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From: Bigfive (Original Message) Sent: 3/19/2002 3:55 PM
How important is a knife in your hunting setup?What do you mainly use it for and what size is it and what shape is it?Is it important to carry a knife on you when walking in the bush?

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Recommend Delete Message 7 of 21 in Discussion

From: moss Sent: 3/21/2002 12:54 PM
What ......can't shoot rats off my roof with the 458 mag......is this a new law?? LOL

I have to agree with Big five on this one, each knive has a purpose! I can do anything with my little 7" hunting knive including defending myself.
I own many skinning , fleshing , filet, butcher, utility, jackknife, bowies and many other.
Each has a purpose, although I'm sure I could handle most any job with any one of these knives. I've gutted a deer with my 1 1/2" jackknive, but I sure wouldn't want to depend on it all the time.
The Bowie knife Has a nice strong blade that isn't going to brake, it can severe leg bone or even split up small wood in an emergency. Something I don't think you'll do with a 6 or 7 incher. And if I did have to defend myself against some dangous game like a wounded lion or bear, I'd rather be holding the old bowie then some $10 Walmart special!!
Hunting for some, is on the farm or with in a half mile of the truck, I agree with Red on seeing some folks carrying some of these knifes.....most of the time they are for show......but then again their probally not really true hunters any way.(I'm talking city-slickers who'll buy any gaget available).
When I'm hunting, Im usally by myself and a ways back in, hunting in my area is not for the faint at heart. There's perils and pitfalls around every bend,and I've come close to losing my life a few times! The things I carry in the woods hunting I feel are essential to my well being. Frivolous things are only extra weight. I try to cover any predicament that I may run into and be prepared .

I know many hunters that don't even carry matches, A broken leg deep in the mts or even a unexpected stay over night could cost you your life if ill prepared.

moss

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Recommend Delete Message 8 of 21 in Discussion

From: Nitro Sent: 3/21/2002 6:53 PM
Crocodile Mossee,

I agree with you. "Thats not a knife. This is a knife!".

If you are mad enough to hunt bear with a sharpened twig with a bit of bird on one end (ie an arrow) then you certainly have the right to carry a big knife.

Personally I would bow hunt bear with a friend carrying a 45/70.

I've got a nice knife collection with a very heavy Bowie of ", plus a few others from Thailand, Burma, replica mediaeval knives, a few swords etc.

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You mentioned hunters that don't even carry matches. I have to admit I have hunted without any matches and not much else other than a rifle, ammo and a knife.

Usually went OK as I have a good sense of direction etc, but it has gone astray once.

We arrived at a property in the Northern Flinders Ranges in South Australia after a seven hour non-stop drive. After checking in with the property manager we went straight to the block he asked us to hunt in. Arriving near the water bore we parked the vehicle 300 metres away and seeing a large herd of feral goats a kilometre away we decided to go for a hunt before dark and setup camp afterwards.

Grabbing our rifles, ammo and a knife we set off, but Wayne (there were 3 of us) walked back and picked up a box of matches "just in case". We then set off. The area is a river system for the River Frome which feeds into the inland lake Lake Eyre, a large dry salt pan (occasionally wet in Northern SA), and is low but rough hills with dry creeks leading into the main dry River (usually has some water holes/springs). The goats had moved on out of the hills and onto the main river. We caught up with them and shot a few. Took some horns, photos etc.

By then the light was fading so we wanted to head back asap.

We found the main creek from which we entered the main river a couple of kilometres up river, but by then night had fully fallen. Our trouble was we needed to choose from several creeks entering this creek and also other gullies, and we had never hunted this area before.

In the end we decided we didn't know how to get back to the vehicle. Not necessarily lost but we could get lost. The day had been hot, about 35 deg C, but was going to be very cold, probably less than 4 deg C, as the area is quite arid and with a clear night water can freeze overnight. I was only wearing shorts and a very thin shirt and my friends were wearing only a little bit more (trousers). The matches now came in very handy. Building a fire near a rock cliff (for radiated heat) it was a long night getting burnt on one side and freezing on the other. And very thirsty as well.

The next morning climbing a nearby high hill we could see reflected sunlight off the vehicle roof only a kilometre and half way (one mile).

With hindsight we could have built a fire on a hill with one person tending the fire. The other two could search in a radius around the fire keeping the fire in sight. And if necessary two fires. We would have found the vehicle that way, but staying put is the safer option.

Also without the matches hypothermia would have been a real possibility.

So now when away from home I always go hunting with a knife, small torch, matches, a water bottle, and a compass (infact I have a small one permanently on my watch band).

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Recommend Delete Message 9 of 21 in Discussion

From: redbeard Sent: 3/22/2002 8:03 PM
All in the steel........and get lost never....been confused for a week or two but never lost

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Recommend Delete Message 10 of 21 in Discussion

From: Bigfive Sent: 3/25/2002 4:39 PM
Moss, this is were I have an advatage with the matches-I'm a smoker so that is never a problem-lol.Here in SAf it is very difficult to get lost because here the sun comes up and goes down at same place everyday!!!!!!lol.Just joking.

Nitro, yes you were lucky to have matches-here if in trouble we tell the camp staff top come and look for us if we fire 3 rapid shots-snakebites etc

Cheers
B5

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Recommend Delete Message 11 of 21 in Discussion

From: Nitro Sent: 3/25/2002 9:18 PM
B5

Camp staff? Some hunters are really spoilt!

Nitro

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Recommend Delete Message 12 of 21 in Discussion

From: Bigfive Sent: 3/26/2002 3:36 PM
Nitro,
not always campstaff but also everybody that may hear the shots-but only use them in very bad cicumstances.

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Recommend Delete Message 13 of 21 in Discussion

From: redbeard Sent: 3/26/2002 3:40 PM
He meant me i made him pancakes and coffee every am when we camped last

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Recommend Delete Message 14 of 21 in Discussion

From: NitroExpressCom Sent: 3/26/2002 10:30 PM
Hey Redbeard, you can hunt with me anytime.

I like my pancakes with blueberry sauce.

B5,

Yes it is a good system. Using three shots as a signal.

On the same trip as when we spent the night out, several days later we shifted camp to a block in the North of the property. A rugged block with parallel ridges (tectonic ridges ie earth movements), which we cut with deep gorges perpendicular to the ridges. I was hunting with my friends but we were separated and I shot a nice goat with decent horns and also ran down a live kid. Which I was carrying back as well.

My friends had high tailed it back to camp as we were paranoid about getting caught out again. They became worried about me as I was walking back still an hour after dark. So THEY fired the three shots as a single (which I replied to).

Which was good as it confirmed to me that I was on the right track. Do you ever get the feeling the trip back is a lot longer as the way out. More ridges, creeks, fields etc. And it preys on your mind "Is this the right way?". But it was.

And the kid made it back to camp as well. But no pancakes rady when I got back as Redbeard wasn't there .

Nitro

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Recommend Delete Message 15 of 21 in Discussion

From: Bigfive Sent: 3/27/2002 12:05 AM
What?Hunters?Pancakes in the bush?Do you bring your mothers with to hold your hands as well?What happened to the Liver and Heart blocks cooked in tomato and union relish over a fresh plate of pap(sadza or maize meal)?with a pot bread going on the side and a gin and tonic to work it down with?With a kudu and an impala hanging on the tree to get wind dry?PANCAKES-HA.

Just joking my city hunter friends-hahahahahahaha

Nitro,
I'll teach you a thing or to about food in the African Bush when you get here!!It will be a hit if you take it home.

B5

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Recommend Delete Message 16 of 21 in Discussion

From: redbeard Sent: 3/27/2002 1:39 PM
Gin .....Gin....... bombay only.........well when we camp and hunt we eat well.....this was on a fishing trip last august we took up a river we were catching northern pike had a blast fer sure i did....flies of new york chewed this md boy like he was grits

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Recommend Delete Message 17 of 21 in Discussion

From: moss Sent: 3/28/2002 10:01 AM
Only think ole Red didn't tell you.....is ya he made breakfast every day....but the price of that breakfast was to pull the old boy up river each day as he sat singing ole swannee river and holling, stroke moss... stroke!!!

LOL
moss

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Recommend Delete Message 18 of 21 in Discussion

From: redbeard Sent: 3/28/2002 1:10 PM
stroke moss stroke moss.......sounds dirty

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Recommend Delete Message 19 of 21 in Discussion

From: Bigfive Sent: 3/28/2002 3:35 PM
lollollol

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Recommend Delete Message 20 of 21 in Discussion

From: Nitro Sent: 3/28/2002 11:53 PM
If that's the price of a cooked breakfast.

mmmmmmm......... I think I will forgo those pancakes after all!

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Recommend Delete Message 21 of 21 in Discussion

From: moss Sent: 3/30/2002 12:32 PM
Well I can see ya all be on safari to long!!!

LOL
moss

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