Anyone else into Bushcraft?

Q

Quentin

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I wanted to see if there are other Bushcraft enthusiasts on the forum.
I'm a Marine Engineer by trade, but my real passion is being outdoors. I love the practical side of bushcraft—whether it's modifying gear, building natural shelters, or just improvising solutions in the woods. It fits well with the engineering mindset of solving problems with what you have.
Does anyone else here get out into the wild? Would love to hear about your outdoor projects or kit modifications.

Cheers,Quentin
 
blup said:
Is this the same as a Prepper?
Click to expand...
Actually, that’s a pretty interesting question. I’d put it this way: there is an element of prepping in bushcraft, but there is no bushcraft in prepping.
In bushcraft, the focus is on living in the woods with minimal gear and creating your own living conditions. Prepping, on the other hand, is more about stockpiles and preparing for catastrophes or doomsday scenarios.
 
The closest I got to prepping was stockpiling beans and bog rolls during lockdown.
 
Used to do a bit when Scouting.

Did a Winter camp years ago, making shelters from as many natural materials as possible.

The young people had groundsheets and sleeping bags.

We were supposed to be building and lighting a fire using flint and steel but it was absolutely lashing down and we only had access to soaking wet wood, so concessions were made (bog roll soaked in paraffin!)...
 
securespark said:
Used to do a bit when Scouting.

Did a Winter camp years ago, making shelters from as many natural materials as possible.

The young people had groundsheets and sleeping bags.

We were supposed to be building and lighting a fire using flint and steel but it was absolutely lashing down and we only had access to soaking wet wood, so concessions were made (bog roll soaked in paraffin!)...
Click to expand...
Sounds like a proper adventure despite the weather! Did you actually enjoy the experience in the end, or was it just cold and wet?
 
blup said:
The closest I got to prepping was stockpiling beans and bog rolls during lockdown.
Click to expand...
Haha well, it’s a solid start! To be fair, if you’re stockpiling beans, the bog roll becomes a strategic necessity. Priorities sorted!
 
I am in the woods whenever I'm free and weather is reasonable.
I still take kids from the neighbourhood in the woods in summer to build shelters, bows, slingshots, campfires, makeshift seats and tables, collect fruits etc.
In my heydays we used to go fishing and hunting and spend days out in the wild (we carried lighters though).
In those days it was ok to hunt rabbits and birds and eat them, wood pigeons my favourite.
Nowadays...
Most kids love being in natural environments, the problem is convince them to leave their gadgets and go.
Once they're there, they don't want to leave!
My brother was a champion at making fire with sticks (without a lighter), I tried, but never hard enough to succeed.
I still make slingshots, bows and arrows and catapults, just for fun though.
IF I was a bit younger I would apply to go on "naked and afraid", unfortunately my joints are a bit unpredictable, ok for weeks and one day they decide to take a few days off.
 
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