Other survival needs

Water

If you must spend a night away from your designated camp, you may need to find extra drinking water. Almost every State forest has a water source, and these will be clearly marked on your hunting maps. Most waterbodies carry some type of contamination, either from bacteria or runoff from livestock or agricultural crops. That is why it is important to ensure the water you drink is purified first.

Drinking water that is contaminated with bacteria can make you very sick, adding more complexity to your survival.

Water can be purified with:

• purification tablets
• portable water purifiers
• ultraviolet purifiers
• boiling.

Boiling is the safest method. Bring the water to a fast boil, let it cool before you drink it and then immediately start boiling more.

Food

Packing some high-energy power bars or trail mix in your pack for emergency situations is a good idea. If you have harvested game be sure to cook it thoroughly. Do not eat plants or berries from the bush unless you can identify the plants as being safe for human consumption.