Do you have an incomprehensible love for both food and outdoor adventure? Do you think it is a great idea to combine both? Then you should try catching or foraging for some fresh wild food. Moreover, who wants the boring frozen, canned or instant food when on an adventure?
Whether you are camping at an exquisite location, got stuck in a deserted area, or simply on a wild solo outdoor adventure, catching fresh food is always going to be an endearing experience that brings one closer to nature.
However, surviving in nature isn’t a cakewalk. You need to master the tricks to tame the wild. From finding edible fruits to catching them, everything requires a decent level of mastery. So we have curated a list of getting outdoor survival food in nature:
1. Fish is the Best and Easiest Nutritious Food in the Wild
Fish is a good source of high-quality protein for people in the wild. Wild fish is fresh and tasty.
Learn How To Fish
Fishing is an age-old tradition. It is undoubtedly the easiest way to secure a fresh catch and fill your body with some high-quality nutrition. It is easy, but your prey won’t be coming to you on its own: your patience and some basic knowledge about how to lure your delicious prey into that hook.
But that doesn’t mean that you have to carry full-blown fishing gear on your back. You can carry just a hook and made a rod on your own, or you can even learn to make your fishing hooks in case you need to, in the middle of nowhere.
Check the Fishing Regulations in the Area to Assure Good Outdoor Adventure Experience
Remember to check the fishing regulations because you want to be going back home with good memory and probably a fish and not police tickets. If you want to learn more about making some fishing rods from scratch, you can browse outdoor adventure videos on YouTube that teach a lot about this topic.
2. Animals
Hunt Down The Beast
Hunting is not just a sport but one of the basic instincts which helped our predator omnivorous ancestors survive. Hunting later became a more technical sport that tests the skill, gallantry, and valor of a person. A good hunter was seen as a superior human in ancient and medieval times and for obvious reasons. Hunting takes a lot of practice and some equipment.
People hunt with guns, but you can perform this ancient art for survival in an ancient way if you don’t have modern instruments in hand or want a wilder experience. One of the more adventurous and traditional hunting methods is using the bow and arrow, but it requires consistent practice to master. No matter which method and prey you choose, it takes prior planning and practice.
Check up the Hunting and Gun Regulations in the Area before Hunting
Different animals require different hunting approaches, and you may not have all the gears with you. Moreover, every place is not meant for hunting, so make sure to check up on the area’s regulations. Gun regulations are another thing you should be very careful about. Often, one requires a permit for hunting.
Trap Your Prey
If chasing down an antelope or an angry wild beast is not your cup of tea, and you don’t want to risk losing your limbs, then trapping is the right technique for you. Trapping is used for catching the smaller prey, and it is pretty easy. The basic method can be practiced even by the most amateur hunter. We start with a paracord, rope and create a simple snare knot.
Now you need to have an idea about the height of the animal you want to catch because you will tie one end of the rope to the tree and hang the other end exactly where the head of your prey is going to be. This technique has been practiced since ancient times, and bravo to the person who invented the simple and effective technique.
The only way you can go wrong with this technique is if you do not tie the knot properly or if you hang it too high or too low. Once your prey approaches the snare, its head will be caught in the knot and get tightened automatically as it moves forward and your dinner is ready!
3. Wild Plants: Forage For Fun and Food in the Wild
Foraging is another ancient practice that helped our human ancestors to survive in the wild. Plant resources have enough nutrients to fill you up for long hours, and they’re safer to eat as they have lesser chances of carrying any transmittable diseases. Moreover, who knows, while searching for forages, you may come across something unique and tasty that you never had before? Surely it’s worth the experience.
Often delicious berries like huckleberry, gooseberries, chokeberries, mulberries, salmonberries, and Saskatoon berries are grown in the wild along with fungi like mushrooms. However, foraging poses its own set of threats that you need to be careful about.
Before you chew on that fruit, make sure you can identify if it’s edible and beware of the poisonous ones. Learn about the different species in your area by reading some outdoor adventure books and exploring more. With experience, it will be easier for you to identify the edible ones instantly.
4. Medicinal Plants: Search Wild Plants With Medicinal Value
What is better than delicious plant food sources carrying less risk of disease? – Medicinal plants! Learn to recognize parts of a plant that may offer medicinal value. Some common wild plants also offer medicinal value. The parts above ground in the flower of liquid offers herbal actions. It is anti-inflammatory and a gentle laxative.
Offering valuable herbal properties like anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and rheumatic properties, the flowers, and leaves of the common blue violet are filled with excellent benefits. Other edible plants of medicinal value are dandelion, stinging nettles, brambleberries like raspberries and blackberries rose, etc.
5. Insects: Trap A Tiny Bug
If you want to go a bit extreme and bring out your inner Bear Grylls from the show Man vs. Wild, you too can try to munch on the creepy crawlers. This option is especially useful for you if you have failed to catch a big prey, are hungry and tired but are still determined to survive in the wild. But if even wall spiders and cockroaches make you quack in your boots, then this is probably not for you.
However, if you want to challenge yourself, you should try it at least once but with a lot of caution as some bugs can be poisonous. Be sure to check out if a bug is edible before eating. Bugs don’t look very appetizing, but they can help you survive because even with their unappealing exteriors and small size, they are very rich in proteins and other nutrients.
Even you can eat these creepy creatures, but it’s better to cook the bugs in some oil, salt, and pepper. It makes the meat safer for consumption and easier for digestion. On the other hand, if you want a more wild experience, you may have them raw. It’s a bit risky but worth the experience for a wild spirit.
While having a delicious wild meal maybe one of a kind experience for an adventurer, taking care of yourself and your safety is of utmost importance as you don’t want to get sick or injured in the middle of nowhere. Being cautious is more important than being adventurous. With that in mind, you can have your wild feast without worry!
