Learning bushcraft skills is an excellent way to supplement your survival skills. You can use these skills to hunt for food, track game trails, and even make a Finnish Marshmellow and feather stick. These skills will come in handy when you're stuck in a remote area or need to live off the land for any amount of time. Here are some of the most important bush skills:

Making a tarp shelter

When you're out on a bushwalk or camping, a tarp shelter is a great option. Although it takes more skill than setting up a tent, it can be useful in a survival situation. If you're interested in learning how to make a tarp shelter, try making one without a tent next time you're out. A tarp shelter can also be made to form a door. You can close it in cold weather, or leave it open for ventilation and egress.

Tracking game trails

When searching for animal tracks, it is important to remember the general attributes of these trails. For example, they tend to be moist, rolling hills, and shady. It is easier to detect animal tracks in moist soil than dry dirt, but they will still leave prints on the ground. Often, the best places to look for game trails are near water holes because animals tend to congregate in these areas. This means there will always be plenty of animal tracks around the waterholes.

Making a Finnish Marshmellow

If you're looking for a fun way to warm yourself in the middle of winter, try making a Finnish marshmallow. A Finnish marshmallow is a clean block of snow pierced with a knife and supported on a stick next to a fire. Watch the snow slowly melt on the stick. Once it's melted, it will drip steadily. If you follow these steps, your marshmallow will be ready in no time!

Making a feather stick

There are many reasons to learn how to make a feather stick. Not only is it one of the most essential bushcraft skills, but it is also extremely simple. You will need a stick and a sharp knife. To make a feather stick, you should first choose a piece of dead wood that is at least two inches in diameter. Then, using your knife, cut the wood with a slashing motion, making sure to follow the grain.

Splitting wood

Using an axe is an essential bushcraft skill, but splitting wood without one requires practice and a steady hand. The purpose of splitting wood is to create kindling, which is a small piece of wood needed to start a fire. Using a pocket knife with a saw is handy, too. Using the saw to split logs requires certain cuts, called "stop cuts," that serve a purpose when you're batoning the pieces of wood into smaller ones.

Making a fire

Developing your bushcraft skills can help you make a fire when you need it most. You'll need a bow drill or a pair of hiking boots and some sort of cord. Your bow should be about the length of your arm, bent into a half moon shape, and tied with a cord. Next, you need a fireboard with a shallow depression or a V-shaped cut. You'll need to use your bowstring to wrap around the drill, then place it on the fireboard. Next, you'll need to determine whether you want to extinguish it or bank it for the morning.

Identifying animals

Identifying animals in the bush can help you locate and identify them. Clear prints are most easily seen on soft surfaces, such as wet sand or fine soil. You can narrow down your animal identification by noticing its shape and size. Knowing which species inhabit the area can help you determine its species. Different animals have different diets, so knowing the types of plants and animals they eat can help you to narrow down your search.