Bushcraft: Outdoor Skills and Wilderness Survival

by Mors Kochanski

Longtime wilderness educator Mors Kochanski has dedicated his life to learning and teaching about the lore of the forest. With clear instructions, extensive use of diagrams and a color photo supplement, this comprehensive reference includes all the practical skills and knowledge essential for you to survive and enjoy the wilderness: * Lighting and maintaining a fire * Chopping wood and felling a tree * Creating a shelter and keeping warm * Safe use of the axe and bush knife * Plants and animals important for survival * Food, water and outdoor cooking * Wilderness first aid. * This bestseller should be required reading for hikers, campers, hunters, foresters, backwoods adventurers, scouts, youth groups--anyone with a passion for the outdoors.

Genres: Survival, Outdoors, Nonfiction, Reference, Nature, How To, Adventure

304 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1988

About the author

Mors Kochanski was a Polish Canadian bushcraft and wilderness survival instructor, naturalist, and author.

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Bushcraft” is an amazing read. I keep it by my bedside, usually reading from it for a few minutes before I fall asleep. Mors Kochanski is a life long wilderness educator from Canada. Much of his body knowledge I had no idea existed. For example, just the first two pages of his chapter on “The Birches” had 17 facts that I was unaware of and I have lived around and worked with these trees my whole life ( “ Birches were among the first trees to move North in the wake of the receding glaciers during the last ice age, and probably all the other ice ages since the mid-Cretaceous.”) . Kochanski’s writings, accompanied by hundreds of personal illustrations, detail the most important crafts used in everyday bush living in the Northern Forests. Be sure to get this second edition of what was previously “Northern Bushcraft”, as it has thirty four color photographs that augment details.
I once took a two hour class on knife craft from Kochanski. His disclaimer was that he could only teach us a tiny bit of information on the topic in that time limit, and that his full instructions on the subject would typically require three or four days, instructing 8 hours a day.
I treasure owning this book, with his inscription, “ The more you know, the less you carry”.

[Brent Waby · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you live anywhere north of the 30th parallel, and spend anytime in the bush, buy this book. It's as simple as that. The amount of knowledge Kochanski packs into this small, easy to carry package is insane. Shelters, firecraft, axecraft, hunting, foraging, trapping, fishing, you name it, and I bet it's in there. As mentioned, it relevance dips the further south you get, as he mainly lived in the Canadian north. But, even if you aren't in boreal forest, a lot of his craft can still be applied in other environments.

On a sidenote, if you're an outdoorsman, as well as an active soldier, DEFINITELY read this book. You couldn't ask for a more comprehensive, and easy way to add to your repertoire of soldiering skills, and will probably take more away from it then you would in most military-ran courses on the subject.

[Aiden Kwon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains steps to survive in the wilderness, the do's and don'ts and other important things to know before doing anything in the wild. It contains through explanation and examples on different topics such as properly using an axe, starting a fire without anything, good tinder and wood types, different available berries and foods around the world, dangerous animals, and how to get rescued.

By the way, all I said was the title of the chapters, so this is not a spoiler.

Anyway, this is a interesting and helpful book and source of information to read.

Mors Kochanski was a great author! Check out other books by him!

[Miguel Contreras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mors left so much wisdom behind for us to enjoy nature with. I've often carried this book in backpacking excursions as a handbook of sorts. In many ways, it's a horrible choice to occupy the space that can be used for valuable equipment or food with a book... But as soon as one starts putting into practice the techniques and skills in instructor Kochanski's book, the knowledge is immediately worth its weight. A must-have for anyone who enjoys spending nights under the unpolluted, starry night skies of the wilderness, capable of substituting dreams.

[Nicholas Transue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tons of information to be found in this book. Not only a great introduction to wilderness survival methods but also a book filled with additional detail on even the smallest of differences between trees. Highly recommend this book for anyone who spends time in the great outdoors.

[Lee Ralph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone that is familiar with outdoors/bushcraft literature or skills are quite knowledgeable of Mr. Kochanski and his contributions and trailblazing in the art of bushcraft. His skills are well presented in this book!!

[गौरव मदान · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a pretty good read for beginners. I wish there were more illustrations, but no complaints.

[Max Hemingway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mors is a great mave in Bushcraft and this book provide a good insight into his knowledge. Well worth reading.

[Andrew Galster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Takes your outdoor skills to a new level. Lots of good ideas for makeshift camp tools and structures. Changes your thinking on what's possible with the bush craft vs "survival" skills.

[C.J. Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

the quintessential bush-craft book. knowledge, skills and techniques explained by one of the greats! he will be greatly missed

[The Happy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad book, however it was not really useable where I am located

[James Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book certainly does what it sets out to do. Kochanski certainly is an experienced expert that has tried every outdoor survival technique in the woods. He has extensive and valuable chapters on knives, saws, and the axe. He discusses shelters and lighting fires and using cordage thoroughly. I considered myself somewhat knowledgeable in this field, but I knew nothing compared to Kochanski. He is the real deal. Lots of great illustrations (by the author!). Good index, about 300 pages and a colour (he is Canadian) photo supplement. Worthwhile book: outstanding.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for people who are already skilled in the outdoors but want to perfect the art of "living with less," specifically, the art of bushcraft, or living with very little man-made gear.
These are all skills which can be used/translated into use on shorter trips as long as the hypothetical, "SHTF" scenarios.
Again, this is a great book with superbly done line drawings and diagrams which adequately illustrate the author's point. It is handbook sized and ready for your next trip!
A+.
PMZ

[Rory · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book on the skills of bushcraft. Focuses on the northern forests of the world so all you guys in the southern hemisphere would do better with Ray Mears but for anyone in the north of the world this is a great book on the subject. Also, it tackles bushcraft from quiet a different angle than the likes of Ray Mears, this one is more about long term comfort building, living as opposed to surviving.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best wilderness survival books I have ever read . Extensive descriptions and diagraming on dozens of ways to start a fire to cook and keep warm, building shelters, as well as others exceptional tips. Layed out in am easy way to comprehend. Authors draws great diagrams . Very highly recommended to all, from hikers to survivalists .

[Ravi Desai · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book. Its the first book I've read on outdoor living, and it goes into detail on the mechanics of how to build fires and shelters. The later chapters are about the various trees found in norther forests and how their parts can be used to make various tools. This is a great book, and very practical.

[Koa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and valuable, and although it is meant for the wilderness of northern Canada it deals with valuble skills that are applicable almost anywhere. The book deals with fire and shelter craft as well as the use of knives, saws, and axes in the wild and the uses of conifers, birches, shrubs and moose. I found the illustrations helpful and it was an easy read.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting material on survival at northern latitudes. Material on knives, axes, shelters, fires, etc. is useful and well-illustrated. Some of the material on different kinds of trees dragged a bit in a through-reading although I'm sure it'd be useful in the wild.

[Andy Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book with wilderness-tested principles and skills not found in most other books.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

essential

[Grahamw · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I will probably never stop reading. The information in it is so dense that it'll take years to soak in.

[David Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Serious, solid work. Quite N American focused. Still a good work for those who yearn to explore.

[Mike Capanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book slowly and took notes. Mots is probably the greatest survival teacher there is . This book is packed full of info . Easy to read so anyone can learn by reading this book .

[Jakob · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is filled with useful information for bushcraft camping. If you are interested in bushcraft survival then this book is a must read.

[JTrav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each technique has just enough detail to not discourage from attempting them, but still is succinct enough to hold attention. I learned a lot and can probably adapt the lessons to my home region.