Of all the abilities a Maine sportsman can possess, whether hunting, fishing, hiking, trapping, boating or snowmobiling, being able to quickly, efficiently start a fire may well be the most important. Although this skill may come into play several times a year for mundane tasks under ordinary circumstances, perhaps once in an outdoorsman’s lifetime of experiences, speed and prowess at this usually simple task could be the difference between life and death. Between November and May, weather, water and wilderness in the Pine Tree State are generally not amiable to sportsmen when the unexpected occurs.

Wet ‘n’ wild

Last spring while two friends of mine were launching their boat to enjoy some ice-out trolling on a remote pond in the north woods, one of them took a dip. One second he was in the stern, the next second the winch lock gave way, dropping the boat back six inches on the trailer before snubbing-up and he did a half-gainer backward into the water. As he thrashed and gasped his way to shore, there were still small chunks of ice floating around him.

Just this past Thanksgiving another buddy was hot on the trail of a buck far off the beaten path. Upon arrival at a frozen bog, rather than skirt the entire area he cut across one end to gain on the whitetail. There was plenty of ice to support a couple of men everywhere -except right at the inlet mouth, which was hidden by snow and brush. With one step he went from dry and calm to waist deep in frigid bog water with his heart racing like a trip hammer.

Just last month another acquaintance took an unexpected bath while setting up a new beaver trap. This experienced fellow got a shock when the ice gave out under his feet and suddenly he was up to his chest in freezing water and ice chips, hip waders and all! Once again the current from a nearby brook had weakened the surface ice in this one location. These are not just a trio of isolated incidents. Even in midwinter, trucks and snowsleds go through the ice, snowmobiles break down far from civilization and vehicles get stranded on desolate back roads. Hunters get lost in the fall and anglers suffer unexpected spring dunkings.

Accidents are bound to happen regardless of weather conditions, and Maine’s climate predisposes outdoorsmen who suffer such mishaps to severe consequences. In all three dunking incidents I’ve mentioned, thanks to a cabin or vehicle being very close, within 10 minutes, protection and warmth were at hand quickly and hypothermia wasn’t an issue. But what if a leg injury had prevented mobility or if no other people or shelter were nearby? Then what may be a minor mishap in a temperate state becomes a possible casualty in the Northeast – unless you can quickly and efficiently build a fire.

Fuel and fire

The simple task of starting a fire, whether for simply preparing a streamside lunch or to dry clothes and maintain body temperature becomes far more difficult when fingers are losing feeling and hands are shaking due to cold conditions. This chore broaches near impossible when it’s raining, snowing, the wind’s howling and the victim isn’t carrying the right materials. The old bow and stick friction method or the magnifying glass trick just aren’t fast and efficient in dire conditions. A dependable fire source must be carried by every sportsman, on each outing, without fail.

Old woodsmen always had matches, preferably wooden kitchen matches, but decades ago a lot of those guys were smokers, so there was an ulterior motive. There’s a modern version of kitchen matches that are actually waterproof, but I still prefer to carry my matches in a shatterproof, waterproof container, and I change them for a new batch every year. Book matches are better than none at all, but burn quickly and can be difficult to manipulate with cold hands and freezing wet fingers.

An even better source of flame is a lighter, and along with a wide variety of inexpensive disposable and even a few rechargeable models, several companies make their own version of a survival lighter just for sportsmen. Butane lighters don’t blow out, are very reliable, and burn extremely hot and bright. Cabala’s Alaskan Outfitter model is either bright orange or black, has a large, easily manageable ignition switch for partially numb fingers and even features an automatic relighting system. At $40 this durable, heavy duty lighter is a bargain, even if a person really needs it only once in his or her lifetime. As a backup for that worst-case scenario when a lighter malfunctions, carry a flint or magnesium fire-starting stick for a spark source. There are dozens of compact shapes, sizes and styles, and while not as quick and efficient as a match or lighter, they are reliable.

Have you ever seen those birthday cake candles that have some chemical in the wick or wax that makes them nearly impossible to blow out? While this is a great gag for a party, these small, long-burning candles are also a good bet to carry in the waterproof match container. If there’s little or no wind, even a short section of a regular house candle will stay lit far longer than a match to help start a fire. Dripping wax from a candle onto paper, bark or tinder material will augment the flammability and prolong burn time, so carrying a candle serves a dual purpose. Also, survival experts have proven that a short 1- to 2-inch-thick candle can emit sufficient heat to keep a one-man snow cave warm enough for a man to endure a winter’s night.

Now that we’ve discussed flame option, it’s time to consider the second necessity for starting a fire: fuel. Choices include natural materials found in the forest and commercial products that can be easily carried in the pocket of a hunting jacket or fishing vest. Once a person begins to check out the local sporting goods store or some outdoor catalogs, it’s amazing how many neat and efficient fuels and accelerants are available.

There are three components to building a tiered tepee-shaped fire structure. Tinder, a dry, light, very flammable product, is the center base layer; then comes kindling, pieces of wood from the size of a matchstick to that of a pencil. Finally, the dry – wooden logs, from finger size to forearm size, form the outer layer of the tripod and are best when shattered or split to catch fire better. Most of these essential natural materials are within arm’s reach anywhere in the state, regardless of snow cover, but procuring dry start-up product can be a hassle.

Dry tree bark, broken up pieces of pine cones, dry leaves from under a blowdown or a bird’s nest all serve well as tinder material. Small tree branches, especially from dead trees, are good kindling. Use a pocketknife to cut off branches, then shave strips along the length of each piece to form a “fuzz stick,” which will catch fire more quickly than a solid limb. Procuring logs is usually a matter of breaking these larger pieces from live or preferably dead trees and blowdowns. A folding belt saw can make this a far simpler project during cold weather. Once these elements are tiered up, then it’s time for a flame and a prayer.

For those sportsmen who don’t mind straying from the essential mountain man formula for fire – and when my health is at stake, I certainly have no restraints – then it’s time to turn to modern technology and human ingenuity. For example, carry a tube of Coghlan’s Fire Paste, a commercial imitation of pine sap that is very volatile. Smear some on your kindling to catch and hold a flame every time regardless of weather or low temperatures. It’s $3.95 for a 3.75-ounce tube. Fire Sticks are another Coghlan product made of compressed sawdust and infused with an accelerant to catch and hold a flame. A dozen 5-inch sticks are $1.79 and can be used whole or broken into pieces and placed among the tinder or loosely stacked kindling. Fire sticks will light even after being submerged in water.

Wetfire is $5.95 for eight individually packaged pellets. These compressed fire starter squares can be shaved into a bundle of tinder or broken into pieces and distributed through the kindling. At the touch of a flame or spark these pellets catch fire instantly, even when wet, and burn at more than 1,300 degrees Fahrenheit regardless of temperature, altitude or weather. For a quick home concoction, soak cotton balls or a wad of dryer lint in lighter fluid or kerosene (not gasoline) and place them in an airtight plastic film container. Place under tinder and kindling, apply fire and the cotton will burn hot and surprisingly long. For sports who don’t wish to resoak the fiber every week or so, drip candle wax on the cotton or lint and roll into a compact ball or saturate it with petroleum jelly.

Fire plan

In an emergency, time is of the essence and when you’re about to suffer exposure or hypothermia, there’s seldom time to select the perfect site to build a fire. If a ledge or large rock is nearby, use it as a backdrop to prevent the wind from interfering with the start-up process. Later, once the fire is going strong, the rock surface will also serve to reflect heat back toward you that would otherwise be lost. Also keep in mind that while maintaining body temperature is the main concern, later that fire may have to serve as a rescue signal as well.

Before laying out any tinder or kindling, kick or sweep away snow, wet debris and any other junk that may interfere with the lighting process. In other words, establish as dry a platform as possible for the fire to start and burn on and make sure no snow on overhead limbs or nearby brush will melt or fall, endangering the precious flame. I often carry a survival blanket, a compact 2-inch by 4-inch packet that expands to easily encompass an entire body. When an emergency fire is needed, this thin, reflective material can not only serve as a wind break but will catch and reflect heat back around the body in need.

In lieu of a survival blanket or enclosed space such as a cave or blowdown to hold heat and deter wind, use a trio of fires. Once the immediate danger is past and feeling has returned to fingers, face and feet, rather than keep turning from side to side around one fire, build three and sit in the center of the triangle. All sides will be kept warm at once. And remember, if it’s going to be an all-night vigil due to injury or being lost, retrieve a large stockpile of wood while it’s light outside. Even wet wood will dry as it sits beside the fire for several hours.

If you’re unable to find some of the items I’ve mentioned at local outlets, check Cabela’s for the Alaskan Outfitter all- weather lighter, the magnesium fire starter bar and the survival blanket. Go online at Cabela’s.com or call 1-800-237-9444. Coghlans.com will have the Fire Paste and Fire Sticks (204-284-9558), and survivalinc.com can supply the Wetfire pellets (800-292-4707).

When the unexpected happens, a prepared sportsman is generally able to deal with the situation. But when Mother Nature throws ice, snow, sub-zero temperatures and sometimes even a wet outdoorsman together, nothing is more essential than fire. Maybe it will never happen to you, or your partner, but wouldn’t it be best to be prepared and have a few necessary fire-starting aids along and not need them than vice versa?

bgravesoutdoors@ainop.com