As a child in the 30s and early 40s, my father hunted and trapped for food and fur in West Virginia. He sold his pelts to Sears and Roebuck. Imperfections such as entry wounds were called “buttonholes” and detracted from the value. In the early 50s, dad booked passage to the territory of Alaska to become a truck driver. Upon arrival in Anchorage, the truck drivers were on strike. To cross a picket line in the early 50s territory of Alaska meant certain death. So he walked the Alcan Highway to Fairbanks. Sleeping in dugouts beneath fir trees… And pouncing upon ptarmigan for food. It was a long journey on foot. His boot strings eventually become tied under to keep the soles on… And the armpits were worn out of his jacket from the swinging action of his arms. The road, at that time, was just a high mound of packed gravel. Occasionally, exhaustion and delirium would render him unconscious… And he would fall. Rolling down the side of the gravel mound that made the road. Between the shock of that and the exertion from climbing back up, it was usually enough to wake him up again so that he could continue the journey. He arrived at his destination. And he became a truck driver in Alaska. When the territory became a state, he moved back home to West Virginia and began working at a steel mill in Ohio. In 1974, I was born. I grew up as a son to a father who had “been there and done that” in the worst of times and in the best of times. We lost dad to cancer in 2000. I only had 26 years with him. But in those precious few years I learned a great many things from him. He was one hell of a man.

Got to agree that animal furs and materials like wool are the way to go in extreme cold. We've been conditioned to think of them as awful but millions of native peoples would be dead without them.

It's crazy to me that this one video has the information and tools to actually save thousands of lives from a cold death and it doesn't have 500k+ views.

Everybody cries about the poor animals until it's cold and dark and the wind is howling and they can feel the lead weight of hypothermia on their shoulders. I've been there a couple of times, and that moment when you realise that you're not shivering anymore, and you just want to sleep is terrifying.

Gotta say I really like this new direction the channel is going with interviewing people in the survival and wilderness profession. Thanks for the hard work to keep this channel fresh.

This is some of the best content that you ever made. Wisdom from craftsmen can easily be lost. You are making it nearly permanent. Thank you.

Having grown up in Prince Albert Saskatchewan and Thompson Manitoba winter survival was taught and practiced from the time I was 5 or 6. I now live in North Idaho and it amazes me how little most people know about winter and how quickly it can kill you

That dude is legit "old school"/OG, that would be an AWESOME series to add to your channel!

Knitting a merino wool hat as I watch this. 62 hours of knitting 42 dollars Canadian. Real fur and wool can't be beat. Keep warm people, winter is coming.

I have spent many months working outdoors in Northern Saskatchewan winter. Saw -55C once. It’s no joke. One night in my tent, my heat broke down. Synthetic materials would not have kept me alive.

I've been buying furs at second hand stores for years for $11 to $50 typically. Great for staying warm, for blankets, roll up for a pillow, nothing better to stay warm.

Fur coats got a bad name because of people wearing them for “luxury” and people associate them with wasteful spending. You made a great point that buying a fur coat that will last for life is way more sustainable and earth friendly than synthetic. Also, Pretty much all my clothes are merino wool. A long sleeve shirt cost anywhere from $75-$120 but they are worth every penny. When I go backpacking I just take a a merino 150, 200, and 250 shirt. They don’t smell or stain, I don’t get the cold sweats, they really are a night and day difference over cotton. It’s wild that such and inferior material became the more popular fabric

Tassels or fringe on leather is actually called leather wang. Wangs were part of North American tribal and mountain man gear to help dry out moist leather gear (quicker). The moisture actually wicks to the wangs during drying.

Real fur is always much warmer than synthetic materials. I bought old fur coats and used them as blankets for when it got cold.

I'm still anti fur when it comes to the fashion industry where it's just used as a status symbol. Where it's an essential part of living outdoors in winter conditions it's a whole other ball game. This man is so skilled and has so much knowledge it's great to watch.

Recently got fur boots as a present and I've never had feet this warm in my life. Best gift I ever got.

Inuit in the house and I love my fur.

Never had fur, but my parents received 2 Hudson Bay wool blankets for their wedding about 65 years ago. They passed away long ago, but I still have the blankets today. They look great are very cozy.

Ok....now I want to go out and buy a fur coat. Oddly enough I live 30 minutes away from Donner lake. Yes the infamous Donner party who ate eat other when they got stuck in a bad snow storm near Lake tahoe.

My dog years ago was one third coyote. In winter being poor I would put his fluff in my socks, worked like nothing else🤔

This guy really knows his craft. Way to go on the content Nate 😎😉

This was one of THE best videos you've made yet. I hope you take us along on your journey with him!

My most prized heirloom is a waist-length fur coat from my grandmother. It took her 3 months of wages to save up for it. She was the first generation of women who were free to keep working in their careers after they got married. She had her initials embroidered on the inside. After watching your videos the last few weeks, I'm kicking myself my mum and I decided to donate her full-length coat. It was too heavy for me to pack and bring back from Ireland to Canada. At least I have something

The warmest garmen I have ever tried was a coat made out of wolf skin.

I was given two garbage bags full of alpaca wool to spin into yarn for knitting. 💕💜 I make 3-ply yarn (more durable) using 2 strands of sheep wool and 1 strand of alpaca to make socks and mittens. I’ll use two-ply wool + alpaca, spun more for softness, for hats, scarves, and ear muffs.

I lived in Alaska for 27 years, this guy is spot on about fur keeping you toasty warm.

This has me looking for “fur stores near me”. Lots of good info here that I hadn’t really thought about.

I spent a lot of time in an off grid lake cabin with my grandfather/uncles etc. We were only 50 miles away from civilization, but we were quite isolated most of the time. The amount of basic survival I learned from this experience is priceless. Plan for the worst and hope for the best.

This was great. Old trapper making great gear and some great stories.

My family has been in the woods for the last 200 years, trapping is essential to all who plan on long term survival I'm glad to see it getting more positive attention

I took a trapping class and learned a lot about furs. It's good stuff we should be using it's not cruel it's survival and better for our environment

This is what we need as a community! Keep up the good work CP. We learn so much from our elders, without them we are lost.

Now this is a nice refreshing addition to the channel

Love to hear people talking about stuff when they have that amount of knowledge.

Heaviest coat ever in the store was Grizzly weighed 66 pounds mid calf. Arkansas winters dont really get that cold normally but around the time the coat was in the store temps dropped to 8 degrees f. I put the coat on crossed the street to help a another store owner 20 minutes tops I was pulling it off. Incredibly warm. Coat was made in the 1880's some wear but in excellent shape sold for 2400 bucks well worth it.

I lived through the 98 icestorm (on the ontario side) that he was talking about. I was 10 years old. 3 weeks with no power, no furnace, no generator. We survived by tarping/blanketing off the living room.

I have a lot of respect for the folks that can still make such useful things with furs.

CP is one of the best preparedness channels in KZfaq!

Old trick from fishermen in Iceland was to wear mittens or gloves made of wool mixed with women's hair. All natural materials which kept their hands working when fishing at sea on cold days. Adding the hair lessened the itch from the wool. Got myself a pair of traditional mitts. That was 20 years ago, they are a bit worn, but still warm, still working.

Awesome video! Nice job of interviewing! You let him speak without interrupting. Nothing's as good as what G-D made. Synthetic looks nice, but just like some people, it only looks good on the surface...

Love this. My dear friends are outfitters, hunters, and trappers and make beautiful and incomparably WARM mitts, hats and clothing. They raised their kids off grid and each boy had their trap lines. Amazing way to grow up! It’s incredible how much work goes into making a pair of mitts from scratch. The man being interviewed is amazing! I love this interview! 🤎

You should interview the Indigenous People of the North! They're the real genius for healthy eating with whale blubber, moose meat, seal; natural medicine; and survival clothing! They have the best knowledge and skills, that's why the government wants them wiped out.

I really love beaver. It's just so soft and warm, and when wet it is simply amazing. Nothing beats a good beaver ;-)

Great video very informative and interesting! Fascinating man right there knows his stuff.. as the old saying goes "You can't buy experience"! Rule 1. If you get stuck, head home, keep moving and don't stop or you'll freeze to death! Rule 2. Don't forget Rule 1! Cheers from London England 👍💪😎🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

I have a soviet sheep skin long coat I wear in the winter. It's from the cold War Era and still looks and feels great. It's heavier than most people are used to no doubt at around 20 lbs, but dang is she warm. Not a fan of the soviet union but they made some nice coats 👍

Man will never beat or recreate God's formidable creation. Intelligent design from the Most High, us puny humans can't compare. Thanks for the vid, wisdom and simplicity at it's finest in these ancient crafts.

Canadians are natural born preppers. We go through an apocalyptic event evey year. We call it winter. Most Canadians instinctively know.... October rolls around... You better be prepared to hunker down for a couple to four months of deadly cold temps.

After listening to his description, it makes sense that fur is much warmer and dryer. That is the point of it--to keep the animal warm and dry. That's how God made animals. I just never thought about it before. Thanks for the interview.

Excellent video! First time I have seen this covered or even considered this subject. I have always been anti fur but I now see the benefit in time of crisis.

The one with knowledge of and experience of the wilderness survives. Thanks for the great program!

A Canadian knowing about winter? Who'd have thought?🤣 I grew up in Montana in the 60's and 70's, so we got cold there too. People think I'm weird because all of my winter clothes are wool. Jacket, pants, gloves. Underlayers are merino wool. Stocking caps are wool, ski masks are merino wool. Even wear a merino wool glove liner under my wool shooting mitts. I live in Colorado now, so furs rarely, if ever, are needed.

I've got a hat & mitts made from badger... absolutely beautiful. A Filson Macinaw wool coat, and Lacross Ice King Boots and I can stay out in the coldest weather!

As always, you've posted another high quality and informative video. When wanted to hunt in the state of Pennsylvania I had to attend a mandatory class on both hunting and trading. I was very surprised when the game warden started to cover trapping and placed his hand and wrist in a small animal trap and activated it! Everyone in the class just knew he had just broken his wrist, but to our surprise he wasn't hurt at all. That was when I learned about these types of traps that don't injury the animal. That hunter's education class in Pennsylvania was top notch.

It’s amazing when 2 smart brains come together. Mr Canadian prepper helps millions. This other gentleman does too we just don’t hear about it cause they are warm,cozy and live. Great quality products that work and last.Shout out to that gentleman you can tell he loves what he does. C.P thank you. Top notch content always.Have a good day to all.

I would suggest studying the tanning process, both modern and primitive methods. You never know what knowledge will help out there. Good luck

You’ve opened my mind about fur. I’ve been dead set against the fur industry for a long time because I thought it was cruel. And it probably is in certain places. But this man and people like him obviously have respect for the animal and for nature. Thank you.

Mother nature and its awesomeness. We can never seem to truely best it. The best thing we can do is to comprehend and copy it as best we can. Things always seem to work better when we take that approach.

Hello brother by far this is one of your best videos ever documentary level Top notch I really enjoyed the video thank you very much for this information it really gave me lots of ideas and encouragement

I’ve been watching your channel since you started it. I’m just impressed with how you keep coming up with better and better content over the years. I honestly never thought fur being a useful survival item let alone how it might be better for the planet in general. Well done.

Some of my father's family were trappers. Not sure what territory they trapped from, but they were originally from Nova Scotia/New Brunswick area and also along the St. Lawrence river in Quebec. I didn't ask questions and it was a fleeting comment about it. Listening to this man gives me a new found respect for what they did.

Grew up in the mountain wilderness without electricity for about 3 winter months a year. (think the movie the shining) After we got in bed at night, mom threw a cow hide over the top of the blankets. Snug as a bug in a rug. Always wore animal fur outside.

Brilliant video content!!!!! A great coat to buy is the WW2 Swedish Tank Commander coat, called the M1909. I have the 1st and 2nd editions. All made of military tent canvas and sheepskin. The 1st Ed also had long goat hair in. The collars are commonly eroded but repaired mine and fashioned a new collar out of a Swedish sheepskin rug and sewn with a sailing boat sail repair kit. They based Bane’s coat on the M1909 but gotta say mine is way better

I have watched a lot of your videos and this one I think I enjoyed the best... Of course I am a fur-addict for many years since I was a young woman and was asked to make a fur garment custom for someone... I had to learn all about working with fur... very different than sewing fabrics... so... now it's 53 years later and I still work with leathers and fur.... Yes, I am 76 years old and still working and still wearing furs all the time... Well, in Winter... I live on Vancouver Island...

Wow. I learned so much from this video. I want all of it! Great video!!!

Fascinating! Thanks for this video. I lived in the Arctic for 10 years and I remember how lovely and warm fur parka trim and mitts are.

I've had a pair of sheepskin lined leather mitts that I've had since the 80s. I use these for Ice Fishing. Worth every penny...

Mate this had to be your best video yet. Your interview subject was the most fascinating guy to listen to. I could’ve listened to you guys all day. We’ll done.

This is an easy and quick answer. People were tough, they didn’t rely on anyone but themselves, and they did not believe they were entitled to anything. No crying, no whining, just straight up toughness and perseverance.

Last winter I bought a full length mink coat. Gorgeous and amazingly warm. I’ll never need to buy another coat. I took it to a furrier to get it prepped for winter. Cleaned, glazed and repaired when the lining separated a bit. Only cost $50 US. Dry cleaning a wool coat would have cost as much. I may have to put up with some flack from the woke crowd but I usually just point out they’re wearing leather shoes made by Chinese slave labor and they go away.

YESSS!! Finally a trapper featured on a modern prepper channel. Modern steel traps and how to use them are what 99.9% of preppers are missing. KZfaq "the meat trapper"

Love the format, love that you are interviewing a local small business, great job Nate

This Acadian sounds like he's knows and loves his craft! Fantastic! Thanks for sharing him

Surviving the winter with "no technology" is what I do every year. The farther away from the poles you get, the less severe the winter, but staying in Canada is a major limiting factor. I moved to the equator where winter is indistinguishable from the other three seasons.

Great video. I like when you interview people in different trades. You learn from first hand knowledge and experience.

Yes Sir get out there and find the people with the skills needed for the future- thanks from the UK.

that was one of the BEST videos you ever made. Thank you for taking the time to do it. I loved it.

Hey, I'm first!! (Almost) Great video. When I lived in the far north I learned the value of caribou hides as sleeping surfaces - the hairs are hollow and densely packed in together - amazingly effective underpad. Because these furs are NOT being worn for "fashion", but expected to serve many years, and are repairable, the trapping involved is an honourable, (and hopefully, humane), use of these animals' lives ....nothing going to waste.

Many years ago I saw classes for making snow shoes, cheap and easy and the old fashioned way. The type of videos you are making, bring back the heritage and legacies we our ancestors were forced to leave behind in the relocation and intragation to Canada and the US. The importance of that gift and blessing will be reaped to over flowing for you and yours.

I've been snowmobiling in the Christmas mountains for 30 years. Dead smack in the middle of NB. Its not bad now with new trails, but back then we rode the old logging roads and still do. It's a long way between camps and lodges. At night at minus 30, its gonna be awhile before you see anyone.

My fur pieces are a part of my preps. Ive been buying a few pieces every year (cuffs, hats, mittens, vests). Enough for me and my family - all strategically placed. You dont need a fur coat if you have fur scarf, cuffs, and wool socks with merino leg warmers. All affordable.

He reminds me sooo much of my late father in law who was a Frenchie❤. I loved his accent and you can tell he takes such pride in every aspect of his craft. A true craftsman. Anyone would be blessed to own his fur. But I'm in Florida , so 😅

That was GREAT. More like that PLEASE! That was real Prepping. Walking 35 miles on snow shoes would be like walking a 100 miles on the road.

I find it king of odd that he says the leather can't be oiled, but I haven't worked with that type of skin. Leather will expand and weaken when exposed to heat so It's a good tip to not dry it, wipe the moisture off and brush it with a horsehair brush and that'll be the most you'll need to do.

Anyone who has been in SK know how harsh our winters can get, it is surprising we have lost so much of this practicality. Thanks for sharing a local source too

Great one! I bet i share an ancestor with this gentlemen. French Canadian Boivin trapper. BTW anyone who don't like fur, go north and stay a couple day outdoor; You'll love your fur! The trapper/tanner skill is pretty rare these days; SHTF would mean those few guys trade will mean A LOT! Thank you, sir.

I live without heating in my house and use fur in my bed, I sleep incredibly warm. Nothing can compare to nature's design.

Great video! So few people truly appreciate the knowledge and skill that goes into trapping and fur trading. Most trappers these days send their furs to a commercial tannery but learning basic tanning skills are extremely valuable. Keeping a stock pile of coarse salt and aluminum sulfate is excellent practice as well as some neats foot oil. Brian tanning is basic skill and super easy as well. Natures way… every animal has enough brains to tan it’s own hide. Sounds silly but it’s true and is a good example of nature can provide you all that you need!

Thank you for having a craftsman on your video, this is what sustainability is all about.

Great episode. Cold weather gear has been in my thoughts. Perfect timing.

A good wood stove is worth it's weight in Gold.

In NZ we hunt possum, deer, goats and pig. Can't wait to continue my journey into tanning hides and leather working. It's such a practical skill to have if the shtf!

Great Information!!! Wish someone didn’t steal my fur items because thats why i was storing them. 😔 but ur video gave me a reason to get fur hats and gloves again for my family.

Thanks for this most informative report as many have questions to know what to do and buy to survive

I love all your videos but this one, craftmanship since Ice Age... gosh... it really hits !! one of the best ever

Great video. This guy seems like a really good guy. Kind of person I’d want for my neighbor.

Wow. Absolutely the best !! I would love to have my whole outfit made out of that stuff

Great interview. He knows his stuff and it was great to learn. By the way, the trap you showed was a conibear trap a body grip, not a foot hold trap. There is most of my trapping knowledge.

What an excellent human being. I love this video. I may need some mitts...

What a knowledgeable fellow. It's a pleasure listening to him.

EXCELLENT VIDEO AND INTERVIEW!!!..thoroughly loved it and enjoyed it immensely!...I can attest to the warmth of real fur. Years ago i bought a genuine Russian fur hat from Russia (the typical one with the ear flaps that you see in the movies) and I can honestly say it is the warmest hat I have EVER owned!...At -30C in a howling wind, my head is sweating while I'm outside during a snowstorm blowing snow! my face and hat can be covered in snow and ice from the blowing wind, but my head is hot!...this is a great format and a refreshing change from your regular ones...Not that I don't love your normal format, but a great breath of fresh air once in a while...please do more!