fieldcraft
Wilderness survival techniques
Fieldcraft is the set of skills needed for living, moving, and operating in outdoor or wilderness environments—especially in military contexts.
It includes camouflage, navigation, tracking, shelter-building, and moving undetected through terrain.
Soldiers learn fieldcraft to survive and function effectively in the field: Basic training includes extensive fieldcraft instruction.
The term extends to hunting, bushcraft, and outdoor survival more broadly.
Animal's passage evidence
- footprintsMarks left by walking
- scatImprovised vocal jazz
- trailingFollowing behind something
- disturbanceDisruption of order
Moving to avoid detection
- concealmentAct of hiding something
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- covertIntentionally concealed
- undetectedNot discovered yet
stalking · shadowing · cover · approach · observation · patience · timing
Act of hiding something
- ghillieScottish outdoor servant
- camoConcealment pattern, briefly
- blendCombine into mixture
- patternRecurring arrangement or template
disruptive · cryptic · sniper · hide · netting · scrim · silhouette · outline
Protected place or structure
- firecraftSkill of igniting flames
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
- snaresTraps or drum wires
- trappingCatching with concealed devices
edibility · signaling · navigation · cordage · improvisation · tinder · deadfall · skinning
Information-gathering before action
- patrollingMonitoring by traversing
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- tacticalStrategically planned
- scoutingObserving to gather information
spoor
Animal's passage evidence
- footprintsMarks left by walking
- scatImprovised vocal jazz
- trailingFollowing behind something
sneaking
Moving to avoid detection
- concealmentAct of hiding something
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- covertIntentionally concealed
undetected · stalking · shadowing · cover · approach · observation · patience · timing
concealment
Act of hiding something
pattern · disruptive · cryptic · sniper · hide · netting · scrim · silhouette · outline · texture
shelter
Protected place or structure
trapping · edibility · signaling · navigation · cordage · improvisation · tinder · deadfall · skinning · purification
reconnaissance
Information-gathering before action
- patrollingMonitoring by traversing
- ambushSurprise strike from concealment
- tacticalStrategically planned
compass
Device showing cardinal directions
- huntingdeer hunting, hunting rifle, hunters, tracking, hunting license
- marksmanshipmarksmanship, dry firing, accuracy, aim, target practice
- military trainingdrill instructor, training manual, combat drills, drilling, drill weekend
fieldcraftclassroom learning
Instruction in a school setting
book learning · academic study · desk work · formal education · simulation training
field, craft, fields, battlefield, airfield, cornfield, fielded, fielding, minefield