a. Sources and location.
(1) Mammals can be found where—
[a] - Trails lead to watering, feeding, and bedding areas.
[b] - Droppings or tracks look fresh.
(2) Birds can be found by—
[a] - Observing the direction of flight in the early morning and late afternoon (leads to feeding, watering, and roosting areas).
[b] - Listening for bird noises (indication of nesting areas
(3) Fish and other marine life locations (Figure VIII-1).
Figure VIII-1. Fishing Locations
(4) Reptiles and amphibians are found almost worldwide.
(5) Insects are found—
[a] - In dead logs and stumps.
[b] - At ant and termite mounds.
[c] - On ponds, lakes, and slow moving streams.
b. Procurement techniques.
(1) Snares—
[a] - Work while unattended.
[b] - Location: Trails leading to water, feeding, and bedding areas, Mouth of dens (Figure VIII-2).
Figure VIII-2. Snare Placement
[c] - Construction of simple loop snare. Use materials that will not break under the strain of holding an animal. Use a figure 8 (locking loop) if wire is used (Figure VIII-3). Once tightened, the wire locks in place,preventing reopening, and the animal’s escape. To construct a squirrel pole (Figure VIII-4) use simple loop snares. Make noose opening slightly larger than the animal's head (3-finger width for squirrels, fist-sized for rabbits).
[d] - Placement of snares (set as many as possible). Avoid disturbing the area. Use funneling (natural or improvised) (Figure VIII-5).
Figure VIII-3. Locking Loop
Figure VIII-4. Squirrel Pole
Figure VIII-5. Funneling
(2) Noose stick (easier and safer to use than the hands).
(3) Twist stick (Figure VIII-6).
[a] - Insert forked stick into a den until something soft is met.
[b] - Twist the stick, binding the animal's hide in the fork.
[c] - Remove the animal from the den.
[d] - Be ready to kill the animal; it may be dangerous.
Figure VIII-6. Procurement Devices
(4) Hunting and fishing devices. (See Figure VIII-7 for fishing procurement methods.)
[a] - Club or rock.
[b] - Spear.
[c] - Slingshot.
[d] - Pole, line, and hook.
[e] - Net.
[f] - Trap.
Figure VIII-7. Procurement Methods
(5) Precautions:
[a] - Wear shoes to protect the feet when wading in water.
[b] - Avoid reaching into dark holes.
[c] - Kill animals before handling. Animals in distress may attract the enemy.
[d] - DO NOT secure fishing lines to yourself or the raft.
[e] - Kill fish before bringing them into the raft.
[f] - DO NOT eat fish with—Spines, Unpleasant odor, Pale, slimy gills, Sunken eyes, Flabby skin, Flesh that remains dented when pressed.
[g] - DO NOT eat fish eggs or liver (entrails).
[h] - Avoid all crustaceans above the high tide mark.
[i] - Avoid cone-shaped shells (Figure VIII-8).
Figure VIII-8. Cone-Shaped Shells of Venomous Snails
[j] - Avoid hairy insects; the hairs could cause irritation or infection.
[k] - Avoid poisonous insects, for example: Centipedes, Scorpions, Poisonous spiders.
[l] - Avoid disease carrying insects, such as— Flies, Mosquitoes, Ticks.
c. Plant Foods. Before using the following guide use your evasion chart to identify edible plants:
(1) Selection criteria.
[a] - Before testing for edibility, ensure there are enough plants to make testing worth your time and effort. Each part of a plant (roots, leaves, stems, bark, etc.) requires more than 24 hours to test. DO NOT waste time testing a plant that is not abundant.
[b] - Test only 1 part of 1 plant at a time.
[c] - Remember that eating large portions of plant food on an empty stomach may cause diarrhea, nausea, or cramps. Two good examples are green apples and wild onions. Even after testing food and finding it safe, eat in moderation.
(2) Avoid plants with the following characteristics:
[a] - Milky sap (dandelion has milky sap but is safe to eat and easily recognizable).
[b] - Spines, fine hairs, and thorns (skin irritants/contact dermatitis). Prickly pear and thistles are exceptions. Bracken fern fiddleheads also violate this guideline.
[c] - Mushrooms and fungus.
[d] - Umbrella shaped flowers (hemlock is eliminated).
[e] - Bulbs (only onions smell like onions).
[f] - Grain heads with pink, purplish, or black spurs.
[g] - Beans, bulbs, or seeds inside pods.
[h] - Old or wilted leaves.
[i] - Plants with shiny leaves.
[j] - White and yellow berries. (Aggregate berries such as black and dewberries are always edible, test all others before eating.)
[k] - Almond scent in woody parts and leaves.
d. Test procedures.
(Note) Test all parts of the plant for edibility. Some plants have both edible and inedible parts. NEVER ASSUME a part that proved edible when cooked is edible raw, test the part raw before eating. The same part or plant may produce varying reactions in different individuals.
(1) Test only 1 part of a plant at a time.
(2) Separate the plant into its basic components (stems, roots, buds, and flowers).
(3) Smell the food for strong acid odors. Remember, smell alone does not indicate a plant is edible or inedible.
(4) DO NOT eat 8 hours before the test and drink only purified water.
(5) During the 8 hours you abstain from eating, test for contact poisoning by placing a piece of the plant on the inside of your elbow or wrist. The sap or juice should contact the skin. Usually 15 minutes is enough time to allow for a reaction.
(6) During testing, take NOTHING by mouth EXCEPT purified water and the plant you are testing.
(7) Select a small portion of a single part and prepare it the way you plan to eat it.
(8) Before placing the prepared plant in your mouth, touch a small portion (a pinch) to the outer surface of your lip to test for burning or itching.
(9) If after 3 minutes there is no reaction on your lip, place the plant on your tongue and hold it for 15 minutes.
(10) If there is no reaction, thoroughly chew a pinch and hold it in your mouth for 15 minutes (DO NOT SWALLOW). If any ill effects occur, rinse out your mouth with water.
(11) If nothing abnormal occurs, swallow the food and wait 8 hours. If any ill effects occur during this period, induce vomiting and drink a water and charcoal mixture.
(12) If no ill effects occur, eat ¼ cup of the same plant prepared the same way. Wait another 8 hours. If no ill effects occur, the plant part as prepared is safe for eating.
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