Prepare for the monster ice and snow storm in four hours

So here’s the deal – the nationwide ice storm, with arctic temps  is on the way and expected to hit by Thursday morning. You haven’t prepared for such a disaster, and there is a good chance the power will go out. What can you do, right now, to prepare your home and family for the …

Nine tips for getting and keeping hunting access on private land

Finding a place to hunt can be really tough. Here are a few tips that might help you get onto that prime habitat. by Leon Pantenburg When I was growing up in Iowa, my dad and several of my uncles were farmers. My access to good hunting in Central Iowa was virtually guaranteed. Learn how …

Check out my new ultimate EDC knife: Bark River Gunny/Bravo

Sometimes,  a couple small tweaks can change something from almost perfect to WOW! by Leon Pantenburg Knives Ship Free is a Survivalcommonsense.com sponsor. I didn’t get free knives, and don’t get a special deal on any company’s products. My favorite everyday carry knife kinda depends on what I’m doing and where I’m going. My L.T. …

How to pitch a tarp to survive in heavy winds

How will you pitch a tarp so it can handle really nasty weather? Here’s what to do. by Robert Patterson In  June  of 2016 I went with a friend to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area for six days of camping, canoeing, and fishing.  After arriving at our second day’s campsite, and making a run to …

Another look at the Bark River Trakker Companion

One size doesn’t fit all when it comes to knives. by Leon Pantenburg What works for me may not work for you, and vice versa. This is particularly noticeable when it comes to hunting knives – different handles are for different-sized hands. If the handle doesn’t fit you, it may be uncomfortable to use, and …

Peter Kummerfeldt: Tips for spending the night in your vehicle during an emergency

Anyone who drives faces the possibility of spending a unplanned night in a vehicle.  Bad weather, breakdowns, running out of fuel, getting stuck are some of the more common reasons why a driver might have to bed down for the night (or perhaps for several nights) until the situation is resolved.  A night out does …

Peter Kummerfeldt: Dress to survive in extreme wilderness conditions

Your first line of defense against hypothermia is your clothing. Make the right choices to survive In this video, produced by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, survival expert Peter Kummerfeldt explains how to dress to survive under the most extreme conditions: Outdoor Survival-Chapter 7-Clothing from Colorado Parks & Wildlife on Vimeo. Dressing to survive starts …

Afraid of the dark? Here’s how to get over it

Do you get uneasy when it the sun starts to go down? Prefer to have a nightlight on, and don’t like dark places at all? What  happens if you get lost, and the darkness starts to fall? Here are some ways to help you deal with this problem before it develops into a survival situation. …

Veterans Day Tribute: Marine recalls bloody WWII battles in the Pacific

Thank you Veterans! I met World War II Marine Tom Teela, of La Pine, OR, while interviewing his grandson, Kyle Thompson. Thompson, a combat-wounded Marine,  who had just returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan.  On Veterans Day, 2016, we are pleased and honored to re-post Tom Teela’s story of war in the Pacific. …

Why you should make a mini survival kit part of your wardrobe

I hadn’t dumped a canoe in years, so unexpectedly entering the water just above the John Day River’s Clarno rapids was quite a shock. I righted myself, pointed my feet downstream and tried to follow the course originally set for the canoe. by Leon Pantenburg The Central Oregon rapids last about three-quarters of a mile, and …