Military Veterans and Patriots

Category: Outdoors

  • Observations from an Armed Hiker

    Observations from an Armed Hiker

    Prologue

    Before I start, the term “armed hiker” is not meant to be a synonym for “unsuccessful hunter”. It’s not. An unsuccessful hunter implies that finding game animals and harvesting them was the goal, whereas all I wanted to do was march around in semi-swamplands for a few hours wearing camo and carrying a rifle. Now, my companion on both trips was an unsuccessful hunter, but that’s his problem.

    Anyway, my first two armed hikes are complete, and I’ve learned a few lessons from the meeting of armament with walking in the wilderness.

    Groupies

    Firstly: be prepared to deal with groupies. They’ll get stirred up as you pass them, and they’ll follow you incessantly after that. Bring sufficient repellent – OFF works, but so does covering yourself in mud (depending on your location, this may improve your skin at the same time). Like all hordes, groupies will pester you every time you stop moving, interfering with your ability to spot wildlife. Or your companions. Or your ability to avoid headaches. The buzzing sound they make when they’re trying to suck the life out of you is… well, the best that can be said about it is that wild groupies aren’t as bad as the ones chasing Justin Beiber (those ones are impervious to chemical repellents), though they still have the same goals. Use whatever repellents you have on hand, even if it requires leaving the hiking area to acquire fresh supplies, and reapply it liberally every few hours.

    There’s another kind of annoying groupie out there also: these, fortunately, don’t make any noise, but they’ll climb into your pants, cling to your legs and suck the life out of you all the same. If you find them on you, it’s important to shout “BEGONE, THOT!” as you remove it.

    For thematic reasons, obviously.

    Be sure to use tweezers (try not to pop them as you do), and check to see if they left any teeth stuck in your flesh – you really don’t want to know where that mouth has been, so be sure to disinfect the bite area as well. These, too, can be warded off with the appropriate chemical agents, but even if you have some it’s still best to completely cover your legs and feet.

    Remember: flies spread disease, so keep yours closed.

    Game – I mean Mobile Waypoints

    Second: mobile waypoints. Mine happen to be quadrupeds with cloven hooves and the occasional pair of tusks, but they are not wild hogs. They’re mobile waypoints. And it’s my job as an armed hiker to locate them, use my armament to secure them, and then disassemble them so they can be cooked and eat… I mean repaired. They’re broken, you see. I need to take them apart because they need repairs. Which involves cast iron cookware and a gas-powered grill. And a big knife. And a few other tools that one might otherwise mistake for hunting implements. They aren’t, but you’d be forgiven for thinking so.



    These broken mobile waypoints have a tough chassis and dense inner mechanisms, so it’s always important to ensure your armament is up to the task. If you can carry a 37mm artillery piece, that will certainly do the job, but be sure you don’t load it with HE rounds: you’ll be cleaning up the mess for days, and you’ll never get it repaired.

    I haven’t found any yet, but third time’s the charm, as they say. I’ll become a mobile waypoint repairman yet!

    Weight

    Third: weight. It’s really amazing how much more something weighs when you’ve been carrying it for two hours and change, compared to when you were sitting on a bench at the shooting range. My hunting rifle takes box magazines, but even when I took the magazine out and just had a single round loaded in the chamber, I found myself repeatedly having to shift my carry position – even with the sling – trying to balance the load in a comfortable way. A single-point sling, like the one my companion jury-rigged up, would probably have helped, but I’m not that clever.

    When you’ve done it once, it’s much easier to understand why some people hunt with handguns: hip holsters carry the weight much better.

    Water, of course, is a must – and it’s really easy to underestimate how much water you will need in the field. Obviously it varies based on weather and local conditions, but unless you’re an experienced hiker it’s best to carry at least 50% more water than you think you’ll need. Water is, however, heavy. Each gallon of water you carry weighs about 9 pounds, so be sure to distribute it well in your pack.

    On my first hike I carried an insulated thermos with ice water in it – the amount was more than enough, but it was a mistake to carry it that way, as the water made a lot of noise sloshing around inside the thermos. A camelback-style reservoir will shrink around the water it carries as you drink it, so it won’t slosh; this is a much better option, and you won’t even need to open your pack to get at it if you’ve got the straw attached.

    I thought I was very clever for thinking of that for my second trip; I hadn’t, however, counted on the fact that my reservoir didn’t tolerate being turned upside-down very well, and as my pack didn’t have a pouch specifically for it I ended up with some of my water on my lower back. So be sure that yours has a proper seal before you head out.

    Of course, the heaviest load is the gam… I mean the mobile waypoints themselves, if you manage to bag one. Whether you disassemble them in the field or you’re bringing them back whole, it’s not an insignificant factor. My companion’s plan was to disassemble them in place and carry back the tastie… I mean the most important pieces, and leave the rest. Now, you might think leaving the bulk of a damaged machine where you found it will make it more vulnerable to corrosion and such, and you’d be right. But some sacrifices must be made in the name of bacon. I mean… well, you know what I mean.

    So whether you’re an armed hiker or an unsuccessful hunter – or, wonder of wonders, a successful hunter – or just considering becoming one of the preceding yourself at some point, hopefully you’ve found some insight into my recollections. Or at least a few laughs.

  • Trout fishing in warm weather

    Trout fishing in warm weather

    With the northeast in the midst of a heatwave, the New York state department of environmental conservation has issued some guidelines on warm weather trout fishing.

    “Heat-stressed fish in streams often seek pockets of cold water created by upwelling groundwater, small feeder streams, or water released from deep reservoirs. These refuges allow trout to avoid or recover from potentially fatal levels of heat stress,” DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said.

    “To protect these fish, DEC encourages anglers to avoid catch and release for trout and not disturb trout during hot days.”

    Anglers can help protect New York’s trout population by taking the following precautions:

    • Avoid catch and release fishing for heat-stressed trout. Trout already weakened by heat stress are at risk of death no matter how carefully they are handled;
    • Don’t disturb trout where they have gathered in unusually high numbers. It is likely these fish are recovering from heat stress in a pocket of cold water;
    • Fish early. Stream temperatures are at their coolest in the early morning; and
    • Be prepared with a backup plan. Have an alternate fishing plan ready in case water temperatures are too high at the intended destination. Consider fishing a water body that is less prone to heat stress or fishing for a more heat-tolerant species like smallmouth bass.
  • Mariana Ocean Trench

    Mariana Ocean Trench

    Science has never been a “thing” for me; however, I was compelled to do some research. We can thank an app and a book. One evening I was playing an app. Finishing the puzzle required that I answer the question, “What is the deepest ocean trench?”. As if I even knew what such a thing was! Lo and behold, the next evening the very same name/subject occurred in something I was reading. Obviously, there was a message there. You all are about to receive said message, which is a brief thread on ocean trenches and specifically the Mariana Trench.

    What is an “Ocean Trench”? 

    The National Geographic’s definition says, 

    Ocean trenches are long, narrow depressions on the seafloor. These chasms are the deepest parts of the ocean—and some of the deepest natural spots on Earth. 

    GRAPHIC BY CHRIS HUH, COURTESY WIKIMEDIA. PUBLIC DOMAIN.

    How is an “Ocean Trench” formed?

    Subduction Zones

    When the leading edge of a dense tectonic plate meets the leading edge of a less-dense plate, the denser plate bends downward. This place where the denser plate subducts is called a subduction zone. 

    Oceanic subduction zones almost always feature a small hill preceding the ocean trench itself. This hill, called the outer trench swell, marks the region where the subducting plate begins to buckle and fall beneath the more buoyant plate.

    Some ocean trenches are formed by subduction between a plate carrying continental crust and a plate carrying oceanic crust. Continental crust is always much more buoyant than oceanic crust, and oceanic crust will always subduct. 

    For more information on Ocean Trenches, you can go to, 

    National Geographic: RESOURCE LIBRARY | ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY Ocean trench

    It is very in-depth.

    Now, moving on to what caused The Mariana Trench. There were a couple of sources of available. Having been raised with a full set of the Encyclopedia Britannica

    I decided to use their information. 

    Mariana Trench

    May 22, 2020

    Mariana Trench, also called Marianas Trench, deep-sea trench in the floor of the western North Pacific Ocean, the deepest such trench known on Earth, located mostly east as well as south of the Mariana Islands. It is part of the western Pacific system of oceanic trenches coinciding with subduction zones—points where two adjacent tectonic plates collide, one being forced below the other. An arcing depression, the Mariana Trench stretches for more than 1,580 miles (2,540 km) with a mean width of 43 miles (69 km). The greatest depths are reached in Challenger Deep, a smaller steep-walled valley on the floor of the main trench southwest of Guam. The Mariana Trench, which is situated within the territories of the U.S. dependencies of the Northern Mariana Islandsand Guam, was designated a U.S. national monument in 2009.

    Mariana Arc Cross section of the Mariana Arc showing the Mariana Trench. The diagram was generated by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration following the 2004 Pacific Ring of Fire expedition.Dr. Robert W. Embley—PMEL/NOAA

    Measuring the greatest depths in the Mariana Trench is an exceedingly difficult task, given the technical challenges of delivering instrumentation to such a remote location and then obtaining accurate readings. The first attempt was made in 1875 during the Challenger Expedition (1872–76), when a sounding of 26,850 feet (8,184 metres) was obtained near the southern end of the trench. In 1899 Nero Deep (31,693 feet [9,660 metres]) was discovered southeast of Guam. That sounding was not exceeded until a 32,197-foot (9,813-metre) hole was found in the vicinity 30 years later. In 1957, during the International Geophysical Year, the Soviet research ship Vityaz sounded a new world record depth of 36,056 feet (10,990 metres) in Challenger Deep. That value was later increased to 36,201 feet (11,034 metres). Since then several measurements of the Challenger Deep have been made, using increasingly sophisticated electronic equipment. Notable among these is the depth of 35,840 feet (10,924 metres) reported by a Japanese expedition in 1984 and one of 36,070 feet (10,994 metres) obtained by a U.S. research team in 2011. In addition, another deep hole—originally called HMRG Deep (for Hawaii Mapping Research Group, the discoverers of the location) and later renamed Sirena Deep—is situated south of Guam and east of Challenger Deep. First encountered in 1997, its depth has been reported variously as 34,911 and 35,463 feet (10,641 and 10,809 metres).

    Britannica: Mariana Trench/trench, Pacific Ocean

  • Another Reply to Mike Adams regarding…

    Another Reply to Mike Adams regarding…

    Another Reply to Mike Adams – Three Essential Firearms for Civil Unrest

    Springfield Armory M1A .308

    This is complete overkill for the situation presented. A battle rifle is called for when you expect to engage the enemy at DMR ranges when the targets are behind light cover; otherwise it’s far more trouble than it’s likely worth. The M1A wasn’t the ideal tactical rifle even when it took en bloc clips in .30-06 Springfield – it was just better than anything anyone else had. Nowadays we have far better options.

    That said, the scenario Mike is talking about here is the Ken&Karen scene we saw last week, where a pair of Missouri attorneys got some media attention for defending their property (a historic site) from a potential Antifa assault. While it would be wrong to describe antifa as “unarmed”, the fact is that few of them carry firearms – most of them don’t have the nerve to actually shoot anyone, and they know instinctively the optics wouldn’t be on their side if they did. So a .30-caliber battle rifle is hilariously unsuited to the actual goals of our hypothetical cul-de-sac commando. You job is to get an unruly mob of violent, irrational people potentially armed with assorted melee and throwing weapons, along with some incendiaries, to leave your property. In theory, anything that looks like a gun and makes the appropriate lights and noises on command will do.

    You don’t need to kill anyone here; quite the contrary, what you really want to avoid here is significant amounts of media attention, if possible. You’re on antifa’s hitlist the moment you stand against them, and you’ll be doxxed in short order (immediately contact friends and family – and your attorney – to prepare them for the aftermath if this happens to you), but if the optics of your response are good you won’t face any repercussions from wider society afterwards. And while it’s hard to get the general public to side against the homeowner defending his property from a mob, you want to make this task as hard as possible for the media – they’re less likely to cover the story that way – so try not to actually shoot someone unless you see them holding an incendiary.

    So first suggestion: get a rifle that isn’t black. Ideally it would look nothing like an AR or an AK, but whatever you choose, get it in some color that is visibly not black. Silver or gray is a better idea, but if you can get it in some garish colors (without it looking like a toy), do so. Appearances matter in a media environment driven by viral videos and screenshots, so the less it looks like something Diane Feinstein would call an “assault weapon” the better off you are. My strongest suggestion under the circumstances would be a 9mm carbine, preferably one that looks as civilian as possible – like the Ruger PC9. It does everything you need it to do under the circumstances (including having a softer muzzle report than a standard AR, reducing the potential damage to your hearing) and the ammunition and magazines are plentiful. It’s even available as a takedown model, so you could safely store it in your car if need be. It’s also a hell of a lot cheaper than an M1A or even a quality AR.

    Benelli M4 Tactical 12 gauge semi-auto

    If you’re reaching for the combat shotgun under these circumstances, something has gone terribly wrong. But fair enough – we need to have something on hand that will actually stop one of these crazed assholes charging at your wife (who is hopefully either also armed, or else inside the building securing the house and calling for backup). I don’t have anything against either the Remington or the Benelli – both of which have served in combat with distinction – but you may want to consider something with a bit more capacity. So I’m going to suggest you pick up a Kel-Tec KSG – as before, avoid getting the standard black model. Desert Tan will do just fine.

    The KSG will hold up to 12 shells in its dual tubes – 14 if you’re loading 2.75” shells – and as a bullpup firearm it’s quite the short package. It’s front-heavy, even for a shotgun, but that tends to help with the recoil absorption, and since it ejects downward it’s ambidextrous from the factory. And while the KSG has seen no significant combat deployments, it is used by some Coast Guard units for boarding operations. I’d suggest mounting a hand stop to the slide, though, as the short overall length of this weapon means your forward hand could easily find itself in front of the muzzle of this pump-action weapon.

    See Related/Referenced: Mr Wizard’s take on Three Essential Firearms for Civil Unrest

    Glock Model 20 10mm

    As a Glock fan and a 10mm fanatic, it’s very hard for me to say this, but I think this is almost as unnecessary as the M1A. It is by no means a terrible choice – if you have one and you’re used to the recoil impulse of 10mm, this will do you just fine. But like the first two, it’s overkill – and as Mr. Wizard pointed out, if the mob has gotten this far, they’ve gotten past both of your long guns. Either you ran out of ammunition, or you dropped them. The Glock 20 is a fine handgun, but it’s not meant to be a last-ditch weapon against anything smaller than a bear.

    As before, you want something that will make the appropriate lights and noises on command, and preferably have a large magazine capacity. The bigger and louder, the better. So I’m going to completely buck all of the advice that you’d normally get from columns about choosing a defensive weapon and recommend the Kel-Tec PMR-30 in .22 Magnum. With a few caveats.

    Because .22 WMR is meant for rifles, it makes quite the fireball in this little handgun, and has the appropriate muzzle report to match. No one in the mob is likely to know what this is, but if they confront you after sunset it’s going to look more like you have a flamethrower on burst mode rather than a tiny, toylike handgun. Mount a quality green laser sight to the underbarrel accessory rail, and maybe an RMR to the slide, and you’re good to go – the small amount of smoke this pistol generates will really add to the intimidation factor once the laser becomes visible.

    On the caveats – make sure this gun is fully broken in, along with the magazines. The gun and mags both are a bit stiff when factory new, and you don’t want anything malfunctioning if you have to use it. And with that in mind, make sure the ammunition you’ve loaded is both loaded correctly in the magazine (to avoid rimlock) and that the projectiles are 40 grains or heavier, or it won’t cycle properly.

    Also: Kel-Tec offers a replacement fluted, threaded barrel and a flash suppressor from their website. Unfortunately, there isn’t anything you could mount to the muzzle in this case that would do any good. You want the fireball and the noise, so neither a suppressor nor a flash hider will help. So don’t bother getting it. That said, MCARBO and Tandemkross both offer a few aftermarket accessories for the PMR-30 that you may like.

    Go lighter, shoot faster and be more accurate, your life will depend on it.

    This is a second reply to an original article found in Townhall: Three Essential Firearms for Civil Unrest

  • Record-setting wet conditions…

    Record-setting wet conditions…

    Record-setting wet conditions setting stage for epic duck hunt in N.D.?

    June 22, 2020  Associated Press

    BISMARCK, N.D. — Record-setting wet conditions that hampered hunters in North Dakota last fall might have set the stage for prime duck hunting this fall, wildlife officials say,

    An annual spring survey by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department estimates 3.98 million breeding ducks in the state, the Bismarck Tribune reported

    “When you start getting around the 4 million range, you are talking about very, very good duck numbers,” said Mike Szymanski, the department’s migratory game bird supervisor.

    See Also: A Fish Tale

    The survey gives hunters their first glimpse of how duck numbers might shape up for the fall hunt. The 4 million bird mark hasn’t been reached for six years.

    Breeding duck numbers are generally related to wetland conditions. Widespread drought in 2016 led to spring breeding duck numbers dropping below 3 million in 2017 and 2018 for only the second and third times in nearly a quarter century.

    Numbers rebounded above 3 million in spring 2019.

    Original Here: OutdoorNews.com: Record-setting wet conditions setting stage for epic duck hunt in N.D.?

    Rogue Unicorn’s Take: yummy, yummy, for my tummy 😁

  • A Fish Tale

    A Fish Tale

    A group of fishermen in Florida got a wet surprise recently.

    While fishing off of Coral Gables, a trio of anglers, fishing with Chew On This charters hooked into a massive Goliath grouper. The 450 pound fish then proceeded to pull not one, but two of the group overboard.

    Watch:

    Got any fish stories? A big catch to brag about? A favorite fish to target? Let us know in the comments below.

    See our related post here –> New Record Paddlefish Caught

  • Three Essential Firearms for Civil Unrest

    Three Essential Firearms for Civil Unrest

    Mike Adams|Posted: Nov 08, 2019 12:01 AM

    Three Essential Firearms for Civil Unrest
    Source: AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

    Back in August of 2001, I made a trip to Walmart to pick up some items for the house. In those days, I always picked up one box of ammunition whenever I went to a store that sold it. I did this until both of my gun safes were completely full of guns and ammo. That day, as I was putting my ammo away, my girlfriend got a look inside one of my gun safes. Thus, she discovered for the first time that I had thousands of rounds stored away. She was appalled and asked why I owned so many guns and stored so much ammunition. I calmly told her that I wanted to be prepared when we were hit with the first large-scale terrorist attack on American soil.

    Much to my disappointment, this revelation caused my girlfriend to scoff at me and accuse me of being “paranoid.”  She even told family and friends that I was crazy. But just eleven days later, 9/11 happened. She later apologized for questioning my judgment. She realized what I already knew: It could have been much worse.

    Make no mistake about it, folks. Terrorists will hit America again. There is also a serious prospect of either civil war or a Soviet-style breakup of America into nation-states in my lifetime. Indeed, it is exceedingly unlikely that America as we know it will exist when our children reach our age. If you think I am crazy, quit reading this column and return to playing your video games. The rest of the column is for those of us who live and operate in the world as it is but also prepare for drastic changes in our circumstances.

    As we think specifically about which three firearms are best for dealing with large-scale civil unrest, it helps to imagine hypothetical situations. Imagine, for example, that a mob of Antifa “anti-fascists” decided to converge upon your town. In other words, imagine a typical weekend in Portland. Imagine further that the mob moved into your neighborhood and that they crossed your property line. Finally, imagine they were holding Molotov cocktails.  Now entertain a question:

    If you were to come walking out on your front porch to defend your home and family holding one firearm with another strapped to your shoulder and a sidearm, what would those three weapons be? 

    I’ve given this a little thought. Here are my choices:

    Springfield Armory M1A .308. Many readers have been contacting me throughout this series to ask when I will recommend some sort of an “assault rifle.” I put scare quotes around “assault rifle” the same way a “progressive” puts scare quotes around religious liberty. There is no such thing as an “assault rifle.” Any rifle can be used to assault someone. And leftists cannot differentiate between an “assault rifle” and a normal one. So let us stop legitimizing their terminology.

    In addition to those who are recommending “assault rifles,” many are urging me to recommend the AR-15. I am sorry but I do not own one. The closest thing I own to one is a Ruger mini-14. But I will not be recommending that firearm. It is the least accurate rifle I own by a long shot (pardon the pun).

    Instead, if visited upon by a violent mob, my semi-auto rifle of choice is Springfield’s civilian version of the M14. It can be fed with a 10 or 20-round magazine. I prefer 10-round magazines. This keeps the weapon light and maneuverable. Plus, it is all I need. I also prefer the 18-inch compensated barrel version of this rifle rather than the 16-inch version. It is loud and it kicks. Be forewarned: This is a man’s weapon.

    Benelli M4 Tactical 12 gauge semi-auto. Please do not assume that I am going to go for the M1A first in a crisis situation. I am likely to reach for a semi-automatic 12-gauge tactical shotgun in order to create my own little safe space. If I do, it won’t be a Mossberg 930. I am sparing no expense and instead going for the more reliable Benelli M4. I cannot say enough good things about this shotgun. If you ever shoot one, you will understand why the price tag is so high. It is worth every penny.

    Glock Model 20 10mm. Many readers were expecting that this slot would be filled by the Browning hi-power chambered in .40 caliber. Indeed, that would have been an excellent choice. However, that weapon is no longer in production. So I am defaulting to a favorite of mine. It has enough power to drop a black bear. It can even be used to hunt wild hog. Indeed, its knockdown power is similar to that of the .41 mag revolver. Best of all, it has a 15-round magazine capacity and is offered in a compensated barrel version, which helps to manage recoil. Some will say that this selection, like my first one, is overkill. But you won’t see me taking any chances if I have to reach for any of these weapons.

    Hopefully, this column series has provided a useful example of using the First Amendment to preserve the Second. We must do that in order to delay as long as possible the necessity of using the Second Amendment to preserve the First.

    https://townhall.com/columnists/mikeadams/2019/11/08/three-essential-firearms-for-civil-unrest-n2556087

    I can’t really argue with his choices for him. They wouldn’t be mine, for a number of reasons that I’ll layout for you.

    Springfield Armory M1A .308 coming in at around 2k, I can’t justify it for a SHTF gun for a number of reasons in my case. It’s heavy, (good for recoil, shit for carrying any distance) I’m not 20 anymore and I’m not humping a M1A and it’s ammo. For a fixed position defense gun that’s another story. .308 is going to be hard to find in the Mid Atlantic, plenty of military here but it’s not a common round in areas that don’t allow centerfire rifles for hunting due to population density. SHTF guns need to be in a readily available calibers unless you have a pallet or two in your personal bunker. My first choice would be an accurate AR for the reasons I stated above, weight, recoil, ammo availability. Second choice would probably be a lever action JM Marlin in 357 magnum, if for some reason I couldn’t have a semi auto.

    Benelli M4 Tactical 12 gauge semi-auto, it’s a maybe for me. I have shot one, they are a good well made gun. My pick, probably not. I get to shoot some fairly high end shotguns and while this might be on my list, I can think of a couple I would prefer over the Benelli. My first choice would probably be an outfitted 870, it’s DFS, rarely breaks, will cycle any 12 gauge ammo you could put in it and so simple a caveman could clear it in a jam. If the 870s had a magazine stop it would be just about perfect in my opinion. I’d set it up about like this.

    Glock Model 20 10mm , this choice is the one I have the least problem with but care the least for as a SHTF gun or urban uprising defense weapon. 10mm is a handful for anybody, even experienced shooters. You’re not Kurt Russell in Tombstone holding off Curly Bill and the lynch mob. If you know what you are doing with the long gun, you would never have to reach for the handgun. At the point you have dumped the long gun for the hand gun, you better be looking for better cover. 15 rounds of 10mm is a potent argument for ceasing hostilities, but since they just came through 20 rounds of 308 or 8 rounds of 12 gauge to get to you, a high pressure handgun is a life saver (yours hopefully) not a crowd pleaser. I’d prefer to be more accurate with a more manageable caliber, either a full size 9mm with 124gr JHPs or possibly a 40 cal with steel frame and slide. There’s probably 100s of good 9mm designs that would work as long as it’s reasonably accurate, 15+ magazine capacity and dependable. My gun would probably be a CZ 75B or a Glock 35, when your target is close enough to engage at handgun fighting distance, you need to put rounds on target, shooting a hand cannon and missing is still a miss. Go lighter, shoot faster and be more accurate, your life will depend on it.

    So what do you think about his choices, and mine?

    — Mr Wizard — 05 July 2020

    Check out our related posts here: Prepper’s Corner: the rule of three and DIY: How to build your own truck gun vault

  • Prepper’s Corner: the rule of threes

    Prepper’s Corner: the rule of threes

    Welcome to the first edition of the Prepper’s Corner, where we’ll discuss the art of the prep. We’ll cover everything from getting started to advanced prepping.

    Let’s start with the basics. And it doesn’t get more basic than the rule of three.

    The Rule of Three helps you to remember the most important and prioritize the most urgent needs that you may have when in a survival situation.

    1. Three minutes without air or in icy water.
    2. Three hours without shelter in a harsh environment.
    3. Three days without water if you have shelter.
    4. Three weeks without food if you have shelter and water.

    The first of the three is pretty self explanatory. If you can’t breathe, you’ve got about 3 minutes to live. An unprotected person will fall victim to hypothermia in short order in cold water.

    The second rule can be interpreted in a couple of ways. Shelter doesn’t always mean a roof. In some instances, a fire or other source of heat will serve you better than a house. Conversely, there are times when a simple sun shade will be the choice. Regardless of the situation shelter from the elements is the primary concern in a survival situation.

    Next up is water. The human body is around 60% water. A source of potable water is a must. Finding and purifying water is going to be your next mission after you find or build your shelter.

    Food is the least of your concerns. The human body can last a relatively long time without food. That said, insufficient caloric intake can drastically reduce the amount of physical activity you can perform before tiring.

    Got any tips about how to secure any of the items in the rule of three?

    Been in a situation where you were in need of the three?

    Have a suggestion for future editions of the Prepper’s Corner?

    Let us know in the comments section below.

  • How to build your own truck gun vault

    How to build your own truck gun vault

    If you travel with guns, sooner or later you think about a gun vault. The ones above are some good examples. Most full and mid size SUVs will take a 48″ wide box behind the second row seats. I have built a couple of these for Expeditions, Suburbans and a few other mid size SUVs. Done correctly, it’s practically invisible from the outside and covers the state laws about transporting firearms inside a truck or SUV. 

    Commercial vaults can run $1200 or more. If you are the least bit handy, you can make your own. I built this one for a trip to San Antonio. Gun theft is rampant there as it’s the home of the Skeet and Sporting Clays associations and they have a couple of 5 day tournaments there. It’s well publicized and the criminals know there are hundreds of high end shotguns on the grounds. Restaurant and hotel parking lots are also hit often.  The construction is pretty simple; it’s a box with a door. I built mine in an afternoon. Understand that truck and SUV vaults are not theft proof; the goal is to make it not worth the time or exposure to do it. My current vault is built out of two sheets of 1/2″ 4×4′ cabinet grade plywood, 3 1×6″ pine boards, and a 1×6″ oak board for the door. It’s screwed together with #8 2″ deck screws. Trust me, hinge the door from the bottom. The locks on the first run were simple cabinet locks, but once they were installed I didn’t like them that much, so the third photo shows the boat hatch locks I replaced them with later. 

    I finished the top of mine with a piece of a truck bed liner. If you are doing this in a pickup truck it’s a must if you really want a waterproof box. Be advised it’s recommended to use treated plywood if you are building one for a pickup bed without a topper. I generally transport my guns in hard cases so I didn’t want drawers; I just needed a place to get them out of sight. It’s basically a second story for an SUV deck. 

    Some of my friends have built everything from mild to wild – with slide out tables, or workbenches from the bottom, or full length drawers on teflon sliders. I can get either 2 guns in hard cases, or 4 guns in soft cases, plus 3 cases of shotgun shells in mine.

  • New Record Paddlefish caught

    New Record Paddlefish caught

    An angler in Oklahoma caught the new record rod and reel Paddlefish Sunday while fishing at Keystone Lake.

    James Lukehart landed the 146 pounds, 11 ounces monster that measured 70.5 inches with a 45-inch girth, after quite a fight he told Tulsa World.

    The paddlefish was certified as Oklahoma’s newest rod-and-reel-state record by Paddlefish Research Center and Northeast Region Fisheries staff, the state wildlife department wrote. Since paddlefish are not considered “sport fish,” and must be snagged, the International Game Fish Association does not keep records on the catches, Tula World reported. Instead, they are kept by biologists and state departments.

    The fish was released “under the guidance of ODWC and monitored” for survival after its measurements were taken, the department shared. Only one paddlefish can be harvested a day and two per year, according to the state regulations as part of its ongoing conservation efforts for the prehistoric fish.