New Bushcraft/Firearms Poll

[Geoff Guy]

After feedback and some suggestions I have created an updated poll to take into account some other options which may make this poll more inclusive.

Thanks for your input so far, it's really interesting to read what other opinions are of the various aspects of bushcraft and what is/should be part of bushcraft.

 

[The Joker]

I did a sponsored live and forage in the woods for a month earlier this year and my Shotgun and air rifle where very much apart of my Bushcraft journey.
I've been using Firearms for years so me personally would not be interested, but I do think that there is a place for your idea.

 

[Samon]

Are you american..?

 

[The Joker]

Are you american..?

Who me? 100% feral Englander ;-)

 

[Samon]

Who me? 100% feral Englander ;-)

lol, not you. The firearm enthusiast!

 

[Geoff Guy]

If by the 'firearm enthusiast' you mean me; no I'm not American I'm just trying to find out what peoples opinions are of the use of firearms in bushcraft and whether there is an interest among bushcrafters for firearms training.

 

[Geoff Guy]

I did a sponsored live and forage in the woods for a month earlier this year and my Shotgun and air rifle where very much apart of my Bushcraft journey.
I've been using Firearms for years so me personally would not be interested, but I do think that there is a place for your idea.

That must have been a really interesting month, quite a challenge as well even with a firearm. Do you mind if I ask what kind of size the area you were bushcrafting in was? and whether you subsisted entirely off foraged and shot food or whether you packed food in as well?

 

[santaman2000]

lol, not you. The firearm enthusiast!

According to the results of the poll so far, 89.66% of the respondents are at least mildly interested and 58.62% are very interested. I'd say there are a fair few gun enthusiasts there as well. Even if you discount my American vote.

 

[Samon]

As much as I appreciate the fun of shooting sports, I don't feel it's necessary to take it everywhere you go. Imo, hunting/shooting is a seperate hobby. Not that 'bushcraft' doesn't include hunting, but bushcraft with hunting in England really doesn't. No free land, tight gun laws and a social fear of guns.

Go west a few thousand miles and you'll be swimming in practiced enthusiasm for the two. But, it's a different world there, different in that it's unimaginably huge, scarcly popualted and full of guns..

So, why do you feel the need to ask 'bushcrafters' if they desire firearms training? why exactly would they need the training..? plenty of shooting clubs have open days to encourage and educate the public so what exactly are you offering?

 

[shaggystu]

I've come back to this thread half a dozen times now because there still isn't an option in the poll that applies to me but I do want to give you an answer. So, I've voted "already have firearms, would be interested in further opportunities", it's probably the closest to the truth which is more along the lines of: Lots of experience with firearms, no formal training and not massively interested in getting any (but certainly not opposed to the idea), don't currently own a firearm, am definitely interested in further opportunities to shoot (and take up pretty much every opportunity to shoot that comes my way).

I hope that'll do as a response

Cheers,

Stuart

 

[Tomcoles]

In my opinion a firearm or any air rifle capable of a clean kill has its place in bushcraft. For this reason.
I feel that a gun is a tool similar as, a knife is a tool it's designed for a purpose to make a job possible or easier. In a survival situation I would take anything available to help u survive. In a bushcraft leasure situation it can add a source of food, fun and a chance to improve hunting skills. But this is just my opinion.

 

[Samon]

According to the results of the poll so far, 89.66% of the respondents are at least mildly interested and 58.62% are very interested. I'd say there are a fair few gun enthusiasts there as well. Even if you discount my American vote.

Your american vote counts. Especially as long guns are available to all of the age of 18 without any 'need' for such posessions. And without wanting drag up a political debate on the american 'right'/privilege to own a gun, I would like to say that here in Great Britain, where firearm ownership is low due to extensive regulations (that I'm not apposed too) and thus firearms 'training' just isn't needed. Only where the average person has the ease of firearm posession (like in the usa) should firearm training really be more than a pointless gimmick.

However, an open day at a live range I would happily approve of for young and old (providing they aren't a danger to anyone) and something I can imagine would be immencly popualr. Not because of training, but because people who may not be into shooting sports get a chance to 'have a go' at a somewhat forgotten past-time.

All that said, I guess I could be conceived as a bit anti gun.. but I'm not (I'm pretty much only anti stupid). I have plenty of guns, and am a member of a local club and shoot live rounds regularly. But 'firearms training' seems like some irrelevant american thing, that so very very few people in this country need, let alone want.

Do you give the training? or are you just curious..?

 

[Geoff Guy]

Samon, I have no hidden agenda or ulterior motive, I'm not offering anything. I am merely interested in the opinions of others and whether or not there is a general feeling that training would be required or desired. I'm sure there are many more people who are interested in using guns than have the opportunity to do so because of the "No free land, tight gun laws and a social fear of guns" as you put it.

I'm not ignorant of the different situation regarding guns in other countries and the different legislation, scale of the wilderness and attitude towards firearms. Regarding the need for training, surely everyone can understand why that might be necessary or desirable even if just from the point of view from people who own or wish to own firearms so they are aware of the legislation they must abide by and by the codes of practice and safety guidelines which govern the responsible use of firearms. I'm not necessarily talking about commercial training courses or tests which must be passed before the grant of SGC or FAC but there are bushcraft courses aren't there? why not firearms courses?
Yes there are organisations which promote shooting and fieldsports to the public but do many bushcrafters go to those events?

I'm just interested that's all, I hope I haven't come across as trying to sell something or force my opinion.

 

[Samon]

Samon, I have no hidden agenda or ulterior motive, I'm not offering anything. I am merely interested in the opinions of others and whether or not there is a general feeling that training would be required or desired. I'm sure there are many more people who are interested in using guns than have the opportunity to do so because of the "No free land, tight gun laws and a social fear of guns" as you put it.

I'm not ignorant of the different situation regarding guns in other countries and the different legislation, scale of the wilderness and attitude towards firearms. Regarding the need for training, surely everyone can understand why that might be necessary or desirable even if just from the point of view from people who own or wish to own firearms so they are aware of the legislation they must abide by and by the codes of practice and safety guidelines which govern the responsible use of firearms. Yes there are organisations which promote shooting and fieldsports to the public but do many bushcrafters go to those events?

I'm just interested that's all, I hope I haven't come across as trying to sell something or force my opinion.

I jumped to that conclusion. You haven't implied that mate.

I still don't think training has a genuine 'need',. getting the average person to have a go is great, but 'training' gives me mental image of a fat middle aged man playing ultimate defendor with a handgun under the supervision of another fat middle aged man with sunglasses on ,even though they are indoors.. maybe I've watched too many annoying youtube videos? lol

Teaching people respect for all things potentially dangerous however is certainly worth while!

Don't get me wrong though, I'd love an opportunity to take a shotgun into the wilds for a few days and have a good old time but it ain't gona happen locally!

 

[Salaud]

I also don't have any objections to the use of firearms in bushcraft and occasionally combine the two, depending on which land I am on I will sometimes take an airgun or shotgun and a few years back would maybe take a rifle, but that is because I am fortunate enough to have land where I can shoot.
As for some type of formal training, I agree with Samon, given the current conditions and regulations in the UK as he has outlined, I believe it is pretty pointless.

 

[presterjohn]

If I lived abroad that had different rules on what you could get up to in woodland I would definitely have a full fire arms license by now as I would at the very least be walking about with a small bolt action rifle in the hope of finding my dinner that way. In this country though I just think of getting a license as something to do if I get a lot of spare cash at some stage as it is hard to justify as a completely new and separate hobby.

 

[santaman2000]

.....I still don't think training has a genuine 'need',. getting the average person to have a go is great, but 'training' gives me mental image of a fat middle aged man playing ultimate defendor with a handgun under the supervision of another fat middle aged man with sunglasses on ,even though they are indoors.. maybe I've watched too many annoying youtube videos? lol......

Apparently you and I are envisioning two separate types of training. You seem to be thinking of some type of tactical training whereas I was thinking of something more akin to a hunter's safety course and basic firearms instruction. Both have their place but I would think the latter would be more appropriate as relates to bushcraft and firearms.

 

[resnikov]

Apparently you and I are envisioning two separate types of training. You seem to be thinking of some type of tactical training whereas I was thinking of something more akin to a hunter's safety course and basic firearms instruction. Both have their place but I would think the latter would be more appropriate as relates to bushcraft and firearms.

I thought the same as you, gun safety and maintenance.
If I wanted tactical training, I would have joined the armed forces.

 

[santaman2000]

Your american vote counts. Especially as long guns are available to all of the age of 18 without any 'need' for such posessions. And without wanting drag up a political debate on the american 'right'/privilege to own a gun, I would like to say that here in Great Britain, where firearm ownership is low due to extensive regulations (that I'm not apposed too) and thus firearms 'training' just isn't needed. Only where the average person has the ease of firearm posession (like in the usa) should firearm training really be more than a pointless gimmick....

I know my vote counts here Samon. What I was trying to say though, was that we take my single vote out of the above poll, the remaining numbers still suggest that there is an interest there. That said, this forum might not be the best place to get a glimpse of British society as a whole. After all, the members of the forum are outdoors people to begin with, and those participating in this thread and poll particularly, are more likely to be gun people that the population at large.

 

[santaman2000]

As much as I appreciate the fun of shooting sports, I don't feel it's necessary to take it everywhere you go. Imo, hunting/shooting is a seperate hobby. Not that 'bushcraft' doesn't include hunting, but bushcraft with hunting in England really doesn't. No free land, tight gun laws and a social fear of guns.

Go west a few thousand miles and you'll be swimming in practiced enthusiasm for the two. But, it's a different world there, different in that it's unimaginably huge, scarcly popualted and full of guns..

So, why do you feel the need to ask 'bushcrafters' if they desire firearms training? why exactly would they need the training..? plenty of shooting clubs have open days to encourage and educate the public so what exactly are you offering?

I see your point on the difficulty and practicality. However as a purely academic question, it would be interesting to know what people would want given their 'druthers?