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Bushcraft Outdoor Skills and Wilderness Survival Kochanski, Mors: 9781772130072: : Books
Original price was: $23.00.$19.00Current price is: $19.00.
Publisher : Lone Pine Publishing; 3rd edition (March 15, 2016)
Language : English
Paperback : 304 pages
ISBN-10 : 1772130079
ISBN-13 : 978-1772130072
Item Weight : 1.03 pounds
Dimensions : 5.5 x 0.69 x 8.5 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #413 in Hiking & Camping Excursion Guides (Books)
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Customer Reviews: 1,158 ratings
Additional information
| Publisher : | Lone Pine Publishing; 3rd edition (March 15, 2016) |
|---|---|
| Language : | English |
| Paperback : | 304 pages |
| ISBN-10 : | 1772130079 |
| ISBN-13 : | 978-1772130072 |
| Item Weight : | 1.03 pounds |
| Dimensions : | 5.5 x 0.69 x 8.5 inches |
| Best Sellers Rank: | #413 in Hiking & Camping Excursion Guides (Books) |
| - | |
| Customer Reviews: | 1,158 ratings |
60 reviews for Bushcraft Outdoor Skills and Wilderness Survival Kochanski, Mors: 9781772130072: : Books
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Mr X –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book! Full of insight from the master!
Great book. For someone interested in living off of the grid (without dyin!)or any homesteader who’s having trouble coming up with ideas for survival during the winter months. This book has it all,right down to some Euell Gibbons holistic remedies! A real outdoors survival 101 with illustrations and photos on everything from how to use tools…or heck…even how to make um! How to make twine and rope for binding. Tons of other useful information, and of course how to make different types of shelters. Taking everything nature has to help a human survive with little equipment from the modern world!
8 people found this helpful
Rambler –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mors Kochanski shows that he not only knows the subject matter intimately but that he can express it simply and concisely so tha
This is the classic book of buscraft written before it became the latest fad. Mors Kochanski shows that he not only knows the subject matter intimately but that he can express it simply and concisely so that it’s easy to understand. I’ve been venturing off into the woods for 40 years and though I knew quite a bit but this book is packed with easier ways and priorities that impressed me. I could have saved myself a lot of hard knocks schooling if I’d read this a long time ago! I will warn you though it’s one of those books that makes you eager to get out and enjoy nature. So you might want to read it when you have some time coming up that you can put the skills you learn to the test.
10 people found this helpful
Shane –
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great read full of information useful for the woodsman
I have to say this book is exactly as Mors himself discribed a good bushcraft or survival book to be. I love the section on fire it is perfectly set up for the northern atmosphere. It is full of useful information and no big headed explanations.
Tom D. –
4.0 out of 5 stars
good manual for a novice
Good for a young person just becoming interested in bushcraft.
Larry C. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great deal.
Pretty thorough collection of info. I have many books on the subject and find this to be on the upper end of books I would suggest to others.
Brittany –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding Wilderness Living Skills/ Long Term Survival Book
Mors is the Grand father on this subject. This book shows practical outdoor skills for the beginner. For the more experienced, it offers fantastic reading, great drawings & truly relevant refresher information.Mors has an impressive resume. He has spent 40+ years learning/teaching wilderness living & survival skills. His specialty is the Boreal forest of Canada.Bushcraft covers: firecraft, axecraft, knifecraft, sawcraft, bindcraft, sheltercraft & also discusses trees, shrubs & a couple animals common to the northern forest. The information contained within the pages are invaluable to someone looking to spend alot of time in the bush.if you live in the deserts, prairies, etc. this book may not be relevant to your bio-region. However, it is still a fantastic read.I studied under Mors many years ago. He is a thesaurus of information.I highly recommend this book! Also look for videos of him on youtube!!!!Sean (thru Brittany’s account)
2 people found this helpful
Austin Dudley –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Don’t miss out by skimming the surface
Mors was truly a gift to us all. Read through the book with minor interest and you will learn the basics, read through the book with mindful interest and you will learn a great deal more. It would seem at first to be basic but in fact there is a plethora of information.
Kate P Johnson –
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful book
Mors Kochanski is one of my heroes, so I can’t give this book any less than 5 stars. That said, this is the second copy of this book that I’ve owned (my first is heavily used and was water damaged on a canoe trip). I was disappointed to find that the color photo section is no longer in color or on glossy paper- it’s just black and white. Still, I would say that the photos are effective and the book is still excellent. This is a great book for anyone who wants to learn better techniques for being in the woods, fire building, shelter building, and wilderness survival.If you enjoy camping, canoeing, or just getting out in the woods, you’ll enjoy this book. Kochanski’s the real deal.
old cars rule –
5.0 out of 5 stars
excellent classic….
I’m simply unable to add any info of significant value and praise than that which has already been stated about this great book, by others, far more experienced with the subject than me, so i’ll just delegate you to those reviews… love reading it, an excellent book by the original modern bushcraft-meister, mors kochanski…. literally decades before the fairly recent renaissance of bushcraft/primitive skills/survival movement, mors was deep into it from his early years and is still widely considered as the authority on the subject… this book might’ve been written over quarter of a century ago, and many other countless publications have since been written by a bunch of [often bogus, aspiring, self proclaimed] bushcraft/survival “experts”, but if you could only own just one such book on the subject – this is the one to buy…
2 people found this helpful
Robert Postal –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Bushcraft
There is a lot of information in this book and it deserves to be taken on your camping trip for reference or just to play around with the styles of fire, cooking, etc.A couple of issues, though, that result in less than an enjoyable reading experience.The illustrations and the accompanying citations are difficult to read and, I think, belong in a Cub Scout Manual. Line drawings, poor font selection, and cluttered spaces do not belong in this otherwise very good book.(And, I think that that there are better books on wilderness survival; this is more a book on hints, safety, and skills every outdoor enthusiast should know if only to show off to the camping comrades.)Another issue that I also have is the metric system. I realize that the book was published in Canada. But for the US market, the editor should have converted the kilograms, centimeters, and Celsius figures. The mental conversions one must do and, with the poor line drawings noted above, breaks up the tempo of the read and leads to some frustration.So, for information on knife craft, fire building, shelter building, etc., buy the book and show off your skills. But be aware that you should have a conversion table handy.
6 people found this helpful
KeepItGreen –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great outdoors book!
Ok i havent finished this yet. So far it is exceptional with pertinent and varied information. I bought this and WildWood Wisdom. They compliment each other in my opinion. I live in Oregon, i spend a lot of time traipsing around the mountains and forests. This book has a wealth of tips, tricks, and “projects” that you can do while away from civilization. I am only too ready to get back put there with this book.
2 people found this helpful
IBZANE –
5.0 out of 5 stars
From the man who started it all..
A recent interest in the skills of our forefathers led me to the man who started it all. This IS the man who taught everyone else.. A Must read if you are interested in bushcrafting and survival skills… Good illustrations and examples. Read this one first..All others are supplemental to this one. Check out the many videos Mr. Kochanski has on Youtube…many hours of valuable lessons on there as well..
7 people found this helpful
Michael Roach –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Comprehensive
Great Book! Having just glanced through the book to look at the table of contents and the illustrations, I can tell it will be a great read. Have just started reading carefully, I anticipate real enjoyment and comprehensive information.
GrecoAmericano –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding Bushcraft guide.
Excellent book! Well laid out, very nice illustrations and first rate information. Anyone interested in bushcraft, regardless of whether you’re new to this or an old hand, needs to read this book. This is from a man who applied decades of actual field experience into a well written and easy to understand guide on a great subject.
2 people found this helpful
W. Wright –
5.0 out of 5 stars
learned some new things from this book
i got a lot of interesting ideas from this book. a lot of it is practical and easy to practice. not all of it applies to my neck of the woods though. but it is a solid read none the less. buy one and put it in your B.O.B. i put a copy in my outdoor medical / safety bag that i take on 4 wheeling trips or outback excursions.
3 people found this helpful
Gary –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Plain and a tedious read
I bought this due to the reputation of Mors Kochanski. I was disappointed. I expected more of a hands on approach to the information, but much of the book is narrative. Still think the world of Mors and he deserves every ounce of reputation that he has earned.
One person found this helpful
James –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book by a great man.
So much great information in here and is written by a true professional. If you are getting into Bushcraft, this is a must for you! This isn’t one of those prepper, over- tactical, type of books..this is true knowledge that will serve you well while you are on your outdoor journey. The illustrations are easy to read and understand but if really want to become competent..you must practice!
11 people found this helpful
The_Frugal_Buyer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yep, now I see why it is so highly rated.
The Master shares his wealth! Great book! More details and better written than I thought. Logic, not just “how to”. A must read for anyone actually looking to bushcraft. So yea, now that I have read it, I understand why it is so highly rated. Not overhyped.
Outdoors –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bushcraft: Outdoor Skills and Wilderness Survival is THE outdoor book to buy!
Mors Kochanski is the godfather of modern day bushcraft. If you never buy another book on the subject of bushcraft & outdoor living, then you need to have this book in your library. It’s not just a simple read, after which you put on the shelf or resell. This book is a valuable reference tool that I pick up over & over again to refresh my memory on certain things. Its value far exceeds the cost.
How To Build A Pocket Survival Kit (Building Your Own Survival Kits)One person found this helpful
ALEKS –
5.0 out of 5 stars
A MUST BUY FOR ANYONE INTO BUSHCRAFT OR SURVIVAL!!!
So full of good information. The fire building, axe, and knifecraft alone are worth the price and there is so much more. The illustrations illustrate concepts clearly even though the art is kind of chunky. If you need to learn about Northern American bushcraft this is the book.
Rick Redman –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bushcraft by a Mors Kochanski is one of three books to have in Go Bag
Mors Kochanski is a Master at his craft. As an instructor I began receiving my training in the outdoors in the Couting program followed by various Military schools that carried my education even further than what Mors has taught. I recommend Mors’ book along with two others to carry in their Emergency Kits along with The SAS Survival Manual, and their preferred Religious guide. Mors’ book would be an invaluable resource for the uninitiated and untrained.
Meredith –
5.0 out of 5 stars
My first review…….
I think I have spent a small fortune on Amazon by now and I have never written a review until now. I have read quite a few Bushcraft and survive books and in my opinion they’re all good. Any book that teaches a person how to stay alive in the wilderness with little tools and resources is great. With that said, Mors Kochanski’s Bush Craft book is hands down the best book I have read so far. It is easy to read, easy to understand and it has a lot of illustrations. Out of all the books I have read so far, if I could recommend only one book to anyone wanting to learn wilderness skills this would be the one.
107 people found this helpful
Amy D. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
My dad is happy.
I gave it to my dad as a gift, he loved it!
CWS –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting book
I like this book, it’s a bit hard to follow so I would not recommend for a young person.
Bob –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book is like new…
I had no idea that the book would be in such great shape… Looks like the previous owner just opened the book and then closed it… Excellent condition and was a fantastic price… Really like the honesty of the seller… Will shop here again… Thank you…
Crystal A Stevens –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy it! Don’t hesitate!
This is it! This is the book you want for learning about bush craft. The author is an expert in the field. Husband refers to it frequently for help with all kinds of stuff.
Shannanb –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great book, oddities in language
Mors Kochanski is a stud. Man this guys knows a bunch of stuff. This book is one of the most dense survival books that I have ever read. I think his approach through the book of explanations is very good. The drawings are sufficient to illustrate the concepts pretty well. I love that he narrows down concepts to the techniques he feels most valuable. Why the 4-star rating? Some of the writing I have to really dissect to understand it well. I think some of the writing (referring to his style) is a bit less than clear, but worth the effort.
Brittany B. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book for those getting into bushcraft
I bought this book as a birthday present from my adventurous boyfriend, and he absolutely loves it. A lot of great, useful information with lots of detail and pictures. He takes it with him whenever he’s backpacking or just exploring the woods with friends.
Paul Roehm –
5.0 out of 5 stars
It’s Mors Kochanski. What more need be said.
Outdoor Skills from the man who forgot more than most people were ever going to know.
davem4420 –
4.0 out of 5 stars
very good and straight to the point book
very good and straight to the point book. i have mostly skimmed the book, its not really a book you read to front to cover in a week. Alot of info in the book, and there is zero fluff, which is nice. I gave the book 4 stars mainly because the illustrations are poor. The content is great but I feel they could have put more time and thought in the illustrations.
6 people found this helpful
ACB –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good book for information I didn’t know
I thought I would be getting more out of it than I did but good for something’s I didn’t know enough about. I’m glad I brought it to add to my collection but some of my other books I think are better. I brought it because of the author, but would have done without it to be honest.
Keith –
4.0 out of 5 stars
TO CHEEP NOT TO INCLUDE A DIGITAL COP
I just got the book today, so I have not been able to to read the whole thing yet. But I did take a quick look though it. And there are diagrams one over 90 percent off the pages making it every easy to see how to do everything in the book!! I have been going into the high uintas primitive area for 10 to 14 days a year for about 10 years,so I am not brand new to the survival thing but these is a great book for newbs and old hands alike. I will be reading it from cover to cover and THEN it is going into my bug out bag just so I have it with me to review if need be in a bad time. I strongly recommend this book to all campers and prepers alive. I almost got the book called Bushcraft 101 by Dave Canterbury just because I know his name and skills from watching the TV show Dual Survival I trust dave to know his stuff, but every last review has something bad to say about his books like they are in complete maybe just so he can keep writing more of the? Or maybe while he does know his stuff he may not know how to put it down into a book form? I still love you dave and will read your books if I get the chance, and maybe buy them at that point. If I like them! Just going by the reviews. There is always a few bad ones but I did not see one good one on the book Dave wrote and that just spooked me off.
7 people found this helpful
Neurologist –
4.0 out of 5 stars
” A most useful adaptation of the Super Shelter concept is the “Harlton …
I became interested in Mors Kochanski after learning about his “Super Shelters.” A most useful adaptation of the Super Shelter concept is the “Harlton Hacienda” developed by Mors’ assistant instructor. This shelter can be set up in minutes and keep you alive in the most bitter cold (although it reportedly may require a pickup truck size pile of small firewood to heat overnight). I had access to Mors’ “Northern Buschcraft” published in 1988 and widely regarded as a classic on bushcraft in the Canadian boreal forest. There is no mention of the super shelters in this book, but it is old. Along comes a “new” book by Mors with a new title “Bushcraft” published in 2014. Mors’ is clearly very proud of his super shelter concept in his youtube videos, yet there is no mention whatsoever of these shelters in his “brand new” book. Why? It turns out that “Bushcraft” published in 2014 is WORD FOR WORD THE SAME as “Northern Bushcraft” published in 1988. There are no changes to the text or illustrations in the body of the text. The only “update” is a 14 page supplement with color illustrations at the end of the book. I am sorry, but changing the title and copyright date with essentially no other changes to the book amounts to a “bait and switch.” I do not blame Mors for this. He is now elderly. I blame the publisher. The book is still an excellent treatment of bushcraft in the Canadian boreal forest, but it is the same book as Northern Bushcraft published in 1988. If you have access to Northern Bushcraft, you are better off spending your money on Mors small pamphlets and you may need to hunt around for these. One significant deficiency of the “new” book “Bushcraft” is that there is no mention of any edible wild plants. These are covered in a seperate 32 page pamphlet written by Mors titled “21 Native Edible Wild Plants.” Why he did not include this in his recent title “Bushcraft” is beyond me. If you want to learn about Mors’ “Super Shelter” concept, your best starting point is the following youtube videos:1. “Harlton Hacienda” Karamat Wilderness Ways channel. Mors speaks in this video.2. “The Harlton Hacienda” averageiowaguy channel. A must see video after watching #13. “Mors Kochanski Super Shelter” Karamat Wilderness Ways channel. Mors explains his super shelter concept.4. “Super Shelter Modified for the Eastern Woodlands Parts 1 and 2” wildernessoutfitters channel.5. “My SUPER Shelter Completed” Survival Lilly channel. A very solidly constructed long term adaptation of the Harlton Hacienda. Again, I have only the utmost respect for Mors, who has spent the last 40 years teaching people how to survive in the Canadian boreal forest.
115 people found this helpful
Amazon Customer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best book on bushcraft
Best,book on bushcraft, sadly it for forests with lots of hardwoods,still a buy
AvidReader –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best BushCraft book so far
This is a great outdoors book. Almost everything it covered, it did so with depth. You could tell nearly every step of the way that the author had true knowledge of what he was talking about.One of the reviews says this book is unorganized about how information is displayed. I would say that is entirely false. The only thing that is a little out of whack is the pictures, often you will see explanations pages before or after the coinciding picture. I would also like the the British style of weight&measure to be converted to the American way. A third addition may well be in order.The author organized the book as so. Fire, Axe, Knife, Hand made cordage, Shelter, Uses of some common trees, then the Moose&Hare(rabbit). It has some rhyme&reason…… Generally most important thing is learning how to make a fire, next you should know how to safely and effectively use Axe&Knife, learn how to make cordage, then with this knowledge you can make a shelter….. It makes since. The three tree sections are Birches, Conifers, and Willows which are nice, but I backpack mostly through the Tahoe area which is 99% pine and 5 variations at that.The only really disappointing sections were on the Moose and Hare. I just didn’t get it. Maybe where he lives they are super common, but not here. Also I didn’t feel his advice on tracking and skinning were very useful, just not enough pics, and not enough information in general.I did enjoy this book, most serious in depth book on BushCraft I have read. I definitely recommend this one far above the likes of WildWood Wisdom. I felt like this book was not made for kids, lol. I know of no other book that discusses in more depth Axe&Knife safety and efficiency, Fire section is huge too. The author is also a decent writer, not amazing, but above the average. Five Star book all around.
7 people found this helpful
James Ellsworth –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sturdy, Highly Informative, Fine Illustrations of Techniques; Limited Scope
Mors Kochanski proves through this book that he is a fine bush crafter. Even if you have a substantial library on this topic, you will enjoy this one as well. Cover, binding and paper are of substantial quality: that is ‘all good’ since the book is meant for rereading and using in preparation for outdoor adventures or for ‘taking along’ if you are not ‘going light.’ The covers on my ‘new edition’ are rounded on the outside edges to aid in slipping in and out of a pack or pocket. The highly informative text is accompanied by many instructive black and white line drawings. This edition also includes a lovely color photo supplement at the back. For sure, there is plenty of explanation of techniques for fire-starting, knot tying, shelter building (in every season), and for using the ax, the saw and a good knife. Unlike the vast majority of books, Mors gives a lot of attention to the ‘bush’ in bush craft. Northern trees and shrubs are presented and their special uses explained. There is even an explanation of how to smoke-tan a moose hide!What the book is NOT is an explanation of camp cooking equipment or recipes; what tents and clothing and bedding to take along, finding and using water sources, water purification methods or path-finding and navigation. It IS a fine book and has brought great enjoyment to many readers and bush craft practitioners.
5 people found this helpful
Michael Thornton –
5.0 out of 5 stars
A religious text for avid campers
This is a large part coupled with camping and woodcraft by Horace Kephart these two/ three books represent a lifetime of knowledge collected an amazing fellow!! That will get you into and out of nearly every wilderness situation you may find yourself in.
One person found this helpful
M.C. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Deeply Insightful and Systematic: Must Own!
Bushcraft: Outdoor Skills and Wilderness Survival BY Kochanski is a must have book in your library.I have read many books by different authors, dvds, you tube videos … Many of the “authors” out there basically rehash the same old same old.But not Kochanski. He is a handful of experts that live what he teaches. His book does not cover every aspect of bushcraft or even survival, but provide few fundamental coverage in depth:-fire craft-axe craft-shelter…Kochanski offers a keen insight based on many years of cold wilderness living into those fundamental areas. The section on knife craft alone is worth the cost of the book.In addition to the book, I actually have his dvds and the pamphlets. I got the pamphlets as a pocket guide (there is a lot of over lap between the book, dvd and pamphlets, but I can’t take the dvd or the book to the woods.). The dvd is an excellent visual companion to the book.The drawings are clear and frequent with very descriptive verbiage. I was not ever lost when I encountered new concepts or techniques (and there are lots of new concepts and techniques, at least for me).One of the main thing that stands out with Kochansy’s method is that he is systematic and explains the fundamentals then demonstrates the technique in step by step drawing and descriptions.There is a lot of wisdom on these pages. I will never sell this book!
8 people found this helpful
Kim S –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good info
Lots of good info
John Sensenstein –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Book…
I am quite frankly surprised at some of the negative reviews of this book.This is some of the most detailed information on survival in the bush that I have ever read. Kochanski goes into thorough and detailed delineations onalmost every important aspect of life in the bush. Granted the book is focused on the Northern Forests, but in truth these survival skills are applicable to every climate including the Desert. The difference would be to only change the nature of the materials used–but the theory and the skills utilized remain applicable to both environmental extremes. If you are interested in a detailed description on how to actually survive and thrive in the bush, then this is definitely a book that should be both read and implemented via scrupulous practice. And yes, the information on the proper handling of a knife and its sharpening is as important as anything in any survival scenario. My personal experience in bushcraft reinforces Kochanski’s comments about a sharp knife. Very few bushcrafters today know how to properly sharpen a knife. And Kochanski rightly gives a guideline as to what constitutes a sharp knife–the ease in slicing through a standard sheet of typing paper. If you cannot take a blade to this level easily, then you need to read this book. Kochanski writes from of position of being there and actively practicing these techniques. His detailed safety comments on knife, saw and axe are invaluable. This definitely ranks in the top five survival books out there.
16 people found this helpful
Diane J. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great survival book
My husband loves this book. Teaches practical and important survival skills.
Richard Collette –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Disjunct
I learned quite a bit from this book. The problem I have is that retaining the knowledge is going to be difficult because the information was presented in what I consider to be a disjunct and incomplete manner, most of which I would blame on the publisher, which should be providing an editor to correct these issues.There are many points in the book where the author says something like “You can use X to make Y” and never explains how to make Y. There are times where the author jumps around in thought process. It’s almost like you’re reading a notebook in a way. And while line drawings can be the most effective communication tool, the problem is that they are not very well drawn and are relied on almost exclusively rather than where they would be most effective. In some sense, I think that perhaps they wanted the information presented in a way that made you believe you were getting it from a guy writing in a notebook, out in the woods. If that was their intent, they succeeded but in the end it does not do me the reader the most good.Having been a boy scout, some of the information is presented more effective manner in the scouting merit badge books than in this book.Lastly, the publisher should release the book in a version that has measurements in U.S. customary units, either side by side or as a separate version of the book. Admittedly, the metric system is superior. However, the reality is that most people in the U.S. think in terms of U.S. units. To have to read a book and think about converting every measurement is very distracting.
43 people found this helpful
MyPetsLord –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent knowledge from a master of bushcraft
This is a great book. Tons of useful information for anyone who enjoys the outdoors and improving their skills. The only negative for me were the hand drawn illustrations that were at times difficult to interpret. But the information itself is excellent.
Rick R –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Title is misleading
I’m really not sure why this book got so many 5 star reviews. If the book was titled “Shelters and fires in cold climates and knowing how to care and use an Axe and Knife,” it could receive five stars. What it covers it covers in excellent detail. I had read some previous reviews, so I wasn’t upset that a large percentage of the book dealt with things specific to the northern tundra type of environment (whole chapters on spruce, fir, and moose), but I figured there would be at least some coverage of others areas of bushcraft. For example no mention of a single knot or how to properly lash. Now you could say, everyone should know that.. but the author spends pages going over some very basic knife, axe, saw handling techniques as well so he obviously can’t be assuming everyone is an expert or else many chapters would be way too basic. I also know it’s not a survival book, but in a sense if you’re covering how to build a shelter to stay warm, you aren’t in the lap of luxury so covering other areas such as finding water, basic traps, would all be useful things I think to include in a book on bushcraft. It’s funny, I’ve recently purchased a few books on bushcraft and wilderness survival and, to this day, the best I one I have is one that is all ragged and the pages are falling outhttp://www.amazon.com/Bushcraft-Serious-Guide-Survival-Camping/dp/0805203338/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1361458363&sr=8-2&keywords=bushcraft+graves I do see that they plan to release a new copy http://www.amazon.com/Bushcraft-Serious-Guide-Survival-Camping/dp/1620873613/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361458387&sr=8-1&keywords=bushcraft+graves (I’m sure just a reprinting, but I’ll be purchasing it again) This book would be a good supplement to have around, but it’s not a 5 star based on the title.
6 people found this helpful
solocanoe –
4.0 out of 5 stars
if your first read in the subject, you’ll like it better
It’s a bit like a textbook on a subject you really like. If you already like the subject, it means you’ve probably read a lot on it. Diving into a textbook on a favorite subject will leave you a bit weary – at best – given a textbook is designed to “begin at the beginning.”If someone were to gift this book to a person just getting interested in getting along well in the outdoors…I think this would be a treasured gift. It is extemely detailed in the subjects it covers. Mors’ style is very matter of fact and not narrative at all – and very detailed. The novice can delve into the material completely here.Again, to be fair, Mors wrote this in the 1980’s. To still have it relevant going into 4 decades later says a lot about how good this book is. I have the latest version here on Amazon and it has an added section in the back with full color pics of a few things.
One person found this helpful
Ryan Walquist –
5.0 out of 5 stars
The outdoorsperson’s bible
Haven’t finished it yet but I’ve read enough to know that this is a book anyone even slightly interested in bushcraft should have. I love the illustrated sketches of many of the ideas covered. Perfect size to pack into the woods to practice a few of the MANY skills discussed. As a resident of the very southern edge of the boreal blanket in north america, this book along with Ray and Lars’ “Out on the Land” (another 5/5 excellent book) will certainly be enough for me to feel comfortable taking overnight minimal-gear trips into the woods in any season.
2 people found this helpful
Jose C. Joven –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mors is THE MAN
Mors is the Godfather of Bushcraft. He is a specialist in Northern forests otherwise known as the Boreal or Taiga. Give him an axe and a knife, strike that, I’ve seen him make a knife, and he will not only survive comfortably, but THRIVE in the wilderness. All the modern day “survival gurus” from Les Stroud, Cory Lundin, Bear Gyllis, Dave Canterbury, et al. have benefited in one way or another from the knowledge of Mors Kochanski. The good ones admit their debt the others are pikers.This book is an extensive collection of a lifetime spent in the Canadian bush. It’s easy to read all at once or savored, in small doses. As some have said, it doesn’t cover everything, but what it does include will get you by in good measure whether help comes or not. Combine it with a book on hunting and trapping or snares and maybe you’ll just decide to stay until breakup, and walk out on your own steam.
2 people found this helpful
Ky Country Boy –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fundamental and Practical but not Perfect
The basics of using a knife, an axe, and creating cordage and shelter in the woods. It’s not the Holy Grail some other reviewers make it out to be, but it is a very good book. The improvement I would like to see in the book would be to include actual photographs versus using line drawings for illustrations, although most of the line drawings are sufficient. Additionally, you need to identify trees by type without any help from this book, so if you can’t do that, you will need to get the Field Guide to North American trees or something similar. If you do not live in the Pacific Northwest, you will have to figure out on your own which trees in the east or south substitute for the trees mentioned in the book.
5 people found this helpful
ejripley –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not an Erotic Book
I bought this book, thinking it was an erotic novel. Turns out Bush Craft is not what I thought it was. However I read it anyway, and I have to be honest, I loved it! I learned so much! I can build my own shelter, I can cut down a tree, I can make my own traps, and learn to listen to nature. At first I was upset this wasn’t an erotic novel, but now I can say that I’m glad I got this book and read it. I’ve spent more time outside than ever before. I feel confident when surrounded by trees in the pines, and firs. If you want to learn to love nature by becoming one with nature this is the book for you.
2 people found this helpful
Greg J. Storey –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kochanski is A fantastic teacher
I don’t know what to make of some of the poor reviews on this book except to wonder about the experience of the reviewers. I have 30 years of solid outdoor experience and this book is an original and Mors is the real deal. Most books on the outdoors are derivatives of military manuals written by weekend warriors. Kocahnski has been a 35+ year full time professional outdoors survival instructor and innovator since his days at the Canadian Airforce Survival School and the University of Alberta. He does things with a knife that you can’t believe and teaches you how to do the same. He has the axe skills from the turn of the last century and teaches you the same. After his tutelage I leave the firestarter at home. He has knowlege of plants and bushcraft that even most Native elders have lost. No he doesn’t focus on traps because most folks die of exposure and solving that issue is where he puts his energy. This is the premier book on the Boreal forest and Mors teaches other survival experts like Cody Linden or the Swedish Special Forces instructors. This is the survival book to have… can’t say enough good about it or the author.
118 people found this helpful
Richard Schwartz –
1.0 out of 5 stars
Bad News for Tree Huggers
The author of this book seems to think that the solution to every possible problem is to chop down a tree. Trees are used as fuel or as a construction material that is shaped to purpose by axe. His methods are so labor-intensive that the uninitiated would perish before accomplishing anything. And if you can’t get what you need by chopping down a tree, you can go out and wrestle the skin off a live elk!The book is worthless in a survival situation. Those who rely on this book to save them in a true survival situation would be at serious risk of perishing. But there are some good ideas if you are going to build a semi-permanent encampment in a heavily forested area, live there a while, and have plenty of food and shelter to keep you going. Building things by axe craft is very tough physical work! Digging up a spruce root for fiber projects is probably even worse! Axe craft is intermediate between stone chipping and urban disaster preparation, and could be sustainable technology if one knew how to smelt iron to make axe heads and knife blades from earth materials.Alas, none of this (except the cordage craft) is applicable in our California dry lands and deserts. Nothing here on obtaining food from native plants, trapping small animals, etc.Unless you live in wet thick woods and you are good with an axe, this book is not very useful.
44 people found this helpful
rich –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best bushcraft book you could buy
Mors kochanski’s extensive knowledge Combined with his ability to teach makes this a book anyone who enters the woods should read.
J. Robinson –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Northern Bushcraft
This book is an excellent survival manual, although it is specifically focused on survival in the north woods of canada, ie. Boreal forest, or Taiga (In fact, the previous edition was titled Northern Bushcraft). The line-drawing illustrations are very good at conveying the concepts. Knife and axe-craft are a large part of this book because knowing how to work wood in these cold northern forests is key to both long and short-term survival there. But, there is also much more that makes the book a comprehensive survival guide. Many survival manuals go over the generalities of wilderness survival in many different climates, and many others are focused on ‘primitive skills’ type of wilderness survival. This book is rather unique in its specific focus on the Boreal forest environment and woodcraft, but it is definitely a classic survival manual, and highly recommended.
141 people found this helpful
Mssr. Nomdeplume –
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Bushcraft Bible
Kochanski shares his wisdom on topics like axes, knives, making fire with flint & steel and bow drills, wiki-up shelters, moose hunting and dressing (I’m NOT going near one of those things), etc., with detailed instructions, many rough diagrams to clarify the concepts, always with an eye to safety. And TREES. LOTS OF TREES. You quickly see the woodsman’s dependency upon the plants and trees around him. Rather than an emergency survival manual, Kochanski’s authoritative book is more of a guide for long-term living in the woods, Jeremiah Johnson style. If you run around in the woods, you need this book.
3 people found this helpful
Jehiah L. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lots of solid, very detailed and well explained information.
I’ve only looked through about half of this book so far but can tell you that it is one of the best all around outdoor skill books I have ever seen. It doesn’t have wasted space on unnecessary skills and has an immense amount of practical knowledge packed into it. Excellent book, even for an experienced and knowledgeable woodsman. A lot of excellent drawings, pictures and illustrations.
RZC –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Good Book, Great Shopping Experience
I wanted this book as it is supposed to be the bible of bushcraft. It doesn’t disappoint.The shopping experience was great, in stock, reasonable price, quality product and very quick shipping.
Tom Martin –
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book gets into detail I haven’t seen in other …
This book gets into detail I haven’t seen in other bushcraft books so far. There’s an old world style to the writing that increased my interest. The diagrams are helpful. Of course, Mors has all the experience to back up the writing. If you are into bushcraft, you need to add this one to your library. It’s a must have.
Amazon Customer –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good book lots of information
Book was full of information and illustrations. It is a good read and covers a lot of information but only covers certain regions that I don’t live in.
Backcountry Runaway –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome book
Written by the late great mors kochanski. Man I love this book. I highly recommend if this is something you are into. Out of my collection of outdoor related books this is one of my favorites.
KeepingItFair –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Wont you take me down, to funky town
Everyone shilled this book on /out/ and I’m starting to think it was the author samefagging. It’s an OKAY book you damn /out/ist, but it’s not the amazing book you shilled it to be. Truthfully, there are better, more detailed, and fare more information packed books out there. The beauty of this one, is the fact that it has the basics and only the basics. So if someone is extremely new to outdoor bushcraft, they won’t be confused, they’ll know what to focus in.
4 people found this helpful