Skip to main content

Stranded in the woods? You need to know how to make a spear

A spear can help you survive, protect you from threats, and aid you in your hunt for food

mens fall fashion tips thom holmes  hmd0nwuwz8 unsplash 2
Thom Holmes / Unsplash

Turn on any film that involves a plane crash, a jungle, and seemingly Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson in some khaki-colored gear, and before long, they'll pick up a stick to defend themselves or hunt for their dinner. Or perhaps just for comedic value. They probably use this stick in a ridiculous way — hurling it at a big cat to defend themselves, for example — but while their usage might be flawed, knowing how to make a spear out of rudimentary materials isn't.

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

30 minutes

What You Need

  • Camping knife

  • Folding saw or hatchet

  • Fire starter

As a keen outdoorsman, you know that often, if you're lost on the trail, the best thing you can do is to remain stationary. Unless you have a good idea where you are to begin with, or you have unnaturally good navigation skills, there's a good chance you're just going to make your situation worse.

But waiting it out is daunting. What else is waiting with you? Good thing you've always got your survival knife and fire starter on you like a proper outdoorsman, right? With just these two tools — and a saw or hatchet if you happen to have one — you can make yourself a spear that can help you when it comes to protecting yourself, but also to hunt for food if you're going to be stranded for a few days.

Here are my two favorite methods to make a spear.

A man in a green and gray jacket whittles a stick to a sharp point
Thom Holmes / Unsplash

What materials are spears made from?

To make your survival spear, you need a sturdy branch or a sapling that's just a little taller than you are. Keeping your spear longer than you are tall means that when you stand it on end, you're not going to have an accidental meeting with the sharp end.

For a strong and supple spear, your branch should be about the thickness of a broom handle and should still be green. Cutting living trees does go against leave no trace principles in the outdoors, but in a survival situation, we sometimes have to forego our preferred morals. If you work your stick right, you can end up with a tip harder than copper.

A stick sharpened by hand to a point
Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to make a simple survival spear

The humble pointed stick. It's been around for centuries, and there's a reason for this. It's easy to make, it's reliable, and you know what you're getting into. But there are ways to make it a little better, so follow these steps for a simple survival spear.

Step 1: Find your chosen branch or sapling and chop it off as close to the base as possible.

You can use your knife or a hatchet for this, but a folding saw will give you the cleanest cut. Use your knife to strip off any extra growth from your spear.

Step 2: Shave the bark from several inches at one end of your spear.

Once it is clean, use your knife to shave the end to a point. Hold your spear securely in one hand and always remember to sharpen the stick away from your body.

Step 3: When your spear is sharp enough, heat the sharp end in your campfire to harden the tip.

Heating the tip dries out the wood, hardening it so that it's much stronger, less flexible, and will last longer. Remember, you're toasting your spear slowly, not trying to burn the end.

If you have any grease on hand, like a tub of Vaseline or lip salve, you can grease the tip of your spear before you heat it and protect the wood. This stops the tip of your spear from charring as easily. If you don't have any grease on hand, you can substitute pine sap.

Step 4: Your survival spear is ready to go. If you have time to burn and want to make the most robust spear tip possible, you can use a smooth stone to burnish your spear tip.

Rub the stone firmly over the spear tip to compress the fibers and toughen the wood until it almost looks glassy and feels as tough as steel.

A survival spear with four prongs
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Making a four-pronged survival spear

The four-pronged spear is a popular alternative to the simple sharpened stick, especially for those hunting small animals or fish. The four-pronged spear gives you a wider area, and the gaps between the prongs are excellent for trapping animals. While it's better suited to hunting, this spear method is less suited to defending yourself from predators.

Step 1: Find your spear stick.

This should be a couple of inches thick and as straight as possible. Try to avoid sticks with any knots near the end.

Step 2: Wrap your piece of wood 6 to 8 inches from the end using a piece of paracord or similar.

You can use a variety of knots to achieve this, so long as the cord is tight and secure. Be aware that if you're using green wood for your spear, you may have to rewrap it once the moisture dries out.

Step 3: Split your wood in a cross shape using your bushcraft knife and a wooden block to hit it down.

You should split your wood to just above where you have wrapped your spear.

Step 4: Squeeze all four tips together and sharpen your stick to a point.

It can be tempting to sharpen your stick prior to splitting it, but this will make it more difficult to split accurately.

Step 5: To create the space between the prongs that makes this spear so good for catching animals, use two small sticks to wedge the gap open.

You may have to shave these down to fit the gap, and you can hammer them down with your wooden block if necessary.

Topics
Tom Kilpatrick
A London-born outdoor enthusiast, Tom took the first ticket out of suburban life. What followed was a twelve-year career as…
Want to go beach camping in California? You’ll love these gorgeous spots
If you're never pitched a tent on the beach in the Golden State, then these spots are good places to try it
The sun setting over the ocean

 

Are you yearning to ditch the daily grind and trade it for the soothing sounds of the ocean? Then California's coastal campgrounds are calling your name! Here's a guide to some of the best beach camping California spots that the state has to offer.
Northern California

Read more
Here’s everything you need to pack for a trip to Yellowstone National Park
From backpacks and boots to headlamps and hiking snacks, here are all the essentials you'll need for Yellowstone
best national parks rv camping yellowstone 2

 

Yellowstone National Park is one of the crown jewels of America’s National Parks system. It quite literally has it all: Majestic geysers, technicolor thermal hot springs, bison-filled forests and fields, craggy canyons, roaring waterfalls, and — you get the gist. Stretching nearly 3,500 square miles across northwest Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana, Yellowstone attracts millions of visitors and tourists looking to revel in the beauty of the country's most spectacular landscapes (just don't get too close to the wildlife).

Read more
Here’s how to enjoy watching soccer when you’re not a die-hard fan of the sport
Confused about the 'Beautiful Game?' We'll show you how to get into soccer
Megan Rapinoe USA v Netherlands 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France Finals soccer

 
We’ve all heard the complaints about soccer, the world’s most popular sport. "There isn’t enough scoring," we like to mutter. "There are so many fake injuries," we say. "Ties! Outrageous!"
Whether you’re a fan or you only find yourself watching soccer during the Olympics or the World Cup, soccer (or football if you're anywhere but the U.S.) is here to stay. In fact, with more U.S. networks picking up tournaments and league games abroad — not to mention a flourishing home-grown league in the MLS — the sport is only expanding its already massive reach.
If American football is your thing, so be it. Love hoops? Me too. But there are ways to enjoy a soccer match for even the most casual or curious viewer.

Focus off the ball

Read more