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That blue poly tarp you’ve stashed in the footlocker can be used for more than just an emergency roof patch.

1. Gather Water: Funnel rain into a bucket for a water supply. A light rainstorm caught in a 5×7 tarp will produce a couple gallons of water.

2. Survival Stretcher: With parachute cord and two long poles, make a litter to carry an injured companion.

3. Strapper’s Delight: To create a makeshift tow strap, twist and roll a large blue tarp tightly. Tie knots in the ends. It’s strong enough to pull an ATV.

4. Cool Down: Pack a field-dressed deer with bags of ice and double-wrap with a blue tarp to keep the carcass cool.

5. Rest Easy: Jury-rig a tarp hammock by gathering the ends in a J-shape and securing with a sheet-bend knot. Tie to posts or trees.

6. Private Event: Create a tarp shower stall. Tie the two end grommets along the short edge of the tarp to an overhanging branch to create a U-shaped curtain. Drape a hose overhead.

7. Float On: Build a debris raft. Wind brush, saplings, and vines in a large doughnut shape. Place on top of the tarp, tie the corners up, and secure with wraps of p-cord.

Be sure to check out our ultimate survival kits:

The Deer-Camp Companion

The Backcountry Beast

The Water Works

The Pocket Protector

Photograph by Jim Golden. Styling by Beverly James Neel

T. Edward Nickens
T. Edward Nickens

T. Edward Nickens has covered sporting, conservation, and outdoors culture topics for more than 35 years. His work has appeared in Field & Stream for more than two decades, and includes features, his regular column, “The Total Outdoorsman,” five Field & Stream books, and the anthology The Last Wild Road.

Survival Tips