Sumpthin to think about, 

Especially for those survival minded types that have the plan of ‘hunter-gatherer’ as their key. 

This year here has been hot and dry for the most part. Our reported rainfall has been down all year.  That isn’t as much of a problem for a place that borderlines rainforest most years, with a few exceptions.

Pests.  Ticks. The ticks were so bad this year they have decimated the rabbit and squirrel populations.  We are still seeing a few, here and there, but we are not seeing them in the quantities that we were at the beginning of the year. In regular walks with Voo, I have personally dispatched 2 rabbits that were so infested, they were near dead already.  Both went into the burn pile unmolested by me or dog.  I have only seen two squirrels on my ridge and that actually scares me.  Our acorns are doing very well this year, more than enough for the past population, but those will not be gathered this year for lack of population. And there isn’t really any room for more trees unless they come in and clear cut. (Over my withered corpse I say!) 

The other problem is bluetongue. This is a virus passed to certain bovinity type animals by midges.  When its dry, the midges become more prominent and aggressive, and deer are one of the creatures that can catch this.  Its running rampant in our whitetail population and is being reported here, pretty much statewide, Eastern Tennessee, parts of southern Indiana, and West Va, and Virginia.  There is one carcass up the hill from my house that we suspect is from that.  Jack-jack brought another one down (unharmed.  We were able to get her freed and released her.)just this evening,  that I suspect was also infected.  I just heard today of another 3 found within a mile of my place.  

This is not good if one were counting on that source for ones own survival.  Yeah, I hunt, but its not the key source of my food, nor is it critical for me. But, if it were, I would be looking at mighty rough winter ahead.  

Yeah, like the weather, these things run in cycles, but unless one were able to accurately predict the future  (HA!) There would be no way to plan for this. (Well, then again, thats why they call it “Prepping”: prepare for the unpredictable worst thing you can imagine, and hope for the best.)

Hunting is not a prep you can count on, especially at current populations (of both creatures and two legs).  Unless (until) the human population reduces itself by some ungodly huge percentage, hunting will not be a reliable method to sustain your tribe.  (With a few notable places as exceptions).  You  will have to supplement ( better yet, primarily rely on ) your foods with local agriculture AND livestock of some sort. And both of those increase the size of your footprint, for those that are trying to be obscure, as well as anchor you in place for a rather extended period.  All are things to consider for those thinking about these things, if you have not considered them prior. And as always, food and water should be at the top of your thinking; Things YOU control, and not depend on Just In Time delivery systems to sustain you and yours.  Remember that in history, food has always been a control factor in keeping populations in line, whether through mama nature or tyranny.  Make sure you have control of your sources, and keep them under wraps so you can maintain that control.  (If you can’t stand over it and defend it with your life, you do not own it!)

Ok, enough doom n gloom, but the news today made me think of at least one person among my friends n readers that needs to reassess their game plan due to things like this summer killing off game populations.