Tracking & Skills of the Primitive Hunter
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The Atlatl
When most people think of primitive hunters they picture them with a bow and arrow, but the Atlatl was the dominant hunting system for many thousands of years before bows ever existed. Used longer than any other weapon yet developed, it was the Atlatl and dart that first placed humans at the top of the pre-historic food chain. This class will introduce you to an original hunting system of the human race — one that is much faster and easier to make in a primitive situation than a bow. You will learn to make several different types of atlatls and darts, and practice the unique throwing styles used to make this such a natural and effective hunting tool.
| April 10–11 | Toms River, NJ | $165 | The date for this class has passed, but we'll let you know the next time it's offered. |
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Hunting Skills 1
Whether you hunt with a longbow or with a camera, you'll learn how to closely observe an area and read the animal activity. We will explore camouflage, stalking, and other techniques that will allow you to approach the hunt in the sacred manner, and get much closer to game than you ever thought possible. To our ancestors the hunt was a sacred rite, and in many societies members of the tribe had to prove themselves worthy before being permitted to participate. In our modern world this connection with the "circle of life" has been all but lost. For those of you who wish to rekindle this connection, this class will help you to connect with an instinct that is too deep to describe.
NO ANIMALS WILL BE HARMED IN THIS CLASS!
| June 23–24 | Toms River, NJ | $150 | Register Now! |
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Primitive Fishing
Never underestimate the value of fish in a survival situation! Take a day to learn the basics of a variety of fishing techniques, from the fish spear to primitive hooks and baits, from underwater traps to the collection and use of natural fish toxins. High in protein and essential fats, fish can be a tasty supplement to, or the solid basis of any wilderness diet — provided you know how to catch them!
›› This class is not currently on the schedule, but we'll let you know the next time it's offered. ‹‹
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Stalking & Natural Camouflage
Is it really possible to become virtually invisible on any landscape? Believe it or not, yes, and you can learn how. Discover when, where and how to move in order to avoid detection by man or animal, and how to blend seamlessly into your environment using only naturally occurring materials. This class is a favorite of many of our students, and will change the way you approach a landscape as well as vastly improve your ability to move with stealth.
| June 8 | Clifton, TX | $95 | Register Now! |
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| July 18 | Toms River, NJ | $85 | Register Now! |
Tracking for Beginners
If I told you that by the end of the day you'd be tracking squirrels over moss you wouldn't believe me. But that's exactly what the folks in this photo are doing after just a single day of training! The tracks are all there — it's just a matter of knowing what you're looking for.
A condensed version of our Tracking Essentials workshop, this one day class will give you all the basics you need to begin recognizing and following tracks (both four-legged & two-legged!) over all types of surfaces. You'll come away from the day with a set of core skills that can be applied to almost any situation. Discover a whole new world that is living side by side with you, no matter where you live. You'll never see the ground in the same way again!
| May 27 | Shelton, WA | $95 | Register Now! |
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Tracking Essentials
Learn to perceive your surroundings in a whole new way as you discover how to recognize, follow and interpret tracks in a variety of environments and over all types of surfaces. Through the blending together of sign tracking knowledge with compression tracking skill you will leave this class with the core skills that can be applied to any situation, and to anything that moves over the earth. Whether you are a hunter who wants to be sure you can successfully trail your game, a photographer who is looking for new wildlife challenges, or a nature lover who is curious about what animals are living in and travelling through your neighborhood, you'll never see the ground in the same way again!
| March 30–31 | Toms River, NJ | $150 | The date for this class has passed, but we'll let you know the next time it's offered. |
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| June 14–15 | Aurora, IL | $185 | Register Now! |
Traps, Simplified
In a survival situation you can increase your odds of obtaining food many times over by knowing how and where to set traps. But a book full of nice trap pictures that are applicable to specific situations is usless information unless you are prepared to memorize each & every one! Instead, learn the few basic principles that apply to ALL traps, both man and animal. Once these are understood you will be capable of devising your own traps as environments, materials & situations dictate. Go beyond the basics of the Figure-4 and Paiute deadfalls as we study animal habitats, and which traps are most effective under what circumstances.
NO ANIMALS (or humans) WILL BE HARMED IN THIS CLASS!
| July 19–20 | Toms River, NJ | $150 | Register Now! |
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Winter Tracking
Although there is nothing more fun than following a fresh set of tracks first thing in the morning after a heavy snowfall, those perfect days tend to be few and far between. More often than not tracks are distorted from melt or wind and snow falling off of trees and bushes has confused the trail. Or if no snow has yet fallen, or it has all melted away, the ground remains hard and frozen, leaving little or no visible track at all, or muddy and distorted from continuous freezing and thawing, leaving tracks that are a confusing mess. Tracking during the winter months brings its own set of challenges and special skills which you will discover and explore during this "heart of the winter" workshop. Don't let the cold weather deter you — there will be plenty of coffee & hot chocolate on hand!
| January 5–6 | Toms River,NJ | $150 | The date for this class has passed, but we'll let you know the next time it's offered. |
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