You don't need to have the axe/hatchet in the main weapon slot, keep it on your tool belt with the rest of your gadgets and when you are in a forest and next to a tree open your inventory and right click on the axe and then click on harvest wood, make sure you have two free slots in your main inventory and a pile of wood will be added, then go to an open space (inside the forest is best to hide the light/smoke) and open your inventory and right click on the matches and select build fireplace, then just use the scroll wheel to light the fire and cook meet! make sure the put out the fire once you are done to avoid drawing attention the the area. The more you play the more you learn, try to survive as long as you can, as that is the aim of the game, but don't get too attached to your gear/character as this can hold you back from getting better gear or getting into some really fun and intense situations, and if you are too attached to your gear when you do die (it will happen and you probably won't expect it) you will find it a lot harder to get back into the game and have fun, just use what you learnt in your previous life to be a better player and survive longer the next time.

Will join next time I play, how many players are usually on at one time?

I had this problem the other day, I thought the server was glitched out not allowing headshots until I saw the bullet impact a tree about half a meter above the zombies head, bit annoying now that all I have is 12 SD mags :(