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Learn timeless primitive-camping skills while taking a nostalgic look at 25 of The Backwoodsman magazine’s practical and enduring articles.
As a young child, Charlie Richie Jr. used to watch his father build shelters, craft tools, and practice traditional outdoor skills—and fall in love with the Old Ways of Living. In 1979, Charlie Richie Sr. was inspired to create The Backwoodsman magazine, with a mission to preserve and share self-reliant skills that will forever be relevant.
In The Backwoodsman: Primitive Camping, Charlie Jr. collects 25 of the magazine’s best articles focused on setting up and staying comfortably in a primitive camp. Written by experienced outdoorsmen, these selections feature hands-on projects and how-to instructions—often accompanied by diagrams and illustrations—for shelters, tools, camp comfort, and more.
A testament to human ingenuity and the enduring value of traditional craftsmanship in an increasingly technological world, this book ensures that essential outdoor skills and “the art of making” remain accessible to future generations. It offers personal empowerment, creativity, and a deeper connection to the natural world.
If you’re an avid outdoorsperson preparing for off-grid adventures—or simply drawn to traditional skills and self-reliant living—this is an essential book. If you enjoy building, carving, cooking over an open fire, or imagining a functional camp made with simple materials, you’ll appreciate this rugged collection of primitive-camping knowledge for beginners and hands-on adventurers.
Inside you’ll find:
- 25 of The Backwoodsman magazine’s best primitive-camping articles
- Instructions for shelters, camp setup, cooking, tools, and other outdoor skills
- Illustrations and diagrams that support step-by-step learning
Charlie Richie Jr. is the owner and editor of The Backwoodsman. He was only 9 years old when his parents started the publication in 1979, so it’s been a huge part of his life. Charlie officially started working for The Backwoodsman in 1995 and has served many roles, including associate publisher, special assignments editor, head of media relations, and advertising director. He has written numerous articles and feature interviews for the magazine. Charlie took over The Backwoodsman in January 2022. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he has also been a freelance outdoor TV producer for the past 15 years.
Safety Note
Foreword
Setting up Camp
- Warm Shelters for Cold Temperatures
- Primitive Shelter on the Fly
- Make a Cottage out of the Woods
- One-Sheet Shelters
- A Clever Shoulder Tent
- The Reed’s Landing
- Lessons from Building a Tepee
- Primitive Fire: The Hand Drill
- No GPS? No Problem
Cooking, Clothes & Comfort
- A No-Electricity Refrigerator
- Bake, Boil, and Fry with the Forest Range
- DIY Coffee Maker
- Build a Folding Camp Bed
- A Hammock with a Roof
- The Not-So-Common Pack Frame
- Primitive Backpack Inspiration
- Turn Old Blue Jeans into New Gear
- Scrimshaw Isn’t a Waste of Time
Fishing the Old-Fashioned Way
- All-Natural Bobbers
- Low-Tech Fishing Techniques
- Backwater Lakes: Nature’s Fish Traps
- Bear Paws: The Safety Tool
- for When You’re in a Pinch
Hunting & Trapping
- Harpoon Hunting
- Primitive Trapping: Deadfalls and Snares
- Hafting a Primitive Knife