It makes sense that omnivores and carnivores would store up fat during the winter whereas herbovores wouldn't. It's probably easier to find a bit of bark or twig to eat rather than a deer, at least in the past.

-Blast

Secret Weapon

Speaking of weapon, sounds like it could take the place of pepper spray, too.

Unfortunately it doesn't squirt very far so it's no bear repellant...but it could be used to keep critters out of your camp I think...like putting hot sauce in your garden to keep cats and rabbits out.

Now that I think about it, the stuff has other survival uses.

Capcaicin is used in topical arthritis meds these days. You can apply it topically for sore joints and muscles. Althrough at this concentration your hands would need to be quarantined for a few days. Capcaicin has no smell to speak of compared to products like tiger balm and should be less of an attractant. Also, I'd like to see the look on a bears face when he sniffs a limb with a liberal application of this stuff. Just taking the cap off the bottle can make your eyes water.

Maybe that's why I have rubber gloves in my first aid kit!

Depending how long you're stuck out in the sticks, your clothes and shoes might well fall apart. How's your skills at sewing and curing hides?

You will eventually run out of ammo. At which point, I'd probably go with a bow/arrow set up. You feel OK on fletching arrows (I don't)?

Otherwise, nice ideas!

OBG, waaaaaaaaay too much time on yer hands But it's nice to know that some of the family pets have a real use....

To me, you are blurring the lines between concepts. Your everyday carry or EDC is designed to get you to your bug out bag or BOB, as I understand it, which is meant as a 72-hour kit to get you to your survival stash (which in turn is designed to get you to your ultimate well-supplied sustainable-survival retreat).

EDC is a major and recurring discussion on this forum.

BOB gear would be lightweight, multi-use, and definitely iclude water and food so you can move without need to hunt or forage for a few days at least. The design is to let you get clear of major population centers with their likely problems in a major emergency.

Survival stash gear would be as robust and inclusive as your survival journey needs, including food and water replenishment gear, and would incorporate everything appropriate from your BOB. The design is let you travel, perhaps several hundred miles on foot if necessary, to get to your survival retreat.

Survival retreat gear would be as extensive as your budget allows, aimed at indefinite sustainable living. The design is to be in a discrete location remote from most other folks so you have a chance to ride out a major disaster that may take months or years to resolve; some plan based on various end-of-the-world scenarios.

If you are at or next to where your survival stash would be, then you may not need a BOB, your EDC amd survival stash would suffice.

If you are fairly near to your survial retreat, then you may not need a survival stash, your EDC and BOB suffice.

If you are living in or next to your survival retreat, then you may not need either a BOB or survial stash, your EDC alone would suffice.

Or so it seems to me this early in the morning.

"...waaaaaaaaay too much time on yer hands..."

I know. My wife has been feeling kinda puny lately, so I stay quiet by banging the keys quietly...

Sorry to hear about that...hope she feels better soonest