Hunting & Gathering Survival Manual: 221 Primitive & Wilderness Survival Skills

by Tim MacWelch

A manual for the modern hunter-gatherer that will teach you everything you need to know about foraging, hunting, and cooking in the wild. 

From finding wild edible plants to subsistence hunting, you'll learn how to live off the land while hunting like a caveman—and eating like a king. With high-quality design, intricate detail, and a durable flexicover, this manual is the perfect addition to any outdoor enthusiast’s library.

Whether you’re using modern tools, old-fashioned snares, or your own two hands, this book will show you the amazing range of hands-on (literally!) methods for catching and cooking your prey. Use the detailed field guides to gather edible plants, nuts, and mushrooms, then turn them into gourmet meals with field-tested camp cooking tips. And prepare for any emergency, whether you’re lost in the woods or surviving a natural disaster. This book demystifies it all, with simple hints and step-by-step illustrations to make you a self-sufficient survivor—in your backyard or in the wild.

Genres: Survival, Outdoors, Nonfiction, Reference, Nature

224 pages, Paperback

First published November 4, 2014

Reviews

[Kelley S · Rating 2 out of 5]

A great guide for learning what you need to know. Not great for making you self sufficient. This is not a reference manual for survival, if anything it's more like a coffee table guidebook on survival.

[Elwin Kline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun quick-reference guide on basic hunting, gathering, and other various survival skills.

For what this book is designed to accomplish, I thought it did a really great job. An especially notable highlight is how much it goes into botany. I've never read so much about plants before, so this was a big takeaway from this book and a lot of really great information.

This would honestly be good to throw in the bottom of your pack and hope that you were never in a situation that you had to flip through the pages and figure out if the plant you are looking at is edible.

Another highlight is that there are a few short stories thrown in the mix, which are really good. Tim covers more commonly known ones like Hugh Glass, but he also has ones I've never heard about, such as a Russian family escaping religious persecution who lived 40 years off the grid in the Siberian wilderness.

Anyone who does activities outdoors or has a general interest in learning more about survival stuff, I would absolutely recommend this book.

[Debbie Tremel · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're looking for an overview a many skills for outdoor survival, this is a good general book. It does both primitive and none primitive skills. Because of its scope, it doesn't provide a lot of detail on any one topic, so it does have its limitations. One very good thing about the book it that the author has actually used these skills. He writes from a place of experience- not theory. So there are gems in here even for those with experience.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gets one familiar with the basics- instead of delving into one particular area of survival this manual jumps from outdoor survival to food shortage prepping to beekeeping so feels a little scattered. I did love how each factoid was numbered and presented like an activity, it makes me want to run into the woods and try some! Overall good and will keep for when I go camping and want to have some fun, but far from a comprehensive guide.

[Indy Quillen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have quite a collection of wilderness survival and bushcraft books, but this is now one of my new favorites for quick reference and great plant photos for identification. I also enjoyed all the little tidbits of info scattered about it as one reads. Interesting stories as well. The cover is even made to encourage one to carry the book outside. Nice addition to my library!

[Casie Blevins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is much better suited for a more advanced student in this subject. From my point of view this is an easy to understand, well researched book on the subject. Better to own this book than to get it from the library because it would make a good reference.

[Lacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and the pictures and diagrams are incredibly helpful.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bought for son. Loved it. Had some great info and guidance.