really love the outdoors. You're in the right place to share all knowledge and experiences relating to what we love. Enjoy fella

 

[Dreadhead]

welcome aboard

 

[welchyd1]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[THOaken]

Now I just want to say, my ultimate goal, I know it sounds very cheesy, is to be able to go into a forest somewhere and just live "off the land" without any modern technology, and no noisy, polluted cities!

It sounds cheesy? Well, I disagree wholeheartedly!

Have a look at the primitive living section of my website, young one. I think you'll find some interesting things that are really quite relevant to your interests. But remember, you're still very young. I'm almost twenty years old and I wish I had Bushcraft experience or, indeed, a budding interest in the natural world at your age. In fact, I'm only a beginner and, regretfully, started learning about primitive skills little more than a year ago. I've a whole story to tell about that, but here's not the place...

I might say that for a fourteen year old you present yourself rather well. Your command of the English language is more refined than some of the people with whom I occasionally exchange pleasantries...

Welcome to Bushcraft UK.

Edit: I should add that Rg598 is correct on this matter, though.

 

[SimonM]

Welcome to the forum...

My advice would be to speak to your Scout Leader...ask him if there are any bushcraft / Scout craft camps coming up locally that you can attend. As a Scout you should be able to learn a lot of skills that cross over, such as knife, axe and saw, outdoor cookery, navigation and first aid.

Learn from your Leaders, then take it to the next level by practising and then teach some one else the skills you have learnt.

Simon

 

[Biker]

Welcome young fella! You are soooo going to love it here.

 

[Perrari]

Hi & welcome to the forum.

 

[dave53]

so youngun what are the books are you reading i personally like earths children by jean m auel im on her latest book now welcome to the forum i wish i had your interest when i was your age this is a great forum to learn from enjoy and try and get to some of the meets you will always be made welcome and always ask questions regards dave

 

[woodpoet]

HI and welcome to BCUK.

 

[Aquabilly]

Hey thanks so much for the help guys and the very warm welcome! and the books are chronicles of ancient darkness by Michelle paver, the first book is wolf brother. Now my plan is to go to one of the bushcraft stores mesquite mentioned with my dad (as soon as i get back home) and by a knife and then go to my local woods and just explore!

Thanks again

 

[Aquabilly]

Oh and while I still have wifi, could someone point me in the direction of tutorials or lessons or something similar on this forum, as someone mentioned I should read the forum for help

Thanks

 

[Bluezephyr]

Welcome to the forum.

We will still be here when you come back to the UK. I would love to go to Vietnam , go explore, a balcony is no way to remember such an intense place.... Spend your parents Dong