There is absolutely no question that bushcraft in winter is more difficult than in summer thanks to the cold and often wet conditions we typically find ourselves facing. Wind, rain, snow, sleet, sub-zero temperatures - they all make life a hell of a lot more difficult that’s for sure! It is, therefore, no surprise that I received a lot of correspondence regarding winter bushcraft and what advice and tips I have for those that enjoy a trip out into the wilderness in the winter months. It is for these reasons that I decided to write this article; dedicate a whole piece to this question.
Before I crack on, however, I’d like to recommend a website that has a plethora of articles and advice related to all manner of outdoor pursuits, including bushcraft:
(Trust me, you’ll not regret it!).
Bushcraft skills in winter
The first (and probably best) nugget of advice I can provide you with here involves one word: Practice. ‘Repetition is the mother of skill’ is a phrase I’ve heard on numerous occasions - and it couldn’t be truer. If you don’t practise and try to hone and improve your bushcraft skills, then you’ll never improve them and make life easier for yourself.
But what to practice? Which skills will you need more in winter than in summer?
Here are just a few:
Tracking animals: I know what you’re thinking - ‘Tracking animals in the snow is easier than when there isn’t any snow!’ -, and yes, you may be right there, my friend. However, when you take into account the potential conditions, tracking becomes a lot harder because you’ll be expending more energy and calories trying to hunt down your quarry. The key here is to become both more efficient at tracking. Learning more about animals, their habits, habitats and paths are vital to ensure you track down your prey.
Night hikes: Hiking in summer months is typically a lot easier than in winter thanks to the long summer days. Navigation in the dark (and cold) is much more challenging; therefore it is essential that you are adept at this (as you never know what situations you may find yourself in). Not only will it help you with your overall navigation skills, but it will also improve your conditions and assist you in learning more about the nocturnal creatures that you may not see during summer.
Tree identification: This is indeed something that is challenging. Identifying trees and resources in winter is far harder than in summer; therefore it will take a significant amount of practice to become proficient at it. Tree identification in summer or spring is a lot easier because some flowers and fruits make identification easy - which is the opposite of winter. Knowing where your resources are in winter months is vital to survival, and if you can master this then you’ll undoubtedly level up your bushcraft score!
Bushcraft in the winter months can be draining both mentally and physically (more so than during spring or summer), therefore it is very beneficial as it will help to harden your body and mind to potentially challenging conditions that you may face.
A word of warning though - winter bushcraft is potentially more dangerous than at any other time of the year, so if you’re not comfortable going alone and require expert assistance then always contact a professional or experience bush crafter for help.
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