9781422287804

10 Surviving by Trapping, Fishing, & Eating Plants

• Fats. They provide the greatest source of energy. Fats are used by the body when it has used up its carbohydrate store. Fats can be obtained from butter, cheese, oils, nuts, egg yolks, margarine, and animal fats. • Minerals and vitamins. These are important for keeping a person fit and providing a well-balanced diet. Animals as food Troops always remember one thing about getting food from animals: never to use more energy getting the food than they receive from it once they have caught and cooked it. Elite soldiers are trained to be skilled in hunting and trapping. They learn about the types of animals that inhabit the area they are in, their tracks, habits, and where they sleep. The best animals for flavor and quantity of meat are mature females, but all animals will provide a soldier with meat of one kind or another. If soldiers do not have a gun, they will kill animals using snares and traps. Most of what they catch in this way will be small animals and birds. If they do have guns, they observe the following rules when hunting prey: • Walk as quietly as possible. • Move slowly, stop frequently, and listen. • Be observant; hunt upwind or crosswind whenever possible so the prey is not alerted to your presence. • Try to blend in with the terrain features. • Be prepared. Game often startles hunters and catches them off guard, resulting in a badly aimed shot. • Make the first shot count.