A Mountain Man Legacy of Hunting, Gathering & Primitive Wisdom

Dana Anderson, better known as Wild Mountain Man Dan, is a
celebrated bushcraft instructor based in Matlock, Washington. Now
68, he has spent over six decades honing wilderness skills and
teaching them to others. Dana has lived completely off the
grid in a hand‑built cabin by a creek for more than three
decades, cultivating a rich life subsisting on foraging, hunting,
fishing, and primitive craftsmanship.


A master of stone‑tool crafting, arrowhead chipping, primitive
cooking, and stone‑age technologies, Dana has taught countless
students in wilderness gatherings across the western U.S. He’s
best known for leading shelter‑building and raft‑building
challenges at the PNW Survival Games, emphasizing
resourcefulness, survival principles, and hands‑on
learning. With over 33 years off‑grid experience and ongoing
instructor roles in events like PNW Survival Games, Dana shares
not just skills but also deep respect for wild landscapes.


Ean Anderson, Dana’s son, has followed in his father’s footsteps
in a rugged way. As a veteran bear hunter and certified survival
skills instructor, Ean blends traditional wilderness mastery with
modern safety and technique. He specializes in teaching advanced
tracking, big-game fieldcraft, and hands‑on wilderness
preparedness.


With a strong focus on black and brown bear hunting, Ean has
earned a reputation for combining ethical hunting practices with
deep survival know‑how. Drawing on his father's traditions and
his own professional experience, Ean teaches both individual
learners and groups how to thrive safely in bear‑inhabited
wilderness—from crafting emergency shelters and gear
improvisation to honing decision-making under pressure.


Show notes:


00:04:26 - Childhood Adventures and Life Lessons


00:08:03 - Growing Up in a Remote Town


00:10:08 - Lessons from Childhood Hardship


00:12:11 - Growing Up in Nature


00:14:45 - Childhood Adventures in the Woods


00:17:33 - Ancient Skills and Modern Gatherings


00:19:59 - Traditional Survival Skills Overview


00:24:05 - Traditional Hunting and Food Connection


00:26:06 - Honoring Animals Through Sustainable Hunting


00:28:09 - Respecting Nature Through Hunting


00:30:56 - The Significance of Names


00:33:41 - Finding Identity Through Names


00:36:01 - Passion for Bear Hunting


00:37:08 - Passion for Bear Hunting


00:39:00 - Connection Between Hunting and Conservation


00:41:48 - Understanding Nature's Clues


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