Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

MEMBER & GUEST INTERACTION SECTION => THE 2ND AMENDMENT => Topic started by: beemaster on January 13, 2015, 10:57:55 am

Title: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: beemaster on January 13, 2015, 10:57:55 am
I thought about this last night and thought I'd post it. I could do a poll as well.

I'm wondering if you are ready for a natural disaster or civil disturbance? Do you have a bug out bag ready, or do you have at least 7 days supplies on the ready?

Hurricane Sandy kept us without power for 8 days and I was keep what food didn't rot in the fridge - I got a super-sized cooler from a friend and filled milk jugs to free as ice.

I know I wasn't prepare for Sandy, I would gotten a C+ maybe, but I'm not a dooms day prepper. Sandy caused great damage here beside disseminating all the homes on our Atlantic Coast. If Sandy were even 5 miles further inland it would have been devastating - in NJ, you have 40 thousand homes that would have taken the wind damage but still loss of homes. Sandy was the triple crown of storms: Sandy swelled the ocean and slammed it against our shore.

Now on topic a little, what weapons would you have ready to either protect your home or to bug-out?

I have read so many forums and watched so much great gun stuff and the majority of preppers want a .22 rifle with a scope and their points on why are all valid - I it a good small game hunting weapon and serve it's purpose with fairly cheap ammo in great abundance - when you can find it.

Now a Henry 22 rifle (made in New Jersey in case you didn't know, has a capacity of around 22 .22lr and 28 .22 shorts - is a highly suggested weapon for protecting your home - very effective because of the barrel length and speed of the bullets through a rifle. Ironically, you can not buy that rifle in NJ - it exceeds our 15 round limit.

So if you had 2 handguns, and two long-arms what guns do you depend on to save your life?

Remember, I don't have a lot of weapons, so my answer is:

SKS - semi-auto 10 round attached magazine fed by stripper clips - it shoots 7.62x39 (AK ammo) I can get off 80 rounds a minute with the SKS.

My only real choice for a second rifle is a Mosin Nagant M44 - 5 rounds, bolt action, fixed round fixed magazine , fed by stripper clips. the 7.62x54R cartridge it uses would make an elephant crap his diaper when it goes off. Someone might think you are shooting 50 cals at them with that sound.

 I'd take the SKS for lead gun. Not to leave out these are both bayoneted.

 

Simple right now:

Main gun - Glock 19 gen4 and a bunch of magazines and fair count in ammo.
Ruger .22 sp-101 revolver - 8 rounds of .22 in a cylinder and 30 pound box of .22 ammo - Not an ideal weapon, but a very accurate one within  30 yards.

So, I and my wife end up with a rifle and handgun each. We have very little selection - many of you have a huge collection and I really am curious how you decide on a particular weapon.
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Michael Bush on January 13, 2015, 12:30:12 pm
If I were headed to the mountains to survive, I'd take a single shot .22 LR rifle and a few thousand rounds.  A scope would be nice but I'd want it to have iron sights as well in case of failure.  The ammo doesn't weigh much and every round can put some food in the pot.  If being able to carry the ammo wasn't an issue, I'd take a 6.5x55 swedish mauser with a good scope (and iron sights) and a few thousand rounds.  Every round could put an elk in the pot... from half a mile...
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: beesNme on January 13, 2015, 12:49:11 pm
For around my house it would be  my  22  for range and small game, then i would say shotgun. For just point and shoot. Just the sound of the pump action makes you pay attention. We have our own little farm here so meat,eggs and what not we would be ok. If we got over run well it would be take to the woods . With bare min.


Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Eric Bosworth on January 26, 2015, 08:59:54 am
Ok... I don't consider myself a prepper. But that said I look at things a little differently than most. Rather than keeping stockpiles of food I would rather grow my own or shoot wild game. Where I live I don't think that masses of looters trying to feed themselves are going to be an issue. So in that regard I don't think I will need the gun to defend my food supply. I do think that it is a good idea to have a gun to get the food supply. With that in mind I would say that I have my ruger 10/22 for squirrels if I need it but for most small game I think a shotgun is a better approach. I have a young GSP and he is becoming a really good bird dog. For deer it depends what my approach is. If I am going to be in the woods then I would use a 12 gauge with slugs but in the open a 30/06 is my weapon of choice. Several years ago rifles were illegal to hunt deer where I live. So I have a rifled shotgun that with open sites I shot a deer at 130 yards. A couple years ago I made the the same shot with the rifle and it took off and I couldn't find it. It hadn't snowed and I just couldn't see it with the brown on brown. It was about 10' away in the woods. The shotgun dropped it where it hit.
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: GSF on February 08, 2015, 08:23:45 am
I think FEMA has stated that everyone should have at least 3 weeks of food supply. DHS has said people who stockpile food are considered "persons of interest".

It is most certainly a good idea to have something put up. In my area we will most likely be confronted by hoards of people. 33 miles n of Montgomery, 70 miles s of Birmingham.

The first 90 days will be the most deadliest as far as people killing each other for food. I think everyone should have at least enough food to get them through a year. Then there's the medical issues you will be confronted with, i.e. flu, infections, normal meds, ect.
If you plan to grow your own then make sure you have enough fertilizer, seeds, and poison for a couple of years - incase of crop failure. It takes a lot of thinking to be prepared for something like this. It would be a great population control measure - if you cater to the population control crowd.

As far as ammo, the only time you don't need more ammo is if you're swimming or on fire.
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Michael Bush on February 09, 2015, 11:01:43 am
>I think FEMA has stated that everyone should have at least 3 weeks of food supply. DHS has said people who stockpile food are considered "persons of interest".

Maybe DHS and FEMA should try talking to one another...
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Kathyp on February 09, 2015, 11:54:16 am
I think 3 weeks in a minimum.  kind of depends on you and where you are.  3 weeks after Katrina i ran across a family living in their car and begging supplies.  they'd decided to stay in NO and there was nothing left for them....+ they had no money.  no gas, no food, no diapers...

I ended up giving them most of my MREs and that was all I had to give at that moment.

so....I think we should be prepared to shelter in place or to bug out.  what we do depends on what has happened.  one of the biggest mistakes i see among people who are prepared (have food, water, and ammo) is that they don't have it ready to go. 

the biggest mistake among the general population is that they are unprepared.  they believe they will be rescued and that supplies will be brought to them no matter what.

http://www.amazon.com/One-Second-After-William-Forstchen/dp/0765356864

I highly recommend the above book.  it's not a literary masterpiece, but it's a good read.  as many disasters as I have attended, this book brought up some things that I had not thought about.  one thing was that people in cities seem to think that people in the country will be able to feed them, or that they will be able migrate to the country and "hunt" food. 
that's a scary thought   :sad:
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: iddee on February 09, 2015, 12:57:52 pm
One week after Katrina, I was in Gulfport, Ms. They had areas set up with truckloads of food and water. You just drove through and they loaded your truck or trunk. No questions asked. Some families gathered a year's supply of free groceries. I have never seen such an uncontrolled waste in my life.
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Michael Bush on February 09, 2015, 03:02:29 pm
>that's a scary thought

Especially when you live in the country...
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Kathyp on February 09, 2015, 03:53:21 pm
Quote
I have never seen such an uncontrolled waste in my life.

there was a lot of waste.  on the other hand, the areas were so flooded with donations, much not what was needed but well intentioned, that getting stuff out the door to make room for what was needed was sometimes a priority. 

if ever you find yourself wishing to help in a disaster and want to donate, donate money.  find the charity of your choice and trust them to make good use of the funds.  nothing worse than a semi load of cloths, when it's water you need.  :wink:
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: iddee on February 09, 2015, 05:55:24 pm
I think I have a better idea. I was there one week after the storm. In a week, I put 7 mattress factories back in business. Many of them were donating and highly discounting mattresses to the one needing them. I did it all on a bill later plan.
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Kathyp on February 09, 2015, 06:42:25 pm
not everyone has a skill like yours iddee   :wink:

Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: qa33010 on July 18, 2015, 04:08:02 pm
   This was brought up one evening.  Many spoke about collecting precious stones and metals, as well as the semi-precious ones, to get what they wanted or needed.  One man was quiet for a while and then he told me that the ones who will do the best are those with heirloom seeds and the ability to protect it.  Plus have enough dry and canned items, that can be supplemented with fresh meat, to get through until harvest.  Me?  Heading to family lands and avoiding everyone we can.  My kids know some outdoor lore.  Just wish I could teach them more.  Maybe send my wife and daughters to BOW (Becoming and Outdoor Woman)...  Fortunately the Boy Scouts still require some real outdoor training.
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Maggiesdad on July 18, 2015, 07:48:19 pm
The Holy Bible -The First and Foremost SHTF/Prepper manual...

Yup, gold coins and pretty rocks are hard to swallow.  :cool:
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: gww on July 18, 2015, 11:06:00 pm
Anybody ever see the movie "the year zero?  I think that is what it is called.  I think it is on you tube.  What I don't know is if I am the only one who will watch a black and white movie.
Cheers
gww
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: divemaster1963 on July 19, 2015, 11:16:10 pm
I plan to stay put. I purchased my land on a peninsula on a creek. 40 foot wide with 6 foot water and 30 foot sides. The acsess to the pinsula is by bridge. ( boom). Then only 30 foot land access . easy to protect. Guns 17hmr bolt action has great take down and ?long range. You can take deer easily. Then 22 rifle.  Personal protection 45 acp handgun and45 acp aassault rifle custom built ( didn't like the one for sale in shops.) With 20 round clips give good coverage. Then 9mm then 22 hand for close contact. I have had 22 and 17 sense they came out. Still have ammo from when I was a kid in dry boxes. I found a place going on of business and bought all his long storage dry foods . have a 4 year supply to feed us and then niegbors that are on this pinsula to. All in a air tight building . we lose power in storms for 2 or more days so  we do use the dry goods to eat. Wifecan't travel  so stay put is the only option I have. Plus I store heirloom seeds too. From my mom's garden she had .she taught us how to store and harvest seeds.
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: minz on July 20, 2015, 07:00:02 pm
I know it is about fire arms but I would pick a bow. Sorry to offend but everybody in the neighborhood has horses. I think it offended them that I would take down a horse for food, as for refrigeration, they had lots of horses. Water is key and I would think the local river with a bucket brigade to a 250 gallon tote. Maybe Run it through a 400 micron honey filter and boil it?
I would also select shotgun for the reasons already stated.
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: beemaster on August 03, 2015, 10:53:47 am
When we bought this house in 2008, the stairs had a bit of bounce that bugged me - so I fortified the steps creating a very hearty room between the under the stairs and the laundry room.

I call this the fall-out shelter and have equipped it with food, water and a degree of comfort in case another hurricane Sandy comes again - she only missed us by 10 miles, homes 8 miles away were destroyed for 60 miles of coastline.

I keep enough food and water for 2 weeks there and if our home crumbled around us, I believe it would be safe enough for us to not get crushed - us and the 2 cats of course. I'm counting on anything to hit us to allow us escape or at least be rescued, we are not isolated here - the police dept is only a mile away as is fire rescue.

It's having enough supplies for consumption and waste issue that give you piece of mind. With smartphones (if towers are still in order) and a good radio and quality flashlights, I think we'd live in minimal comfort, but have all the essentials we need.
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Joe D on August 04, 2015, 12:58:35 am
I have lived in south Mississippi for over 60 years.  Have seen several hurricanes come through.  Katrina was the last one to come by our house, we were out of power for 22 days, but have been without power for days from other hurricanes.  The main things that I got was tarps for the roof, Ice and water.  I had bought a small generator, but it was 75 miles to a gas station with power to pump.  So you needed to take a good size container and be ready to wait in line.  Just some of the ones that came here, Katrina, George, Fredrick, and Camile.  I think the attitude of people isn't like it used to be though. So you may have to defend yourself.  I do have a few rifles, shot guns, pistols, ammo, bow and arrows, and a crossbow.  I have dropped a deer running at 200 yard with a rifle, and 47 steps with a bow.

Joe
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: beemaster on August 04, 2015, 07:43:42 am
Anybody ever see the movie "the year zero?  I think that is what it is called.  I think it is on you tube.  What I don't know is if I am the only one who will watch a black and white movie.
Cheers
gww

I think you mean PANIC IN YEAR ZERO - with Ray Milan - excellent movie just a few yeara after then A-Bomb left entire generations learning duck and cover.  I liked his cool head and Frankie Avalon (playing the son) a bit rebellious but wanting to learn how to survive the threat of Beatniks and everyone running from dlowing cities - great film.
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: gww on August 04, 2015, 10:17:47 pm
beemaster
Yes, you have it correct.  I get a lot of things wrong but some how survive.  I believe it is cause people help by getting me strait.  Now maby others know what I was trying to say.  I remember watching this movie as a kid and then not too long ago, looking it up and watching it with my brother.  It was hard to look up cause I couldn't remember the proper name then either.  Maby from here on out it will stick.
Thanks
gww
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: GSF on August 08, 2015, 09:43:38 pm
Joe, get you a generator and a propane conversion kit. I have one for my generator and tons of propane bottles filled. Propane lasts for ever as well.

I have been looking at something happening for a few years now. Economic collapse, dollar collapse, power grid fried, earthquakes, ect. Right now my biggest concern is just making it home.
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: OldMech on August 09, 2015, 12:00:09 am
Joe, get you a generator and a propane conversion kit. I have one for my generator and tons of propane bottles filled. Propane lasts for ever as well.

I have been looking at something happening for a few years now. Economic collapse, dollar collapse, power grid fried, earthquakes, ect. Right now my biggest concern is just making it home.


   A little concerned about how much money that is being printed right now to pay debts, with nothing to back it up.. is that why Russia, the Arab Emirates, China, etc, etc are attempting to get out of the American dollar, despite the fact its the reserve currency?
    Didnt Germany lose the reserve status for printing money with nothing to back it? 
   Didnt Britain lose the reserve status for printing money with nothing to back it?
   Maybe someone could explain to me why WE wont lose it as well? In laymans terms?  no, in idiots terminology?    :embarassed:
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: divemaster1963 on August 09, 2015, 01:17:55 pm
Joe, get you a generator and a propane conversion kit. I have one for my generator and tons of propane bottles filled. Propane lasts for ever as well.

I have been looking at something happening for a few years now. Economic collapse, dollar collapse, power grid fried, earthquakes, ect. Right now my biggest concern is just making it home.

Great idea. Just remember that there is a power loss when you use propane to run a engine. Just take that into account when you are calculating your load. If I remember the loss is about 4%. Does not sound like much but when you add in refrigerator startup loads and light watage per bulb and well water pump load you can trip breakers and possible fry you alternator on the generator.

John
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Silverback on September 08, 2015, 02:14:53 pm
  Those that experience a disaster and come out the other side still breathing need to be listened to. They are the expert's on what can go wrong and what has worked.

  Then there are those that actively seek out the advise of others and incorporate that advise into a plan of action.

  They take that plan of action and test it for weakness, revise it, and test it again. The one goal is to ensure the safety of yourself and of your loved ones! Knowledge, goals, plan of action, the means to implement that plan, AND what to do after the disaster.

  The fact you are asking the questions indicates you have a concern for the future and are seeking knowledge.

https://www.survivalmonkey.com/
 
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Dallasbeek on September 08, 2015, 02:28:55 pm
Silverback, you should go into your profile and enter your location.

Good observations in your posting.  Haven't followed the link yet, but about to do so.
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Michael Bush on September 08, 2015, 06:02:23 pm
>Didnt Britain lose the reserve status for printing money with nothing to back it?

Eventually.  Great Britain's money WAS silver and gold for many years.  Then tied to gold for many years.  The problem with that is that you back it with that and then some foreign entity decides to collect the silver and gold and goes after the currency to buy more silver and gold until you run out.  For many years their money  was just silver.  In 1158 they made it 92.5% silver (sterling which made a more durable coin) but then they started debasing it in 1526 and by 1544 it was 33.3% silver and the rest was copper.  In 1663 they unofficially tied it to gold.  In 1816 the gold standard became official.  Since most of Europe would wantonly print money those countries' bonds were often losing value because the interest rate was lower than the inflation rate.  This caused the Rothschilds to insist that in order to sell bonds every European country had to issue them in British Pounds.

That says something about currency retaining value...  Eventually they tied the pound to the German Mark and later the the Euro.

Anyway, that's just the British pound...

Let's talk about the supply of money.  The supply changes by more methods than printing.  A bank, through "fractional reserve banking" can take a deposit of $100 and lend out $90 of it.  Someone takes that $90 and put is in the bank and that back lends out $81... etc. etc. etc.  Until that $100 becomes several hundred dollars.

Money is a slippery thing...
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: OldMech on September 10, 2015, 07:56:20 pm
Money is a slippery thing...


  Yeah, I noticed that, it keeps slipping out of my wallet and into my wifes hands...
   I dont use a bank much anymore. I keep a debit card with a couple grand in the account, everything else I have is in cash, gold, silver, land, and guns... guns retain their value.. if made illegal they will have GREAT value. I bet I can make a fortune on them!
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Hi-Tech on September 25, 2015, 01:04:14 pm

The "Are you a prepper" subject has been a fun topic for me over the last few years because I got to see such a wide range of opinions. Its funny because I never gave any thought about prepping before. Sure, I had talked with people before who were "Survivalist" and wanted to move to a cabin in the wilderness of Idaho with 10 years worth of food and a million pounds of ammo. I thought they were quacks but hey, who am I to say you're wrong, it just wasn't my cup of tea. I can hunt, fish, grow a garden and take care of my family. I got guns and bullets... who's worried? If we have a collapse, I got it covered..

Then I had an interesting conversation with a "Prepper"... It went something like this....

He was talking about an economic collapse, which I do believe could happen. I dont put anything past those lunatics we have in office. He asked what I would do if it happened. I told him my standard line about being an outdoorsman and here is what he said. He said "lets break it down and see how your argument really plays out".

"Here is the scenario. One of two things have happened. Either a total meltdown of the US economy or just a complete stoppage of government handouts. you take your pick. either way, there is a huge amount of people who are now angry, hungry and desperate. correct?"

Sure, I said

"And those people are going to cause great havoc very quickly, including mass riots, home invasions, murder and robbery, correct?"

Sure, I said again

"and with 8 out of 10 people in America (true statistic) receiving some form of government check (disability, state or federal retirement, SSI, welfare..) dont you think the streets would soon be filled with a lot of angry, desperate and hungry people?"

Yeah..

"And the police and sheriff officers will all show up to work every day to fight this instead of staying home to protect their own families, right?"

Uh.. probably for a while.. I said.

"Now, you said that you are an outdoorsman who can provide for your family, right?"

That's right! I said.

"You can hunt, fish and grow a nice garden.."

Sure can!

"And you already have the seed, fertilizer and garden tools stored safely at home because the co-op and the Wal-Mart just got looted and have none available. Not to mention that the city is unsafe to go to because of the rioting and crime."

Uh.....

"And you have a plan for what you will eat while you wait to plant your garden because this happened in October and you are almost a year away from harvesting anything from the garden you haven't planted yet."

Uh...

"And you have a tractor or tiller in working order and plenty of fuel put back to run it for breaking the ground."

uh..

"And you have someone to guard that garden while you are out hunting and fishing, guard it with deadly force if necessary, because there are a lot of hungry people out there that will stop at nothing to bring food back to their starving children."

uh...

"And you have the equipment and supplies to can or preserve those awesome vegetables so they will last."

OK.. so maybe the garden wont work too well.. I can still hunt and fish.

"OK. and you have someone to guard your home and protect your family from theft and home invasions while you are sitting on a lake or in a treestand?"

uh...

"And you can walk to these hunting and fishing spots because fuel is almost impossible to find or afford?"

well..

"And you have plenty of ammo, fishing and hunting equipment, ziplock bags, freezer space, and any other thing you would need that you would normally stop at Wal-mart to pick up?"

Maybe..

"and you catch fish every time you go and you are such an awesome hunter you take large game on every trip?"

uh.. sometimes..

"And you have a plan on how to hunt and fish when every other person is out there doing the same thing because they all had the same idea? People with no hunting experience, walking all over the woods, trying to kill something to eat. Many of them desperate, hungry and armed."

I didn't think about that...

"And you feel that the game will not only remain in the area but will not be killed off and become hard to find with all of the people now depending on them for food every day?"

well.. I never thought it out quite like that...

"The problem is people put modern, safe behavior patterns into disaster scenarios and they forget that the absolute safest place to be during a disaster, whether its short lived or long term, is at your house, protecting what is yours. In order to do that, you need to put some things back. Food, water, ammo, gear.. things like that. Another mistake people make is they say it cant happen. Look at what is happening in Europe right now. Read up on the fall of the Roman empire. Saying something "cant happen" or "shouldn't happen" or "has never happened" doesn't mean it wont happen. One minute, you are dogging the government saying what a bunch of idiots they are and then you say the government wont let this happen or will take care of us if it does. Make up your mind. Are they idiots or saviors? What does it hurt to put back 6 months of food, some ammo and some gear?"

I became a prepper that day. Maybe not the live in a bunker kind.. Call me a prepper lite  LOL

I owe it to my wife and my children to be prepared for anything. I dont plan of having a wreck but I have car insurance. I have no intention of dying anytime soon yet I pay life insurance every month. I put money in savings for some unknown emergency and I think nothing of it.

If I spend money here and there putting a years worth of food back, a bunch of ammo and gear and things I think I might need if disaster strikes and nothing ever happens, well... I still have all that food, ammo and gear. I rotate out the food and ammo so nothing gets wasted. However, if something does happen, I am better prepared to deal with it and can look my family in the eye and know I did something to protect them. The last thing i ever want to do is watch my family starve to death or be killed by some welfare creep who ran out of handouts.

In other words, if I'm wrong, no big deal. If you say it wont happen and you're wrong... well, dont show up at my house looking for a handout. All you will see is a gun barrel.
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Dallasbeek on September 25, 2015, 01:21:51 pm
That's worth reading a couple of times, Hi-Tech.
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Hi-Tech on September 25, 2015, 01:31:49 pm
The "Prepper" who convinced me in the last post is a good friend of mine who is a serious prepper now. He just spent a week in Idaho at a "Bugout Location Defense" class taught by former SEALS. I didn't go but it sounded fun..  LOL  Ill just say lots of lead down range happened..

I have studied this for several years now and KathyP mentioned a book named "one second after". This is the book that started it for me, got me to thinking.. Since then I have read probably 30 other books on the subject, some fiction, some non-fiction. Some were quack fear mongering but I learned a little from each. The one reoccurring problem that they all portrayed, and which I still see no good solution for is the relatives that might show up for food and protection and the families with kids that might show up. Both would be hard to turn away and almost impossible to use deadly force on...

My motto is be prepared, if even only a little, and pray hard that it never happens...
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Dallasbeek on September 25, 2015, 03:12:05 pm
Hi-tech, was your friend at Clint Smith's Thunder Ranch?  I'd like o go there, but would have trouble Justifying the expence to my wife (or she'd want a week at a spa for herself) :grin:
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Dallasbeek on September 25, 2015, 03:14:16 pm
Never mind.  I looked up Thunder Ranch and it's in eastern Oregon ....close to Idaho, but not there  :oops:
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Hi-Tech on September 25, 2015, 03:30:05 pm
http://www.survivalretreatconsulting.com
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Kathyp on September 25, 2015, 03:34:36 pm
TR is close to Irwin and not far, as the crow flies, from where I bought my bug out property. 

Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Dallasbeek on September 25, 2015, 03:44:13 pm
I looked at TR's class schedule.  Nothing like survival training.  Mostly shooting skills.
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Hi-Tech on September 25, 2015, 03:48:33 pm
This is what my buddy went to. I though it was a week but it was 3 days...
http://www.survivalretreatconsulting.com/company-1/
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Hi-Tech on September 25, 2015, 03:49:39 pm
Sounds like we need a Prepper board... LOL

Prepping.. Another great reason for natural beekeeping methods  LOL
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: GSF on December 10, 2015, 10:22:20 am
"bump"

One thing I've noticed with "some" preppers is they will get well prepared, then feel good about it. After a period of time goes by they start regretting thinking like that because nothing has happened.

Having some food and such put back is just good sense and good insurance. The only "Hunger Games" I saw was a rerun of probably the first one. The alcoholic trainer told that girl something very valuable. He said when they portal(?) yall to the supplies don't run to them run away. It'll be a blood bath at the beginning. The same can be applied to a grid down scenario. It would be very dangerous to think you could run to the local big box store to buy/loot and return home safely. A small wound could turn out to be a big issue.

Go on you tube or Google the economic collapse of Argentine, or Russia, or Cuba, or Brazil, or Hungry, or whoever. You'll be able to pick up on some first hand experiences. Another good book to read would be "The failure of civility" by Lawson and someone else. Good advice, good fictional events.
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: herbhome on December 10, 2015, 12:00:33 pm
We live way out in the bush and totally off grid. So huge power outages and disruptions to travel won't affect us greatly. I agree with Michael, in a survival situation a .22 long rifle is the ultimate firearm. Will kill anything you want to eat and can protect your loved ones if needed.
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: divemaster1963 on December 10, 2015, 07:33:40 pm
Will I just picked up my SAP pan I had made. Bartered for it. Now I have bees in summer and SAP in winter. I can use this for trade and barter. One thing that won't go away real quick is peoples sweet tooth. Now to get my green house done. 30 foot long with heated raised beds. So can grow veg all winter long.

John
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Dallasbeek on December 10, 2015, 08:01:44 pm
Will I just picked up my SAP pan I had made. Bartered for it. Now I have bees in summer and SAP in winter. I can use this for trade and barter. One thing that won't go away real quick is peoples sweet tooth. Now to get my green house done. 30 foot long with heated raised beds. So can grow veg all winter long.

John

Duhhhhh.  What is a SAP pan?  You have sugar maples there or something?
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: divemaster1963 on December 11, 2015, 07:43:24 pm
We do have some maples but none big enough to tap. We do have very large sycamore trees that I plan to tap. Same as doing maples. The syrup made from it has two flavors. Early season syrup taste similar to honey. Late season syrup has a butterscotch flavor . I love the late season syrup. My grandmother made it when I was a child. You can get 1-10 gals SAP per tree per day during good run. Takes about 40 to 60 gals SAP to make one gal syrup depending upon the sugar content.

John
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: GSF on December 11, 2015, 09:08:28 pm
John I didn't know that about the sycamore trees.
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: Dallasbeek on December 11, 2015, 10:50:18 pm
John, that's very interesting.  My wife is from Connecticut and her fsther used to tap maple trees there.  My understanding is it takes 28-30 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of maple syrup, so it must be thicker to start than sap from a sycamore.  You learn so much good stuff on this forum!
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: divemaster1963 on December 12, 2015, 06:29:06 pm
John, that's very interesting.  My wife is from Connecticut and her fsther used to tap maple trees there.  My understanding is it takes 28-30 gallons of sap to make 1 gallon of maple syrup, so it must be thicker to start than sap from a sycamore.  You learn so much good stuff on this forum!

 Maple has 4-7 percent sugar depending on several variables. Sycamore have between 3-6 percent.

John
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: gww on December 12, 2015, 07:31:09 pm
I also find the sycamore thing interesting.
Cheers
gww
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: BeeMaster2 on December 13, 2015, 07:59:18 am
John,
How big do the sycamores need to be to tap them? I have 4 of them in my back yard that are around 1 foot in diameter or bigger. Is that large enough?
Jim
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: divemaster1963 on December 13, 2015, 10:30:59 pm
John,
How big do the sycamores need to be to tap them? I have 4 of them in my back yard that are around 1 foot in diameter or bigger. Is that large enough?
Jim

That size you could easily tap them with 2-3 taps each. Space about 10-12 inches apart. Make sure that you have a root arm under the taps for greater draw. Come up about 3-4 feet off the ground. I hoping for some cold nights near freezing with days in the 40-50 so the tap will flow. Due this before the start to bud in your area. Back in the homesteddays people used sycamore trees for a pure ssource of water. When you collect the SAP you need to freeze it and pull the top layer of ice off  don't let it freeze completely  this will help consetrate the sugar. SAP will only last 5 days before turning cloudy and spoiling if you don't have enough to boil down after you concetrate it then freeze it solid till you have enough.


John

P.s. cook it down outside or you will be cleaning and painting your whole house inside. When you do it outside look for the neighbors kids coming thinking your making peanutbrittle.
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: BeeMaster2 on December 14, 2015, 12:32:14 pm
Thanks John.
I think I saw the taps at our local brew it, wine making store when I was there last year. I will have to stop by and see if I can get a dozen. What months do you tap the trees.
I cannot do it right now, still trying to get my workshop and the fence around the new house at the farm finished. But I definitely want to try this. It is now on my bucket list.  :cheesy:
Jim
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: divemaster1963 on December 14, 2015, 02:18:34 pm
No. its starts normally in late dec or Jan. look for nights near freezing and day time highs around 40-50/ that's when the sap starts heading up to get the trees ready for budding out. I'm looking for closer to jan. due to the warm weather we are having here in the south.

john
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: gww on December 14, 2015, 02:37:49 pm
How often do you have to move the taps to keep the tree from attaching to them?
Cheers
gww
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: herbhome on December 14, 2015, 04:26:30 pm
This is fascinating to me. We have several huge old sycamores and few large old maples. Hoping to get into it in the next spring.
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: BeeMaster2 on December 14, 2015, 06:16:30 pm
Thanks John
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: divemaster1963 on December 15, 2015, 12:31:28 am
How often do you have to move the taps to keep the tree from attaching to them?
Cheers
gww

You don't move the taps till after they bud. Then you tap a tree every other year to give it time to heal. Then never in the  same spot. You only drill in about two inches on angle up. So you never hit heart wood.  Wish I had maples big enough. You can tap red maples, blackwalnut, any sugar maple, I don't like birch. To bitter.

John
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: gww on December 15, 2015, 12:46:00 am
divemaster
Thanks for answering the question and also the added information.
gww
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: herbhome on December 15, 2015, 01:41:38 pm
Where is the best place to get taps, etc...?
Title: Re: So, SHTF are you ready to bug-out or hunker down?
Post by: divemaster1963 on December 15, 2015, 07:40:23 pm
Online or at Lowes,home depot. I use 1/2 inch plastic hose barbs . the ones they use for misters on patios. Then get some tees and water lines to fit. Then some j hook screws to hang buckets from then run lines into top of buckets. Check them daily. They may fill fast.

John