Author

Paul Kirtley

Paul Kirtley is an award-winning professional bushcraft instructor, qualified canoe leader and mountain leader. He is passionate about nature and wilderness travel. In addition to writing this blog Paul owns and runs Frontier Bushcraft, a wilderness bushcraft school, offering bushcraft courses and wilderness expeditions.

Posts by Paul Kirtley

South African trails guide with backpack and rifle.
PK Podcast 61: James Steyn, FGASA Scout on Walking Safaris, Guiding Standards and Tracking at the Highest Level

PK Podcast 61: James Steyn, FGASA Scout on Walking Safaris, Guiding Standards and Tracking at the Highest Level

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In Episode 61 of my podcast, I speak with James Steyn, one of only a handful of guides to hold the elite FGASA Scout qualification, combining Senior Tracker status with advanced dangerous game trails guiding. James shares his journey from growing up near Kruger to guiding wilderness trails, training future guides, and running Senalala Safari Lodge in the Klaserie. We discuss the art of walking safaris, the rigour of CyberTracker assessments, the evolution of guiding standards, and the skills needed in dangerous game country.

Paul Kirtley in the middle of demonstrating the inverted axe splitting technique
Employing the Inverted Axe Splitting Technique

Employing the Inverted Axe Splitting Technique

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The forest axes we favour in bushcraft are light and versatile, but sometimes they get stuck in stubborn rounds of wood. The inverted axe technique turns this problem into an advantage, using the weight of the log and gravity to do the work. In this article I walk you through the method step by step, with photos, safety tips, and a full video run-through.

Paul Kirtley answering questions for episode 90 of #AskPaulKirtley
#AskPaulKirtley 90 – Canoe Trips, Natural Navigation, Weather Skills, Beautiful Moments in Nature, Feather Sticks

#AskPaulKirtley 90 – Canoe Trips, Natural Navigation, Weather Skills, Beautiful Moments in Nature, Feather Sticks

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In Episode 90 of #AskPaulKirtley, I answer listener questions on where I would go for a leisure canoe trip, how I balance compass use with natural navigation cues, and practical ways to improve weather forecasting skills without technology. I also reflect on some of my most beautiful moments in nature, from mountain sunsets to close wildlife encounters, and finish with some practical tips on making feather sticks.

Two bushcraft instructors working bow-drill as a pair
PK Podcast 60: Jamie Dakota and Adam Logan on Paths Into Bushcraft, Collaboration, and Carving Out a Career

PK Podcast 60: Jamie Dakota and Adam Logan on Paths Into Bushcraft, Collaboration, and Carving Out a Career

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How do you turn a passion for nature and outdoor skills into a meaningful livelihood? In this episode of The Paul Kirtley Podcast, I’m joined by UK-based bushcraft instructors Jamie Dakota and Adam Logan for a wide-ranging conversation about career paths in bushcraft, building experience, working with others, and the evolving landscape of outdoor education. Whether you’re an aspiring instructor or simply curious about how people make bushcraft a way of life, you’ll find plenty of insight and inspiration here.

Paul Kirtley answering questions for episode 89 of #AskPaulLirtley
#AskPaulKirtley 89 – Ration Packs vs Bush Cooking, Wildlife Encounters, Adapting to New Environments, Primitive Weapons, Knife Danglers

#AskPaulKirtley 89 – Ration Packs vs Bush Cooking, Wildlife Encounters, Adapting to New Environments, Primitive Weapons, Knife Danglers

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In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley I respond to a range of listener questions, from comparing rations with bush cooking, to sharing memorable wildlife encounters, including some close-range moments with deer, badgers, and otters. I also explore how to adapt bushcraft skills to unfamiliar environments, such as moving from the northern temperate, or boreal forest, to tropical climes, plus I offer suggestions on primitive projectile weapons worth trying, and share my thoughts on knife danglers versus other carry methods.

Paul Kirtley answering questions
#AskPaulKirtley 88 – Adze Use in Bushcraft, Bow Drill Hearth Lifespan, Friction Firewood Seasoning, Canoe Trip Fitness, and Skills I’m Learning

#AskPaulKirtley 88 – Adze Use in Bushcraft, Bow Drill Hearth Lifespan, Friction Firewood Seasoning, Canoe Trip Fitness, and Skills I’m Learning

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In this episode of #AskPaulKirtley, I respond to five new questions from the community. I explore the potential use of the adze in bushcraft, how long a bow drill hearth board will last, and the best wood conditions for creating fire by friction. I also discuss how to physically prepare for a Canadian canoe expedition, and finally, I reflect on some of the wilderness skills I’m currently pursuing more deeply, including basketry and lithic technology.

Man in checked shirt standing in front of a presentation slide titled "The Influence of The Nordic Way - Some Personal Reflections"
Reflections on the Nordic Way – My GBS 2025 Keynote Presentation

Reflections on the Nordic Way – My GBS 2025 Keynote Presentation

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The organisers of the 2025 Global Bushcraft Symposium in Sweden invited me to deliver a keynote presentation. The theme of the symposium was The Nordic Way. My talk explored how Nordic influences have shaped not only my bushcraft journey but also the broader international bushcraft community. In this post, I share the full recording of that presentation along with some context for those who couldn’t attend in person.

Man sitting on rock, holding lightweight travel 12 gauge shot gun in polar bear country
PK Podcast 59: Stephan Kesting on Life and Death in the Subarctic

PK Podcast 59: Stephan Kesting on Life and Death in the Subarctic

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Stephan Kesting, author of Perseverance: Life and Death in the Subarctic, joins me to discuss a long-planned solo canoe journey through remote northern Canada, which took on extra significance following a life-threatening illness. In this episode, he shares the story behind the trip, the challenges he faced, and the motivations that led him to undertake such an ambitious expedition. We also discuss how his background in biology, firefighting, and martial arts all played a role in shaping both the journey and the lessons that came from it.

Pinyon pine cones atop a small pinyon pine tree.
Wild Plant Usage Across Cultures: Is Four Hundred Species The Benchmark?

Wild Plant Usage Across Cultures: Is Four Hundred Species The Benchmark?

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Traditional cultures across the world, and through time, have held remarkable ethnobotanical knowledge. If you aim to excel in bushcraft, long-term survival, or traditional living skills, having a high degree of plant knowledge is essential. In this article, I explore how various traditional cultures, past and present, lived from the land – examining the number of plants they relied on for food, medicine, and materials to sustain their lives and culture.

Les Stroud, Survivorman, sitting in the middle of a tree
PK Podcast 58: Les Stroud On The Question Of Bigfoot

PK Podcast 58: Les Stroud On The Question Of Bigfoot

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Known to millions around the world as Survivorman, Les is a pioneer of survival television and an icon in the outdoor and survival communities. With his groundbreaking series Survivorman, Les redefined the genre by filming and surviving entirely on his own in remote locations and harsh environments. In 2014 Les began recording a 10-part series on Bigfoot. He says it took him places he did not expect to go and gave him perspectives he did not expect to have. And now he’s coming back for more. It’s an area of backwoods lore and legend he can’t leave alone. He joins me on this podcast to talk about why this is such an area of fascination for him and what questions he hopes to answer in his latest film project…