Land required to survive indefinitely

For one survivalist operating as a mobile wanderer/gatherer/hunter/fisher in a mixed temperate wilderness (woods, grasslands, and rivers nearby), the sustainable land requirement is roughly 400 to –600 acres. This is the area needed to support long-term, non-depleting populations of wild plants and game while meeting caloric needs (typically ~2,000–2,500 cal/day or ~730,000–912,500 kcal/year for an active adult) without over-harvesting.  

This would include good conservation practices like only killing a Buck (male) deer, and not Does (females), which birth 10-25 future deer. 

This range comes from classic anthropological and ecological estimates by Clark and Haswell (1970), which are still widely referenced for hunter-gatherer carrying capacity:

• Favorable habitat (diverse, productive ecosystems with good plant/animal density): ~400 acres/person.
• Moderately favorable habitat (slightly less optimal but still viable): 620 acres.

These figures assume a balanced diet from foraging (plants, nuts, berries, roots, greens), hunting (small/large game), and fishing, with mobility to prevent local depletion. They are 4–6× higher than overly optimistic theoretical models (e.g.,  ~100 acres/person in an “ideal” ecosystem) because real-world factors like seasonal availability, competition within species, and the need for viable breeding populations in game animals require more buffer.

Why this fits your scenario

• Woods + grasslands: Provide diverse foraging (e.g., acorns/nuts in woods for high-calorie density; berries/greens/grasses in open areas) and hunting (deer, small mammals, birds). Temperate mixed habitats are generally “favorable” due to higher net primary productivity than deserts or tundra.
• Rivers nearby: Fishing (and riparian foraging) significantly boosts calories and protein with lower impact on terrestrial game/plant populations. Fish renew via river flow, effectively stretching the usable “territory” and pushing the estimate toward the lower end of the range.
• Wanderer lifestyle: Mobility is key to sustainability—you roam rather than settle in one spot, allowing plants to regrow and game to disperse/breed. A solo person exerts far less pressure than a band, but the area must still support natural reproduction rates long-term.

Real ethnographic data on hunter-gatherer densities aligns with this order of magnitude ~1,200–6,000+ acres in varied environments, but lower in productive temperate zones with aquatic resources).

Important caveats for true sustainability

• Not a fixed plot: The acres represent the total range you would regularly traverse (e.g., a loose circular or linear territory along rivers). You wouldn’t “own” or clear it—just move through it seasonally.
• Skill and knowledge matter: An experienced forager who rotates areas, respects breeding seasons, avoids over-fishing spawning runs, and focuses on abundant species (nuts, fish, small game) can stay closer to ~370 acres. Novices or poor management could need more (or cause depletion).
• Variability by specifics: Richer river fishing or mast-heavy oak woods could reduce needs; poor soil, overhunting by others, or climate stress (e.g., drought) could increase them toward 600+ acres. Marginal environments (e.g., far northern forests) require thousands of acres.
• Not comparable to homesteading/agriculture: Modern gardening or livestock on 1–5 acres works only with intensive cultivation and inputs. Pure wild sustainable foraging/hunting is far less efficient per acre.

In short, plan on at least 400–500 acres as a practical minimum for comfortable, long-term solo survival, with 600+ acres providing a safer buffer. This keeps game herds and plant communities healthy indefinitely. Real-world survivalists and anthropologists emphasize that mobility and deep ecological knowledge are as important as the raw acreage. If your exact region (e.g., specific biome like Pacific Northwest vs. Midwest U.S.) or diet preferences differ, the number could shift slightly.

Nomadic life styles traveling 400 to 500 miles north in the summer and south in the winter likely used 2,000-10,000 acres of land per person, with routes commonly following rivers where water and game were abundant.  The river could also facilitate easier travel with a canoe or simply from more game trails around it.  So this means a tribe of 100, would require up to a million acres or 1,500 square miles. 

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Alone Show - Top Mistakes

Let's face it, as civilized humans, we have lost our ability to live in the wilderness.  Survive for a few months, yes, but slowly losing weight until exhaustion forces us to "Tap Out".  But for over a million years, humans like Homo Erectus and later Homo Sapiens had no such option.  Taping out was giving up and dying.  Were they smarter than modern-day humans?  Generally no, but in wilderness survival, yes.

 

A. Season after season, I see a lot of common mistakes by Alone Show participants, and I wanted to highlight them for educational purposes, not to be critical or find fault, but to provide guidance for future participants or campers to hopefully avoid such mistakes in their camping endeavors or Survival Tests. 

The show starts with analyzing the surroundings to determine the Best Campsite. This is no easy process, and there is no perfect campsite.  A poor selection can lead to exhaustion, injury, illness, exposure, flooding, insect infestations, predators, or a lack of resources.  

Some are too far from water, firewood, or building supplies, too windy, or infested with bugs.  Others may be too fragile or not mobile enough to move after the area's food supply is exhausted. 

Far too often, we see campsites that are flooded or have rainwater runoff flowing through them. 

With fish, game, foraging, and firewood being exhaustible, I prefer a small mobile shelter on high ground close to a good water supply, a key ingredient in the Rule of 3 survival and for wildlife.  Primitive man was Nomadic and without crops and livestock, so it is a mistake to expect to remain in one place for too long, as it requires 400-500 acres to live sustainably in the wild.  Seasonal migration with decent shelter along the way was common. Eventually, planting wheat (grass) seeds along the route likely developed. Later, domesticating goats and herding them along routes became a major factor in tribal success.  See post titled: Land required to survive indefinitely.

Granted, Roland expended a massive amount of calories building a fantastic rock house, but he was also fortunate enough to kill a Musk Ox, finishing him off with his hunting knife after all arrows were exhausted. Still, I wouldn't depend on this happening. 

When seeds become one of the ten items that you can carry, my opinion may change. Turnips, potatoes, onions, or other fast-producing &/or cold-weather hardy vegetables would be handy.  See Vegetable days to harvest and Vegetable planting dates.  Vegetables with early-spring or late-fall planting dates are usually more cold-hardy. 

B.  After campsite location, a second top mistake is not bringing the right 10 items.  While survival conditions may favor different items in each region, there are several things that the Winners Pack.   

But before we talk about what the winners packed, let's look at a few of the things that the contestants do NOT frequently take and why:

1.     Bow and Arrows - Hunting is often restricted by governments, or the Survivalist lacks skills.      
2.     12 X 12 Ground Cloth - they are allowed to carry other similar items not counted as the 10
3.     Roll of Duct Tape - what would you use this for?
4.     Bivy Bag (Gore-Tex) - This could serve as a mobile shelter that few utilize. Consider it.
5.     Food Rations - 5 - 10 lbs of dried food could provide a huge calorie boost. Consider it.

Below are some of the top items carried by the winners; not carrying these could be a mistake. Think carefully before you leave one of these behind. 

1.     Multi-seasonal sleeping bag that fits within provided backpack
2.     Flint or ferrous rod set for Primitive Fire building (don't lose it).
3.     2 quart pot with lid
4.     Axe and/or a saw
5.     Hunting knife - see Best Survival Knife
6.     550 para-cord - 20m
7.     Small gauge gill net (12' x 4' with 1.5" mesh)
8.     Canteen or water bottle, ideally a metal one that can be used to boil as well as store water
9.     Small shovel, usually with a saw edge on one side
10.     3.5 lb roll of trapping wire

Below is the list that I would pick; what would you pick?

If there was no flowing or tidal water, I might forgo the gill net and replace it with the water bottle. And I might replace the wire with 5 lbs of dried food, and I've had limited success using snare traps for any extended period. 

C. A third mistake is leaving camp without your Bow and arrows and missing a huge opportunity to harvest food.

D. A fourth mistake is showing off a fish catch too close to the water and losing it back into the water.

E. Number five mistake: Hollering, cheering, talking loud, and scaring off the wildlife and fish. This is just plain stupid.  Wild animals are very wary of unusual sounds, such as a human voice, and talking resonates on the water's surface like a drum, spooking fish and scaring them away.  You want to blend in, become an indivisible part of nature.

F. Number six mistake:  Fishing the same spot over and over, and continuing to fish there, even when not catching any fish.  Fish are, to a degree, territorial, and once you stop catching them, it is time to try a different area, bait, and time of day.  Many fish often bite better at dawn, after not feeding during the dark night, or right before dark. 

G. Mistake number seven: when the fish are biting, and you catch a fish, do NOT stop fishing; keep trying to catch more.  Heading back to camp after catching one is not smart. 

H. Mistake eight, being hesitant or unwilling to take the life of an animal for food. People like this should not be allowed on the show.  Even worse is being foolish enough to release a fish, rabbit, or other game back into the wild. Before this is over you are going to be starving, eat or preserve this for the future.

I. Mistake nine - wasting valuable calories on ridiculous projects. Granted, toys, music, or games might strengthen the mental aspect of the challenge, but don’t spend too many calories doing it. Try to find mental distractions that save or provide calories, not waste them. Have a mental list of such projects in advance.  Project ideas: Fire Pit, Smoker, Secure food storage, camp traps, tripwires/alarms for intruders, fish bait, trap bait, camp drainage ditches, rain capture... and more.

J. Mistake Ten -  Getting emotional. Suck it up, stay focused. Think of this as do-or-die, with no Tap Out option. Imagine you are stranded on a deserted island, waiting indefinitely for rescue. 

K. Mistake eleven -  Safety, avoid injuries.  Don't get careless and don't do foolish things. Focus on what you are doing.  Always cut with a knife or other tool away from your body.  This should be a good habit that you developed long ago.

L. Mistake twelve -  Not bringing a Ferro rod, losing it, or burning it up in your fire.  No contestant has ever won without a ferro rod, and those who don't have one, for whatever reason, soon tap out. 

 What mistakes do you see that are often made?  Leave a comment below. 

 The Alone show is the best survival contest on TV, and feedback like this can help make it even better.

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About the Author - C. Shaw

 About the Author C. Shaw, a practicing Herbalist. 

I have been ‘studying’ herbal medicine since the 80’s.  I have some formal training, but also a lot of real life experience with them.  My first class was a course in Edible and Medicinal Herbs at Angelina College and was taught by a man named Ray Nevells.  A few years later, he showed up at my door and made me an offer.  He wanted to help me build an herb farm and a teaching center to spread the word about herbal medicine.  He didn’t want this knowledge to die with him, and he thought I was the person to spread the word.  I was honored to have been chosen by him to carry his message forward!  I have done demonstrations and have taught classes on this subject off and on ever since.  I am still a ‘student’ of herbal medicine and have continued my education through the years.  I have a Family Herbalist Certificate of Achievement from Dr, John Christopher’s School of Natural Healing, a Certified Herbalist Diploma from Nicole Apelian’s Lost Remedies Academy, and a few others picked up along the way.  I am currently completing 3 separate courses in Dr. Patrick Jones’ Homegrown Herbalist School of Botanical Medicine.  You are never too old to stop learning!  If you ever meet someone who says they know everything there is to know about herbal medicine, RUN!  They are lying.  No one can possibly know everything there is to know about a subject that is based on knowledge drawn from thousands of years of experience and many different cultures, as well as some trial and error along the way.  So, I do not consider myself an expert, but I do have a massive amount of knowledge on this subject, which I have picked up over many, many years of study and observation.

The majority of my experience and knowledge is on plants that are readily found, or will easily grow right here in East Texas.  It’s okay to know about the northern, or desert, or mountain, or even foreign herbs, but, if SHTF, they won’t help you much.  And that SHTF scenario doesn’t even have to be an earth-shattering, nor even a world-shaking event.  It can be something as simple as not being able to afford to buy a remedy, or like happens occasionally around here, you are going through a natural disaster and can’t get to outside sources for a period of time, long or short, and a remedy is needed immediately for you, a loved one or a neighbor.  It’s good to know that you can walk out into your own yard, or a nearby pasture or wooded area, and simply harvest what you need.  It’s security in it’s most basic form. You are probably here on this earth because, at some point in the past, your ancestors had a knowledge of the world around them and how to use the gifts God left growing nearby.  

What a shame if you let this knowledge die, and possibly your descendants never exist, just because you didn’t know even the basics of this art.  That’s why even after all these years I am still teaching what I have learned to others, and adding to my base of knowledge through their experiences as well.  I don’t know where Ray is now; he wasn’t a young man even back then, but I hope that wherever he is, he knows that I am still carrying on his mission of keeping the old ways alive by teaching others.

With hopes of blessing the future by remembering the past,

C Shaw

 

Liability Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider or licensed physician before using any herbal remedies, supplements, or alternative treatments, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, have a pre-existing medical condition, or are taking any medications.

Herbal remedies can interact with prescription drugs, cause allergic reactions, or have side effects that vary from person to person. The author and this blog do not claim that any herbs, recipes, or practices discussed will prevent, treat, or cure any disease or health condition.

All content is based on traditional use, general knowledge, and/or personal experience. Results are not guaranteed. The author and this website assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions, or for any damage or injury (including but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages) that may result from the use or misuse of any information presented here.

By reading and using this information, you agree that you do so at your own risk. The author and blog owner explicitly disclaim all liability for any loss, damage, or adverse outcome related to the application of the ideas or suggestions contained in this article.

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