What skills would you like to learn before the SHTF?

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Gazrok

Gazrok

Awesome Friend
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Joined
Aug 15, 2013
Messages
7,491
Location
Florida
I realize I may not have the time to learn everything I'd like to prior to such an event, but if not, I am working on at least storing the INFO on how to do it.

My personal list:
1. Learning more Spanish (I can get by, but poorly).
2. How to make and use biodiesel fuel.
3. How to make my own ammo reloads.
4. More advanced medical skills (like EMT training).
5. How to brew my own alcohol.
6. More natural medicine.
7. More about home canning and old school preservation methods.

What I've learned this past year:
1. Masonry, concrete work
2. More electrician skills
3. More plumbing skills
4. More agricultural skills
5. More horsemanship
6. More vet medicine
7. More herbalism, plant identification

So, what do you want to learn in the next year or so?
 
Im planning on working on my HAM radio license, getting my hunting license, increasing knowledge of buildings, and i want to try and make a Biosand water filter and see how it works. Id also like to look into some other general things, like generators and canning, maybe even a little bit of bushcraft to expand upon my boyscout knowledge.
 
Thanks for the reminder. I have the same licensing plans.
 
I have quite a bit to learn:
Cooking skills (Im not too bad, but cooking from scrap is hard!)
Food Storage - because post shtf fan I dont think ill be able to order mylar bags lol
Gardening skill-getting better but I havent had to garden to support my family for a year. so definite improvement is needed.
I have zero hunting skills- my aim with a gun is pretty damn accurate but thats for a nonmoving target-hunting is completely different!
I havent fished in years- I would like to start fishing again in the next year or so- since i live within walking distance of a large fishing lake

In the past year I have amassed a giant prepper library-mainly old boyscoutting books and outdoors man books.
I am fairly comfortable handling just about any farm animal...including medical
I am fairly confident with my first aide skills-even thought there is always room for improvement.
I have just recently started working out again-its time to get toned up!! lol
 
I have zero hunting skills- my aim with a gun is pretty damn accurate but thats for a nonmoving target-hunting is completely different!
Click to expand...

Back when I hunted, typically, you only shot them when they weren't moving (or were barely moving), so you'd probably be pretty decent at it. The harder part is knowing how to treat the carcass and doing that. Taking the shot is the easy part.
 
some of what i already know a lil bit about
roofing
carpentry
plumbing
gardening
(tracking extremly little)and hunting wildlife
the back roads
water filtration
cooking n canning
and i deffently need to learn lots more about all the above
 
Canning <- Just downloaded a Kindle book on this.
Water Filtration and catchment in an Urban Scenario. <- I live in a condo so there are a lot of limitations. Am purchasing a Puricom CP1 in October with 2 spare filters (each filter can handle 2,500 gallons)
 
if you want some websites on stuff like this I have a whole board on pinterest: Prepper DIY with lots of websites with info on skills and Prepping things... as for HAM Radio you have to register to get licensed I would know the stuff but not get licensed just because I dont like my name on lists but that is me. I wish I was stronger and more fit and had more money to learn construction, hunting, but I am trying to learn skills to stay useful to those who can do that stuff so I can trade my skills for their skills. and I have books on Spanish but have not touched them I have a hard time with languages. my big prepper skill so far is being a seamstress with a treadle sewing machine. although I can also sew by hand I am not as good as my sewing machine.

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_make.html
http://stovetopstill.com/
these have info on biodiesel and stills for purifying water or making alcohol
 
diffrent breeds of lifestock just came to mind.like
horse's
cattle (beef and milk) cattle alike
goats.
sheep
chickens
and any other lifestock i figure to be good to have..
 
How to make a good tent or a kind of shelter, only with stuff I can find around me.
Hunting and fishing like a pro. And when I mean like a pro, I mean that I could eat fishing sharks and hunting bears. LOL
 
TypicalDude said:
How to make a good tent or a kind of shelter, only with stuff I can find around me.
Hunting and fishing like a pro. And when I mean like a pro, I mean that I could eat fishing sharks and hunting bears. LOL
Click to expand...


TypicalDude, shelter is one of the most important things to know in a survival situation when you are caught in the middle of nowhere. They can range from the simple lean-to to a more complex treehouse type.
 
i hadn't thought of tree house before...there's good advantages in that..some if not most ppl wont think off loking up for what ever..it'll give a better view of area..maybe better protection in some way or another..and if the right tree's are choosen,then well hid as well
 
Gazrok said:
I realize I may not have the time to learn everything I'd like to prior to such an event, but if not, I am working on at least storing the INFO on how to do it.

My personal list:
1. Learning more Spanish (I can get by, but poorly).
2. How to make and use biodiesel fuel.
3. How to make my own ammo reloads.
4. More advanced medical skills (like EMT training).
5. How to brew my own alcohol.
6. More natural medicine.
7. More about home canning and old school preservation methods.

What I've learned this past year:
1. Masonry, concrete work
2. More electrician skills
3. More plumbing skills
4. More agricultural skills
5. More horsemanship
6. More vet medicine
7. More herbalism, plant identification

So, what do you want to learn in the next year or so?
Click to expand...
I need to learn how to clean an animal after killing it. Also more medical stuff. I probably should become more proficient at reloading.....
Better learn what I can and can't eat.
 
TypicalDude said:
How to make a good tent or a kind of shelter, only with stuff I can find around me.
Hunting and fishing like a pro. And when I mean like a pro, I mean that I could eat fishing sharks and hunting bears. LOL
Click to expand...


Practice, practice, practice !! A tarp is a awesome tool for shelter making i posted a video on it back in the day, i will see if i can find it.
 
Clyde said:
I need to learn how to clean an animal after killing it. Also more medical stuff. I probably should become more proficient at reloading.....
Better learn what I can and can't eat.
Click to expand...

This is how we used to clean a pig up at my Uncle's farm during the 1980's.

We would slit the jugular and drain the blood by hanging the pig upside down. (We would catch the blood which we use as a sauce in a famous Filipino dish called Dinuguan aka "Blood Soup" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinuguan)
Slice the abdomen open, making sure we don't cut into the entrails. This is so that we do not taint the meat.
Pull out the entrails as one complete package.
Cut the head off. Cut the carcass into two long half-carcasses then chop as necessary.

HTH
 
Gazrok said:
Back when I hunted, typically, you only shot them when they weren't moving (or were barely moving), so you'd probably be pretty decent at it. The harder part is knowing how to treat the carcass and doing that. Taking the shot is the easy part.
Click to expand...


even moving you can get a kill when i was 12 i shot a deer that was running away from the drivers (people walking thats jumping deer up) and i shot like i normally would and hit his heind leg we had to cut a whole in his throat to finish him but i still killed him (he was a 8pt and it was my first deer shot)
at that age i didnt know to hold infront of him to hit him in the heart or lung
its still not that hard
gl to everyone with their list i have to go back out and weedeat ill post mine in a little bit
 
Welding
Bettter plant ID
Food storage without a fridge
better at gunsmithing
emergency medical , gsw, bites, major cuts.
Ham raido sounds pretty good, looking into getting one.
TEACHING my wife and son the basics I know.
 
I got some odd skills for most people. I'm a semi professional smith. I can build tools if I need too, i can make anything from a simple iron stake or hinge up to a suit of hardened steel armor. Been at it for almost 20 years on and off. Got a pile of non electric "pre industrial" tools. Stakes, anvils Beverly shears, punches etc. Also got hand drills and draw knives for working wood, reenacting multiple eras teaches you a good number of primitive skills. I can make my own shoes if i have too, tan a hide etc etc.
I also have a pretty good base on tactical and 1st aid from the Army and Law enforcement.

My skill deficit is in the area most people are over trained now a days, tech and computers. I suck at them. I'm also a pretty bad auto mechanic. And coms, i'm bordering on being a luddite i guess.

I need to learn:
Ham radio
Engines
how to wire up a solar cell array and backup batteries.
I'd like to learn scuba.
I'd like to learn to sail
get better at animal husbandry
computers
i'm an ok gardener, i wanna learn farm
tig and mig welding (i got a guy for that, but i mainly forge weld what i need to weld)
i need to learn local edible flora, what grew back home in the Saw grass don't live here on Hoth.
 
I'd like to learn to make clothes and stuff from hide. And expand on my current, almost Eagle Scout level, skills, I have some basic tactical knowledge and I'm a really good shot with a bow and most guns, I lack a little in shotguns, and I can track ok. I can fish and I'm working on trapping. As for radio I would like to learn it but not get licensed. I think the license is overrated I'd rather know it and move on to the next skill than fiddle with the formalities.
 
Jake-prepper_hopeful said:
I'd like to learn to make clothes and stuff from hide. And expand on my current, almost Eagle Scout level, skills, I have some basic tactical knowledge and I'm a really good shot with a bow and most guns, I lack a little in shotguns, and I can track ok. I can fish and I'm working on trapping. As for radio I would like to learn it but not get licensed. I think the license is overrated I'd rather know it and move on to the next skill than fiddle with the formalities.
Click to expand...
I wouldnt get licensed either that is just another registry they keep of people and depending on administration in charge of the list .... you never know how this will be used. but it is a good skill to have anyway. I would like to know how to shot better yet hunt but money is short now and I dont know how you find someone to teach you hunting if you A dont own land, B dont know anything or anybody who knows how to hunt, and C dont own said gun. :) but I live in Texas so Gun companies and guns wont be in short supply any time soon so I have time.
 

might try practice ranges in your area..some of them might even have a weapon you can rent/lease for practice...and if you know of any deer lease's,that could be of help as well..
 
Clyde said:
I need to learn how to clean an animal after killing it. Also more medical stuff. I probably should become more proficient at reloading.....
Better learn what I can and can't eat.
Click to expand...

I'll try to remember to take pictures or video at deer camp. For small game it's pretty simple, you pull out the guts then take off the skin. For deer it's a bit more complicated if you don't want to contaminate the meat. You don't want fecal natter, urine or the organ fluids (like from the prostate gland) to touch the meat. Fecal matter is swarming with bacteria.

A doe is much easier to properly clean than a buck. The biggest problem is getting the bladder out without breaking it. I use a small zip tie to tie off the top of the bladder, then cut above the zip tie.

There are three basic ways to skin a deer. Head up, head down, and on the ground. I carry a block and tackle with me hunting so I never have to skin a deer on the ground. If it will be hours before you can get the deer to a skinning rack, you want to field dress it, which is simply cutting open the abdomen and removing the intestines and stomach. Since the hide protects the meat from contamination, you don't have to be as careful.

We weigh the deer at the skinning rack and record the live weight, so we don't field dress our deer, we just get them to the skinning rack ASAP.

With the head down method, you use a gambrel to spread the hind legs and support the weight of the deer while cleaning it. A gambrel looks like a heavy duty coat hanger with hooks on each side that go through slits cut behind the deer's Achilles tendons. We use one that is made from a 2x4 and heavy duty screw hooks.
gambrel.jpg

With the head up method, the deer is often strung up by the antlers.

Butchering is really the hard part with a deer. The way I do it is basically to separate the muscles. It's a lot of work, but results in a lot more good meat than just hacking up the deer.

Each muscle is vacuum packed, unless it is too large, like the backstraps, in which case it is cut in half before vacuum packing.

I leave some fat on for freezing to protect the meat, but when I thaw the meat, everything that is not RED meat is trimmed off. No matter how careful you are, there will be some surface meat that is brown. CUT IT OFF AND THROW IT AWAY!!!! Not only does the brown meat smell bad and taste bad, it may have E Coli bacteria. KEEP YOUR KNIFE CLEAN!!!

If you do it right, the meat you are left with after trimming should look and smell like freshly bought beef steak. If a buck was killed during the rut, or had been running before being shot, there will be a sour smell from lactic acid build up. The meat is still good, but requires plenty of spices like garlic to offset the sour taste.
 
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That's a pretty good list.
I'm working on hand to hand combat and spending time at the pistol range.
I'm great with a rifle, but totally useless with a pistol right now.
Also trying to be a better farmer and learning about electricity.
 
Planting and growing. I don't really know anything beyond the very very basics. Also never actually hunted or processed an animal. There's a good thread on that somewhere around here but I've never done it myself.
 
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