The Hunt with a Knife
Think about it. The week-long canoe trip is almost half over. Your food container burst open yesterday, causing everything inside to be lost. While you recovered most of your goods, an unexpected rock caused a capsize.
I have experienced such an event. To say the least, I was crestfallen. However, I managed to survive.
When you’re in that situation, how can you get food? Despite my lack of experience with hunting and fishing, I was not prepared to provide for myself. Neither a gun nor a fishing rod were available to me.
There was a knife in my pocket, however. There were several knives in my possession.
The tools I had with me allowed me to acquire enough food to make it to the end of the trip. Despite not being comfortable, I wasn’t starving.
Knives are essential for anyone who spends time outdoors. It is best to have several blades, if possible; blades break, dull, or become lost over time.
Although rifles and shotguns are commonly used for hunting, these skills are still useful. It is possible to damage or lose firearms. Despite never hunting, you may find yourself without gas and little else but a knife on the edge of the road, many miles from civilization.
You may need to find food if civilization itself has disappeared.
You can get food if you have a knife. Hunting, fishing, and trap-building are all possible with a knife.
A knife is also very useful for survivalists for a variety of other reasons.
Besides preparing the fire, cutting bandages and rope, cauterizing wounds, and making tools, a blade can also serve as a signal mirror.
In spite of the fact that knives are not ideal for the purpose, you can use them as hammers, screwdrivers, and spades. For self-defense against wild animals, a knife is better than a fist.
Knives are an essential tool for survivalists and casual outdoor explorers alike. The more sharpened it is, the better.
What is the best way to hunt or trap with a knife?
Make Spears
Despite the possibility of hunting with just the knife, you will have difficulty getting close enough to the prey to strike it. Making spears with your knife is a better idea.
It involves hunting, so if appropriate laws apply (if still applicable), please follow them.
Hunting Spear
A spear is simply a pointy stick that’s stabbed into your prey. Spears come in many varieties, but basically, they’re just pointy sticks. Either the stick itself can be used as the point, or the stick can be slashed with a knife.
In the latter case, the knife has a greater chance of being lost, but it’s more effective.
Make a primitive spear with one knife if you have one. Making a knife spear is a great way to use several knives or if you like to live life dangerously (please, stay safe).
Wood is used to make the shaft of both types of spears. It is best to use a hardwood branch that is three to five feet long and about an inch in diameter. Green wood should be avoided.
If there are any knots or branches sticking out, trim them with your knife. Taking off the bark may also improve grip.
The narrow end of the spear should be whittled into a point if you are going to make a primitive spear. Carve away from you, towards the end of the branch, with your blade buried close to the handle.
Sharpen the point as you work around the wood.
A campfire can be used to improve the spear tip. As a result of the heat, the spear point will become harder and more effective. Don’t set it ablaze…
A knife spear should have a shelf instead of a point. Mark the bottom of the handle on the branch alongside the handle of the knife.
Using your fixed blade knife, split the wood with your baton into the branch.
The blade should be inserted close to the wood’s center, and then the handle and blade should be smashed back to drive it into the wood. Go slow.
Break off one half of the wood once you reach the spot marked previously. Make sure your knife handle is firmly attached to the spear haft before placing it in the shelf.
It’s now just a matter of stalking or ambushing a prey animal. Once you are confident, you can throw the spear (practice, practice, practice! ), or lunge if you are close enough. Wishing you the best!
Fishing Spear
If you use a normal spear to spear a fish, it is likely that he will dodge out of your way. It is also difficult due to the refraction of light through the water. A better fishing spear design has four points, some distance apart.
About a foot from the spear’s end, wrap some cord around the haft. The haft will not split too far if this is done.
Make your way halfway to the cord with your knife and baton. You then remove your knife from the middle of the split, rotate 90 degrees, and baton it down again in accordance with the first split.
Remove the knife once the first split reaches the cords.
Jam two pinky-sized twigs into the splits, about the width of your spear. In both directions.
It is recommended that the spear be splayed out. You can whittle the four points of the spear the same way you would do it with a primitive spear if you tie the twigs in place with cord. Enjoy your fishing!
You can use it for more than just fishing. You can eat frogs as well!
Set Traps
In order to successfully hunt with a spear, you need to put a lot of effort into it. Wouldn’t it be better if you made some traps first? Putting them up is simple and you don’t have to worry about them. For a while.
Please do not leave any traps behind and forget about them. Before leaving a place for good, make sure your traps are recovered.
Place any of these traps somewhere where you can actually find game animals. Traps should be placed based on signs, such as droppings or trails. A good place for them is between shelter and water.
The trapping industry is often more regulated than the hunting industry. Make sure you follow your local laws when testing these skills.
Lastly:
Are you carrying a knife? Food is available to you. Go fishing or hunting after preparing some traps. You can fill your belly and survive another day with a simple knife if you practice patience.