Bushcraft is the skill of living in the bush, or wilderness. In its more traditional sense, it involves foraging for food & water, building shelter from the available materials, and even fashioning tools and clothing from nature. In a broader, more widely used sense, it refers to wilderness survival, whether planned or necessary. Regardless of which level of bushcraft you plan on practicing, there are several essential skills you need to master if you wish to survive.

Whether you have decided to emulate Jeremiah Johnson and live off the grid or find yourself unexpectedly forced to survive in the wild, you will find yourself relying on a set of skills modern man does not usually practice.

Due to the many modern conveniences that are now commonplace, most members of civilized society no longer possess the survival skills that were once second nature. But bushcrafting is about changing this and knowing how to survive with little more than what you can carry in your pack or make on the go.

Master the following bushcraft skills, and you will be well on your way to surviving in any environment.

Starting a fire — regardless of where you find yourself– is essential. Whether you need to stay warm, purify water, cook your food, or keep wild animals away at night, you will need fire. The ability to start a fire is literally a matter of life or death.

Finding food and water — being able to eat and have fresh water — is not a creature comfort; the human body must survive. After only a few days, your body will begin to shut down, making any other skills useless. Knowing where to find water and how to purify it, and what is safe to eat, are so vital that you should not leave civilization without this skill.

Navigation — whether it is with a map and compass or by using clues nature provides (i.e., the stars) — you must be able to find your way in the wilderness. Do not think you will rely on your cellphone, GPS, or similar electronics — most lose signal soon after leaving the pavement, and all will eventually suffer power failure.

First aid — when you are in the wilderness, you are generally alone and always far from the benefits of modern medical care. Even a minor injury can be debilitating, and something such as a severe cut can be deadly. Get hurt or sick, and you must be able to care for yourself.

Building a shelter — you might be able to brave a night or two under the stars if the weather cooperates, but eventually you will need shelter from storms, snow, and even the sun. This means that you will need to have the knowledge and skills necessary to do so –there are no camping stores behind the next big pine.

As stated earlier, there are various levels of bushcrafting, and your particular situation will determine exactly which additional skills you may need. But start with the above, and you will be off to a good start.