Stayin’ alive: Hunter offers 5 tips to survive on the land

Prepare for the worst — and don’t leave home without a snow knife.

Peter Autut, a hunter, teacher and storyteller, spoke about Arctic survival Aug. 8 as part of a series of Learn To… events hosted by Nunavut Parks this summer.

Hosted at Sylvia Grinnell Territorial Park, Autut said he learned to hunt and survive in the Arctic while growing up in Chesterfield Inlet. He said his father was his constant teacher and by the time Autut was 17, he was hunting on his own.

“Survival is [getting] away from the wind. Dig your ditch. Don’t panic. Have your snow knife, have your shovel,” Autut said.

“It may be a little bit of work, but a little bit of work can save your life.”

Here are five tips he suggested for surviving while on the land in the Arctic.

Don’t panic

Conditions can change quickly. A clear, sunny day can suddenly turn to fog; you can run out of gas or get slammed by a blizzard.

In a whiteout, Autut said, blowing snow makes it impossible to distinguish the sky from the ground; it’s like staring into a giant sheet of paper.

Instead of panicking, take stock of your situation. Backtrack if possible, or wait until dark and then use your headlights to find your trail. Keep a clear head and know which direction you are going.

Bring the proper tools and supplies

That includes a stove with naphtha fuel, extra gas for your machine, matches, lighters, spare batteries, tent, sleeping bag, shovel and especially a snow knife.

A GPS tracker like a SPOT device is also necessary to help search and rescue find you if needed.

Always bring proper tools and supplies, whether you are travelling 10 kilometres or 100, Autut said.

Build or find shelter

If you’re caught out on the snow overnight, you’ll need shelter from the wind and cold.

Remember that snow knife?

A snow knife is the all-purpose Arctic construction tool. You might not be able to build an igloo like Autut can, but you can use the snow knife to build a wall or shield to provide some shelter against the wind.

Another option, particularly if you have a sled, is to dig a ditch in the snow, lay down there and cover yourself with the sled for an improvised roof.

Autut advises against lying directly on the ground. You want something — a sleeping bag, caribou skin — between you and the snow.

Do not leave your snowmobile behind

Search and rescue experts advise that if you’re lost, stay put so rescuers can find you.

In the Arctic, if you run out of gas or are lost the worst thing is to abandon your snowmobile. Most often, your snowmobile is the first thing rescuers will find because they’ll be looking for snowmobile tracks which are more visible than footprints.

Fire or heat

A tent can provide protection from the cold wind, but a stove can keep you warm. If you’ve been hunting but don’t have a stove, animal fat or oil can be burned for heat. Seals are the best, but caribou and other animals have fat which can be burned.