Author Topic: Survivorman (Read 5629 times)

Turtle · « **on:** May 01, 2006, 12:45:52 PM »

Ran across this show the other night on Discovery about a guy who purposely puts himself in a survivor situation (by himself) and survives for 7 days.

He does the filming himself and if he doesn't make it back to civilization within 7 days, they come looking for him.

I liked the show. Has anyone else seen it and what's your thoughts.

-Turtle -

azshooter · « **Reply #1 on:** May 01, 2006, 02:20:39 PM »

He would eat a lot bettter if he would take a gun with him. of course you don't really know if his claim of being un-armed is true. He may be eating all kinds of tasty animals out there and we don't know it.

Skeeterbaymac · « **Reply #2 on:** May 01, 2006, 05:49:14 PM »

I have seen the show a couple of times. I get a kick out of his comments and think he is funny. I enjoy seeing the show, but have a little trouble with his shelters. They are a bit on the poor side for me. I have seen him crawl up next to a tree or in a wash out of rocks. Once I saw him out in the cold and he had used an old plane weckage for a shelter. He tried to block off the wind with seat material. I think it would have been better if he had built a proper shelter and used that. I know he would have been more comfortable. I mean if your lost or stuck in the woods, take the time and build a good shelter. After all you got time on your hands.

Other than the shelter issue, I find the show pretty good.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #3 on:** May 01, 2006, 06:01:04 PM »

If you remember, the airplane crash left him with a broken arm, a bit hard to make a shelter with one arm, even tho he gave up on the broken arm role after a day. He did use the plane to his best advantage, a shelter, I'm sure it was better than no shelter at all.

I've been watching it for about a year, he's quite good at what he does, filming himself and packing 50lbs of camera gear has got to test a man just traveling the distances he covers, let alone being in a survival situation with nothing more than a leatherman and little else.

He did carry a rifle when he did his Baffin Island episode, albeit a .243....... for polar bear protection!! :roll:

Tim

http://www.survivorman.ca/

Skeeterbaymac · « **Reply #4 on:** May 02, 2006, 07:13:06 AM »

That's right, I did forget about the broken arm thing. Like I said I do enjoy the show. It's just that based on the few show's I have seen. I feel that he doesn't usually take the time to build a good shelter. Other than that I think he does a good job.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #5 on:** May 02, 2006, 03:51:14 PM »

I think the reason he doesn't build better shelters is cuz he's on the move, he's usually supposed to be someplace on the 7th day, he's not waiting to be rescued as if a person was lost. He did build a fair shelter in the Georgia swamp episode, he stayed a few days in that one before he rafted out, IIRC.

Tim

Turtle · « **Reply #6 on:** May 03, 2006, 05:36:41 PM »

I guess I could see what you mean about the shelters but also agree that he's on the move so for me I wouldn't spend a lot of energy on anything more of what I need to make it thru the night if I'm leaving it in the morning.

I got to tell you though, this last week he started a fire with a bow drill and I don't know if you've tried that or not but it's pretty darn hard. A lot of preparation getting the tools right and then they may or may not work.

Anyway, I enjoy the show and try to pick up on different things. Ya never know when ya might need them.

-Turtle-

Prof. Fuller Bullspit · « **Reply #7 on:** August 01, 2006, 11:10:56 AM »

I enjoy the show, although I suspect that he tries to make things a bit more dramatic than they really are. For instance, recently he was in the desert and he tried to make the javelena into somethign to really fear. In my experience they don't stick around if they smell or hear you. They do sometimes panic and run every direction, but they don't seem to want to attack. Of course if one did get on you they could hurt you.

He was above one and I kept thinking I would have dropped a big rock on it and eaten well for a few days. He is either really good at starving or he eats more than he lets on.

azshooter · « **Reply #8 on:** August 13, 2006, 04:42:54 PM »

I have changed my mind about him since this post came up. I saw an episode this weekend and as he was killing a snail he said how "he hates killing living things but in the name of survival....". The guy is a complete pussy.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #9 on:** August 13, 2006, 04:48:45 PM »

Heh heh, he's gotta keep the animal lovers in his audience happy!!

Tim

Plainsman · « **Reply #10 on:** August 16, 2006, 03:13:03 PM »

Survivorman does two things for me:
1) Entertains me!
2) Reminds me how NOT to do things in a survival situation!!

He OFTEN does things one should NEVER do in a survival situation. He moves EVERYTIME, which is a no-no. He seldom tries to TRAP/CATCH animals, which should be a 'priority' to conserve energy and gain nourishment.

Good points are that he stresses FIRE and getting one started in every episode. He prioritizes shelter and drinking water. And BEST of all, he stresses IMPROVISATION! If one can improvise, you can do most anything you need in a survival situation!

MATLOCK · « **Reply #11 on:** November 05, 2006, 08:11:42 AM »

Les Stroud is an IDIOT!
This two bit hack, wanna be outdoorsman, has done more to mis inform, mis advise, and harm the concept of survival than a thousand "tree huggerin PETA members" with pots & spoons banging through the woods on opening day!

hillbill · « **Reply #12 on:** November 18, 2006, 02:45:14 PM »

he doesnt seem to want to kill anything to eat, i fear he may be a democrat. let me know what yuall think? it is harder out there to make a living than some think. i think he has resigned himself to the fact yu can go for a week without eating.im not sure i could do the same.

S.B. · « **Reply #13 on:** December 23, 2006, 06:12:28 AM »

I read somewhere that knowledge is the Key to survival. Found this link to a good site about survival: http://www.survivalprimer.com/Index_Survival.htm
Hope you people enjoy it?

Johm D M · « **Reply #14 on:** January 04, 2007, 09:20:12 AM »

Quote from: Plainsman on August 16, 2006, 03:13:03 PM

Survivorman does two things for me:
1) Entertains me!
2) Reminds me how NOT to do things in a survival situation!!

He OFTEN does things one should NEVER do in a survival situation. He moves EVERYTIME, which is a no-no. He seldom tries to TRAP/CATCH animals, which should be a 'priority' to conserve energy and gain nourishment.

Good points are that he stresses FIRE and getting one started in every episode. He prioritizes shelter and drinking water. And BEST of all, he stresses IMPROVISATION! If one can improvise, you can do most anything you need in a survival situation!

You stay put if they are looking for you, you move to find the best situation for a short term stay or if you don't wwant to be found.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #15 on:** January 04, 2007, 09:56:15 AM »

If y'all want a laugh, watch Bear Grylls on the Man vs Wild TV Series on Discovery Channel, whata hoot!!

Tim

http://www.beargrylls.com/ontv.html

TrenchMud · « **Reply #16 on:** January 21, 2007, 08:29:47 AM »

BIG JOKE........ Bear and survivor man.

Bubber · « **Reply #17 on:** January 26, 2007, 07:10:18 PM »

I agree with trench mud. Both are a joke.

Tony · « **Reply #18 on:** September 11, 2007, 11:55:55 PM »

I am by no means a survival expert but I have learned some information by watching Survivorman and Man vs Wild. My question to all the people making negative comments about Les and Bear, is what are your survival backgrounds. Are you all survival experts or just arm chair commandos which seems to be the going trend these days. I am just wondering because I would like to talk with and learn from a real survival expert. I figure the more knowledge I gain the better off I will be.

Tony

NONYA · « **Reply #19 on:** September 12, 2007, 03:05:14 AM »

The little bi-atch is always spouting"i HATE the thought of killing things" But he does it on EVERY show to make $,hes a POS!BTW he always HAS or FINDS the crap he uses to start fires ect.I like to see him dumped in one of these remote locations with nothing more than the shirt on his back and see how well he survives for a month,you can go a week with nothing but water and thats how long his "shows" cover.

moxgrove · « **Reply #20 on:** September 12, 2007, 10:40:17 AM »

He spends 2 weeks prior to filming each episode with someone who specializes in survival in that region before he goes out and films.
Taken with a grain of salt it is interesting though. It is meant to be entertainment and not a true learning experience-I hope.

Tony · « **Reply #21 on:** September 12, 2007, 02:23:03 PM »

I knew that both of these two spend time at their location filming each episode with an expert for that area, but at times they have both shared some good information such as different fire starting techniques for example. I do not agree with everything they do. However my original question was still not answered, so I will ask again, what are your survival backgrounds and are you all survival experts or just arm chair commandos?

Tony

moxgrove · « **Reply #22 on:** September 12, 2007, 04:27:36 PM »

Well I don't know if I'm a survival expert, but I am alive. I was in the Marine Corps in the 80's. Went through one of Army's recondo courses in panama. I also was in Belize in 85 and spent time with Gurkhas there , I did learn a thing or two. I have also been a passionate outdoorsman my whole life and have been known to go into the bush for a few weeks at a time. I also taught winter camping and skills to Eagle scouts until a few years ago. Expert? maybe not, but I have learned a few practical skills over the years.
Let's just say I'll take them seriously when I see them eat wormy acorn cakes and pine needle tea.
To quote Crocodile Dundee "you can live on it , but it tastes like s***

Tony · « **Reply #23 on:** September 12, 2007, 10:39:08 PM »

First let me say thank you for serving our great nation. I served in the U.S. Army from 1999 to 2003 as a Military Police Officer. I think I learned some good information and I have also been an avid outdoorsman all my life. I am still trying to gain as much knowledge as I can and I like to practice what I learn because you never know when you are going to need it.

Tony

Buckskins & Black Powder · « **Reply #24 on:** September 20, 2007, 04:45:02 PM »

you guys been watching the new survivorman eps? I love the latest where he is in the Cook islands! That one and the alaska episode are my favorites!

quickdtoo · « **Reply #25 on:** September 20, 2007, 04:46:21 PM »

Never miss it!!

Tim

Bowpredator · « **Reply #26 on:** October 03, 2007, 06:23:10 AM »

I have only caught the show a couple of times and dont mind watching it for the entertainment value. The only thing that concerns me about it is most of us sportsmen have a good idea of what to do if we get lost or stranded. Most other people dont but after watching a few episodes of this show, will think they will. They might get some good ideas from the show on how to build a shelter, find water, and start a fire but I dont care for the fact that he doesnt stress to folks that the main thing to do if lost or stranded is to stay put so the rescuers can find you. He also makes it look like food is a major concern when stranded and we all know that it isnt. Even if someone gets lost and remembers an edible plant or bug they saw him eat on the show, chances are, it is going to do a number on their stomach and intestines changing diet like that. They would be better off building a shelter, building a fire, and then finding water, in that order IMO. In this day and age, they should be rescued long before food becomes a factor. I think if I ate half the stuff I've seen him eat, I'd be spending too much time and energy behind a tree.

SharonAnne · « **Reply #27 on:** August 11, 2008, 08:39:53 AM »

someone suggested Stroud might be a democrat. worse, he is Canadian

hillbill · « **Reply #28 on:** August 11, 2008, 03:15:14 PM »

well i wont hold it agin him if he is a canaidian, but if he is a dem!!!! then im out.i did just see his new show, cant recall the name of it rite now, but he sawed a hole in some ice and jumped in, with an expert, to show yu how to get out if this happens to yu.wasnt nuttin yu could fake and you could tell he was in serious pain.what i did learn was to splash some water on the ice and let yur sleeves freeze into it. makes the body easier to find he said.

bilmac · « **Reply #29 on:** August 11, 2008, 06:45:27 PM »

Again I say, the main qualification to be the star of either of these shows is the ability to eat bugs and other disgusting stuff. Otherwise they are both pretty much clowns. I watch them for the giggles. I wonder how many rafts these guys will build before they actually make one that keeps them afloat.