Yup, but only a dream. In reality, I don't think I possess the skills that would be needed to live off the land. I guess I would learn real quick. I catch animals for a living, so that would be the easy part. I'm not a carpenter, farmer, etc. Heck, half the time I can't even get a knife sharp. LOL.

Alone in the Wilderness is the Dick Preonekee story.  Outstanding to say the least.  I would enjoy being out in the wilderness.  Problem is, I have too many obligations to other people.  True, I could enjoy the solitude, but what kind of man would I be if I just left the folks that need and depend on me to fend for themselves.  It is a selfish idea, although a tempting one.

Nope, no interest in that at all.  I enjoy the comforts to much I guess.

My kids think we ALREADY live that lifelstyle because I won't let them have texting on their cellphones.

Yes, everyday. My dream has more of an Aquatic aspect to it though. In 3 1/2 years when my daughter in the Philippines is done with her college I plan on taking-up the adventure again. I will sell the sailboat I'm living on, and with just the few things I really need in a little trailer towed behind one of my motorcycles I'm heading to the West coast of Mexico. I'll poke around some fishing villages until I find one that feels right, them hire a guy that knows his way around hand tools. We'll build a TiKi 26 catamaran, (a James Wharram Design), that I have the plans to. After a shake-down and some coastal exploration, I'll head off across the southern Pacific, always seeking the most remote Islands. I'll fish, bowfish, and bowhunt all the way across to the Philippines, unless I find the perfect place on the way. I'll end-up in some sleepy beach village where I can while away the rest of my days sailing, fishing, reading, and shootin' arrows to my hearts content. I'm so sick of crowded places, angry people, the Rat-Race in general.

Have to admit that I think about it occasionally.  However, I also realize it's a rather romanticized, unrrealistic view. There's a big difference between spending a few weeks in the boonies with gear and supplies (which I've done a lot) and living off the land for several months or more.  Depends on the climate, vegetation, fish and game abundance, etc., of course, but in the mountains in winter, most of us wouldn't survive.

I too share the same thought , when my the times comes , I think I might take you up on that, for real!!

With Gods grace I have nine more years and I'm out of this dump of a State. And movin West to the Rocky Mountains  

you buy the plane tickets and i will go with you.i've always wanted to do that.i'll stay as long as you want.i'm not kidding.has to be somewhere in the rockies.no loin cloths.

Everyday about 3pm!

As long as I could get a hot shower.

Sounds like a TradGang "Colony" is starting up in the Rockies. I would love to try and live off the land I am hoping to try it some day. Gary Paulsen writes about it. I have started writing a story about it. I told my my that when I get ready to go, I will tell her I am leaving and the general area I am going. Then I want a pyre built the old way or to be sent on a small wood boat and the boat be shot with flaming wood arrows, the old way. Tyler

Like hvyhitter said, check out Richard Proenneke's videos and you will see one tuff,intelligent individual.

I did it, well sort of. Divorce and than lost or sold most of my material goods. Lived along the river in a cabin until the floods of 2008 took it, than a small ten foot camper/outhouse/campfire cooking/and no people. Health prevented me from a job so hunted and fished and got to love living outside and away from the material world. Now in a nice apartment in town and were about ready to walk away from it back to nature. And the mountains sound really nice..

I disappeared during the first three weeks of August in 1977. I was in the Buffalo Park area above Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I didn't see another human being for three weeks. Elvis had been dead a week before I found out.

It was my job to conduct timber inventory (private contract) for the US Forest Service. I slept in my truck or under it and was in the mountains just below timberline all day, every day. Earned $50/day doing this.

One of the reasons I came out and went to town was to buy a mule deer license for the opening of bow season at the end of the month. I could only afford either a mule deer license (I belive it was $90 Nonresident) or an elk ($140 or so). I chose mulie.  You know what walked by within 15 yards on the first day I hunted don't you? The only time in my wildlife management career that I was tempted....

Jeremiah Johnson

OOOO yes i think it allmost each and every day i would just do it

QuoteOriginally posted by Bowwild:
I disappeared during the first three weeks of August in 1977. I was in the Buffalo Park area above Steamboat Springs, Colorado. I didn't see another human being for three weeks. Elvis had been dead a week before I found out.

Elvis is dead??

 

One Mans Alaska, was a great and true story I saw on PBS some years ago. Wish I had more info on it for you? The guy lived many many years alone in Alaska, he did have bush planes come in.

I did some looking it was the Dick Proenneke's video, it was a  good one.

Heh, I'm kinda attached to things like all my teeth, penicillin and central heating.


It's fun to daydream, but I have no illusions that "living off the land" waxs any kind of picnic.  Watching your kids starve because the hunting wasn't good pretty much fits my definition of hell on earth.