I haven't posted anything for nearly a month and I wanted to let you guys know I'm not gone. I've been unbelievably busy with work, the family, and getting ready for deer season. I have had zero woods time other than a short hike up at Chimney Rock while in NC with family, and that's not the kind of bush time I need. At least I should be going up to the SC lease September 10th-12th to sit with my dad in the tower stand, bucks only, though. I'll bring my camera in case anything good happens. The rut won't be until Novemeber.
Hey, in the meantime check out the Brazil episode of Dual Survival. You'll see Dave Canterbury and Cody Lundin using the ESEE lite machete we took a look at last month.
And because some people have asked - the knife Dave Canterbury is using his own design from Blind Horse Knives, the pathfinder blade. Although less frequently asked I believe Cody Lundin is using a Mora 740, which is a discontinued model.
Prep day – work weekend and scouting
Well guys, I got back from the work weekend at my Dad's South Carolina deer lease late Sunday night and have been trying to catch up since then. Finally I got some time to put the videos together. Unfortunately there isn't much video because man we were busy! But we did see some serious tracks and some big rubs. Somewhere out there on this property are some monster bucks!
This video is of the tower stand that we were lucky enough to pick up for $250 from another member who wasn't using it. I had an epic battle with a legion of wasps trying to clean it out but it's good to go now. My brother and I put in a new plywood floor as the old one had some dry rot. Then we put self-adhesive carpet tiles on top of the plywood for heat retention and sound dampening. This should be sweet come the cold weather.
The stand is situated facing (east) down an access trail/shooting lane that runs about 200 yards give or take before it curves sharply to the south. Right at that curve are the big rubs we saw. To the north (left) of our stand is thick pine brush they bed down in, to the south of the stand (looking right and slightly back) is a food plot. Hopefully we will catch them as they move over the trail from their bedding areas to the food plot. There is enough tree cover so that the rising sun shouldn't be an issue with early morning sessions.
Update – Picked up a Savage 110 and gearing up for South Carolina
Sorry guys but I won't be posting much of anything this week as we're gearing up for a work weekend at the South Carolina lease. When I get back I'll have plenty of pics of the scout, a review of the new ESEE Lite Machete, and pics/video of the new box blind we're building.
I did pick up a Savage 110 with scope. Hopefully I'll have enough time to put that up in the "My first Deer" section.
In the meantime if you want to check out where we'll be hunting this year go to Buck Forest.
Prepping priorities – Body Armor vs. Combatives Training w/video (Not kid safe)
Disclaimer: This posting details combatives which may not be suitable for children. Please monitor and preview material before allowing a child to read.
I have recently engaged in a healthy debate about the merits of body armor in your preps on www.ZombieHunters.org . The poster I am in opposition of does not have formal training and seems to believe that body armor should be placed before training (armed combatives and practical gunfighting) on a priorities table. I disagree. Here's why:
Creds - I am a former LEO and current supervisor and trainer of security professionals in Florida. Some courses of study I have training in or advise/train security for are close quarter combatives, situational awareness, and officer safety/officer survival. My opinions are based upon training and study in a professional environment.
I first have to say that the thread this debate started in was in specific address to armor for a zombie attack (not a joke, check it out) and has spun off into this "wild" tangent. I did not take much interest in weighing in on the topic until I read a statement that essentially said, "body armor can be used as mobile cover". This deserved a response.
Let me first start by saying bullet-proof vests (body armor) aren't exactly what the name would imply. There are multiple levels of resistant ability in vests and wearable armor but none are completely bullet-proof. Let me explain, the mechanic used by the vest is a tightly woven fabric which is layered multiple times to create a sort of lightweight, penetration resistant garment. Think of a linear path of travel with the vest in the way and a projectile is in motion. The projectile makes contact with the garment, its kinetic energy is moving forward, the vest absorbs some of this energy (theoretically enough to keep the projectile from penetrating) and the rest is dissipated over a larger area.
Sounds great, right? No holes in you! But not all is well. You see, the problem is the dissipation of the remaining kinetic energy. The more KE the projectile has the more surface area is needed for that KE to be absorbed, and as that energy is absorbed the projectile is still moving forward at a rapid pace and pushing the vest into contact with your body. At that point your body also becomes surface area in which to dissipate KE, which results in blunt force placed on the contacted areas.
That's right folks, a BPV (bullet-proof vest) does not make you superman and bullets do not deflect off of you, they are absorbed. This can lead to serious blunt force trauma, cardiac arrest, collapsed lungs, severe internal hemorrhaging, and cracked or fractured ribs. Some of these situations can be just as fatal as if the bullet hit soft flesh. Body armor is great and can save lives, I wear a level IIIA at work when needed and I am a very strong proponent of vest wear by all duty personnel, but wearable body armor is most certainly NOT mobile cover!
A good, fitted BPV can be purchased by civilians for around $500. Of course you can find some for less and quite a few for more, but I recommend as a minimum level IIIA and suggest you have a vest fitted to your body size/shape for comfort. That can cost a little extra but believe me, is worth it if armor is in your plans.
Now inversely, training - the first thing LEO's and security learn when in training to engage armed persons is to seek out and move to cover as quickly as possible. NOT to stand and engage because your armor should be enough. Why do we train this way? Because statistically speaking Officers who seek cover during an armed confrontation have a higher rate of survival than those who stand (and even engage) as static targets in open ground. We train to reduce ourselves as viable targets. If rounds moving downrange cannot make contact with us there is little need of armor. Please keep in mind the spirit of the debate here, not saying you shouldn't wear armor.
To demonstrate what I'm saying you can view many different in-dash cams of OIS on the internet. I am choosing not to embed or name these videos on my site for kid safe reasons but if you do watch them they should explain this fairly well.
Some of the commonalities in a lot these cases - Officers had low situational awareness, they became stunned from the adrenal dump or they stood static to engage as if shooting a paper target at the range, they did not use proper shooting fundamentals, and most importantly...they did not move and seek cover. It is considered taboo to say what I just said, to speak of the failures of the dead, but I believe as a trainer that it is important to find commonalities so we can address these issues in training. The most simplistic answer when asking why these failures occurred is lack of training.
You see, most LE and security agencies operate on ever-shrinking budgets and due to budget concerns are finding that training above qualification standards just doesn't fit in anymore. Its sad really, but due to this lack of training in-house more and more public safety professionals are turning to private training clinics which has opened up a wonderful new market to civilians that was once closed to the public or completely unaffordable. Now we have trainers within reasonable distances of anybody in CONUS with affordable clinics for all kinds of combatives. Most importantly they can train you to think under stress and instinctively seek out and move toward cover and when you advance a little, deliver fire while doing so.
Most of these clinics can be attended for around $400 for two very intense and educational days. Of course there are added expenses like ammo/gas/lodging if you choose, but it should be worth every penny. There are many different websites devoted to practical gunfighting but if you don't want to browse around with that serious of a crowd I recommend listening to this podcast - http://www.gunfightercast.com/wordpress/ . Tons of good info and part of Gun Rights Radio Network.
So what is the lesson here? Armor is not a substitute for proper tactical discipline and that both armor and training should be in somewhere in your preps. However, in my opinion, training comes first.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's a video to show deformation due to KE transfer even though the bullet didn't penetrate. Imagine the clay is your chest. Scary.
Geocaching for situational awareness
Geocaching is a modern day treasure hunt where people will place a "cache" in an area, sometimes in the sticks, sometimes in a neighborhood, and sometimes requiring some stealth. Then they will post the location and a description of the cache on www.Geocaching.com where us seekers can get the info we need to find it. It's a great way to get outdoors, but a little added bonus for us prepper types, it's a fun way to increase our situational awareness. Fun for kids, too!
All you need to get started is computer/internet access and some decent mapping skills, however, it's much easier to navigate via a handheld GPS. Many phones now have GPS functions but make sure they will accept longitude and latitude input as this is how cache locations are recorded. Sign on to www.Geocaching.com and check for caches in any area you choose, there are plenty! In fact, you'll be surprised when you find so many near you. Record the info for the caches you want and head out on the hunt.
While out be careful to observe possible resources that might be of use to you now or post-event. There are plenty of times I end up saying, "oh, I didn't know there was a ________ here." I've found cool hole-in-the-wall shops, parks, gardens, clusters of fruit trees, new routes of travel, you name it. But I wouldn't have known unless I got out caching.
Think about your day, you travel the same roads while visiting the same places. Of course you would! You've found the most effective and efficient means of performing your daily tasks. You wouldn't have known about that hidden pond or that new fly-fishing shop because guess what (blasphemy!), not everything is on the internet.
Even if you don't consider Geocaching a valuable situation awareness tool, it's a fun way to get out with your family and explore your world. Log on and try one for yourself, you won't regret it. But be warned, its addicting!
Video – Why I chop standing wood rather than baton it
I had been asked in the video using the Rat RC-4 to chop down a sapling why I chop rather than baton. The reason is because the angle of approach is odd unless the knife and desired cut is above your shoulder line, as the swing would be underhand and not a "hammer".
Ideas for secondary income streams
Note: this coincides with a recent podcast put out by Jack Spirko. I guess we had similar ideas. Not sure what episode number it was but check out his Podcast at www.TheSurvivalPodcast.com .
When I started to think about how to write this article I got a bit too high and mighty and started ranting about executive excess and corporate greed. But we're all grown ups here and this isn't a column in the times. So I think I'll take a simpler approach and spare you mu opinions.
For those of you with generous incomes who find all the money you need for prepping in whatever area of your budget, congratulations! You can sit this one out. For the rest of us work a days, read along, you might just catch the fever, too.
When I started getting serious about modern survivalism I quickly realized that stuff aint free! And even more so, it certainly isn't cheap. I'm not just talking about guns and a homestead, I'm talking about debt elimination and buying a home. Now, I'm not the smartest guy but it doesn't take a genius to understand that spending more money than you make is bad. So I researched a few ways to make extra cash. And to let ya'll know, any one of these or a combination thereof could be used to create a "personal business services" model, effectively meaning that you work for you and are not dependent on any one thing, ever.
Secondary/Multiple income stream ideas:
Part time retail - usually pays less than $10/hr but can be flexible with hours and can nail you some sweet discounts. Some sporting goods stores offer great seasonal options and awesome discounts coupled with an awesome work environment.
Delivering pizzas - not too difficult and always hiring, some of these guys can bank over $300 on a good Saturday night but expenses involving the use of your own car can be high.
GPT (get paid to) websites - no interviews or bosses or schedules and can be done while watching TV but is tedious and pays relatively low. Usually involves filling out a survey of some kind. Some have good referral systems to make bonuses off of friends who complete forms.
Technical services/Field Inspections - these can range into a lot of different areas but is what I currently do to create a secondary income. Involves assessing the risk of a structure or business operation as it would refer to commercial insurance. You need a little construction know how and some equipment like a digital camera, computer, GPS, etc. Pay varies widely.
Property Preservation - boarding up vacant houses, turning off utilities, covering pools, changing locks, etc. Usually as part of a post-foreclosure process. You would need a truck and some tools. Some Field Inspectors do this as well but I never have, I've heard the pay can vary and time lines are usually pretty strict.
Website/Affiliate Marketing - well, I guess we'll just have to wait and see how that goes! I have about 48 cents in Amazon referrals right now.
Lawn care - may take a more considerable investment on your part than these other ideas, but could be a good business nonetheless.
Pet sitting/walking/care - some people don't want to use kennels or doggy daycares when they can meet the needs of their pets. A local person whom they can trust to be dependable and kind to their animal could be a good angle and this requires no tools but you.
Mobile notary - not sure how this would work other than saying the process is cheap and I see cars with "express notary" and such quite often.
Anyways, there are probably a thousand different ways you could easily make extra cash. It will be a sacrifice of time but who knows, maybe you can piece together a working condition that eliminates your 9 to 5 and effectively uses you as a business and is never dependent on only one area of the market.
I am striving to create something of the like by the time we make our move to a homestead (three to five years). At that point I have no interest in working for anyone but myself and God and hope to spend as much time as possible at our future homestead tending to our animals, garden, and babies!
Hunting clothing – camo and such
What hunter would want to head out in jeans and a Dale Jr t-shirt? Well all of 'em, of course. But it's not the most effective thing to do, though believe me, it has been done plenty of times.
There is somewhat of a misconception when it comes to what clothing set is absolutely necessary and how much should be spent. The answer will always truly be: What you are comfortable with and believe will be effective. That's it, you don't need a $300 Bone Collector model jacket, you just don't. Would it be nice? Yup. Would it be more effective than 'x'? Maybe. Look, plenty of freezers have been stocked by hunters wearing basic tiger stripe BDU's you can get at any surplus store for $20. Would they have been more successful with newer high-tech gear? Possibly, but I do know that there are plenty of people who head out into the woods with $1k worth of high tech camo gear and come back empty handed.
I chose to hit up a few message boards and listen to the people that have hunted that area for clothing advice. I recommend you do the same, as your chosen hunting grounds may be much different than mine and thus, an entirely different clothing set may be needed. Always seek out seasoned guys for advice and watch for fanboys. The ones you want to listen to usually have short but concise answers as to why they use 'x'. If anybody gets into a heated discussion about say, mossy oak vs realtree, stop listening. As I already said, plenty of game is taken in bargain bin surplus gear, it just doesn't matter that much. Get the pattern you think best matches your environment. I personally think real tree apg is pretty versatile for the South, so that's what I get.
As I asked around about the SC environment I heard pretty much the same thing as Florida - thick bush with small open lanes separating hardwood thickets, mud Mud MUD, hot and humid in summer/fall, mosquitoes, and potentially torrential downpours. This means that for fall hunting I'd need something light with ventilation but serious water resistance. I'd also need long sleeves for no see-um and mosquito protection. I was told it can get cooler at dusk/dawn and can get cold during "winter", so it was a good idea to get something that could cover up cold-weather layers.
Of course I wanted to get the best bang for the buck so I sought out extremely versatile options and this is what I came up with:
Jacket - Bass Pro Shops Red Head Squaltex Rain Jacket Highly reviewed and fairly inexpensive at around $80. The hood is large enough to wear a hat under. I'm thinking of sewing in an elastic strap to fit under the bill of my hat. That way the hood won't flap around in the wind on when on the move in the rain. Make sure you could put it on over a few layers in case it gets cold.
Pants - BPS Squaltex Rain Pants Just as highly reviwed and durable as the jacket and around $70. Its small and light enough to be packable. That way you can wear jeans and put these on when it starts raining.
Shirt - For real warm weather and another layer I found a BPS LS shirt made out of breathable mesh. It is extremely light and does a good job of venting. It was on sale for under $20. Not sure if its on the BPS website but shirts like these are in every big box hunting section. This shirt will be great for hog and small game hunting in Florida.
Boots - (Gander Mountain Fanatic side zip) I had been using regular ol' duty boots for quite a while. They're fine for most trail work, though a bit heavier than necessary. However, they're horrible in mud. It was said many times over that I'd be best getting a good insulated rubber boot. I ended up getting some gift cards to Gander Mtn so I listened to my father who had used the fanatic side zip boots and loved them. At $139 they were middle of the road priced but promised to be a great value and long lasting. My local store had nothing that fit me so I ordered a pair online. When they finally came they felt a bit narrow and pinched. I usually expect this in normal sizes because my feet are pretty wide and usually I can be comfortable after some break in time. Problem, these boots are so sturdy that it's not going to happen. Its a shame because they really seem to be solid. They will go up for trade/sale soon and I will start a boot search only buying something that I can try on first.
*I now recommend you actually try on boots before buying. Your size is not enough to go by considering field boots may not be forgiving.*
Layers - The best layers I have ever found have been Under Armor, period. Whether for warm or cold weather they are always slim and light and non-restrictive. Being moisture wicking helps regulate body temps. They can be pricey but are well worth it. I bought a set of Coldweather pants and a turtle neck. If I need another layer I'll put on a fleece set from walmart I can pick up for $20.
Extras - I like to wear buffs around my neck in the woods, that's about $20. I have a real tree patterned hat, a safety orange vest, and a balaclava as well. They were about $10 a piece.
My total investment is about $410. Given that the boots will possibly be replaced by something more expensive that may go to $450. The important part is that the system is usable in hot, mild, or moderately cold weather and will keep me dry in the rain. Most of the gear is great quality and will be used until passed down to my younger brothers. So I will definitely get my money's worth.
Like I said earlier, none of this is truly necessary. You can do plenty good with surplus stuff or have an epic failure with top of the line scentblocker gear. The point is to find what you will be comfortable with and can expect to work in the brush.
Ford Econoline as possible BOV
Ford Econoline Passenger Van possible BOV
So a traveling contractor working on some stuff at my client's plant brought this little beauty to bed down in and save expenses on lodging. Its an older Ford Econoline diesel passenger van. He told me that his father found it at a mechanics shop for about $2k. It had been an airport shuttle bus for most of its life and needed some work to the alternator and normal maintenance to get it running again. Now that I'm writing this I think about asking what the total cost was. Oh well, it couldn't have been much more than another $2k as this guy does most of his own work.
The vans body was in good shape but they ripped out all the seats in the interior and built a system of bunks and storage on each side. Unfortunately I couldn't get a good picture of the back - the sheet you see is blocking it - but they actually have a portable shower and toilet back there. For insulation they tacked solar reflectors to all the windows in the passenger area, the thing felt at least 10 degrees cooler than the outside at about 95 degrees, and the A/C hadn't run in at least 12 hours.
Bunk on left - sorry, limited time for pictures
The thing in the box attached to the back is a portable diesel generator. It is plugged into the electrical system so they can run the A/C, a radio or tv, and a small set of cooking appliances at a greatly reduced cost to running the engine.
The diesel genny on the back
He operates throughout the South East and takes this rig with him wherever he goes. He says it gets about 11 mpg and it let's him pocket the lodging fees from his billing and even reduce some food costs with a cooler (no fridge due to power draw) and hot plate. In jest I told him to weld a BBQ to the back for some serious tailgating and he actually said he would!
The owner is a seriously talented welder with a lot of know how. I would not attempt this if you're not skilled in metal work. Just wanted you guys to see it.
Note: Pics taken with the new Kodak Playsport - hopefully I can figure out the video software soon.
First Impressions – History Channel’s Top Shot
The History Channel's Top Shot
I've just finished watching the first episode of Top Shot from The History Channel and I have to say, I like it. For one, I like the idea of firearm competitions. Then when you add physical activity to that and it's just candy. The one thing I'm unsure of is The History Channel putting effort into "reality" based programming. Well, it is hosted by Colby Donaldson of Survivor fame (whom I like), but we'll just have to see how it pans out.
The format is a team-based competition with a split cast of 16 marksmen (and woman) of varying skill levels and weapon specialities. Everybody from Marine Scout/Snipers, IPSC/IDPA competitors, and even Archers are represented. The teams will compete against one another with the winning team being "Immune" and the losing team having to go to "Elimination". The losing team must vote two players to go to an Elimination Challenge where those players will compete in a head-to-head stage, the loser going home. This will continue until only one Marksman is left, to be named the Top Shot.
It appears that the teams will be given an amount of time to practice with the weapons to be used in the challenges away from the other team, with some coaching from professional instructors. Then a competition using those weapon types and possibly multiple stages will be underway. In this first episode the teams competed in a relay "race" of sorts with four stages using four different historical rifles: the Mosin-Nagant, SVT, 1903 Springfield, and the M14. The teams were broken into four shooting groups of two, with each person acting as a shooter and spotter for one stage. The shooting group had to maneuver an obstacle such as a low crawl under wire, a mud slough, rope hang, and a woodrod thicket before progressing to the shooting station. At the station the shooters were permitted to use the structure however they wanted so long as they were behind the station (most appeared to be sandbag posts with windows). Targets were placed at differing lengths. Once a shot was confirmed good by explosion of an incendiary target, the next shooter could take aim, and so on this went.
The first competition was won by the Blue Team. Which forced the Red Team to vote two members into an elimination match. Now here's a good part. The voting is not secret. In this first episode the members of the losing team were taken to the "Elimination Range" where each member had a target with their name on it. Each person must come up to the line and take a shot at whomever's target they wish to go to the elimination challenge, right in front of the team. The two with the most shots on target go to the challenge. This week was a head-to-head long range competition using what appeared to be scoped Remington 700's. Targets were placed at 200, 400, and 600 yards. First to knock out all three wins. Mike Seeklander, a US Air Marshal and FLETC instructor was sent home this week. Pity, because next week looks to be all pistol competitions with the Beretta 92f. We probably could have learned something from him.
That all being said, and it was quite a bit, Top Shot looks to be a good hour of TV with some educational value and good competition based entertainment. Don't let History Channel's deviation from the norm effect you too much. Hopefully Top Shot will not be to History Channel what The Colony was to The Discovery Channel.