Where to start?

[remember-the-mount-bread]

Hey guys and gals, my apologies if this has been covered all ready, and if it has please feel free to just point me in the direction of those thread/threads :_sii: .
I was hoping that one of you, or several of you, would be able to point me in the direction of good bush craft books? I'm looking to learn more about Australian plants and their uses/edibility, Australian animals, tracks an scats etc, and general things in those veins. I really don't have much of a clue what books would help with this, or even where to find them (I presume on the internet somewhere?) so anything anyone can tell me would be great :_sii:
Thanks a lot guys :risatonaD:
Aidan

 

[n5750547]

For edible plants I was recommended Wild Food Plants of Australia by Tim Low. I have found it very useful!

 

[remember-the-mount-bread]

Thanks mate!!
Thanks a lot,
Aidan

 

[Hairyman]

We have a fairly extensive plant database on BCOz here http://bushcraftoz.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?56-Plants
and more specific bushtucker section. here http://bushcraftoz.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?11-Bush-Tucker
If you find a plant you cannot identify you could post a pic in the WTF (wildlife taxon finder) section here http://bushcraftoz.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?65-WTF-(Wildlife-Taxon-Finder)
The quickest way to learn about bushtucker is to attend a bushcraft meet or minimeet in your area.
I also recommend Tim Low's book.

 

[Hairyman]

and for tracking scats ect, here http://bushcraftoz.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?10-Tracking

 

[remember-the-mount-bread]

Awesome, thanks a lot Hairyman, I'll definitely check all of those out :risatonaD:
Thanks a lot,
Aidan

 

[pap11y]

Cool books (imo)

Bushcraft - Ray mears (this is brilliant. Very well presented with plenty of pics)
Bushcraft - Mors Kochanski
Bushcraft - Richard Graves
Bush Tucker Field Guide - Les Hiddins

I also like the bushcraft books by Tom Brown Jr - Tracker, way of the scout and Grandfather are a good read too..

 

[remember-the-mount-bread]

Awesome, Thanks mate, I'll check em out!
Thanks a lot,
Aidan

 

[Cam]

Hi,

Pretty good basic coverage already suggested above.

But some extra -

Wilderness Survival by Greg Davenport is a good book on the very basics of survival that underpin Bushcraft (American but it is really just fundamentals applicable anywhere)

For tracking (actual tracks and scat, not technique) try: Tracks, scats and other traces a field guide to Australian mammals

For plant use (primarily for Canberra and NSW locations, some apllicability to Victoria) try: Ngunnawal Plant Use from https://form.act.gov.au/smartforms/nrm/ngunnawal-plant-use-book-purchase/ But get the already suggested Tim Low book first as I agree it is the best on bush food in southern australia.

Also for plant use - The Weed Forager's Handbook by Grubb and Raser-Rowland. This books is not about native plants per se, but edible weeds. As weedsa are pretty much everywhere, including the bush, this stuff is well worth knowing.

For psychology of survival (not precisely bushcraft per se but an elaboration of survival knowledge which I think is the underpinning of bushcraft and so a good foundational read) try Deep Survival by Laurence Gonzales. I am working my way through it now and I think it very good, and wish I'd got to it sooner!

I know you asked for books but I'll mention in passing that there are courses by Bob Cooper (WA and sometimes NSW, check his website for details) and Rich Hungerford (QLD) as well that are really good primers and also cover some advanced stuff. Bob's courses are largely general survival style courses. Rich has general courses and also many courses specialising in various aspects of bushcraft e.g. Wild Food and Medicine, or Tracking. Both are great schools led by true practical experts with real-world survival and bushcraft backgrounds, and I highly recommend them both. They even complement each other as they have slightly different philosophies.

 

[remember-the-mount-bread]

Thanks mate, I'll check em out :_lol:
Thanks a lot,
Aidan