>>>>>>Why?  If you want to collect small and large game a firearm (suitable
type of course) will allow you to do so faster
than with a knife alone.  Right now I can see a dove in a tree outside my
window some 75 yards away.  I can get that dove with a gun. (Yum!) Can you
get it with a knife?<<<<<

No, but I can with my blow gun! I'm fairly good with it and darts are cheap
not like the expense of LEAD based ammo. Besides, a Vietnam Vet  friend of
mine can toss a knife and hit tree frogs, a well balanced blade in the hands
of a skilled blade thrower is quite awesome to behold. I'm not saying he
could toss it 75 yards up into a tree and hit a dove, but he can hit almost
anything he throws at. I'll stick with my knife and if needed the blow gun
for small game.

>>> I'll admit guns aren't as 'romantic' but if you want food it's a darn
good tool.<<<<

Romantic? I'm talking functional. No, if you want to take one shot at one
animal, risk a miss and frighten off everything within a 1-2 mile radius
then go for it. I'll work my magic with my knife and snaring techniques and
capture many animals. I may dig 'shrooms and roots to go along with my
rabbit. I may decide to attach my blade to a long, sturdy stick and go spear
fishing, Ever fish with a 30-30?

  >>>If you are more interested in fun, then take the knife but check your
games laws carefully.  I doubt there's a "knife season" for deer.  Or any
other game for that matter.<<<<

Well, I am as mean as a Grizzly I've been told, with almost the strength to
boot, but I doubt you'll see me knife fighting a rutting buck anytime soon.
I wasn't meaning that I was going big game hunting with my knife, although I
could set some nasty traps that will kill/maim a man so overcompensating for
large game wouldn't be that much more of a chore. All I would have to do is
hope for an animal to trip it...meanwhile I'll head back to the stream and
munch on my speared fish and roots.

>>>>do toss in a couple of small non-Rambo style knives as well so you don't
cut holes through hides and intestines.  I also like a long-bladed filet
knife (Rapala or similar) for separating joints instead of sawing through
them or for boning out meat.<<<<<

To field dress I will use my Leatherman, my teeth, and my hands, until I can
get my catch back home. At this point I don't think I'll have much trouble
with small game, fish, roots, etc. Not so much as to call for a fillet knife
or extra added baggage.

>Plus I can make
> lotsa sharp sticks with my one knife.

>>>>>Quite frankly, after seeing what even a small deer can take in way of
injury I am content with my firearm.
And I'll bet that any ancient H-G group would have gladly taken firearms
over sharp sticks when it came to surrounding
large ill-tempered animals.  Those things have sharp hooves and pointy
things coming out their heads, you know :)<<<<

Well, there's a good idea, always respect nature even if you carry a gun.
However after going with a friend bear hunting during bow season, I have
seen large bears felled with three arrows. Whether or not it's wise to tie
your knife to a stick and spear fight large game is another story. Again, I
do not plan on going large game hunting with my knife unless a life
threatening situation should arise, then I'll fight with whatever I have.
It's not always legal to carry firearms into certain areas. A knife isn't
frowned upon in heavily populated areas surrounding wooded areas where
bullets can carry and possibly hurt/kill unknowing bystanders. I bet ancient
H/G would have been happy up until they ran out of ammo or their powder got
wet. Or they were forced to walk even further after they scared off the rest
of the animals.

> 4.      Boots and camo pants - many may not realize it, but one of the
many
> functional uses of a pair of camo Army pants (U.S.) tucked into a leather
> boot, is to help protect against snake bites.

>>>>>It's also good against a smaller terror - ticks.  After playing
in the woods, check yourself for ticks.  No need to get Lyme
disease if you don't have to.<<<<

This is a given, this one thing that I tend to be very conscious of.


> Any ideas what else an aspiring H/G forager needs to take with him into
the
> wild?

>>>>Well, again depending on game laws, you might consider trapping
equipment.  This could be as simple as setting small twine snares for birds
(again, check your state laws.  You may need to get a trapper's license.)  I
saw a video where a couple of !Kung tribesmen set a deceptively simple
little snare using only a bit of naturally made twine, a few sticks and  a
small wild onion.  Didn't take too long to get a tasty guinea fowl.<<<<

Luckily, I'll be on private property and can set traps along that property.
A fishing/hunting license is all I need even for spear fishing. I buy both
just to be covered, the game wardens are plentiful here. It doesn't take a
marvel of engineering to design an effective trap or snare. I simple design
is usually most effective, less chance for the thing to malfunction. I would
not rely on modern traps, I'm not saying they are not as effective, just
that I wouldn't use them. Not that I'm Grizzly Adams either, I hunt with
firearms the same as most hunters. I just don't rely on them alone, what
happens when some unforeseen situation arises and the firearm becomes
useless? Out of ammo? I'm not getting into a debate over firearms being
better than a blade, it's a matter of personal preference.