DON’T MISS: THINGS I’D DO DIFFERENTLY STARTING OVER

FIVE AREAS TO
BETTER FOCUS
YOUR PREPS

IN THIS ISSUE: JULY 2019

SMART OVERLOOKED
STRATEGIES FOR SCAVENGING
NIGHT HUNTING LOCATIONS

WHY YOU SHOULD MY CAMPFIRE

BE GROWING FLATBREAD
MUSHROOMS RECIPE

THE PERFECT CHALLENGES

LOCATIONS FOR WITH YOUR
YOUR CACHES FIRST FIREARM

and more…
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2019

B
A D

Contents
. ,

THINGS I'D DO DIFFERENTLY IF I WAS STARTING OVER

FEATURED I'm a big fan of living without regrets. If there's something you want to do, just do it. This
mentality took me abroad for work, all over different countries, and let me to the homestead…

FIVE AREAS TO BETTER FOCUS YOUR PREPS

page 4 There's no doubt that being a survivalist is tough. There's so many things you need to consider,
plan for, with contingencies in place, your attention is forever being pulled in new directions…

OVERLOOKED LOCATIONS FOR SCAVENGING

page 5 No matter how well you plan, eventually, there will be something you need. Perhaps you
overlooked it in your preparations, or an accident and some unforeseen circumstances mean…

HOW TO MAKE SIMPLE CAMPFIRE FLATBREAD

page 6 There's more to roughing it under the stars than surviving off MRE's or the fish you were
hoping to catch, and I'd like to share with you a simple recipe that makes an appearance on…

OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES WITH YOUR FIRST FIREARM

page 8 Guns are a key feature in almost every survival website. But in addition to learning the basics,
having the right training, and spending hours and hours on the range, you can still get it wrong…

SMART STRATEGIES TO HUNT AT NIGHT

page 9 There's a few things to keep in mind when you’re planning to hunt at night. Especially if you
want to improve your chances you'll be bringing home a fresh catch on each hunting trip…

WHY YOU SHOULD BE GROWING YOUR OWN MUSHROOMS

page 10 One crop I've been experimenting with lately have been mushrooms. Not the magic type, just
plain old button mushrooms. They're fantastic in a salad, with pasta, and are a crop you can…

PLANNING PERFECT LOCATIONS FOR YOUR CACHES

page 11 Having hidden caches of supplies could very well make all the difference when the SHTF.
Perhaps you've been unable to make it home and you need to resupply, or you've been forcibly…

DON'T LET THESE SURVIVAL MYTHS BE YOUR UNDOING

page 13 With the snowballing popularity of survival shows, there's been an unfortunate shift in the
industry we all know and love. Sensationalist television is actually doing you a disservice…

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2019

THINGS I'D DO DIFFERENTLY IF I WAS STARTING OVER

I'm a big fan of living without regrets.
If there's something you want to do,
just do it. This mentality took me
abroad for work, all over different
countries, and let me to the homestead
we're happily working on today.
But looking back, it's not all sunshine
and daisies. Hindsight is a killer, and
I'm a little embarrassed at the mistakes
I've made along the way. I may not be
sporting too many grey hairs just yet
but I do have some time on my belt,
and as a survivalist approaching his
mid-40's I'd like to share a few things
with you.
online, when it comes to survival
planning "book knowledge" is not
enough.
Anyone who has ever struggled to
assemble a tent, or setup an Ikea
cupboard – you know what I'm talking
about. And forget trying to start a fire
with a couple of bits of wood.
It's tough, and not like the books.
There's a big difference between
understanding how to do something,
and actually being able to do it. And in
survival, theory is a pale substitute for
real experience.
officers who have a full-time job of
keeping all of their supplies in order.
It's an important task, because if they
get it wrong, the very survival of their
troops comes into question. No ammo,
or no food, and things go very wrong.
For me, I'm basically the opposite of
organized. Struggled for years to even
put a system in place, and it was only a
couple of years back I decided to plan
it all out. In doing so I discovered
expired items on my shelves, food that
the rats had gotten to, and when I ran
the numbers, my stockpile covered far
fewer months than I thought it would.

Things I wish someone had told me,
had I the foresight to actually listen.
The mistakes I've made, and what I'd
do differently if I was starting over. Of
course, it could be argued that the path
I took in life took me exactly where I
needed to be (which is right here), but I
still believe I'd have arrived a heck of a
lot faster if someone told me this.
So, sit up, and pay attention. You're
about to get a brain-dump of what
matters most.
When my first shelter collapsed under
the wind and I spent a long, cold night
contemplating what had gone wrong,
that's when I realized. I wasn't a
survivalist. I was a survival geek. “Make sure
I needed to embrace my inner
outdoorsman and put everything I had
you’re
studied into practice, if I wanted to
have any hope of actually using the practicing
information I accumulated in a real
situation, I needed real-life experience. in the
Make sure you're practicing in the

YOU NEED MORE THAN BOOK

outdoors. outdoors…”
KNOWLEDGE YOU NEED TO STAY CRAZY-
LEVEL ORGANIZED
Despite the wealth of information
available in print, or even video content In the military there are logistics

2
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2019

cont.

It's important to be organized, use a

system with your preps, so you know
exactly where you stand and what
you've got. Without the data, you're
shooting in the dark, and potentially
even putting your family in a bad
situation as well.

YOU CAN'T GET CAUGHT UP

ON THE CONSPIRACIES

It's almost a rabbit hole when you start

doing your research, and as a self-
confessed survival geek I went full
throttle. Considering the big-ticket
disasters, like a response to a nation-
wide EMP or a large-scale nuclear
attack. In addition to wasting countless
hours on research, I dropped thousands
of dollars into supplies that were the
survival equivalent of a Ferrari.

Flashy, but not really necessary.

Some have proved smart buys, like my

generator, others, like my night vision
goggles have sat unused on a shelf for
months.

The right way to do survival is to focus

on the basics, the disasters most likely
to happen. Of course, once you've got
these covered by all means, start
considering your radiation fallout plans,
but only once you've got a foundation
in place. The most likely threats.

That's the best use of your time, and

you should adapt your training and
preparation accordingly. It's also the
best use of your money, putting it
towards the investments you need to
make for the most probably disasters.
Don't buy silly gear that you don’t need.
YOU CAN'T LET YOURSELF GO
PHYSICALLY
With time, a busy life, kids, a
homestead, whatever it is going on in
your life, it's common for fitness to take
a back seat. I'm guilty of it myself.
When I get busy at work I let my health
slide, from what I'm eating to the time I
spend working out. But that's a massive
mistake.
One I realized after a brief hike with a
couple of younger survivalists we were
training. It was one of the first treks I'd
done after a long winter of inactivity,
and it put me on my ass. I struggled to
keep up, with my pack on, and after I
got home it must have been a week
before I felt "right" again.
It was then I vowed to never let myself
go again.
Regular hikes now feature in my
family's life, no matter what else is
going on – to ensure I've got the
physical fitness needed to bug out
effectively.
And that doesn't even cover personal
security and self defense.
Without constant exercise, training and
conditioning, how can you possibly
hope to hold your own in a fight.
Perhaps it's someone wanting to take
what you have, whether it's your
resources, or even your family. You owe
it to them to be able to protect your
loved ones. So, sign up for some self-
defense classes, even once a week will
make a remarkable difference over the
long run.
Now I get these are all pretty logical,
and you're probably thinking – we'll
sure, I get it.
But if you want to have any hope of
surviving the crisis that does come,
apply these principles.
Learn from my mistakes.
I'd love to know how much better I'd
have fared with the skills and
experience I have today, but that's not
how it works.
All I can do is share everything I've
learnt from 20+ years in the game, and
hope you don't make the same mistakes
as I did.

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2019
FIVE AREAS TO
BETTER FOCUS
YOUR PREPS
There's no doubt that being a
survivalist is tough. There's so many
things you need to consider, plan for,
with contingencies in place, your
attention is forever being pulled in new
directions. And that's before you even
throw your job, family, and everything
else in your life into the picture. It's
almost overwhelming.
But I'd like to reassure you here. A
survivalist mindset doesn't require an
immediate switch. Think of it more like
a marathon, with every step forward
you take you're one step more
prepared, readier to face whatever
challenge comes your way. And while
stockpiling supplies, guns and ammo is
usually the recommendation, today I'd
like to touch on five focus areas I think
all survivalists should prioritize.
Get this right, and you'll be in a much
better position to weather a crisis.
START GROWING YOUR OWN
FOOD
Gardening is tough, and requires a
knack that only comes with experience.
The sad part these days, is we're losing
touch. Watching YouTube videos
instead of doing-it-ourselves. What you
need to focus on is your own garden.
Through research, trial and error, you'll
quickly discover what plans grow well
in your area, the seasons you need to
consider, and also what's required
should you ever need to scale up your
food production.
Of course, in a crisis you can't expect a
garden to start producing immediately.
Most plants will require anywhere from
8 to 12 weeks or more to even start
producing. So, start your garden now.
Prepare a small area in your yard so you
can be a little more self-sustaining if
the situation ever calls for it.
If not, you're getting outside (and some
exercise) each time you work on it, and
you'll still get to enjoy all the fresh,
home-grown produce you can eat. On
this line of thought I'd also recommend
reading up on your local plants, trees
and edibles. A little knowledge could
give you access to herbal remedies and
medicines, or even overlooked food
sources once the SHTF.
S TA R T B O O S T I N G Y O U R
HOMESTEADING SKILLS
It's easy to rely on someone else when
you've got handymen, plumbers and
pretty much every other tradesman
within reach, from just a click on a
website or a phone call away. But in a
crisis, these same skills will become
invaluable.
On our homestead we've made a pledge
to fix everything ourselves (within
reason, and of course following all
s a f e t y r u l e s, r e q u i r e m e n t s a n d
regulations), and I've seen a massive
improvement in my skills as the months
pass. I’ve done bathroom renovations,
patching our roof, and as such now
have a ready supply of tools and
building materials on hand, that we
have the skills and expertise now to use
effectively.
Should a storm break a window in the
night, or the roof start leaking, or
anything wrong in out plumbing, I've
got a pretty good idea on how to get it
fixed up quick. Without relying on a
tradesman or anyone else, it's just one
more step towards self-reliance.
S TA R T I M P R OV I N G YO U R
TRAPPING SKILLS
There's almost a love-affair with the
idea of "bugging out and living off the
land." I can tell you, as someone who is
striving to do just this, it's bloody hard.
Of course, we've got our fair share of
firearms in our stockpile, but active
hunting like this isn't the most effective
use of our time.
Bringing a big buck home provides a
heap of meat, but trapping is a much
smarter way to provide a reliable source
of meat.
Snares and deadfall traps make for great
do-it-yourself videos, but they're just
not practical. My advice is to buy the
cast iron metal traps (yes, the ones your
grandfather probably trapped with),
and learn how to use them. We've
rabbit traps out most nights, and they
consistently bring us fresh meat, all we
need to do is set them, and check in the
morning. It's a 20-minute job, and frees
up a bunch of time for us to focus on
everything else that needs doing.
START LEARNING HOW TO
FISH
I'm lucky as one of my first survival
skills I was taught was how to fish.
4
From tying lines to repairing rods, I had
my first fishing set handed down to me
when I was five, and I've still actually
got that rod today (though it has been
repaired a couple of times). You need
to learn how to effectively source fish
from your local ponds, rivers, stream or
ocean. Line fishing is a nice recreational
hobby, but if you're relying on it for
food you're going to want more than
one hook in the water.
Fish traps and baskets are a great way
to set-and-forget it, and we have crab
pots out when they're in season and
enjoy a nice seafood dinner a couple of
nights a week. Think about netting too,
and also collecting and harvesting
shellfish. You can get plenty of protein
with very little effort if you're smart
about the fishing strategies you use.
START YOUR OWN PREPPER
COMMUNITY
We've touched on the importance of a
survival group in a number of posts,
and I want to re-iterate it here. It takes
time to develop strong and trusting
relationships in your local community,
so my advice is to start now.
In a serious disaster, you want to be
able to rely on your neighbours, helping
the entire community pull together
instead of falling apart at the first sign
of crisis. We've been involved in almost
every activity that's come up, and have
made a concerted effort to hone and
develop relationships with the people
who live around us. It'll make all the
difference when the SHTF.
Smart survivalists are the ones who
understand there's more to being
prepared than sitting on a mountain of
tinned beans with an AR-15. The
people and families who will survive,
are those who understand there is a
bigger picture, and put their energy into
these five focus areas. Where have you
been spending your time?
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2019
OVERLOOKED LOCATIONS FOR SCAVENGING
No matter how well you plan,
eventually, there will be something you
need. Perhaps you overlooked it in your
preparations, or an accident and some
unforeseen circumstances mean you're
about to leave your bug out and venture
out to scavenge what you need.
START WITH A GAME PLAN
The key to a successful resource run is
your game plan. Identify exactly what
you need, and head to a location that is
most likely to have it. There's no point
hoping to find winter gear in a grocery
store, and likewise, you're probably not
going to find prescription medicine in a
restaurant.
Because you're essentially going out
into the world to steal. Walking out the
door in the middle of the day, trying to
break into a location could get you in
some very serious trouble, not to
mention the people you come across
who may decide to follow you home,
rob you for the gear you've got, or
perhaps something even more sinister.
MAPPING OUT LOCATIONS
What you can do today is to identify
targets. One of my rituals is a morning
jog, and while a good way to stay fit
there's another motive. I use my run as
to scout locations, routes, and learn the
ins-and-outs of my neighbourhood.
Once I get home, I've got a binder that
covers my local neighbourhood in
detail, including print outs from Google
Maps marked with everything I've
discovered. Perhaps it's a walkway that's
not listed on a map, or a new store
that's sprung up. That way I've always
got a working "road map" of routes
and potential targets.
Here's what you should look out for:
• Offices and abandoned businesses.
• Government buildings.
• Large distribution centers.
• Local churches and charities.
• Self-storage facilities.
• Boats moored at the marina.
• Mechanics and auto-repair shops.
• Schools, universities, hospitals,
libraries, public buildings.
• Pawn shops.
You'll notice that I'm not planning on
targeting homes, or cars, or anything
like that. Not only is it inherently
dangerous (you're much more likely to
find people at home), if I'm at my
absolute last resort and I do have to
scavenge, I don't want to be taking it
from someone who may need it.
SCOUT OUT THE LOCATION
Before you walk in to a potentially
deadly situation, it's a smart idea to case
the location.
5
There could be people inside, they
could be armed. There're a thousand
things that could go wrong if you jump
the gun on this one. So slow down.
Take the time (at least a couple of
hours, and it's better if you check on a
couple of different days), to see what's
what. Only ever head into what's
obviously an abandoned location.
BE PREPARED FOR A NIGHT
STRIKE
You can use the cover of darkness to
conceal your approach, and timing it in
the latest possible hours (after 2 or
3am), will ensure most people are
already sleeping. Remember though,
moving quietly at night is difficult, and
you may not be as fast. And don't
forget to allocate enough time to get
yourself (and your scavenged supplies)
home again before the sun comes up
and you're a sitting duck.
THE TOOL'S YOU'LL NEED
Being prepared with the right tools will
make a supply run that much more
efficient, as a locked or barricaded door
can be broken through.
Consider packing tools like a pry bar, a
lock-picking kit, and perhaps even a set
of bolt cutters. Red-light headlamps
will help you to see without spotlighting
your presence, and don't forget a large
backpack to carry your supplies home.
Oh, and of course, your firearm,
pepper spray, and anything else you
need to protect yourself.
GET HOME SAFE
Finally, once you've got what you came
for, it's time to get out. Be as quiet and
methodical as possible, and avoid
bringing any undue attention to
yourself. Don't head directly home, just
in case you're followed. You don't want
to lead anyone to your home and your
family.
The smart move is to choose a
waypoint, a location where you have the
upper hand, and can sit and wait,
watching closely to ensure you're still
completely alone. Only once you're sure
the coast is clear, head home with your
new-found supplies.
Scavenging in a crisis could very well be
the ticket that helps your family survive
just a little longer, but you need to do it
the right way. Be smart, plan in
advance, scout ahead, and know exactly
what you're going to do once you get
in, to get out fast and get home safe.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2019
HOW TO MAKE SIMPLE CAMPFIRE FLATBREAD
There's more to roughing it under the
stars than surviving off MRE's or the
fish you were hoping to catch, and I'd
like to share with you a simple recipe
that makes an appearance on nearly
every hike or camping trip we do. Not
only is it super simple to make, it's a
good filler that gives you a nice boost
of carbs when you're burning a bunch
of energy in the outdoors.
Plus, there's something warm and
welcoming about making your own
bread.
Your kids will love it, and it may just be
the thing that helps calm them down
when the whole world is going to chaos
around them. Mine even help me to
prepare and cook it. It's "their" job now
whenever we're heading off on a trek.
Of course, while it's a gourmet option
for the road, it's also something you can
easily make if you're looking for a little
variety in your cooking at your bug out
or when the SHTF. And depending on
the herbs and seeds you have available;
the recipe is very flexible. You can
make it sweet or savory, as the core to
the mix is simply flour and water.
All we do is a little prep beforehand.
Mixing the dry ingredients together,
then double-bagging it in a couple of
ziplock bags so I don't create a flour
explosion in my kit.
It's light, and I usually carry enough for I'd recommend doing this, as the simple
2 or 3 batches without taking up too flatbread recipe is pretty basic.
much space in my bag.
Things I like to add to change it up:
Here's how to make it.
• Fresh blackberries (makes it sweet)
M A K I N G YO U R C A M P F I R E • Dried raisins (makes it sweet)
FLATBREAD • Wild leeks (wild onion)
• Garlic powder
You will need: • Sunflower seeds
1 cup all-purpose flour Or whatever other, seed, herb or spice
1 tsp baking powder you prefer. Because it’s such a simple
1/2 teaspoon salt recipe to make, you can mix it up
1/3 cup water however you like
Oh, and something to mix it in, which
can double as the pot to cook it all.
We prepare the whole mix in advance,
then just forage for any additional “Just
ingredients on the trail. This makes the
end result quite a bit tastier, though
after a day hiking I'm usually just about
because
ready to eat anything that's warm and
hot off the fire. you're on
IMPROVING THE FLATBREAD the trail,
RECIPE
With this recipe you're going to get
you don’t
about four small servings, and once
you've made it a couple of times you'll have to
get the hang of it quick. Then you're
going to want to start experimenting,
adding different flavors to change the
suffer...”
taste.
6
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2019

cont.

COOKING YOUR CAMPFIRE

FLATBREAD

When you're ready to cook your bread,

of course you need a fire going. Get
that done first, so it can die down a bit
and give you a nice bed of coals for
cooking.

When making the dough, the trick is to

get it the right consistency.

Go slowly, adding the water a little at a

time until it's sticking together, but not
too sticky. If you've not got a pot, you
can mix it right in the ziplock bag,
eventually turning it into a semi-dry ball
of dough that you can handle without it
sticking to you.

You'll know you're doing it right when

you've got a big doughy ball.

If it's crumbling, you need more water.

If it's sticking to everything, you've

added too much water and need a little
more flour (or to just cook it as is).

Once your dough is made, separate it

into four equal parts.

To cook it, you've got a couple of

options.

You can press the dough balls flat, and

fry it in a little oil in a pan over the fire.
This is the easiest way, but only works
if you've got the right cooking gear.
Once it starts to bubble and brown in
spots, flip it and cook the other side.
Depending on the size of your fire and
the thickness of your flatbread, it'll take
roughly 5 to 7 minutes to cook.
Serve it fresh.
Hot off the fire, and enjoy.
COOKING FLATBREAD
WITHOUT A PAN
If you're really travelling light, and have
no pan to cook it in, you've still got an
option. This is what I usually do when
I'm hiking alone, as I like to cut down
the weight in my bag as much as
possible and "rough it" in the wild.
But I do like my bread.
I look for something about a half inch
thick, so it's strong and sturdy to hold
the dough. Bonus points if you can
find a forked branch that'll hold it in
place even more securely.
Instead of flattening the dough into
balls, you want to now roll it like a rope.
Making it about as thick as your thumb,
then spiraling it around the branch like
a kind of bush pretzel.
The consistency of your dough is
important here, it needs to stay put
once you wrap it on, so it doesn't fall
off into the fire. Too dry and you'll lose
it as it cooks. Better to make it a little
on the sticky side if you're planning on
cooking it this way.
Then just hold the dough out over the
fire and grill it over the coals, much like
you would a giant marshmallow on a
stick. It'll take a little longer to cook like
this, but it's usually done in about 10
minutes and is a great option for those
without a pan.
KEEPING FLATBREAD
OVERNIGHT
If you've got leftovers or want to
prepare your breakfast in advance for
an early start in. the morning, this
flatbread will keep overnight, but you
can't leave it out.
The air will harden the bread, and it'll
be tough as hell in the morning. But
you have a simple solution.
Simply put the cooked bread back in
your ziplock bag you brought the mix
in. Let it cool down of course, then seal
it shut. The airtight lock ensures it'll still
be fresh in the morning, though I do
like to warm it up a touch before eating
it for breakfast.
Just because you're on the trail, you
don’t have to suffer.
And this flatbread recipe is a great
addition to any campfire meal, that's
ridiculously easy to make.

Go find a long branch, and clean off Then just break off the pieces and
the end. enjoy.

7
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2019
OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES
WITH YOUR FIRST FIREARM
Guns are a key feature in almost every
survival website. But in addition to
learning the basics, having the right
training, and spending hours and hours
on the range, you can still get it wrong.
I’d like to explain what you may be
doing wrong, to help you become a
better shot. And better yet, following
these guidelines will not only improve
your accuracy, but make it far less likely
you actually injure yourself with all that
time you're spending on the range.
IMPROVING YOUR AIM
The correct aim technique is probably
the most vital skill to develop when
you're learning to shoot. Even if you've
been practicing a lot, consistent
accuracy is difficult, even for the
professionals. When your eyes start
getting tired and you're no longer
focused on the sights correctly, your
aim will falter and your accuracy fail.
It's a fact of life.
To solve it you need to take it one step
at a time. My advice is to start working
on the front sight, focusing on this
alone, to improve your aim. Of course,
you need to repeat this with both live-
fire and dry-fire exercises, with a goal to
rapidly shift your focus from the target
to your sight, without moving your
arms or jerking the trigger as you shoot.
IMPROVING YOUR TARGET
HITS
If you're consistently hitting your target
too low, that's a problem too. It
happens because you're pre-anticipating
the recoil of the shot, which is causing
your hands and arms to tense up.
Shooting while highly tensed up like
this causes jerky movements, that are
usually evident with a series of target
hits that are too low. To solve it you
need to work on improving your aim,
but more importantly your grip.
The gun should feel comfortable and
firm in your hand, not tight, and the
trigger press needs to be one smooth
consistent action. Don't squeeze or
snap your finger as you shoot. Make it a
deliberate press that keeps your firearm
as still as possible.
I M P ROV E YO U R T R I G G E R
PRESS
Building on the last point, it's critical to
ensure you're not pressing the trigger
the wrong way. Your finger should
move in one dedicated path backwards,
without any sideways movement. If
you're struggling with this, it could be
you're not pressing hard enough, or
you're not moving your finger straight
backwards. And that results in a jerky
movement that will affect your accuracy
when the gun does fire.
To solve this, I like to position the
trigger just between the pad of my
index finger and the first knuckle. Not
the tip of your finger, the trigger
should be almost "hooked" into place,
so that as you pull it towards you the
trigger moves in one fluid motion.
Work on improving your trigger pull,
until it's smooth, and your accuracy will
skyrocket.
IMPROVE YOUR THUMB
POSITION
One potential problem with your
accuracy is what's known as thumbing.
When you're shooting, if you're not
conscious of it your thumb will rotate
(usually clockwise for a right-handed
shooter) which pulls all your shots to
the right. It's caused from an improper
grip, or a handle on your firearm that's
too big for you. To solve it, you need to
work on relaxing your grip. I like to
position the thumb of my shooting
hand firmly on top of the supporting
thumb underneath.
8
So, I know and can feel when it's in the
right position. Then take a breath. The
key to good shooting is calm, and if
you're stiff and stressed your accuracy
will suffer. As you press the trigger be
wary of your wrist and thumbs, any
movement and you'll need to reposition
for the next shot.
IMPROVE YOUR RESPONSE TO
RECOIL
The first time I shot a gun I thought
recoil was something to overcome. A
reaction that I needed to fight against,
to keep my handgun in the same
position. If you've ever shot a large
calibre shotgun, you know how futile
this is, but it doesn't stop you from
anticipating and tensing right before
you shoot. Doing this can push your
shots down, so you hit the targets lower
than you were intending.
To solve it, you need to learn to love
the recoil. It's a natural reaction to your
gun being shot, and you shouldn't be
fighting against it. Just let it happen, as
it's the next step once the bullet fires,
but letting the gun move will not affect
your aim. Just let it flow, let the gun rise
up as it needs to, then bring it back
down into shooting position for your
next shot.
So, take a breath, and relax as you
shoot. Being relaxed throughout this
whole shooting process also makes it
less likely you injure yourself. Tensing
up puts stress on your wrists and
elbows with every shot, and can result
in pulled muscles or worse injuries if
you're not careful. And that's the
opposite of what you want.
Be wary of these five challenges as
you're learning to shoot, especially if it’s
the first time you've owned a gun and
are figuring it all out for the first time.
With practice, you’ll start improving
fast, every time you step on the range.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2019
SMART STRATEGIES TO HUNT AT NIGHT
There's a few things to keep in mind
when you’re planning to hunt at night.
Especially if you want to improve your
chances you'll be bringing home a fresh
catch on each hunting trip.
THE ANIMALS IN YOUR AREA
First and foremost, is your target prey.
Some animals are far more active at
night, and with your lights and a little
noise, you can flush them out easy, and
this is actually my favorite tactic for
hunting rabbits.
But you've got to remember, you're not
the only one doing the hunting.
If you're in an area with a large
concentration of deadly animals, large
cats, wolves and even bears, my advice
would be to stick to the day. You don't
want to get on the wrong side of a wild
animal at night, when you're much
more likely to become the prey.
THE LOCATION YOU'RE
HUNTING
Finding the perfect location will make
all the difference to a successful night
hunt. You can choose to sit in your hide
and wait them out, but you need to
remember most animals have far better
night vision than you (yes, even the
ones hunting you).
I'd recommend finding somewhere that
you can't be snuck up on, with your
back protected yet giving you a clear
view out to the surrounding area. If
you're in a group, stay close to each
other so you can continue to
communicate.
THE RIGHT LIGHTING
COLORS
We touched on this in the last point,
but you're not going to be a very
successful night hunter if you can’t see.
Especially if you're targeting the fast,
predatory animals with your hunt, you
need light to see your target.
Bright, white spotlights are what most
people consider, but in my experience,
these are really only good with small
game like rabbits. Bigger targets, like
foxes, coyotes and even bobcats will
simply slink away, and you'll never even
know they were there. Red lights are
better, softening the glow while creating
that illuminating effect in an animals
eye that helps you pick them out in the
shadows. Just don't spotlight your prey
directly, shine above their heads so you
don't spook them.
THE NIGHT VISION
QUESTION
Do I need to invest in night vision
goggles (or a scope)?
9
Well, it depends. First and foremost, I'd
consider just how much night hunting
you'll be doing. Because they are
expensive, and there are so many
different ways you can spend your
hard-earned cash onsurvival.
If you're a regular night time hunter, or
are planning to be, it could very well be
the best money you spend. You'll spot
more game, and have more
opportunities on every hunt.
Plus, you get dual use out of it. A night
vision scope not only helps your
hunting game, it could prove the
difference between successfully holding
off an attack on your property when
the SHTF, because you can see the
intruders creeping in, once night falls.
THE CALLS TO DRAW YOUR
PREY
Any experienced hunter knows the
power of a call, and they work wonders
at night. I've lured bobcats and coyotes
close with deer and duck calls, as they
come to investigate what sounds like an
animal in distress. At night, when
you've got a limited hunting area and
almost zero visibility, you need a good
hunting call to bring the animals right
to you. Then all you need to do is light
them up and take the shot.
THE PATIENCE TO DO IT
RIGHT
My dad was an avid fisherman, and he
had a level of patience that I can only
hope to develop one day. You need
patience, especially at night, to avoid
getting frustrated, bored (or even tired),
while you're waiting for your targets.
I've set my watch to vibrate silently
every 4 minutes to remind me to do
another round of calls, and I try to be
in each location at least 45 minutes to
an hour. That gives the wilderness
around you time to settle down after
you've moved, and hopefully forget
you're even there so you can lure your
prey right to you.
Armed with the right mindset, plan and
hunting gear, a night hunt becomes a
challenging and rewarding experience
I'm sure you'll love as much as I do.
The whole atmosphere of an area
changes as night falls, adding another
level of thrill to each hunt. Plus, it gives
you the chance, practice and experience
you need to become a more reliable
hunter (while honing your night
shooting skills, just in case). Stay safe
out there.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2019
WHY YOU SHOULD
BE GROWING YOUR
OWN MUSHROOMS
One crop I've been experimenting with
lately have been mushrooms. Not the
magic type, just plain old button
mushrooms. They're fantastic in a salad,
with pasta, and are a crop you can grow
indoors, in controlled conditions,
throughout the entire year. I'm amazed
at how easy it is to grow these, though
there are a few things to remember.
Yes, even in winter, you can keep your
mushroom crops growing which is
what made this particular crop so
interesting for me. A way to add fresh
produce to my diet, without concern
for what the weather outside is doing.
It's fantastic how well they grow, in
conditions that would have other plants
curled up and dead.
FINDING A PLACE FOR YOUR
MUSHROOMS
Normally you find mushrooms growing
in the damp, dark corners of the forest,
so you're going to need to setup a
similar area for your mushroom crops.
Stable temperatures in the 60's, with
very little sunlight. Basements work
well, though you can also naturally seed
these into nearby areas of forest if the
conditions are right. In our property,
we had an old barn-style shed that
actually has its own basement. It was
originally just a pit for auto repairs, but
we expanded it intending it to be
another store for our stockpile, but
there's a spring or something nearby
and it's just too wet to be any use.
“easiest
way to get
started is
to buy the
pre-made
kits…”
But it's perfect for mushrooms. So, we
put it to use, with a few shelves and
some heat pads, and the mushroom
zone was ready to grow.
CREATING YOUR GROW AREA
The trouble with mushrooms is that the
perfect environment they need is also
the perfect conditions for mold, and
that's the last thing you want
contaminating your food, or your
home. It's imperative you keep the area
as sterile as possible.
I've got rubbing alcohol on hand to
wipe down any tools, equipment and
my hands before I touch any grow
boxes, and this also includes any spray
bottles to water your crops. We've got
heat pads down to help stabilize the
temperature during winter, and of
course, no need for growing lights!
SETTING UP YOUR BOXES
Mushrooms like the dark, and the
easiest way to get started is to buy the
pre-made kits from a local gardening
store. Just add water and put them in
place, and within a week you'll start to
see the mushrooms sprouting.
Building them your own requires the
addition of sterile growth medium, into
trays lined with thick plastic and seeded
with the spores of mushrooms you've
bought from the supermarket and
dried. Personally, I started with the kits,
and then just saved a mushroom or two
from each crop to re-seed these each
round, with a little extra fertilizer too.
GROWING YOUR MUSHROOMS
After a couple of days, the white roots
will start to form, cover it with about
an inch of fine soil, cover the grow box
with plastic wrap, and keep the entire
setup moist, not wet. You should see
small mushrooms forming in a week,
though some species do take longer.
Mushrooms are a little unique in that
the crops grow in batches known as
"flushes" but it means the same thing.
From a single crop, you might get
several rounds of growth, with smaller
mushrooms growing in place of the
larger ones you've harvested. Which
brings me to an important point. The
growth medium, the soil in your box is
precious. You need to take care not to
contaminate it at all (or you risk ruining
future crops), and you need to be very
careful during har vest to avoid
damaging the delicate root system of
the mushrooms.
10
I like to use a pair of sharp scissors,
carefully cutting each har vested
mushroom at the stem, while leaving all
the roots intact.
That way, more will grow.
COLLECTING MORE SPORES
Collecting mushroom spores for future
batches was never overly difficult, but
there's a right way to do it to ensure
you don't contaminate future crops.
Select large, fully formed and fully-
grown mushrooms for this, and harvest
them as close to the cap as possible.
Taking a clean, white sheet of paper, lay
the mushroom cap down on it, so the
"gills" of the mushroom are resting on
the paper. Drip a few drops of sterile
water on the top of the mushroom cap,
then cover the entire thing with a glass
cup or bowl.
Let it sit for 24 to 36 hours. Once the
time has passed, lift it up and you'll see
a pattern that looks like the under-side
of the mushroom on the paper. That's
your mushroom spores. You can store
these in a sterilized and water-tight
container until you need them.
Our mushroom boxes are producing
almost more mushrooms than we can
eat, week-in, week-out.
And they only need to be re-seeded
every other month.
It's one of the best "hands-off" bits of
produce we've got on our homestead,
and it's completely out of sight, and out
of mind. Not only is our grow area
relatively secluded (in case anyone
comes raiding our garden crops), it's
making use of a space that was
previously sitting empty. That's a
winning combination in my book, and
the end result is more mushrooms than
we know what to do with. Providing
variety and nutrition no matter what.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2019

PLANNING PERFECT LOCATIONS FOR YOUR CACHES

Having hidden caches of supplies could
very well make all the difference when
the SHTF.
Perhaps you've been unable to make it
home and you need to resupply, or
you've been forcibly removed from
your home and you need some gear and
supplies to make it to your bug out
location. Being equipped to survive will
help you stay alive.
WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR
CACHE?
This is a somewhat personal question,
as it all depends on your survival plans.
What I've got stored at each cache
varies quite significantly. Some close to
my home just contain firearms and
ammunition. Others further afield
contain mostly stockpiled food and
outdoor gear.
The goal is to get one cache along each
route, so change it to Google Street
View and walk the path (or get your
boots on and hike out each route).
You're looking for landmarks that you
can use, but have enough cover for you
to approach unseen.

The military is the best example of this
technique. With proper supply, their
operations run smooth, as they can
keep troops armed and in place, right
where they need to be. Smart logistical
support is the reason they're so damn
effective. Everyone from the special
forces to the intelligence agencies are
using hidden caches.
Yes, even the bad guys too.
If you're wanting to build redundancies
into your survival planning, a strategy
that includes the perfect location for
your caches is prepping 101.
I've even created a separate (hidden)
storage bunker close to my bug out “Being
location, so while the cabin appears
empty, there is almost 6 months' worth
of water, food and gear in easy reach.
equipped
Once you know what to include in each
cache, it becomes easier to know where to survive
to hide it.
will help
WHERE TO HIDE YOUR
CACHES? you stay
For this step Google Maps will come in
handy. Look at every route you're alive…”
planning to take as you bug out.

11
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2019

FUNDAMENTALS FOR A GOOD CACHE SITE:

• The area should be relatively easy to access (day or night).
• The cache should be relatively easy to find (when you know it's there).
• The cache should be disguised and not immediately recognizable to anyone else.
• The cache site and the supplies you've hidden should remain a secret.
• The cache should be waterproof and protected from mother nature.
• The cache should "stand alone" and not reveal any other details to the enemy.

cont. I'd recommend getting the GPS D O C U M E N T E V E RY T H I N G

Think about it like this.
Someone is following you, and they're
taking aim for a shot every time you
pop out into the open.
Can you get in and out with your cache
while remaining unseen?
Any landmark needs to be unique and
significant (so you or someone in your
family can find it), but not anywhere
that may be occupied in a military
operation or provides a tactical choke-
point.
Good: Unique landmark along a
trail your family frequently hikes
and all know.
Bad: Using a highly trafficked
structure like a bridge as your
landmark.
DOING ALL OF YOUR OPSEC
Before you head off to a site to hide
cache, you need to do your
reconnaissance. My advice is to walk
the area on foot, but you need to also
have a backstory in case someone asks
what the heck you're doing poking
around. Take a book about wild edibles
and say you're doing research. Bring
binoculars and say you're birdwatching.
Install a Geocaching app and say you're
on the hunt. Just make sure you have a
plausible excuse.
coordinates of your intended site,
pictures of the area from all angles,
mark out the different ways to
approach the site, and flag any potential
risks as you see it, for when you're
actually coming back to retrieve your
cache. Perhaps it'll look different during
winter, there's too much visibility, or
whatever it is.
THE PERFECT CACHE
LOCATION
Once you're sure the site is ideal, you
need to place your cache. GPS is great,
but I'd also recommend having a paced
off or measurable path to find the
location as an alternate, just in case
you're trying to find it without your
device, there's no power, or whatever.
It's a two-step process, that starts from
a landmark.
Pick a starting point that's memorable,
unique, and will not change. It could be
a giant boulder, a cave in the side of a
hill, a power-line-tower on a hilltop.
Something you can use as a reference
point, that's not going to have moved
when you come back.
From here, you need to choose a cache
site. Think like, face the tallest
mountain on the horizon and walk 25
paces towards it. I don't like to use
compass bearings for this, because you
may not have a compass when you
come back.
ABOUT YOUR CACHE
Once you've hidden your cache (I'm
quite fond of burying mine in
waterproof PVC tubing that's been
sealed), you need to be able to find it
again. There are three steps to this.
The hand-drawn maps. These are vague
enough that you won't be able to find it
unless you know me, with landmarks
that are only known to my family. I
draw a high-level overview with
markers like "the road to Grandma's"
or "the Christmas campsite" and the
cache site marked. The second is more
detailed, with everything necessary to
get the cache.
In our survival binder I include pictures
of the location (which are stored along
with the hand-drawn maps), with key
bits of information (like the direction
faced and cache site) included with each
picture. I've also made it so you can
find each cache without a map, or a
picture, with a set of written
instructions to give out over radio
comms. Just in case.
And that's it. Make sure that once
you're done you leave the cache
location undisturbed, with no trace that
you were ever there or that there's
anything of value buried in the ground
under your feet. You never know who
is watching you place the cache, and of
course, you want to ensure it remains
undisturbed until you truly need it.

12
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2019

DON'T LET THESE SURVIVAL MYTHS BE YOUR UNDOING

With the snowballing popularity of
sur vival shows, there's been an
unfortunate shift in the industry we all
know and love.
Sensationalist television is actually
doing you a disservice, making bold
claims with outrageous sur vival
techniques that are not only plain
wrong, but could put you in an even
more dangerous situation.
If you rely on what you've seen these
so-called "experts" doing, the chances
of you replicating it to survive drop
significantly.
Trouble is, it's easy to believe them.
We want to believe them, but when
your life is in danger, relying on a "fact"
you saw in an old television show isn't
going to do you a lot of good.
Without the right technique, the right
supplies, and the right environment
(forget trying a friction fire anywhere
damp), you're not going to get a fire.
You need a fire-starting kit, with not
only a lighter (the easiest solution) but a
flint and steel and a source of dry
tinder to catch. Oh, and knowing how
to actually start a fire helps too, it's
harder than you would think if you've
never made one.
YOU CAN EASILY LIVE OFF
THE LAND
If I had a buck for every survivalist
who told me they were going to simply
head off to the hills at the first sign of
a crisis, I'd have a pocket full of cash.
But living off the land is tough, even
for trained survival experts. And
YOU CAN FORAGE FOR WHAT
YOU NEED
Realistically, if you've no idea what
you're looking for (or you've not
stumbled across some poor fools' cabin
and the vegetable patch he's been
growing), you are going to find it very
difficult to forage for food in the wild.
Very, very difficult.
Of course, you can go a few weeks
without food, but speaking from
experience, it's not fun and after a few
days you won't have energy for much.
“living off

Today I'd like to clear up several facts,

to ensure you know what's what.
IT'S RATHER DIFFICULT TO
START A FIRE
On television you'll see them strike two
rocks together, or rub a couple of
sticks which immediately start smoking,
and now they've got fire. This has an
element of truth, you can make rocks
spark and a bow drill is a real thing, but
it's tough.
without the right gear, training and
experience, you're not going to stand a
the land is
chance. tough, even
Most shows are highly edited, with the
real experts on hand, just outside of the for trained
camera's that are filming.
Setting up the situations, or available at
survival
a moment's notice should anything go
wrong. Don't think you'll have it so experts…”
easy, the reality is that mother nature is
a harsh mistress and if you don't
respect her, you will regret it dearly.

13
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2019
cont.
The trick is to learn what's what, so you
can actually find, and accurately identify
the edible plants in your local area.
Because there are far too many that are
poisonous and will downright kill you if
you just try to eat everything willy-nilly.
YOU CAN SUCK THE VENOM
OUT OF A SNAKE BITE
Another movie no-no, where you slice
open the wound and suck out the
poison. In fact, by slicing the skin
around the bit you're actually helping
the venom to spread. Plus, the bacteria
transferred from your mouth as you do
this can lead to severe infection. You
cannot suck hard enough to get the
venom out, it's as simple as that.
If someone in your party has been
bitten, apply a pressure bandage to
control the flow of blood, (though be
careful you don't cut off the blood
supply completely and kill the entire
limb), add pressure to the wound and
call an ambulance.
YOU CAN PLAY DEAD TO
AVOID A BEAR ATTACK
If you're being attacked by a bear,
playing dead is not going to work. In
some cases, sure, a bear may decide
you're no longer a threat, but you're
probably going to be mauled by this
stage and almost dead anyway.
And you can forget running, a bear is
faster than you.
Your best bet against a bear is
avoidance. Be loud and noisy when in
bear country so you don't startle one,
and if you happen to see a bear, give it
a wild berth.
Pepper spray and even a large calibre
pistol may help to scare it off, or give
you a means to fight back if that's what
the situation calls for.
But you'll be fighting for your life.
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS
REMOVE A BULLET
Hell no.
If you're trying to pull anything other
than a nail from your body, you'll be
doing more harm than good. If it's an
arrow, a piece of branch, whatever is in
there – it's actually acting like a cork to
stop your blood flowing out (and you
dying). Leave it in, bandage it up so the
wound is stable then go and get medical
help.
If you've not got this as an option, or
you're several days from medical help
you may have to try, but it's a tough
call. Internal bleeding, punctured
organs or an artery being hit will take
you out of commission when the
SHTF. So be careful.
14
YOU SHOULD DRINK YOUR
OWN PEE
As you get more and more dehydrated
it seems like an option, it's sterile and
technically correct, there is water
content in pee.
But there's also all the compounds your
body is trying to rid itself of, and you're
putting these all back in.
You'd be better off distilling your pee
to extract the water (and discarding the
rest), but this relies on the tools at your
disposal.
My advice would be to simply find a
better water source.
Boil some river water.
Melt some snow.
Create a solar still.
Don't drink your pee.
To survive a crisis, you need to rely on
the training, knowledge and experience
you have, and it's an unfortunate reality
that there's so much incor rect
information out there.
In this post I hope I've cleared up some
of the most common misconceptions
you always see on television, and
hopefully steer you in the right
direction once the SHTF.