Review: Kevin Estela’s ‘Beyond the Field: Taking Wilderness Skills to the Next Level ‘ educational book

Kevin Estela’s new book is a must-read for anyone who ventures off the pavement.

by Leon Pantenburg

Disclaimer: Kevin Estela provided the book to be reviewed and I consider him a friend. There is no advertising or affiliate relationship between Survival Common Sense and Estela Wilderness Education and this review is strictly my opinion.

Kevin Estela is a recognized expert in hunting, fishing and all things outdoors. His latest book Beyond the Field: Taking Wilderness Skills to the Next Level is chock-full of good information for the prepper/survivalist/outdoorsperson.

I have been a Kevin fan since I met him at the 2019 BLADE Show in Atlanta. He was promoting his book 101 Skills You Need to Survive in the Woods. I was hooked immediately. In addition to being a heck of a nice guy, Kevin’s knowledge of all things outdoors is evident. Since then, I read or watch anything he puts out.

Kevin is the owner and Head Instructor of Estela Wilderness Education. He brings extensive educational experience to the courses and material he offers. Kevin is a regular contributing author for RECOIL and OFF-GRID Magazine, American Survival Guide, American Frontiersman, Survivor’s Edge and other magazines through Beckett Media, Engaged Media and Athlon Outdoors Media with over 100 published print articles. He is the author of many online articles for various websites and the Book, “101 Skills You Need to Survive in the Woods.”

One reason I like his latest book so much is that he and I have many of the same philosophies about gear and survival techniques.

 

Here are some of the book’s outstanding points:

The importance of cleaning fish and field dressing game is emphasized. In many books, the emphasis is on killing the animal or catching the fish, and the aftermath is sometimes glossed over. In reality, the aftermath of a successful hunt or fishing trip will determine how good the meat or fish will taste.

Kevin and I use basically the same techniques for processing fish and game. Personally, I enjoy the gutting, skinning and butchering or game animals. I find the activity to be rewarding, and like knowing I can be totally self-sufficient when it comes to processing my food. I like using my tools, and like seeing how my skills are improving. I love using knives and other survival/preparedness items for the purposes they were designed for. With the right tools and skills game processing ceases to be a chore.

The navigation section is one of the best chapters on the subject I have found – and I read a lot of survival books. Kevin teaches the same UTM navigation method I use. (UTM is the acronym for Universal Transverse Mercator, a plane coordinate grid system named for the map projection on which it is based.) His explanation of the UTM protractor is very clear and very valuable for beginners and people just learning navigation skills.

The best firearms for beginners is another Beyond the Field common sense selection. Kevin breaks it down to three long guns: the .22-caliber rifle, shotgun and centerfire rifle. This was my combination that served me well back in the lean, early days of my journalism career. Use Kevin’s suggestions as the basis for building a survival battery.

Good trigger: Kevin does a great explanation of trigger control and how it contributes to accurate shooting. Until you understand it and are able to combine trigger control with proper stances,  you’ll never become a good shot. Make sure your firearm has a useable trigger.

To quote me: “A heavy, stiff, creepy trigger pull is an abomination and it can affect how well you shoot. The triggers of most rifles can be adjusted to your preferences. You’ll want a trigger pull with a crisp break. You decide how heavy the trigger should be, but get it adjusted to the point where you can shoot it accurately. Get a qualified gunsmith to do the work. Don’t compromise the safety of your rifle.

Backcountry vehicle tips are important. Too often, preparedness-types don’t pay a lot of attention to the tools that might be needed in that get-out-of-town vehicle. Kevin recommends a high-lift jack and traction boards be included in every vehicle tool box. Know some rudimentary auto mechanics skills.

My brother, Michael Pantenburg, is a gearhead, and always insisted on taking a set of  vehicle tools along in the backcountry. One elk season, we were deep in the Idaho mountains when we came across a broken-down vehicle. Mike had the tools along to get them back on the road.

Kevin’s background as a high school teacher is evident throughout the book. He explains complex skills and techniques simply so neophytes can learn.

I really like Beyond the Field, and even experienced outdoors people can learn something from it. It’s a definite five-star  publication.

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