If SHTF continues long enough, every person alive will eventually need to survive in the wilderness because that will be all that remains. To survive successfully in the wilderness, you must overcome two main obstacles.
The first will be meeting the minimum physical needs for bodily survival; this includes food, water, shelter, heat, etc. The other equally important factor is the importance of remaining undetected.
This is not to say that you cannot go and introduce yourself to other groups who you believe will not eat you or kill you for your supplies and equipment. The issue is you don’t want the bad guys to become aware of your presence first.
To meet this objective, you must ensure you are not easily detected. Either by someone simply stumbling across traces you leave or someone looking for you.
The Dark Forest Hypothesis states that allowing your presence to become known to hunters, predators, or any other party will inevitably lead to your demise. In this article, we will explore some practical tips on avoiding detection and approaching living undetected in the wilderness.
There are two broad categories when you are trying to live undetected. The first is that you should leave no trace of your existence behind. This aspect refers more to the “retrospective” aspect of wilderness survival. The historical record of your presence.
The second is to avoid having a presence. This may sound weird, but what I mean by not having a presence is the way you conduct yourself when actively moving or living. Do not signal your presence “actively.”
Leave No Trace
This is the most important advice you can get regarding remaining undetected. You must minimize traces and signs of your presence.
Avoid leaving footprints by being aware of the surfaces you cover.
Hard rocky surfaces are the best.
When moving through the wilderness, be aware of the terrain and always try to travel along the hardest and most compact surfaces available.
Thick undergrowth can conceal footprints, but trackers can spot when vegetation has been disturbed by a body moving through it.
If you stay in a place for an extended period, you must avoid taking the same daily routes. Even hard surfaces will start to show signs of regular movement. This is even truer for grass or vegetation as you create single tracks that will lead enemies straight to you.
Always employ evasion techniques. This means changing direction often, backtracking, and circling around. This creates confusion and increases the difficulty of tracking you.
Use misdirection. For instance, let’s say you want to catch water. Start off in the opposite direction. An experienced wilderness tracker will know where water sources are, and if he thinks you are going for water, they can cut you off or set an ambush for you.
You also need to master the art of stealth movement. The slower you move, the less noise you make. Remember that some animals will react to your presence in such a way as to divulge your presence.
Be aware of the noise your feet make on the ground and also the noise your body creates when pushing through vegetation. Dry twigs, grass, and branches make creaking and cracking noises when disturbed.
Camouflage and Silhouette
You need to wear clothing that blends into your environment. This is obvious. Another aspect of moving undetected is not to stand higher than your surroundings. When moving through tall grass, ensure your head is not sticking out above the grass. The same principle applies to shorter grass or shrubs.
Now, it’s understandable that you cannot move around crouching forever. But develop routes that take you through tall shrubbery or vegetation. Breaking the “skyline” makes you very easy to spot; this also applies when crossing open fields or over hills. Move along the lowest parts of a terrain with many hills as far as possible.
Another aspect of remaining undetectable is noise discipline and minimizing movement. Noise discipline is not just moving slowly and thinking about foot placement; it also involves clothing that doesn’t swish or crackle, ensuring that metal objects in your backpack or pockets are not clicking against each other, etc.
Minimizing movement refers to swinging arms or turning repeatedly, a lot of sudden head movements, etc. You spot squirrels easier than you do chameleons for that very reason. Both are camouflaged, but one’s tail is always flicking or zooming around. Be like a chameleon.
Housekeeping, Hygiene, and Odors
Nothing is as easily detectable as a mess. Synthetic materials like plastics and objects like bottles and cans will immediately alert people to your presence.
When you human waste, do it deep enough that it will not be found easily, covering your tracks by brushing over the soil or vegetation with a branch, etc.
Remember that grouping is also easily noticeable. If you stay in a place for a while and dig three or four cat holes and cover them, but they are equally spaced or in a square formation, trackers will spot them more readily than random heaps scattered at odd intervals.
Catholes for human waste should be far from your camping site.
Terrain and Situational Awareness
Learn to use the terrain to your advantage. High ground allows for better surveillance of the surrounding area.
Animals will often react to noises before they can hear the noises they are reacting to. They will also react to scent or the reactions of other animals.
Learn to tune into your surroundings—how they smell and sound. Anything out of the ordinary is worth investigating.
Cooking fires, the aroma of grilled meat, and even the smell of human habitation can all travel along the breeze to alert others to your presence.
Smoke and firelight are two of the quickest ways to expose yourself. I would light a fire before freezing to death, but maybe finding a well-insulated shelter is better.
Speaking of shelter, you will need a few of these. Also, safe havens or hiding places where you can disappear if you suspect something or someone suspects you are around.
Getting water is also a sure way to get caught. Rivers and mountain streams all have ” easier ” places for water collection, and dry areas may only have a well or oasis at irregular intervals. These are prime spots for spotting enemies and for enemies to wait for you.
Surviving in the wild is about more than just blending in; it’s about mastering the skills needed to stay off the radar and meet your basic needs. If you want to get serious about wilderness survival, you need more than just tips—you need an all-in-one handbook.
That’s why I recommend the Long-Term Wilderness Survival Guide. This isn’t your average manual; it’s packed with practical knowledge that our ancestors used to thrive in the wild.
Whether it’s finding food and water, building a shelter, or staying undetected, this guide covers it all. Make sure to get your hands on this essential tool before it runs out of stock. When staying untraceable in the wilderness becomes your only option, you’ll be glad you did.
via askaprepper
