New Prepper Questions

reply to post by JOakes


It's not that simple when you take into account steep hills and lotsa trees. Who said anything about machinery ?

Cheap prepping basics:

Trapping - get some Conibear 110's for small critters. They can be set with one hand almost. Get the bigger conibear's for bigger stuff. Youtube them for placement ideas. Conibears are cheap and light weight. Almost unlikely that you'll accidentally get caught in one yourself. Practice with them now (get a license if you are worried about getting caught). Now is the time to messup and learn what works - not when you need to survive.
--if you have no gutting/skinning skills - youtube that too.

Defensive traps - you might want to keep it simple and only for property encroachment alarms. If you set up pits with spikes - good chance that you or your loved ones will forget where they are at and get themselves hurt. Easy to die with blood poisoning.

Speaking of blood poisoning - stock up on antibiotics. Most, made for human consumption, req a prescription...but if you search around there are other, better than dead, antibiotics that you can buy now at your local petstore.

Shelter and hole covers - Tarps and painters drop cloth (plastic type 1mil not .7). The plastic drop cloths are cheap as heck. Use them to patch blown out winders and the like. You can spend money on tents and whatnot, but if you are living out of a tent - it'll get torn up quicker than S###. Using tarps for your shelter is cheaper and more durable in the long run. Practice tarp set ups now - especially if you know it is going to storm. Need to know what works and what else you'll need to buy or what skills you need to hone.

As for foodstuff - ask a Mormon. When it comes to efficient and long term food storage, they are the best. Might even be some Mormon Canneries around and they'll be more than happy to show you what is up.

For your tools - get tools that can be repaired and tools that you have the means to sharpen when needed. Learn what type of file sharpens what. Learn how to use a honestone for axes. Try to get metal headed tools with wooden (but replaceable) handles. Get hand drills and augers. You can even get a manual grind wheel if you are going to stay in place. Makes sharpening your chisels and axes so much easier.

You'll need a bolt cutter for breaking into stuff easily (storage units, metal gates, hand cuffs, etc).

Get rappelling gear and practice with it - makes getting around that much easier. Never know, you might find a new hobby (or phobia).

[edit]: Learn how to render fat and oil.

Originally posted by Asktheanimals
reply to post by ZeroReady

 

How to know if the Rabbit is edible? - Check the liver for spots.

And if someone is selling you skinned and prepped rabbit - ensure the kidneys are there. Rabbit kidneys are offset - cats are not.

reply to post by Gazrok


To piggyback the BoB list - 2 items are almost always overlooked and rarely found in most first aid kits:
Bug repellant
Sun lotion

Toilet paper and adult toosh wet wipes too.