Activity for Don Bransonâ€
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edit | Post #41741 | Initial revision | — | about 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #40998 | Initial revision | — | about 4 years ago |
| Question | — |
What are the pros and cons of introducing new safety colors for hunting? As indicated in Have there been any studies done on how fluorescent pink compares to fluorescent orange?, fluorescent pink is becoming accepted as a new safety color for hunting. Given that we have a color that already works, are there advantages that outweigh the disadvantages of either that would d... (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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A: What are the benefits of saving bats? They're part of the ecosystem. If they go away, it creates an imbalance that can't be fixed. Simple example, they eat huge numbers of mosquitoes. Kill the bats, and you free the mosquitoes to multiply as they please. (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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A: Caught in the rain without rainwear or raingear So, if you're caught off-guard, you won't have anything with you that offers direct protection, such as: raincoat, poncho, garbage bag, tarp, or any other portable shelter. It also means that you won't have any tools along that might help you build a shelter, such as a pocket knife. Some might have o... (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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A: Should I close a cathole (toilet-hole) at night? Based on Rickeyship's feedback, I'm changing my answer. Environmental Context The answer depends on your environment, so try to find out what makes sense in the context of where you'll be. My original answer works well in the woods of Missouri where your droppings will be subsumed into the environm... (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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What knot is this that starts off like a taut line hitch but ends differently? I thought that Les Stroud was about to make a taut line hitch. But at the end he did a couple of things a little different. What is this knot? Does it hold better than a taut line hitch? (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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A: When using "Gap aiming method" do I leave both eyes open? When gap shooting or shooting a bow in general, there are a couple of advantages to keeping both eyes open. One is that having both eyes open gives you some amount of depth perception, so you can see how far your target is from you. Another is that with both eyes open there's less tension in your fac... (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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A: How to secure wild Red Eared turtle eggs from predators? There are a number of considerations here, so getting educated is the first step in responding to the Red Eared sliders. There could be positive and negative effects. Contact your local conservation department. They'll know how to proceed. If the species is native, you might want to protect it from... (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
| Question | — |
Why does burning dung drive away insects? In season 3, episode 5 of Survivorman, Les Stroud mentions the value of throwing cow dung, or any variety of others, on a fire to drive away insects. And he has "no idea why." Why does this work? (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
| Question | — |
Why does red snow make a person sick? In season 3 episode 2 of Survivorman, Les Stroud explains that red snow will make you sick. He also says that he doesn't know why it makes you sick. What's in it that makes you sick? (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
| Question | — |
Could Les Stroud have used guitar strings for rabbit snares? In season 3 episode 1 of Survivorman, Les Stroud uses a guitar and a can of some consistently shaped chips made from potatoes of an unknown brand <cough>Pringles</cough> to make a trap for mice or squirrels. My question is, since he has made snares for rabbits before, why doesn't he use a... (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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A: How long can I trust the purity of water in a water bottle? No, don't worry. At least in the US, and presumably a number of other countries, there are organizations that set the safety standards pretty high. As a result, IMHO, we've become much more suspicious of food that's not dangerous. You can backpack with unrefrigerated foods (like cheese and eggs) for ... (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
| Question | — |
What kind of mittens is Les Stroud wearing? What kind of mittens is Les Stroud wearing? Is there a name for them? I'm interested to find out about them and what it costs for a pair. (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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A: How can I find north from the stars without recognizable constellations? Since you didn't limit the star(s) used, I'll give an example using the Sun. During the day, put a stick in the ground such that it casts a shadow. Mark the end of the shadow with another stick. Wait 15 minutes. The line from the original marked end of the shadow to current the end of shadow points d... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
| Question | — |
Tent or hammock safer from lightning? If a lightning storm is coming, and you had a tent and a hammock/tarp with you, which would you choose, based only on relative safety from lightning? (more) |
— | almost 8 years ago |
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A: Drawing a crossbow with or without drawing apparatus If I had done a little more homework, I would have found a manual online for this closely related bow. It describes drawing the bow either way. http://www.strykerxbow.com/downloads/OMDesertStryker07.pdf It says: MANUAL DRAW Place the arch of foot in bow stirrup. Using both hands firmly grasp close... (more) |
— | almost 8 years ago |
| Question | — |
Drawing a crossbow with or without drawing apparatus A crossbow I purchased (a Stryker 380) came with a drawing apparatus made of cord and a couple plastic parts. I haven't been using it since drawing with fingers works just fine. But now I'm wondering if the apparatus is not just for ease of drawing, but is also for safety. Are there safety considerat... (more) |
— | almost 8 years ago |
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A: What is the recommended wilderness first aid treatment for a scorpion sting? I don't know what's recommended. I carry a Sawyer Extractor for snakebites. I've used it on a spider bite and various insect bites. It works by using a vacuum to extract the venom or whatever has entered the puncture. If I got stung by anything, including a scorpion, it's what I'd start with. (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
| Question | — |
What backpacking water purification techniques can be substituted safely during a city's boil order? Can I use my Sawyer filter when the city issues a boil order? Or could there contaminants such as viruses present that require boiling? How about other filters such as carbon filters? I'm confident that UV pens or bottles would be sufficient, but any commentary on those are also welcome. (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
| Question | — |
How to tell when a muzzleloader nipple needs to be replaced? I've used muzzleloaders for years without a problem, but heard that the nipples can fail catastrophically, causing injury to the face. Is there a way to tell when it's time to replace them? (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
| Question | — |
How dangerous is a band of coyotes to a lone, unarmed human? There's a delightful thrill to the call of a band of coyotes when you're alone in the dark woods. Do they present a danger? That is, have healthy coyotes (that is, not rabid) been known to attack or show aggressiveness to a lone human? (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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How to deal with a rifle scope where the relief is too short? When a rifle has a scope where the relief is too short for comfortable shooting, are there any options other than replacing the scope? The scope has a adjustable relief, but even with that I have to push my head too far forward to see the full view. (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: Clarification sought on the six-inch-cat-hole rule That's the rule on the Ozark Trail and the Appalachian Trail, to the best of my recollection. However - many times the ground is just rock surrounded by bits of dirt. Do the best you can and use your best judgement. Remember that everything else dumps it in the woods without burying it, but they're n... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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Can you tell if a plant is edible by watching what animals eat it? If I see a deer munching on a particular plant, is that enough to indicate that it's safe to eat? How about other animals? (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: Are trekking poles proven to be helpful? There are people who swear by poles, and there are people hiking into their eighties without poles or knee trouble. Part of it is genetics, part of it is being intelligent about hiking. Poles may help with the symptoms, but wouldn't it be better not to cause the problems in the first place? If you're... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: Are water purification tablets safe? I currently use a Sawyer Filter without using purification. I carry iodine tablets as a backup. Iodine's been in use for decades, and I don't worry at all about using them when necessary. Ray J. recommends being smart about choosing your water sources, which I am. When I was a kid I drank straight fr... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: What range should I expect for a reasonable set of walkie-talkies / two-way radio? There's a lot of variation between radios. There's even a great deal of variation for a given set. I own a pair of radios advertised as "35-mile range." I don't believe that's false, but it's probably under ideal conditions - a clear day with two people on mountaintops 35 miles apart, with an unobstr... (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
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A: Should I be worried about bears when sleeping in a hammock? Being in a hammock shouldn't change anything. A tent is not any safer, and may be more dangerous, since you don't have visibility of the area around you. Buy or borrow a copy of Trail Life, there's a good discussion of the issues with using a tent. A tarp is my preference over a hammock or a tent, be... (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
| Question | — |
What features to consider when buying a bouldering slipper? I've been using the same Evolv shoes for bouldering that I bought for top-roping. It seems like they're worn enough to start considering a new pair of shoes. Since I'm doing bouldering almost exclusively now, I'm thinking about getting shoes designed specifically for that activity. What should I look... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: Any tips to reduce chance that I have to get up and pee in the night (not counting dehydration, of course) From my comment - Some people keep a jar in the tent to pee in. I prefer not to. :) When the kids were young and we all went camping, my wife did this so she and the kids wouldn't have to leave the tent, warm weather or cold. (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: How to clean rock-climbing shoes? I just spray some Lysol into the shoe from time to time after returning home from climbing, and that seems to do the trick. I haven't noticed a downside to this, but perhaps some more experienced climbers can weigh in. (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: How to harden feet to avoid blisters on long hikes I almost never get blisters. It's been a few years since I've had one, when I got a small blister between two toes. It was my own fault for not properly drying my feet after a creek crossing. My hiking shoe is a Chaco Red Rock. They're about 16 ounces each, which is too heavy for a hiking shoe. My p... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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Why are there ropes on fingerboards? I picked up a couple fingerboards from the pro shop, and hung them on the rafters in our basement. However, I have no idea what the ropes are for, unless someone might tie the boards to a tree. What are they for? For reference: The manufacturer provides this guide for training with this kind of bo... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: How should we split up a 3 person tent? I'm assuming there won't be three parts of equal weight. Depending on the tent design, you could be talking main room, fly, and poles. You could break it into threes that way, then swap other items to equalize the load. So, if you're carrying the main room, perhaps someone could carry some of your sh... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: What is this knee pain when going downhill? I've had this, too. You're just stressing different ligaments than when traveling uphill. I think it's a matter of getting the right exercise, which is to say, do the same thing on training hikes. I've also experienced pain in that area after crossing an ice-cold creek, then hiking after. Alleve is ... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: Does whiskey help keep you warm in winter? theJollySin is right. Your body adjusts to seasons by changing the viscosity of your blood. Thicker in winter to help stay warm, thinner in summer to help stay cool. Essentially, alcohol thins your blood, simulating what your body does to drop its temperature. Drink your whiskey, but sit close to the... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: Keeping smoke level in a wigwam low I haven't used a wigwam, but I expect you'd have the same issues as with any shelter. You have to expect there to be some smoke, but you want the amount of smoke to be as low as possible. Perhaps the hole at the peak is not large enough, or perhaps you're not letting enough air in to feed the fire. M... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: What are the key sights to see on a short trip through Oregon? It's not at all too much for 2 weeks, even without rushing. I've done a couple trips from St. Louis out to CA this way. You're asking the right question, IMHO. Make a list of the must-see locations, and fill in with stuff you happen by. I have two sons and did one trip with each like this. Tent-cam... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: What good factual books have you read on an outdoors topic? Backpacking Trail Life by Ray Jardine Ray is one of the pioneers of ultralight backpacking, if not the pioneer, not to mention expert kayaker and freeclimber. This book changed how I see backpacking from the Boy Scout/Army way to a better way. Ray's guidance made backpacking fun for me. Non-Fa... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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What's the best protection for my knees while bouldering? I've been top-roping for several months. About a month ago I found out how much fun bouldering is. I've been getting quite a few scrapes on the knees working certain routes, or from falling. I'm climbing at an indoor gym wearing shorts. Some people climb in long pants, but many don't. It's not a... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Long distance hiking trail markings in North America or parts thereof Those are blazes. They used to be done with an axe, now they're done with paint. There's no national standard, but there are usually standards for a particular trail. The Appalachian Trail, for example, uses white blazes. The Ozark trail uses a small plastic OT logo lightly tacked to trees. Doub... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: How to avoid pendulum descent when belaying? Top-roping or lead-climbing? I haven't seen this happen in top-roping except when using the wrong rope - that is, for the rope next to the route i'm climbing. When you top out you should be near the pulley. If you're way off to the side, then, yeah, you should expect some swinging. If you're 5 fe... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: What fps does a bow need to hunt moose? When hunting with a rifle, it's the energy of the bullet that matters. With an arrow, it's all about blood loss. The 'power' matters, but only insofar as it is a factor in creating blood loss. Ideally, you want a through-and-through so the arrow is out of the animal's body and does not block blood... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: What are the key factors when choosing a sleeping bag for backpacking? You've hit most of the important factors. Also, you might see if you can borrow one for your first trip to see what you like/don't like about the bag. When you buy, you need to decide what kind of fill you want - synthetic or goose down. They have different characteristics, and you'll want to deci... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Kepler Track: Brod Bay to Iris Burn Hut in one day? Can you do some local training hikes on similar terrain before heading out there? That will give you a good idea of what your capabilities are. Even if you don't have similar terrain, you could creatively use what you have. In other words, I have a local park with 250-foot hill climbs. If I know ... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Water-resistant shoes for Trekking in New Zealand I avoid water-resistant shoes for hiking since they trap moisture (your sweat) in as well as out. Kinda depends on hiking style, too - if you're ultralighting then you'd probably want trail-running shoes that breath and dry quickly as you walk. See Ray J.'s advice. They're light enough that people... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: What are the best ways to increase your draw weight? I don't know how much push-ups will help, since they're working the muscles in a different direction. I started indoor rock-climbing this year at a place with some pretty healthy overhangs, and those work the back muscles in pretty much the same way as drawing my bow. It feels to me like it's made ... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: What is the proper way to tarp tent to avoid condensation? I don't get condensation under my tarp, not in general, even after several hours in a heavy downpour. I don't pitch it over vegetation, in general. I did have condensation one time when I had it pitched close to the ground, just enough for me to lie under, and it rained heavy all night, perhaps 1-1... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Is a varied diet necessary while backpacking? I don't think that a limited diet will cause you health issues. (caveat, I'm not a doctor...) But, keep in mind that hiking is typically a strenuous activity. You need energy, and lots of it. You need short-term energy, medium-term, and long-term. A meal of whole-wheat pasta with some tuna or sa... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |