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Bushcraft: Outdoor Skills and Wilderness Survival Paperback – March 20, 2008
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
MORS KOCHANSKI is widely known and well respected for his years of experience in outdoor education in western Canada. His enthusiasm for wilderness recreation and his desire to learn everything there is to know about the wilderness have made him one of the foremost authorities on wilderness skills. He is especially familiar to outdoor enthusiasts in Alberta where he has worked and lived for the last 20 years. He is the former editor of Alberta Wilderness Arts and Recreation. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Physical Education at the University of Alberta.
More About the Author
Mors is widely known throughout North America and Europe for his extensive work in outdoor education, survival and wilderness living. His passion for the Northern Forest and his desire to learn everything about it has made him one of the worlds foremost authorities on Boreal wilderness skills and survival.
He popularized the term 'bushcraft' and coined the familiar saying "the more you know, the less you carry". Bushcraft, published in 1987, is a foremost text on that subject with the skills you really need to know, including Firecraft, Axe Use, The Bush Knife, Cordage, Shelter Concepts, Trees and Animals is evident that Mors is teaching from experience and knowledge.
Mors is truly the "Old Dog" of the forest being one of those unique individuals that not only knows his subject but is also able to teach what he knows.
A resident of Peers, Alberta, he is most familiar to outdoor enthusiasts of Northern and Central Alberta where he has lived and worked for the past 45 years. Kochanski was an outdoor education instructor at the University of Albert for 25 years.
He still participates in the intensive week long wilderness living/survival courses as a Master Instructor with Karamat Wilderness Ways.
Mors has been involved with the Junior Forest Warden Program for the last 30 years inspiring wardens and leaders. He received the JFW Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
He popularized the term 'bushcraft' and coined the familiar saying "the more you know, the less you carry". Bushcraft, published in 1987, is a foremost text on that subject with the skills you really need to know, including Firecraft, Axe Use, The Bush Knife, Cordage, Shelter Concepts, Trees and Animals is evident that Mors is teaching from experience and knowledge.
Mors is truly the "Old Dog" of the forest being one of those unique individuals that not only knows his subject but is also able to teach what he knows.
A resident of Peers, Alberta, he is most familiar to outdoor enthusiasts of Northern and Central Alberta where he has lived and worked for the past 45 years. Kochanski was an outdoor education instructor at the University of Albert for 25 years.
He still participates in the intensive week long wilderness living/survival courses as a Master Instructor with Karamat Wilderness Ways.
Mors has been involved with the Junior Forest Warden Program for the last 30 years inspiring wardens and leaders. He received the JFW Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
79 of 81 people found the following review helpful
By
A Customer
on May 12, 1998
Format: Paperback
1 Comment
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After years of being an outdoor enthusiast, I have finally found a book that gives practical, well thought out, easy to follow explanations of techniques of survival and practical outdoor skills. All too often I have found that survival skills authors seem to simply lift a technique from a book written by someone else 20 years before. It doesn't seem to matter if it works or not, or whether the conditions have to be exactly right for it to work, they just paste it into their books. It has become obvious that most of the authors have never even tried many of the tecniques since the techniques they write about don't work or need such specific conditions to work that you never find the exact right conditions in which to use the techniques. This book is different.
Every single skill presented is detailed and clear. They have all worked for me in REAL conditions. It is obvious that the author has not only written about the skills, but has spent long hours LIVING the skills and perfecting them. There is advice and observations that I have found nowhere else, another good indication that the author has written from experience rather than from reading what other people have already written and regurgitating outdated or worthless knowledge (and knowledge that doesn't work becomes dangerous in the bush). His attention to detail (he even drew all the drawings in the book himself)and his great concern for safety in performance of the skills goes unmatched.
I would hardily recommend this book to anyone who wants to feel a little safer when they may be faced with an unexpected emergency, whether you are a backpacker, mountaineer, camper, outdoor enthusiast, or simply driving in your vehicle in a snow storm. This book could save your life one day, when you least expect it.
Every single skill presented is detailed and clear. They have all worked for me in REAL conditions. It is obvious that the author has not only written about the skills, but has spent long hours LIVING the skills and perfecting them. There is advice and observations that I have found nowhere else, another good indication that the author has written from experience rather than from reading what other people have already written and regurgitating outdated or worthless knowledge (and knowledge that doesn't work becomes dangerous in the bush). His attention to detail (he even drew all the drawings in the book himself)and his great concern for safety in performance of the skills goes unmatched.
I would hardily recommend this book to anyone who wants to feel a little safer when they may be faced with an unexpected emergency, whether you are a backpacker, mountaineer, camper, outdoor enthusiast, or simply driving in your vehicle in a snow storm. This book could save your life one day, when you least expect it.
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91 of 95 people found the following review helpful
By
J. Robinson
on January 23, 2007
Format: Paperback
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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.
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.
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40 of 41 people found the following review helpful
By
Greg J. Storey
on December 25, 2006
Format: Paperback
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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.
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54 of 58 people found the following review helpful
By
Matt Richards
on October 22, 1998
Format: Paperback
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If you live in the northern climes you are a fool not to get this book. If you live anywhere else it will still be invaluable! Really good thorough and easy to follow instructions on axemanship, knifecraft, fire-making, shelter building, cordage & rope, bark containers, working with birch, conifers, willows, moose and snow! A bestseller in Canada, with a cult following in the US.
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31 of 33 people found the following review helpful
By
A Customer
on August 28, 2001
Format: Paperback
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I thought the book was thorough on the subjects it covered. I am from Louisiana so most of the information was new to me, although some of it may be basic for you northern foke. The chapters on fire and shelter constuction were extensive and complete compared to the dozens of survival books I have read. Kochanski did not cover animal traps except for one for hares. The only other animal food Kochanski talked about was the moose. Still, I leared a lot about fire and winter shelter constuction. Except for the lack of information on traps and animals, I think it is a very good book on winter and cold weather survival.
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By
Ted Fisher
on August 10, 2006
Format: Paperback
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There is a fine line between Survival Skills and Primitive living skills; each set of skills can complement the other. This book I feel complements both. I don't believe the author's intent was to write a survival book, but he has gone into great detail about certain aspects of Bushcraft. Each chapter covers a topic such as firecraft, knifecraft, sheltercraft, etc. Illustrations composed mostly of line drawings which can be somewhat confusing to novices in outdoor lore. The author does supply a few color photos in the back of the book which gives the reader a little better understanding. I have actually found some ideas and concepts in this book that I have not seen in others. The techniques I have tried from this book have worked. There is no doubt in my mind that the author has lived with these skills in the bush. Besides anyone that uses a Mora knife has to know what they are talking about. Just wish he included some of his camp recipes.
I would not suggest this book as a survival text, but would as a supplement to other survival texts to enhance your outdoor skills or if you want to study primitive living skills.
If you are addicted to Survival skills, Bushcraft and the Outdoors as I am I would highly recommend this book.
I would not suggest this book as a survival text, but would as a supplement to other survival texts to enhance your outdoor skills or if you want to study primitive living skills.
If you are addicted to Survival skills, Bushcraft and the Outdoors as I am I would highly recommend this book.
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