Everyone is in search of food, but the winter weather is making the hunt difficult for some. In the Blue Ridge Mountains, Thorn struggles to find even a trace of wildlife to turn into a meal. Close by, Tony and Amelia battle the cold, making use of any meat they can get their hands on. Down in a river-swamp in Georgia, Colbert shows his expertise when he catches a large beaver near his home. And across the country, in drought-stricken central California, Gabriel sets his sights on small game.
In the swamps of Georgia, Colbert catches a raccoon in the woods. It seems that the season will end well, but when he returns home with his catch, Colbert is faced with a tragedy with unimaginable consequences. In Appalachia, Tony and Amelia get to work on building a water filter to process their drinking water. Nearby, Thorn finds himself with an eye infection and a fever due to exposure to the harsh winter conditions. In California, Gabriel forges a spear in preparation for a boar hunt.
In central California, Gabriel and Justin continue to track wild boar. In dire need of meat, they finally shift their target to less challenging prey. In the Blue Ridge, Tony and Amelia continue to expand their homestead by clearing space for a coop for their newly acquired chicks. Nearby, Thorn decides to start construction on a new shelter for himself and his daughter. In southern Georgia, Colbert is reeling from a tragic discovery... a discovery that has him spending a night in a hotel.
Winter has finally lifted in Appalachia, but the rainy weather marking the arrival of spring is proving a nuisance for Tony and Amelia. Thorn is taking advantage of the warmer weather by adding a goat to his camp, which will provide him with protein from its milk. Further south in Georgia, Colbert sets new traps in an attempt to make up for the pelts he lost in the fire. In California, Gabriel's elder Tautaucho helps him hone his hunting technique.
The seasons are changing, forcing everyone to think of new ways to adapt to their environment. The situation is especially dire in the Georgia swamps, where Colbert is facing the threat of a major flood that could submerge his fishing cabin. In Appalachia, Thorn is working on a new shelter because heavy rain ravaged his hut. Tony and Amelia gather materials to construct an outdoor stove to prevent their house from overheating. In California, Gabriel's friend brings him some much-needed meat.
Colbert gets a visit from his nephew. Thorn's daughter helps him finish his shelter. Tony and Amelia get help from a friend to complete their chicken coop. And Gabriel dries out his goat meat for jerky.
As spring thrives in the swamps and woodlands, wildlife plays a bigger role in the lives of these survivalists.
With summer on its way, the changing landscape and new critters begin to affect daily life in the backwoods and swamps. Tony and Amelia trade for goods; Thorn goes turkey hunting; Colbert tracks wild hogs; and Gabriel meets up with his mentor.
From a rabbit hutch to a new home, projects abound in the wild. In the swamps of Georgia, Colbert is faced with a serious challenge — transporting the materials for his new home up the river.
Homecomings and new beginnings cause these pioneers to reflect on how their lives have changed and what’s still to come.
Live Free or Die examines one of America’s most remote subcultures, following five individuals living in the country’s backwoods and swamps with few of the trappings of modern society. Freed from the constraints of a technology-fueled existence, they are modern-day pioneers who rely only on skill and intuition to harness the natural environment.
Thorn works on developing his homestead; Derik retrieves his working mules; Colbert faces rising waters around his home.
Colbert is running out of time to capture enough pelts for trading over the course of the year; Thorn constructs a small fishing vessel known as "coracle"; Tony and Amelia make sycamore syrup to use in bartering; and Tobias begins an 80-mile journey north to establish a new base camp.
Tobias journeys through the Arizona Desert hoping to survive on what he can carry on his back; Colbert tracks an elusive feral hog; Thorn visits an area known for hunting beaver; Derik finally hits the road with deadly risks along the way.
The primitive Americans all search for sustenance in their respective hideaways. Derik's plan to collect water from a distant spring is shattered when a motorcycle spooks his mule. Tony and Amelia want to try their hand at turkey hunting, so Tony gets a quick riflery lesson from his father-in-law and the couple takes to the forest to catch a meal. Tobias struggles to find water as he continues his 80-mile hike to his new campgrounds, and Colbert prepares to meet up with a friend from before he decided to "re-wild.”
With winter quickly approaching, time is running out for Colbert to find food to carry him through the cold months. Thorn has to quickly adjust to his new life, as his partner, Delia, is now relying on his skills to survive too.
With deer hunting season coming to a close, the re-wilders must use their skill and intuition to quickly find sustenance in order to survive.
With winter's arrival, the re-wilders are running out of time to figure out how to store meat and stay warm in order to survive through winter.
Homesteaders Tony and Amelia start to build a solar dehydrator made from recycled materials to preserve their deer meat. Meanwhile, hunter-gatherer Matt must leave his trusted pit house due to lack of resources.
In an attempt to establish himself on his new land, Matt works quickly to build a shelter and desperately hopes his deadfall traps catch squirrel. Colbert travels to sell his pelts at top dollar so he can pay his property taxes.
With spring quickly approaching, frontiersman Colbert sets up a trotline to catch fish and builds a cabin to fight off mosquitoes. Woodsman Thorn needs to secure many more resources for both him and Delia to survive.
Thorn and Matt go on hunts for food to survive, while Colbert, Tony and Amelia deal with issues, good and bad, at their homesteads.
Thorn takes Delia hunting, Tony and Amelia deal with unruly pigs, Matt hosts a turkey roast, and Colbert finishes building his cabin.
Building is in the air as Colbert reconstructs his home destroyed in a fire, Tony and Amelia expand their bee colony and Thorn attempts construction on a boat.
Frontiersman Colbert lives a rustic existence in the swamps of Georgia.
Homesteaders Tony and Amelia live a rustic existence in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Their stubborn track of land provides many challenges.
