Bushcraft Etiquette

[JoshG]

Chatting to Mors Kochanski about this earlier in the year he provided the following

1. The cook is king

the cook should never have to fetch firewood or water. if you have time to spare offer your services to the cook, washing up, peeling potatos etc

2. stoking the fire

when food is cooking on the fire do not heap on firewood without making the cook aware of what you are doing

3. Cooking duties

if its your turn to cook wash your hands and clean your fingernails

4. do not spit
if you need to clear your thoat it should be done away from the general camp

5. do your laundry

stale clothing and body odor are as difficult to stand in the bush as anywhere else. your bush skills are poorly developed if you do not know how to return to civilisation as clean as you left it

6. walk around pots and plates

do not step over food

7. Rubbish

do not put rubbish into the fire whilst food is cooking or people are eating

8. Dishes

do not leave dirty (or clean) dishes under foot. if washing your own dishes is camp custom take care of this chor immediately, genrally it is excusable to do away with most eating utensils and even to eat with the fingers, however do not handle somone elses food with your hands

9. carry a small mirror

pay particular attention to the corners of your eyes and mouth when washing, after eating ensure there is no food on your face

10. borrowing

do not ask to borrow somones private knife, axe or saw. if a job needs doig and you do not have the required tool, ask the owner to do it for you.

11. following to closely

when on the trail if the branches from the person in front are slapping you in the face, its your own fault, dont follow so closely

12. visitors

when visitors happen upon your camp, it is the custom to at least offer tea

13. Snoring

if you are a loud snorer, or prone to considerable flatulence you should have the good manners to set up your own camp an appropriate distance away

14. Toilet decorum

cleanliness and neatness of persons are desirable quirks

15. the ultimate good manners

good manners dictate that all vulgarity, mishaps, blunders and accidents on the part of others be let off without comment with a philosophical indifference

Sounds extremely reasonable.

 

[RovingArcher]

Oh this type of etiquette, don't put on a bear skin rug and charge the campfire unless you know there is no guns in camp
It was really funny!!!! they beat me senselesssss,, would still do it :werd:

It's good to have some fun. Even if you get your butt kicked afterwards. Good advice none the less.

 

[gregorach]

One of my pet peeves is people who build camp fires with no thought to removing the turf or clearing up afterwards to leave as little trace of it as possible. A lovely area near me is covered in the charred remains of campfires (plus the tins and bottles mentioned previously).

That's a slightly debateable one, depending on where you are. Many good wild camping spots in Scotland have well-established fire circles, some of which date back a suprisingly long way (for example on traditional Gypsy camps). In that case I reckon it's better to use the established fire circle and leave it tidy for the next party.

Of course, if you're making a fresh one you should clean it up.

 

[WNZer]

Maybe we could get signal signs, you know like,

"L.M.A." (Leave Me Alone, I am quite happy by myself, the reason I come out here is for the solitude).

"U.F.A.B" (Up For A Brew, could be a handy one???)

"N.I.D.N.A.L" (No, I Dont Need A Lighter, for sheeple that come up and ask that when using primitive fire starting methods)

That was mainly just for a laugh, but something to think about, LOL

 

[Ogri the trog]

Whilst on holiday in Australia recently.
In a national park, I saw pre-prepared barbeque pits for sheeple campers. It encouraged fires in a designated place, which is good when forest fires are a risk. The pits could be moved from time to time to prevent deep scaring of the immediate locality. The authorities also supplied wood for burning so as to discourage taking wood from the forest.
It's not what we would call ideal, as it caters for too broad a spectrum, but it might be considered a step in the direction we want to go. ie open fires permitted - but under control. When managing such a place, you have to be 100% sure that whoever uses the grounds will not mess it up for those that follow, sadly that entails imposing restrictions.
If we really want to go for the wild camp, then I think it is up to the individual to seek out permission from the owner and then offer an inspection on his departure; thus proving his mettle and ensuring he might be welcome next time. It also follows that if a landowner has had a bad experience in the past, he might be reluctant to give his permission at all or might impose restriction on certain activities.

My 2 pence.

Ogri the trog

 

[falling rain]

Some good posts.

You can tell who the squaddies and ex-squaddies are. Making a brew for just yourself is a definate no-no.
I think at the end of the day common courtesy and sense and thinking about what you do, and how it affects/appears to others in the camp and if you'd like it done to you is the bottom line.
I definately agree about helping out with general camp chores like peeling the spuds and chopping veg / collecting/ chopping firewood etc if you're having a comunal feed, and a comunal fire everyone should chip in and give a hand, If you see the wood pile is running low then go and collect some more and ask if anyone would be so good as to give you a hand......you get the picture.
I have been on courses before and it's usually apparent straight away if there are any squddies or ex-squaddies in the group as they are the ones who are always helping with the chores without being asked they tend to just do it when it needs doing, and don't expect a round of applause for it. That's not to say non squaddies don't help out because MOST people do. I'm not intending to offend anyone but I have witnessed extreme laziness by some people who are happy to just watch others do any work that needs doing but they're up off their butts quick enough when grubs up!

.......quick edit.

and another annoyance is the 'Noah' when someone is trying to teach something or do a workshop. I was teaching some families for the council at the weekend and asking the kids what reasons could they think of for fire and one of the dads at the back kept shouting out......signalling.....ok any others?........warmth......(starting to get annoyed) OK any others........purifying water.......(starting to get more annoyed) OK, how about the kids can anyone think of any more?.
Another time on a plant walk/ID session one member of the group was talking over the instructor the whole time and basically showing off about how much he knew. The Instructor was getting a bit frustrated as his face quite rightly showed but the 'Noah didn't seem to be getting the message. I thought the instructor was going to ask if the chap wanted to take over teaching the lesson!!

 

[Wayland]

Some good posts here.

Do you think these sort of things should be left to common sense or is it a good idea to set out ground rules at an event?

The last thing any of us want is more beaurocracy in the woods but it is sometimes difficult to raise an issue when it arises because nobody knows what the accepted behaviour should be.

 

[innocent bystander]

Oh well, as a non ex squaddie i best sit in the woods by myself somewhere else then.

 

[led]

I totally agree with you. It's when people think that just because there's one, they can light a fire anywhere they feel like. Particularly annoying on an ancient monument site that's recently been re-turfed due to fires and general erosion .

That's a slightly debateable one, depending on where you are. Many good wild camping spots in Scotland have well-established fire circles, some of which date back a suprisingly long way (for example on traditional Gypsy camps). In that case I reckon it's better to use the established fire circle and leave it tidy for the next party.

Of course, if you're making a fresh one you should clean it up.

 

[Eric_Methven]

I think a few common sense standards should be set down on paper and let everyone have a read when they turn up. We could also include general info like where the nearest hospital is in case of an emergency, and a list of qualified first aiders in the group - just so everyone knows.

Eric

 

[JoshG]

I think a few common sense standards should be set down on paper and let everyone have a read when they turn up. We could also include general info like where the nearest hospital is in case of an emergency, and a list of qualified first aiders in the group - just so everyone knows.

Eric

Fantastic idea.

 

[Wayland]

Oh well, as a non ex squaddie i best sit in the woods by myself somewhere else then.

Nobody is looking to exclude anybody. The idea is that everybody agrees certain standards so that if they are breached the matter can be raised by anyone.

The best example I can think of was something that happened at the Scottish meet.

One of the kids took a canoe out onto the loch on his own, without permission and without a life jacket.

He was wrong to do so and his mother duly chastised him when he returned.

My point is that several people saw him do it but did not feel it was their place to say anything.

I myself am used to working with kids but within the framework and rule system of a school environment.

However, in this situation I did not feel I had the authority to intervene without parental consent.

Clear ground rules could have simplified this matter and also helped in the matter, discussed earlier in this thread, of children running around the camp with burning brands.

There are probably few people on this who are more anti-rule than me but anarchy is not the solution either.

 

[pumbaa]

I have to say i dont understand this theory on squaddies just mucking in ! I spent a few years in the army and everyone i met through my time as a solider spent most days trying to avoid doing any of the jobs that needed doing !
I am not trying to upset anyone , just relaying my experience's .
Pumbaa

 

[Eric_Methven]

Pumbaa, I also found that to be the case - in barracks. However, out in the field, on exercise or on active service I have always mucked in wherever it was needed and so have my mates. I find this to generally be the case. I also think that in a civilian context, the ex-squadies generally work well together and when something needs doing they can get on with it without having to discuss the why's and wherefors, often not even needing to speak. I know this had both impressed and intimidated (depending on the context) some people who have never done military service. Once the situation exists, the training kicks in and the job gnerally gets done without too much trouble. I remember doing a management course with a bunch of other teachers and four of our group were ex services. The team we were up against were from a management background. Our team just blew them out of the water. The non forces ones in our team just let us take the lead it was so obvious to them that we knew exactly what we were doing. The managers all wanted to be in charge and all had different ideas. They hadn't a chance.

Eric

 

[Ropeman]

Nobody is looking to exclude anybody. The idea is that everybody agrees certain standards so that if they are breached the matter can be raised by anyone.

The best example I can think of was something that happened at the Scottish meet.

One of the kids took a canoe out onto the loch on his own, without permission and without a life jacket.

He was wrong to do so and his mother duly chastised him when he returned.

My point is that several people saw him do it but did not feel it was their place to say anything.

I myself am used to working with kids but within the framework and rule system of a school environment.

However, in this situation I did not feel I had the authority to intervene without parental consent.

Clear ground rules could have simplified this matter and also helped in the matter, discussed earlier in this thread, of children running around the camp with burning brands.

There are probably few people on this who are more anti-rule than me but anarchy is not the solution either.

In any situation, anyone should feel able to calmly and politely express concern at the unsafe behaviour of others, if you see someone swinging an axe in a way that is going to injure them or a kid taking a canoe out on the water alone and with no PFD you should say something.

When that person injures themselves or worst case, kills themselves then those that saw the act and didn't act have to live with it for the rest of their lives. Don't feel embarassed about trying to save lives or prevent an injury.

The obvious flip side of this is that if someone asks if what you are doing is safe, don't get defensive and blow up at them. If you are doing it safely calmy explain that to them. If you aren't doing it safely, then either do it safely or be prepared to treat your own injuries and extract yourself to hospital without anyone elses help.

Don't make someone uncomfortable about looking out for your safety.

Also, don't whinge, if you're uncomfortable then sort yourself out, if you want to go home, go home. Don't share your discomfort with everyone else and make them feel the same way.

 

[Bumblebee]

I think the most important "rule" has been forgotten in this thread:

Have fun and enjoy nature!

 

[British Red]

Hmmm as resurrected by Wayland - as a "grumpy old bushcrafter" thread.

My (latest) peeve. Mountain bikers who tear ar** along foot paths (where they aren't supposed to be anyway), d*** nearly knock yo over and spray you with mud!

Feel like borrowing a French Resistance trick there!

Not sure what the rules are on mountain bikes but surely they aren't meant to be on footpaths? Bridleways perhaps..don't know

(grumbles off......modern fancy veloipedes...grumble)

 

[Tadpole]

My personal favourite peeve or breach of etiquette, well two really, is people who dip their personal drinking vessel in to the community hot water pot, having already had a brew (ahead of others who haven’t) thereby contaminating the water with all sorts of tea, milk, coffee, leaf mould dirt crap etc, if you want a second brew or first for that matter make sure your cup is clean, and not covered in crap from where you’ve left it laying about on the ground.
Also people who complain that there is no (insert camp deficiency) wood, water, fire, whatever, yet do nothing about it, all the time expecting others to jump up and rectify the matter.

 

[xylaria]

As a few people have mentioned childrens behaviour, I felt as a parent I should add my two penneth. In this country there is little tradition of communal parenting, where every adult in a community has a responcibilty to set a example. Instead most feel unconfortable telling other peoples children that a behaviour is annoying or dangerous. The child doesn't know something till you tell them. As a mother the magic powers of the eyes in the back my head do sometimes fail, so please if my little brats are up no good tell them off or tell me. Children need to know what annoys others.

What I am getting at if you are normal civilised human being the chances are you talk to child in a normal civilised manner. It is just basic ettiquette, but please don't think just because someone is child they are not intitled to common courtesy.

 

[Surrey Yeoman]

Hmmm as resurrected by Wayland - as a "grumpy old bushcrafter" thread.

My (latest) peeve. Mountain bikers who tear ar** along foot paths (where they aren't supposed to be anyway), d*** nearly knock yo over and spray you with mud!

Feel like borrowing a French Resistance trick there!

Not sure what the rules are on mountain bikes but surely they aren't meant to be on footpaths? Bridleways perhaps..don't know

(grumbles off......modern fancy veloipedes...grumble)

Bicycles should not be used on footpaths unless such use has been approved by the local authority in a traffic regulation order. They may be used on bridleways and on byways open to all traffic (BOATs), but should give way to pedestrians at all times. The only other time that a person may ride a bicycle (or use any vehicle) on a public footpath which has not been designated for use by the local authority, is when he / she is the owner of the land or their agent acting on their orders.

See, I knew 13 years on Traffic Department would come in handy one day!