Hunting and fishing to survive

[Doc]

I've been watching these TV shows on the people that live in the north country. Shows like " Mountain Men" and "Life Below Zero" where they put our passions, hunting and fishing and trapping, to the test of survival on a daily basis. Did you ever imagine what such a lifestyle would be like? It has it's appeal, but there are some nasty realities to living that way too.

[nyantler]

I often think of how different it was when you didn't have the safety net of being able to return to civilization if the life got too hard. There was no one to call to come save you if you got into trouble. No planes flying in provisions or carrying you to a hospital if you got sick. Much different when it is a choice and not the reality of life. Still an impressive feat if you can do it.

[First-light]

I think your mindset has to slow way down and priorities take hold. Slow and easy. 

[Four Seasons]

10 minutes ago, First-light said:

I think your mindset has to slow way down and priorities take hold. Slow and easy. 

Exactly. Much more thinking and a lot less reaction’s!

[avg. joe]

Gotta really wonder just how reliant they are on the land. I was on a fishing trip in Alaska several years back and the subject came up. The Captain and first mate laughed about one fellow that was on one of those shows. Basically the show had a lengthy segment of one fellow out hunting squirrels. The show made it out like getting a squirrel was a life and death issue. Long story short, they knew the guy and said he could have walked into town and bought a burger in less time than the show made it look like he was squirrel hunting!

[Doc]

You have to wonder if hunting, fishing, and trapping would become more like a job when you have to rely on it for eating. Maybe it becomes more of a job than a hobby.

I have to say that the landscape and scenery would be pretty easy to enjoy. The feelings of self-reliance would have to provide a certain amount of satisfaction. But a steady diet of fish and caribou sure seems to leave a lot of other vitamins and minerals lacking. Most of them have no garden, so they either buy vegetables from somewhere or have a supply of wild greens and such to balance their diet.

Also, I am surprised at the nice shiny new snowmobiles and ATVs that most of them seem to have at their disposal. Looking at the prices they are getting for those things you have to wonder where they are getting the money to afford them.

[surmn8er]

I think The Last Alaskans was the only realistic “wilderness” show. The others- Last Frontier, Mountain Men, and other such shows are pretty much staged.

[First-light]

11 hours ago, surmn8er said:

I think The Last Alaskans was the only realistic “wilderness” show. The others- Last Frontier, Mountain Men, and other such shows are pretty much staged.

Loved that show. The older guy and wife still travel to shows and such to talk about it. Came down to money that cancelled the show. Got too expensive to have crews out ther filming, that is what I read. 

[landtracdeerhunter]

Past generations of my relatives lived off the land, and I'm sure yours did too.  We could all write books,  of what we've heard.

A true realty, not some TV glammer account.

Edited December 20 by landtracdeerhunter

[Daveboone]

I used to enjoy "The Last Alaskans". The first few seasons they were real sourdoughs who knew what they were doing, Really though, even they didnt live year round off the land. They had summer jobs and homes. The show only showed the fall/winter lifestyle on their trapline. they brought staples, but depended on caribou/moose for meat, and several seasons some of them didnt get a moose and ended up needing to go out for the winter. Very tough to even come close to living off the land. Granted, living above the arctic circle is the harshest environment imaginable in my line of thought. Probably the most limiting factor in the lower 48 is living within game laws. 

On 12/19/2024 at 7:41 AM, nyantler said:

I often think of how different it was when you didn't have the safety net of being able to return to civilization if the life got too hard. There was no one to call to come save you if you got into trouble. No planes flying in provisions or carrying you to a hospital if you got sick. Much different when it is a choice and not the reality of life. Still an impressive feat if you can do it.

I love reading of early pioneer/ settlers in Alaska, or most anywhere. I have read quite a few times that a lot more wanna be sourdoughs and just plain old sourdoughs just disappeared over the winter, starving in thier cabin or freezing to a stump. illness, injuries, etc. with little doubt that contrary to Disney line of though, more than a few burials were inside a wolfs scat pile. 

[New York Hillbilly]

On 12/19/2024 at 7:33 PM, surmn8er said:

I think The Last Alaskans was the only realistic “wilderness” show. The others- Last Frontier, Mountain Men, and other such shows are pretty much staged.

The shows achieve their objective. They are entertainment, and fun to watch for many people. 

 

On 12/19/2024 at 1:04 PM, avg. joe said:

Long story short, they knew the guy and said he could have walked into town and bought a burger in less time than the show made it look like he was squirrel hunting!

Very true! While salmon do fill many peoples freezers every year, at least on the Kenai Peninsula, and can take a big load of the food bill, there is always McD’s, Dairy Queen, and scores of other restaurants/diners, etc. to keep you fed. 

Other than the, they are going to starve if you don’t get a moose, squirrel, spruce chicken, rabbit sort of show material, the other stuff, like working around their homestead, is pretty much on point. I would cross paths from time to time in the community with some from the Last Frontier, and they always struck me as nice, friendly people, going about their daily lives just like everyone else.

I even sent a note on a napkin telling him we enjoyed his show and paid for Ottos’ lunch one day at Rockys Cafe, when me and my wife were there eating.  :  )

 

[Northcountryman]

On 12/19/2024 at 1:34 PM, Doc said:

You have to wonder if hunting, fishing, and trapping would become more like a job when you have to rely on it for eating. Maybe it becomes more of a job than a hobby.

I have to say that the landscape and scenery would be pretty easy to enjoy. The feelings of self-reliance would have to provide a certain amount of satisfaction. But a steady diet of fish and caribou sure seems to leave a lot of other vitamins and minerals lacking. Most of them have no garden, so they either buy vegetables from somewhere or have a supply of wild greens and such to balance their diet.

Also, I am surprised at the nice shiny new snowmobiles and ATVs that most of them seem to have at their disposal. Looking at the prices they are getting for those things you have to wonder where they are getting the money to afford them.

Or, you could do some hunting while doing something else ala Honest Abe Lincoln!!  Read somewhere that he used to bring a squirrel gun with him enroute to school everyday and hunt squirrels on his way there and home!!