Ep 5. Hunting Season

In Bushcraft Build-Off season 1 episode 5, titled "Hunting Season," the contestants face their toughest challenge yet as they must not only build shelters from scratch but also hunt for their own food.

The episode begins with the host, Matt Graham, introducing the challenge to the competitors. They must build a shelter that will protect them from the elements, while also creating traps and tools to catch animals that they can eat. To make things even more challenging, they only have five days to complete the task.

The contestants immediately get to work, with each one approaching the task in their unique way. The first step is to find a suitable location for the shelter, and some of them choose to build theirs near a water source or a game trail to increase their chances of catching animals.

Next, the contestants begin building their shelters. Some opt for simple lean-to structures made from branches and leaves, while others go for more elaborate designs that incorporate natural features like rocks and caves. The process of building a shelter is difficult and time-consuming, but the contestants are determined to create something that will keep them warm and dry.

Once the shelters are complete, the contestants turn their attention to hunting. They must use their bushcraft skills to create traps and tools that will allow them to capture animals for food. This is a difficult task, as the contestants must work with the materials they have available in the wilderness.

Some of the traps they create include snares made from vines and sticks, pitfall traps with sharpened sticks at the bottom, and fish traps made from small baskets woven from reeds. The contestants must also use their hunting skills to track and kill animals like rabbits, squirrels, and fish.

The hunting process is not easy, and there are moments of frustration and disappointment for some of the contestants. But as the days go on, they begin to have some success. They catch fish in their traps and use their snares to trap rabbits and other small game.

As the end of the five-day challenge approaches, the contestants begin to prepare their meals. They must cook the animals they catch over a fire they built themselves, using the heat from the flames to cook and smoke the meat.

In the end, the judges evaluate each contestant's shelter, their trapping and hunting skills, and the quality of their meal. The results are mixed, with some contestants excelling in one area but struggling in another.

Overall, "Hunting Season" is an exciting episode that tests the competitors' bushcraft skills to their limits. With its focus on survival skills and resourcefulness, it provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of outdoor living and the challenges that come with it.