The untold instinct of man to survive his everyday life pervades the ultimate reality of existence. When threatened with an unpredicted event, it is almost second nature for man to find ways to prolong his life.

Even with the onslaught of modern technology, it is imperative that man learns survival basics and alleviate himself from the bondage of innovation and technological advancement.

The key is to survive life?s challenges without the tools.

Beating cold weather, for instance, is one of the most basic survival skills that man has to learn. You never know when extreme cold will hit you unless you are magically powerful.

If you want to know how to survive cold weather without resorting to innovative devices such as heaters, here are some pointers:

1. Choose windows wisely

The key to cold weather survival is to find products that will stimulate heat within the area. Getting a double-glazed window, for example, will trap the heat inside your home.

Consequently, you do not have to depend on your heater most of the time just to survive the cold weather. With double-glazed windows in your home, there will be very little heat that will escape your home.

2. Be wary when choosing clothes

It is not practical that you just wear layers of clothes to trap heat from your body. The key is to wear clothes especially designed to trap body heat. These clothes have special fabrics that can lock in heat so that it helps keep you warm.

Do not rely totally on materials that may seem to protect you from extreme cold weather. Many clothing manufacturers are now trying to cut back the cost of producing cold weather materials by replacing them with fake ones.

Take ?fur coats? as an example. Most fake fur coats cannot effectively function in the same way as true fur coats.

3. Trap the heat from the top

What most people do not know is that body heat is usually emitted from the top?the head. So it makes sense to stop the heat from escaping from your body by covering your head with a good winter hat.

Keep in mind that it will be totally useless to wear winter clothes if your head is not protected from cold weather.

These are just the basic ways to trap body heat and survive cold weather. By following this advice, you need not depend on heaters or other technological devices that require additional energy consumption.

Need help building an outdoor cooking area? Here are tips on how to go about it:

Find a location.
The best location is an open space that is accessible to your kitchen or dining area. This will let you go in and out conveniently to prepare ingredients and serve cooked food. Choose a location where your grill is protected from too much exposure to sun, wind or rain.

An area away from trees, roofs, trellises and wooden structures is also a good location. Anything that can catch fire and burn is dangerous to be kept near your cooking area.

If you have a patio, consider using that area. A patio already has flooring in place, so there's no need to pay for materials or labor.

Plan it.
Having a plan or design for a cooking area is important if you want it done right. It's also friendlier on your budget since you're less likely to make mistakes. Furthermore, construction is a lot less problematic since you'll have the basic foundation in place before you complete the structure.

Consider the size of the cooking area you want to build and what its functions will be. Do you prefer a simple barbecue area or a bigger cooking center? An outdoor cooking area can be a simple open area with a barbecue pit or a more elaborate construction that includes a grill, cabinets, a food preparation table and even a refrigerator. Depending on your budget and creativity, your outdoor cooking area can cost from a $300 to more than $1000.

Function over form?
Design for comfort and not just style, especially if you want the cooking area to double as an entertainment center. Consider space and size of your grill, countertop, sink and storage area.

Consider your utilities.
If you want to fully enjoy your cooking area, consider whether you'll need provisions for utilities such as water or electricity. If you like to cook at night, for example, building a provision for lighting is a no-brainer. If you will be using electric appliances, outlets are a must. If you have a sink, you'll need provisions for water supply.

Mind the code.
Some areas require that you follow codes and obtain permits for your construction. If your construction includes plumbing or electrical work, for example, you will need to get a permit from your local municipality. Check your local government for zoning requirements to ensure that your outdoor area is built at the permitted limit from your area's property lines.

Clear weather, warm temperatures and hours without having to suffer from mosquitoes. Though weather may affect a hunter's mood when it comes to hunting, there are times that rainfall or snowy weather may be used as an advantage in off-season hunting.

Taking a look at a deer's anatomy, there are four types that can be fooled, and the last out of sheer luck. A deer's vision can be defeated fairly easily, given the proper attire to naturally blend in with the environment, even in snowy conditions. In some cases, if a hunter were to take a look at Siberian soldiers in their heavy white parkas is a proven fact when it comes to frozen warfare. Some manufacturers have made the best camouflage parkas on the market and are worth the investment in order to move in for the quiet kill.

Rainfall is a little thing that may dampen both hunter and prey, but it doesn't mean it's without its advantages. A hunter's sound may be muffled due to the rainfall, allowing closer access to the buck. In some cases, trying a different tactic would be best suited as well since deer will still live on as deer, but trying to get as comfortable as possible as they move from one place to another. This beats the second sense a deer has in store: hearing.

Winds may either be a godsend for bow hunters or a thorn in their side, but not without its purpose as well. A deer's sense of smell is the hardest part to beat, but given the right wind direction, it may help carry the human scent away from the unsuspecting deer. This tactic pretty much relies on luck, and how far off a hunter is when it comes to approaching the buck. It would also be better if the buck was on the rut, so the chances of attracting the animal closer would result in a successful kill.

As environments have suited the endeavor of animals since the beginning of time, modern tactics derived by the military can also work to the hunter's advantage. Just because a deer's life may be secure when it's in a wooded and foggy area. In fact, it may be the last thing it would ever think of once caught and tagged by surprise. Given to the number of testimonies from experience hunters, the rank amateur can also have the same success given time and patience to land a successful kill.

So the hunter managed to down a deer, performed some field dressing and loaded it in the back of the truck straight to his home, now what? Remembering a joke from Larry the Cable Guy, I guess it can be marinated for 6 months, tough as hell them deer jerky.

But there are numerous deer recipes to choose from, and it's not only just roasting it over a pit, but the process takes several hours since deer meat is indeed tough. So what does the hunter/chef do?

Roasting a deer takes a bit of preparation and lots of patience since it requires at least 12 to 16 hours of cooking. It's going to kill your electric or gas bill in a day, but it's well worth it or risk losing your dentures. Deer meat, once soft and tender, is like eating beef only better, or at least depending on what sort of seasonings used. One way to save up on paying those bills is to cook it over an open fire and use a poker to regulate the flames. It's crude but effective and a great excuse to drink beer outside while waiting for the meat to tenderize.

Among the deer dishes most people have tasted is the roast venison. Scrumptious, not to overbearing when it comes to the meat. It involves setting the meat in room temperature for 8 hours before storing it in the refrigerator. This way, the pores will open up, allowing the marinade to enter until cooled. After the ingredients such as stewed tomatoes, sliced red onions, brown sugar and garlic are added in a crock pot and cooked on low for 10 to 12 hours. It takes time, but the wait is well worth it. Different States offer their own version of the venison roast and some add a little twist of their own, but it would be too many to even include in this articles so it's best to do a search for deer recipes on the internet.

There are other types of recipes but the cooking time can kill anyone's patience. It would have been interesting to just let it cook for like 30 minutes and come out laughing when they couldn't cut the meat with a chainsaw. Since most of the recipes involve having natural tenderizers like ginger and garlic to eliminate the smell, it will be up to the hunter whether to be brave and patient enough to start cooking the deer.

Small game hunting is the classification of game hunting which includes small animals such as rabbits, quail, ducks, and birds. To hunt legally a hunting license is required for most species. One small game license may cover all game species but have daily or yearly bag limits. The hunter should check with the local government about the licensing before hunting in a particular location.

Whether you are a novice or a professional hunter, understanding the habitat of these animals can improve the numbers of game you bag in a particular season.

Understanding Animal Habitats

All species have their own habitat: this includes the food, water, shelter and space that they need in order to survive. Each animal has different habitat requirements. Wolves, for example, need a wide area of undisturbed forest, while chipmunks like to live in woodland burrows under rocks and logs.

Knowing the preferred habitat of these small animals will give the hunter a better chance of finding and hunting them…

Let us identify the habitats of some of these animals for small game hunting.

- Doves. Doves prefer to stay in agricultural areas because these places areas can provide bountiful food for them. However, there are also some seasons where you will find opportunities to hunt doves in the desert areas when water and seeds are available in sufficient quantities.

- Quail. Quail may be difficult to spot in some seasons as they may still be nesting. Quails thrive in places where there is significant rainfall. Some river drainage areas also provide decent quail hunting opportunities.

- Rabbits. Cottontail rabbits can be found most often in low and mid-elevation areas. Rabbits like thick brush and tangled masses of briars. They can also be found in desert washes.

- Tree Squirrels. Squirrels thrive mostly in places with abundant food sources, including pine mast, acorns and mushrooms. Red squirrels are usually found in mixed conifer and spruce forests. They can easily be located by their ?wurring? call - even from a distance.

Abert squirrels prefer ponderosa pine habitats and spend a lot of time on the ground scavenging for mushrooms during the fall. Gray squirrels like riparian corridors of sycamore, walnut and ash.

- Waterfowl. Waterfowls can best be found on wetlands, reservoirs and impoundments. Ducks often gather in backwaters, on slow running rivers and sheltered areas of lakes; like coves and the mouths of rivers and creeks. Desert stock ponds after a big storm can be a home for some ducks.

- Blue grouse. Grouse are usually found in high mountain areas, especially in places where there are mixed conifers and spruce habitats.

- Band-tailed pigeon. These birds are commonly found in high mountain habitats, usually around pockets of oak trees; places with good acorn supply associated with watering sites are also places where band-tailed pigeons can be found. Their migration patterns are irregular, though, so it may be difficult to locate them at times.

The Good Side of Hunting

Hunting is not at a bad activity. Hunters can actually play an important role in maintaining the balance between the animals and their habitat.

Wild animals depend on their natural habitat to survive. Having a bountiful habitat means a constant increase in the population. If population increases more rapidly than production of new food and shelter, the habitat may eventually be depleted leaving the animals competing for survival.

Hunters help prevent depletion of natural habitat and native vegetation because they help control the population growth of wild animals. Hunters are considered one of the limiting factors to the animal?s population. If wild animal habitats are preserved, there is a better chance to spot these small animals and hunt them.

Hunting can also be made easier by consulting the department biologists in the area where you would like to hunt. Generally these animal enthusiasts know where and when specific animals can be found, usually in groups. But keep in mind the rules and regulations with regard to hunting in a particular area. Rules and legal conditions differ from area to area so always check them first.

Try to find out more about the habitats of other small animals allowed in small game hunting. Studying and understanding them before starting to hunt will a hunter make the most out his time out in the field.

Vision is the best asset to use in your hunting endeavors, especially if it is small game hunting. Never underestimate the horizons and heights that you will have to deal with and endure during your hunting trip.

Do not be helpless: enable your self. Equip yourself with the best gear available to take with you for your small game hunting. Be armed with binoculars.

Binoculars are your best friend: they are the magnifying optical tool that will enable you see a far distance. It is only with your binoculars that you will be able to see beyond the bear sight. Binoculars let you scan the trees and their upper limbs and into thick covers. You will also be able to see the details of the horizon that your eyes cannot discern.

How to Pick the Best Binocular

Given the importance of your binoculars, it necessarily follows that you pick the best available for your small game hunting. Here are some points to consider when choosing this tool for your trip.

1. Small Binoculars
Take lightweight binoculars on your hunting trip. You do not need to see the constellations, so the average magnification will suffice. Make sure that they are easy to carry and fit your grip. Binoculars should not be a burden.

2. Get Straps
When hunting, it is best to have the binoculars readily accessible. They should be close enough to be used when the need arises.

Wear them straps with a strap around your neck. Be sure it is long enough to give ample room for movement yet short enough to avoid getting caught on things. Avoid any inconvenience as any noise will distract and scare the game.

3. Objective Lens
Binoculars with larger objective lenses are the better choice: they will let you see more through thicker cover. They are also very helpful in instances when there is a restricted light supply.

However, high-power binoculars tend to be large so make sure that you get the optimum features without sacrificing the need for a lightweight tool.

4. Price and Quality
Never sacrifice the quality of the binoculars for the price. It is always good to get the best deal available. Just give primacy consideration to the type, kind and durability of the binoculars. They must endure the abuse certain to occur during small game hunting.

Conclusion

The success of your small game hunting depends on the kind of tool that you will take with you, so never part with your binoculars. This is your key to see the rewards of accomplishing your pursuit.

There are very simple and basic ways to keep from getting lost in a forest or area where small game hunting is done.

The most common and the most convenient thing to do is to look over your shoulder as you tramp into the forest or woods.

Do as what Hansel and Gretel did.

Try to remember the way you got in, because it probably will be the same way you will want to use to get out. Prepare and use some markers to use to mark the areas and paths you have traversed. It makes you more comfortable going through the woods if you have a clear idea of exactly how to get out.

Remember a land mark

Take note of a tree or a relevant or significant bush in the forest. This helps in keeping tabs on where you are located exactly and help in determining where you might be going.

Pick up any litter that you have created during your presence in the woods during small game hunting activities. Take away any litter or garbage you may find along the trail. Be serious during small game hunting and just as serious by leaving footprints, and only footprints.

Take note of the angles of logging-trails

Be observant when you are out in the woods. Besides thinking only of how to hunt game, it is advisable to know and remember the specific angles of the trails used for logging and how they branch out. This could prove to be a helpful tool especially when you find yourself game hunting in an area that is wooded.

Take note of the angles that are sharply formed by the trails because these trails are used to drag timber toward the road. Usually, this road means civilization, and of course a convenient way out.

Get a map

The most intelligent way to keep from losing one?s way is by carrying a map of the specific place or area where the small game hunt is ongoing. Usually these maps are prepared and made available by the United States Geological Survey.

There are many simple and effective ways to keep on a path that is straight and appropriate to avoid getting off the beaten track. All one has to do is to be prepared.

The first thing to remember when you are out in extremely or conditions or location is to conserve as much heat as you can. It would help if you?re wearing protective clothing. Protect your hands with thick, waterproof gloves and your feet with boots. If you will be walking on snow, wear snowshoes to distribute your weight so that you don?t sink.

Most of the body heat escapes through the head. Keeping it covered will keep your internal body temperature normal. Be sure to keep your ears protected as well.

If you are preparing to go out, make sure you take a flashlight, some matches or a lighter, food and warm water. It will also help if you know how to navigate so you know where you?re headed.

Do not stop moving. Allow yourself to rest only for a few moments and then keep walking.

Avoid cold water and eating snow. You might feel thirsty, but drinking water or eating snow will only lower your body temperature.

Cold dulls your mind and induces fatigue and sleep. Do not allow yourself to fall asleep because you might never wake up. Hypothermia can occur. There is also the danger of frostbite. Sleep only if you?ve found a shelter or have built one.

To avoid wind chill, which can go as low as negative 50 degrees F, dig a hole in the snow and build an igloo. Make sure it?s just big enough for you to fit in. This structure can keep heat in as long as there are no holes. This is also the only choice if you absolutely have to rest.

Build with whatever is available. Construct a wigwam or a lean-to using tree branches. Make sure you put the entrance away from the direction of the wind.

Be prepared to build a fire. If help is not coming, then you need to find a place to build a fire to warm up. If you have the proper implements, then that should be no problem. If not, then be prepared to start a fire with sticks or a magnifying lens, if you can. Build the fire away from tree branches that might be heavy with snow.

Believe it or not, a study of Nordic fishermen showed that people can get frostbitten more easily if they have clean skin. If you have frostbite, do not attempt to rub the affected area with snow or wash it. It will only worsen the condition.

Nobody wants to be out in extremely cold weather especially in an unfamiliar location. But sometimes, the choice is really not up to you. The best thing is to be prepared and know what to do.

There comes a time when a hunter might get carried away once he's in the midst of the hunt. Lacking any sense of self-control, the hunter might find himself in a situation that is more than he's bargained for.

Any self and nature respecting hunter might lose his head in the thrill of excitement, but that's no excuse and may cause accidents that could injure himself, as well as others.

In many stories about hunters and their exploits in the forest, a lot have admitted about the fever involved, and have provided some tips in order to combat this phase of frenzy.

Preparation is the key part for any hunter that requires bringing the bare essentials. Although it's mostly equipment, the hunter must have the mental fortitude to not lose their heads in thinking about tagging their prize. There's no shame in the thrill of the hunt, but to act irrationally while shooting a deer in a brutal manner is a violation that has been established in the noble sport of hunting.

Avoid the coffee, and if the hunter does feel tired, it's best to take an entire day resting in a lodge in order to be prepared mentally as well as physically. A ready state of mind will invoke tactics that may have been in the books, but time-tested and proven to be successful. Who knows, a tactic revealed may be born in this day.

Alcohol and drugs is strictly prohibited as well as lighting up fires in wooded areas. In the past, smoking a deer out of its bedding area may have been an effective way, but not anymore considering the dangers of fires.

And if a hunter must act now, then he must do it. A split second decision may very well mean getting a clean kill from injuring the animal. Indecisiveness in the hunter's part would only allow the animal to suffer more because he's having second thoughts.

Considering the kinds of problems that people face on a daily basis, hunting is a sport and a state of mind that acts upon the basic instinct of people: the desire to kill something other than a human. Of course it may be inhumane to think that it's all about fun and games for the immature, but to know and understand that these skills have been around since the dawn of time, hunting is to help you become aware of the way we think about things, and not just the pleasure.

Modern, synthetic materials have been developed to produce cooking utensils and accessories that are durable, safe to use, and easy to clean and maintain. In spite of these discoveries, there is one material, cast iron, that has held its own over the years. Cast iron is still a preferred material for cooking utensils because of its durability, heat retention and diffusion properties.

However, cast iron rusts especially outdoors and reacts with some types of food if not seasoned. If properly and regularly seasoned and properly cleaned, a cast iron skillet can have a "non-stick" surface suitable for egg dishes. Aside from skillets, other popular cookware made of cast iron include woks, deep fryers, griddles and dutch ovens. If well seasoned, cast iron cookware has a smooth, black surface.

How to Season

Before seasoning, check the condition of the iron surface. Is the cookware a new or used? If it is new, remove any stick on labels and/or surface cover that might have been placed to protect it while on stock or display. If it is a used one, the surface must be free of heavy dirt or rust. There are cleaning methods to remove excessive rust or dirt depending on the material that stuck on the cookware surface. After ensuring that the surface is clean, the seasoning process can be started based on the following procedure.

1. Apply a thin layer of fat ( shortening, lard or oil high in saturated fat)

2. Put the cookware up side down in an oven heated to 220degC or 425degF for one to two hours. There must be an aluminum foil under the cookware to catch the excess oil that has melted off. The excess oil can contaminate the oven.

3. After turning off the oven, let the cookware remain inside to cool down.

4. Use or store the cookware.

Seasoning is an easy and simple way to preserve the cookware and maintain an easy cooking experience for a long time. In outdoor cooking , there is sometimes a limited supply of water. Isn't it a treat instead of speeding time scouring the cookware to remove the food residue you just rinse it out and you're on your way to enjoy the moment?

It is advantageous to use cast iron cookware for outdoor cooking. It doesn't require special handling. With proper seasoning it can function like the expensive and delicate "non-stick" types of cookware.