The Ultimate Survival, Bushcraft, and Knife Guide: Part 5 – Advanced Bushcraft Techniques | Reddit Answered

Welcome to the final instalment of Heinnie Haynes' ultimate guide to survival, bushcraft and outdoor skills. Let's delve straight into the questions asked by the Reddit community, and advise on advanced bushcraft techniques - the wilderness survival techniques and primitive skills that transform basic bushcraft into long-term wilderness living and wild camping expertise.

These methods require patience, practice and an understanding of the natural environment, but mastering them will take your bushcraft skills for beginners to expert-level heights. From preserving food without refrigeration to crafting tools from natural materials using outdoor survival gear, these advanced techniques will tell you not only how to survive, but truly thrive in the wild through wilderness self-reliance.

Long-term wilderness living requires methods for preserving food without modern conveniences. Smoking is one of the most effective survival food preservation techniques, where low heat and smoke from a fire dry the meat and add flavour. The smoke contains compounds that inhibit bacterial growth, while the heat removes moisture that bacteria need to multiply.

Another method is salt curing, where salt draws moisture out of the meat, preventing bacterial growth. The high salt concentration creates an environment where most harmful bacteria cannot survive. For portability, prepare jerky by slicing meat thinly, salting it and drying it over a fire or in the sun.

If conditions are suitable, air drying or using an underground storage pit insulated with natural materials can also keep food safe for days or weeks. Underground storage works best in cold climates where ground temperature remains consistently cool. The earth provides natural insulation and protection from temperature fluctuations.

Traditional methods such as pemmican combine dried meat with rendered fat, creating a highly nutritious food that stores for months or even years. Indigenous peoples across North America relied on this technique for long journeys and winter survival.

Creating natural dyes and paints can be a valuable skill for camouflage, signalling or simply personalising your gear during long-term camping expeditions. Many plants and natural materials provide colour. For example, berries can produce reds and purples, while bark and leaves offer browns and greens.

To make a dye, boil the materials in water to extract the pigment, then soak fabric or fibres in the solution. For paints, mix pigments with a natural binder such as tree sap, clay or animal fat. These natural creations connect you to the environment and can have practical uses beyond their aesthetics.

Charcoal from your fire creates deep blacks and greys. Yellow ochre clay produces warm earth tones. Experiment with different plant materials in your region to discover what colours they yield, keeping note of successful combinations and techniques.

Mordants help set dyes and make colours more permanent. Wood ash water or tannic acid from oak bark work as natural mordants. By understanding this chemistry, your results are significantly improved.

Containers are crucial for storing water, food and tools in wilderness self-reliance situations. If you are near a clay-rich area, collect clay and remove impurities by allowing it to settle in water. Use the coil method to shape the clay into bowls or jars, smoothing the surface as you go.

Once shaped, fire the clay in a pit kiln using a bed of hot coals. Gradually heat the pottery to harden it and make it watertight. Alternatively, use large leaves, bark or hollowed-out wood as improvised containers.

Hold water effectively by using birch bark containers when properly constructed with folded edges and pine pitch seals. These traditional containers served countless generations before pottery became widespread.

Learning to identify and process birch bark adds valuable primitive skills to your wilderness toolkit.

Gourds, when dried properly, create excellent storage vessels. If you find wild gourds, clean them thoroughly and allow them to dry completely. The hard shell that results is lightweight, durable and naturally waterproof.

Natural adhesives are invaluable for binding tools, repairing gear or sealing containers. Tree resin is a common choice - heat it to liquefy, then mix it with powdered charcoal or plant fibres to create a stronger bond. Animal hide glue can be made by boiling hide scraps or sinew until they form a sticky substance.

These versatile adhesives can be used for tasks ranging from fletching arrows to waterproofing seams. Always test your adhesive on a small project to refine its strength and consistency. Pine pitch works brilliantly for waterproofing and repairs when properly processed.

The ratio of resin to filler material affects adhesive properties:

• More charcoal creates a harder, more brittle adhesive suitable for permanent bonds
• More fibre creates flexibility for items that need to bend without breaking

Fish glue makes a strong adhesive from the skin and bones of fish. This traditional glue requires careful preparation but produces excellent results for binding and repairs.

Self-sufficiency is about cultivating a wide range of bushcraft skills for beginners and adapting to your environment. Focus on mastering these essential areas.  

Continuous learning is key. Practise these skills often and build on your knowledge with each outing. Document what works and what fails. This record becomes invaluable reference material for refining techniques.

Observe natural patterns and cycles. Understanding how weather changes, where animals travel and how plants grow informs better decisions about camp placement, hunting and foraging. Nature provides constant lessons for those who pay attention.

Advanced bushcraft techniques are the pinnacle of wilderness survival, transforming the outdoors into a space where you can not only survive but thrive. These skills take time and dedication to master, but the rewards are immense: a deeper connection to nature and a profound sense of self-reliance.

With this final instalment, our series draws to a close. Whether you are a novice adventurer or a seasoned bushcrafter, Heinnie Haynes is here to provide the tools, gear and guidance you need. Explore our extensive range of products and take the first step toward your next great adventure.