IMPROVISED SWEDISH TORCH
This is a great hack to make a small-footprint wilderness cooking stove using just 3 sections of log. First, cut 3 24"-long lengths of seasoned wood. The diameter of each should be at least 6". Next, use your axe or knife to make cuts and chips all up one side of each of these logs. This exposes the wood inside, and the resulting slivers will more easily catch fire. Arrange the logs standing up in a triangle so that the chipped areas are all facing inward toward each other. There should be less than 2" of space between them. Finally, fill the center cavity with fire tinder such as pine needles, twigs, bark, and leaves. Only minutes after this tinder is ignited, the logs themselves will begin to burn like a rocket stove. Place a skillet on top and cook as if you were in front of a range at home!
SHELF BRACKET STOVE
Being able to efficiently support or hang a cooking pot over a fire is sometimes easier said than done. One of my favorite quickie stove hacks involves 3 metal shelf brackets that cost under $5. They are also very lightweight and packable if you need to take them on the move. Once you’ve got a good bed of coals going, stab the metal L-shaped brackets into the ground as shown in the image and scoop the coals underneath. This makes for a very sturdy surface on which to cook stews, fry meats and wild veggies, or boil water. You can stab the short ends deeper in the ground to create a surface closer to the coals if necessary. Use 4 brackets to make a larger, square raised platform.
BRICK ROCKET STOVE
In a survival scenario you may need a stove for cooking that is both efficient (uses as little fuel as possible) and discreet (puts off little to no smoke). An improvised brick rocket stove is your answer to this need. To build one like that in the illustration you’ll need to use 1 half brick for both the first and second layer. Layers 3, 4, and 5 will each use 4 full-sized bricks. A thin metal grill should be placed between layers 1 and 2 to keep the sticks and twigs off the ground and allow for maximum airflow. Stoves of this design burn at almost 100 percent efficiency and have very little leftover ash or smoke. The design shown requires 20 bricks, 2 of them split in half.
MAKE A WALKING OVEN
A very effective traveling stove for cooking fish and meats can be made from almost any tin can or metal container. First, pack the bottom 2"–3" of the stove with dry, punky (semi-rotted) wood. Next, add a layer of hot coals from the fire pit. Place your meat or fish (wrapped in aluminum foil, green nonpoisonous leaves, or wet newspaper) on top of the coals and cover it with another layer of coals. Finally, pile on another 2"–3"-thick layer of punky wood. The wood will allow the coals to smolder around the meat. Tie a rope or wire handle to the container for easy traveling. A small walking oven such as this one can cook fish in 15–20 minutes. Its obvious advantage is that you can carry it with you.
FISHING HACKS
THE FISHERMAN’S BRACELET
Survival hacking sometimes involves preplanning. This is a simple and easy project that ensures you always have fishing tools. String and tie off 25' of fishing line between the eyelets of 2 fishing swivels so that the total length from swivel tip to swivel tip will wrap around your wrist. This forms a bracelet and the swivel clips act as the clasp. I keep 3 different-sized fish hooks under the sole inserts of all my shoes. Making a usable hook in the wild is not easy, and they’re not nearly as effective as modern hooks. Now, with a hook, line, and optional swivel, you have everything you need to effectively make a hack fishing pole and catch fish.
CREDIT CARD LURE
Let’s face it, a credit card will do you little good in a survival scenario. Or will it? A rigid PVC credit card can be hacked into several useful items. One of my favorites is a fishing lure. You can cut a mini fish-shaped lure from a credit card (or loyalty card or hotel key) with a knife or pair of scissors. At the tail end of the minifish, carve 2 hook-shaped curls, one on top and one on bottom. Though these little plastic hooks aren’t as effective as their metal counterparts, they are rigid enough to get a stubborn fish to shore. Many credit cards are colorful and have small reflective holograms, which help to get the attention of a hungry fish. Note: The reflective holograms can also be used as a signal mirror to reflect the sun’s rays and flash a signal to rescue crews.
POP CAN FISHING KIT
Just when you think you’ve reached a location where no other human has been, you see a beer or soda can. Although it’s not what you want to see on a pleasant day hike, in a survival scenario you can transform it into an effective hack fishing kit. The can itself makes a great tackle box for live bait. Just carve a wooden plug for the hole to keep the critters inside. Two simple cuts to the pop tab using your multitool make a very effective fishing hook—even with a little barb if you make your cuts wisely (notice how the cut section of the tab forms a small barb in the illustration). Scoring with your knife and then bend-breaking the pop tab will also work in a pinch if you don’t have a multitool. Finally, the drinking hole seal flap makes a great flashy spoon lure to draw attention to your live bait. Punch a hole and thread it on your line just above the hook.
SPIDER WEB NET
During certain times of the year (typically spring and fall) the forest is filled with dew-soaked spider webs in the mornings. This is the perfect opportunity to make a spider web fishing net. Cut a 48" flexible green branch from any live tree. It should be less than 1⁄4" in diameter. After trimming the leaves and branches, bend the top down to form an oval net frame. Tie it in place with a small piece of twine or bark cordage. Next, walk through the forest and sweep 20–30 spider webs onto the frame. As you sweep them up you will see the net grow stronger and stronger. Once it is strong enough to catch a small pebble it is ready to sweep through shallow pools and along the banks of ponds and streams to catch bait minnows and tadpoles. These can then be used to catch larger fish for cooking.
5-GALLON BUCKET AQUA LENS
Ponds, rivers, lakes, and streams can be a survival buffet of food. Wild edibles such as crayfish, clams, fish, turtles, and frogs can often be less than 2' beneath the water’s surface but are difficult to see because of sun glare, ripples, or poor lighting. You can quickly make an incredible aqua lens to see almost perfectly beneath the water’s surface. Cut the bottom from a 5-gallon bucket (or any bucket), tape a waterproof flashlight to the inside near the bottom, and plunge it into the water. The bucket provides a barrier that eliminates waves and ripples that disrupt your view, and the flashlight can light up the dark and shadowed areas.
PARACORD FISHING FLY
One of my students showed me this hack several years ago, and I’ve tested it time and time again in the fishing pond at Willow Haven. Slide a 1" section of paracord over a bare fishing hook to make a very appealing fishing fly lure. Fluff up the end over the hook for disguise and then heat the other end with an open flame to melt and weld it just below the eye where the line attaches. Live bait is always best, but when live bait isn’t available you’ll never miss an inch of paracord from your shoelaces or bracelet. This improvised fly lure also floats very well for top-water bluegill and bream fishing.