Primitive Hunting

I am very interested in going primitive hunting. I don't really like killing animals in general, and have never hunted before... but I feel like it's a skill that is essential to have as a human that eats meat. I also don't have any interest in using firearms or anything of the like.

The thing is, I can't seem to find anyone around me with this knowledge... and I'm hesitant to just go out and try it, because I have a fear of the dishonor that comes from just wounding an animal instead of killing it properly (poor shot, etc).

On a related note, I am going on a road trip at the end of january and am thinking of stopping at an indian reservation on the way for a visit... but am not sure if a "tourist" asking about hunting would be the best way to approach the situation and learn these skills...

Anyone have any advice?

 

American Indians relish the honey ants in all parts of the continent where they occur. Gathering them in quantity and crushing them makes an enticing dish. Straining the juices out and allow to ferment it becomes a highly flavored wine.

 

Well hunting and gathering small insects and prey is one thing... I was thinking of something... larger.

 

I wouldn't go on their lands and kill their animals not properly. It isn't just about killing the animal itself. If you kill a deer and only eat 1/8 of it, and trash it's skin that would be a shame. You need to know more than just killing. So if you plan on being a hobbo, you need to know how you'll keep that meat fresh to eat. And if you are a purist, you need to go primitive all the way, ya know what I'm sayin' bro.

You said it's going to be a roadtrip, how could you backpack with a deer on your back 'lone?

Why don't you take primitive bow class? First know how to shoot properly, you know that would the first thing to know, not killing in the first place. Than you need to aim correctly, than do some 3D shooting (kind of animal models).

THAN start to get some infos about hunting itself, ya know, one step at the time...


STILL, insects are very good in proteins, don't forget about them.

Respect.

 

Thanks Barbuchon, I think I probably didn't articulate myself properly I was kind of tired when I made the post.

I have some experience in primitive tool making and the like. I've made weapons and tested them on targets and some years ago I've also done "normal" archery.

As for the road trip comment, the only reason I was suggesting that was to accompany people on their own hunt, not to hunt for myself on their land. I just felt like that would be an opportunity to talk and learn from people that have the knowledge since I haven't been able to find anyone near me.

The reason I've never actually tried to use any of the weapons on an actual animal is exactly because I don't REALLY know how to use everything from the animal and properly dry the skins etc etc. I've read and seen through pictures, but I wouldn't feel comfortable trying it on that alone, I'd want someone that could do it properly there to help my skills.

I'm pretty confident in handling small prey animals and birds. And finding insects etc... But I feel pretty overwhelmed with bigger game. There's so much cleaning and prep to do and seemingly not enough time before the flies get to the kill

 

Heh - like Indians had the lock on primitive hunting techniques? They were actually quite anxious to adapt paleface tools such as rifles.

Their most primitive hunting processes were, of course, bows, arrows, and spears. (Horses were important tools used in this process when big game was the target.) Nets were woven to catch fish.

They often traded for dried meat and fish with other tribes, blankets, hides, kettles and blue beads being quite popular items of barter, so you may simply need to brush up on your bartering skills. Also popular was raiding neighboring tribes and stealing all kinds of booty, including women and children for slaves. Foodstuffs were certainly included in the booty, and slaves could later be traded for dried venison or salmon.

You don't want to overlook their reliance on roots and vegetation, though. Plants are much easier to sneak up on, and they don't have all that yucky stuff inside them.

 

Make a few bows (you'll need a few, not just one), a good string and some nice strait arrows. Practice a whole bunch till you can hit a 6" to 8" target at 30 yards. You'll go through a few bow and some arrows doing this. I discovered the string and the arrows where more important than the bow, but not by much. There are some good websites that tell how to make all these, but actually learning from someone is the best.

 

Hey there, perhaps you should read up on making traps from natural materials. Traps that don't need bait are quite effective if you find a good animal highway, usually near a water source.
Also is the inward two pronged spear, the barbs face each other inward, to hold the prey on the spear. Use them inside a critter hole, just make sure you have something to kill it quick if its still alive when pulling it out... hope its not a skunk either. Works good for bullfrogs and fish too.

As for making a bow in the wild, it takes skill to make a good one, but one to get by can be done. Make sure you remove the bark and slowly cure it over a fire to harden and strengthen the wood. Curing is to heat the wood slowly so any moisture bubbles out thus tightening the wood.
You can use many things to make string or rope, but to make a good strong bowstring, then try strips of animal hide. Remove the fur first. Cut the strips, wet them, and twist or braid, braid takes more, and let dry. It'll shrink, but will hold and is quite strong.
But the strongest natural material is called Sinew. The longest strands are the two cords that run along either side of the backbone. Tendons and ligaments work too but are shorter.

Very important, if you try to get any animal, I suggest you do it in secrecy because to the legal eye, it's called Poaching and Animal Creulity, which have a heavy price. And they won't understand our ways I'm sure. So think and be careful.
There's plenty of skills to practice without killing, but if you do, eat the flesh, except rabbits out of season, and use all you can of the animal for tools and such.
Maybe say a prayer of respect to the animal spirit like the indians did.

Peace

 

Thanks for the info, man. I'm familiar with spears for fish and frogs and have seen rabbit snares along a highway in use, though never done it myself. How about dead falls? I feel comfortable with my fish and frog hunting ability at least... so that's a start

Earlier this year I made a walking stick from a pine branch and recently cured it over a fire. On a hike my friend found his own very large walking stick and decided to "fence" me with it. One solid swing from my tiny pine stick cracked his big ass stick in half the power of properly cured wood!

 

This really isn't the right website to learn about hunting. don't you have a redneck uncle or something?

 

Heh, I'm not tryin to learn how to "get 'on out thar in the bush and nab me a biggun" I was hoping someone could point me to a primitive methods reference.

 

ya don't 'nab' anything. you 'bust' one. go to a sporting goods store and get a bow you can handle. tell em you wanna bust yerself at LEAST an 8 pointer

 

Heh, I walked around in my state forest for a long time, still haven't come across a Dick's Sporting Goods yet.

 

trick is, ya go to Dicks before the hunt

 

Wait a minute...

 

ive heard that some states have atleast talked about allowing use of a altal witch is nothing more than a exteintion of your arm to increace the power when throwing a spear!

 

how do you figure it isnt? this forum is titled "living on earth", since the dawn of time at least some percentage of human kind have been hunters..

simply because you choose a mind set that would suggest that only "rednecks" hunt does in no way make that fact.

i assure you that many contributers to these forums,this forum in particular hunt as part of there chosen lifestyle..

 

http://www.survivalistboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=36

this seems to be a pretty cool site,,, much like here but without most the BS..

www.primitiveways.com

 

If you're living off the land and want meat, other than fish, then you hunt or trap. It's really common in rural areas.

 

i have heard of a place somewhere in the US (i am from europe) called the "Teaching Drum "... one swedish couple is there now, they learn how handle skin among other. They live in a "stone age" kind of way, it is a kind of a school, but not really. They might be happy to help.