keetoowah,

Bow's are nice because of "renewable" ammo supply but got to remember I'd imagine if something did happen its a short term problem where 200 rounds of 30-06 or another similar class cartrage will provide many good family meals of deer and deer jerky.



I dont like SHTF (Sh*t Hits The Fan) or TETOWAWKI (The End Of The World As We Know It) discussions because I think most of the ideas people list are out of a hollywood movie. Life isn't hollywood, there wont be people running around killing others for food for years after a major disaster like some make it seem so "bugging out" perminatly to a remote location by yourself or with close family/friends doesnt make sense in my opinion.

Not many seem to pratice what they plan on doing, just because you can carry that 100lb bug out bag for a 15 minute walk doesnt mean you'll be able to pull that same stunt for the hours it would take for some of these "bug out" plans I've read online. Nevermind people seem to think they need everything including the kitchen sink, I dont think many of these "self proclaimed" experts were in the bush for more then a day in their whole life (and no going hunting by driving your car to the lot your hunting, getting out of the truck and walking 100 yards to your treestand doesnt mean you were in the bush! ), there are execptions to this ofcouse and you generally can tell that the person thinks logiclly when they don't carry 50 pounds of useless equipment (like that 5 pound laser sight on their rifle or that GPS unit they plan on using that they need to carry 10 pounds of batteries for).

Think of a national emergacy which may cause people to seriously look at bugging out not just simply leaving the area and letting the problem blow over with a local problem (if they advance warning ofcourse), NO supplies avalible from the goverment, it would basiclly be "coorperate" or "famine". Remember people generally stick into groups be it by family, friends or similar minded people. Look at the state of affairs 200 years ago without much technology in peoples lives, farms were ran by 20+ people to be able to support them all. What is one person supposed to grown and maintain alone ?? And thouse that are causing problems well sure they may do what they did in New Orlands and loot everything the supplies they can loot will run out, what then ?? Communities in New Orlands protected themselves from the looters by banding together NOT running away and not thinking everyone is out to get them like these types of dissucions make it seem like.

This group is real level headed so none of my ranting was about this group, was more of a general rant I've had for a while because some forums these discussions seem to go to the "fantacy world".

Dimitri

The governor of Lousiana hired mercenaries to patrol the streets of New Orleans after Katrina, Dimitri, that's professional killers pretending to do cops work. I agree largely that people will band together, but a person's just as dead from errant or friendly fire as from intentional fire....

I also agree that most people aren't prepared to "bug out" and don't have realistic plans. Probably the people in our little group of friends here are more qualified than most because of the time we spend on hunting, with firearms, etc, but I suspect that might be why Handloader asked the question in the first place.

We all could have responded with a well thought out emergency kit, including space blankets, water purifiers, etc, or built good old '50's style bomb shelters, but we collectively seemed to think of our immediate survival first. I know what kinds of conditions I can survive in and what I want for survival gear. Just some thoughts, partner

my dad taught me long time ago when we thought russia would attack, to be ready for that kind of emergency.
and ive always had a bug out bag if you will ready and easy to get to.
i dont trust our gov. for its past history is truth enough that its not to be trusted.
thats one reason i moved to where i am now.
not because its so pristine and beautiful but because of the safety in all the mountains and the ease of getting further northwest.

Me and my wife have reciently been in discussions about laying in a store of food / fuel for an emergency purpose. The most "realistic" disaster I think is probable where I live would be a major earthquake during a heavy winter... it could theoretically knock out power, natural gas lines for heating etc etc.

I told her wouldnt it be cool if we had a travel trailer we could use in such an emergency? It mean I've already been looking at them for a couple months now Hahaha. 2 birds with 1 stone. Shes actually strongly concidering it.

I'm trying to figure out what to store in terms of food though... even MRE's expire in a few years and I dont want to have to eat my way through storage food every couple of years before it goes bad and needs being replaced.


-DallanC

Tracker,

I realize they hired Blackwater was sent in. I dont think they like to be called mercenaries though, their prefered term is "security contractors".

As for equipment if something did happen I'd grab my camping gear and have a fun time sort of considering it a mini-vacation.

keetoowah,

The cold war was basiclly a thing of the past by the time I was born in September '87 but I did see alot of it on documentries when I was growing up.

Dallan,

MRE's can last a good 10 years if you keep them cool:



Some experation dates:

www.a1usa.net/gary/expire.html

Alot of canned food you can rotate the food so you can avoid keeping old food in your supplies and if you buy stuff the family likes anyways its not that big of a problem eating it and buying new stuff. Spam should be a staple I think that stuff can last in a can forever.

Put a thermometer in your basement and check it over the summer if its cool enough it just might work for non-fancy storage.

Dimitri

I've thought about the bug out bag for years. Can I do it with all my years of camping. I think so but ain't sure. When I was in Korea I had a bug out bag by the door in case I got the call from the Embasy to leave. Had a change of clothes, money (both Won and Dollar), all the jewelry I had bought to hack or "trade," and some small food things like a liter of water, chips, candy bar, jerky, fruit roll.

Biggest reasons around here for bug out is earthquack, flood, or volcano. All three don't give much warning so if I'm around to pick up the peaces more power to me, if not hope that the people like my car and take care of my cat.

Dimitri wrote:

The cold war was basiclly a thing of the past by the time I was born in September '87 but I did see alot of it on documentries when I was growing up.

Good lord I have a student older than you. Now I'm feeling old again. It's like asking my kids about the Nuclear winter and again it was the second head look. Documentries don't count haven't we already decided not to teach history through Hollywood.

Interesting about Korea, they tell you to prepare like that when your over there ??

As for my age, your not that old, I was one of the youngest in my college program actually. The avarage age was like 23, and we had a couple of late 30's "kids" in the program (one even has a daughter old enough for me to date who is 16 years old even. 8O).

Dimitri

I was over there at a time when most people weren't happy about Americans. There had been some girls killed by the US military, we were about to invade Iraq and a few other things making them unhappy with the Americans. I also have a Grandfather who never gives advice and gave me some on keeping the bag. My Grandmother had been in a work/labor camp during WWII (the Jewish that doesn't get heard about much) so she was also worring about me. So to keep them happy I did what they asked. My friend who was over had also made the plans for bugging out but not to the point I did. It was just something I decided to do. Though I did get the e-mail right after I got home from Korea saying that things were getting bad where I was and to keep an eye out for Anti-American activities.

Oh as for the age it just seems weird not to think of people born in the mid 80's on as someone who could've been my students.

Dallan...Take a look at dehydrated backpackers food like Mountain House. Stored in a cool dry place they are good for 25 years and they don't tast bad at all. Simple caned foods last a long time...I've opened a can of peaches that were 15 years old...Could have been better, but not bad...

You live in Mormon country and you have a problem figuring out what to store? My wife is a Mormon. You should see my store room...

The biggest problem would likely be drinking water. The shelf life varies greatly depending on so many different things.

Dimitri,

You said they dont like to be called mercenaries, Charlie Manson doesnt like to be called nuts, but he is. Soldiers are trained to kill people not to secure them.
Again, it doesnt matter who is shooting at me I wind up just as dead. If there is a situation that societal order collapses.... I'm gone.

Tracker,

Your right.

Dimitri

It's this lead and other metal alloy allergy that I've developed, makes me real careful about not coming into contact with any ...