Doublebad Reading

Ultimate Guide to Wilderness Living, by John and Geri McPherson

2009-03-25T07:39:00.000-07:00

This volume and others by these authors have intrigued me for quite some time. Namely because they advertise a method for tanning buckskin without the use of chemicals.

For about two years now we have pondered them on our Amazon.com wishlist. You see, 'round here books tend to be purchased and kept. Reading and re-reading is enjoyed. Outdoor and geek books seem to multiply here in the dog compound.

Our current economy helped this blogger find the public library. While you are more than welcome to click on the sponsored link above and buy the book, you might want to try your own public library first.

That's what I did and am very happy about it.

This book is not a survival book. In fact, the knowledge herein will keep you alive for about seventy two hours. There is no mention of how to obtain water and make it fit to drink....

What this work is, depending on your definition of is, is exactly what the title says.

The authors are unique among the genre because they walk the talk. John and Geri live simply in a hand built home. They know these methods work because they use them.

Starting with fire, the journey takes you through tools, shelter, containers, cooking, fishing tackle, snares, primitive archery, snares and traps, and has a very complete section on the most plentiful North American animal - deer.

Right up front John will tell you flowery prose and riveting reading were not on the radar. The writing is average at best, but the content is beyond reproach.

Do not let an obsession with wordsmithing keep you away from this book. If you want to know how to live in the wild with nothing but what you find then read it.

This book will hopefully be owned by me this year. Other titles are ahead of it for now. It's not the most enjoyable reading, but not the worst. For those interested in the subject it is essential reading.

Mastering all of the subject matter through practical application would put anyone in a much stronger position away from civilization. Mastering any of it, in fact.

This one is going back to the library today, but through the grace of the Father, it will be back in armchair again.

"Making the Most of Your Deer" by Dennis Walrod

2009-03-20T09:43:00.000-07:00

This book is intended for the not so squeamish among the hunting population.

Today it is very popular to simply drag a deer out of the woods and drop it off at a processor. A fee is paid. In due course of time the packages of cut meat are picked up and taken home.

Now personally, I used to think that the processor was a bargain. If you have never skinned and butchered a deer after a hard day hunting trust me, it's a workout of sorts.

Once the processed deer was cooked and tasted, the light came on. The meat is better when you cut it yourself. Other advantages are only limited by the amount of pride and care that the hunter puts into preserving the harvest.

This book takes you from the moment the animal goes down all the way to serving suggestions for the recipes and craft items from the hide and other parts.

The commercial processor uses a band saw and this spreads bone fragments and tallow, giving the meat an undesirable flavor according to Mr. Walrod. Having tasted venison prepared in this fashion, this blogger concurs.

What we never thought of was making soap out of that tallow. Dennis covers that along with more than you ever wanted to know about preserving your bounty.

The one area I found disappointing concerned the treatment of the rib meat.

For years, this camp has boiled the daylights out of the ribs along with all the other bones including the spine. After a day or two the kettle is cooled on the porch or in a fridge. Tallow will rise to the top and it can be "peeled off".

The resulting stock and by now tender boiled trimmings have uses limited only by the cooks imagination. Bar-B-Q sloppy joes from the reduced rib meat are sensational. The stock makes a brown sauce that turns venison stews into masterpieces.

The picture of the ribs and backbone shoved into a trash bag caused me slight alarm.

Other than that, the book is well written and an entertaining read. No one but hunters who want to maximize their experience will be interested. For those readers, this volume is highly recommended.

Woodcraft and Camping

2009-03-20T09:27:00.000-07:00

Woodcraft and Camping by George W. (Washington) Sears. This classic work of the late nineteenth century continues to be read today by generations of wilderness seekers.

Even early in the industrial age, there persisted in some urban centers small pockets of folk who had a visceral yearning to be in the wild. The guide industry was shaping up and city dwellers were hungry to recapture lost knowledge of how to get by in the woods.

George W., or Nessmuk, was a powerful writer with an intimate knowledge of woodcraft, camping, hunting, fishing, and all matters pertaining to living well "off the grid".

Today there is a renewed interest in "primitive" or "survival" skills. This is one book that will fill an afternoon with you in your "lodge" huddled against the elements. Giving it a good read will provide a real chance of teaching you something to make your next outdoor adventure easier.

Personally, this reviewer owes a great debt to Mr. Sears. George taught me to tether my paddle when I was eight years old, way back in 1969. The first time I had enough rank on board to tie down a paddle the practice was instituted and preserved.

Guests on my inflatable kayak have on occasion untethered thier paddle and complained about the arrangement. The practice has saved me from losing said paddle. In the event of a capsize it could save your life.

There are many other practical lessons to be learned and a general mindset presented. Not a thick book, almost light reading and certainly enjoyable.