29 Well-Tested Hints for the Outdoorsman (1928)

In 1928, the Canadian National Railways published a small booklet called Campcraft and Woodlore (https://archive.org/details/McGillLibrary-rbsc_camp_craft_woodlore_OCTAVO_868-20437).

The booklet contained, among other things, 29 Well-Tested Hints for the Outdoorsman.

Those hints are reproduced here:

1. Do not sit or lie on bare ground; it is harmful and likely to cause sickness. It is better if caught out in the rain to sit on your hat and go bareheaded than to it on the ground.

2. Always carry two waterproof match boxes of the hard rubber kind that will float-one full of salt and one full of matches-and do not use them ail the time, but keep in reserve in case of accident. This is cheap life insurance.

3· Drink sparingly of water in a strange country; it may cause dysentery or be very constipating until you get used to it.

4· If your horse won't drink water don't do it yourself; trust your horse, but don't trust your dog, for he will drink any filthy water.

5. Don't fail to take a good compass with a Jock needle, and become familiar with it before you start. Don't wait until you are lost to do this.

6. If lost in unknown territory, find a stream and follow it down, it will generally bring you out near habitation.

7· Don't follow old wood roads; they generally wander around aimlessly and lead nowhere.

8. Your jack knife should not be too large, of good steel, with two strong blades a can opener, leather punch and a file.

9. Don't lug a heavy pistol around on a belt full of cartridges to back up your rifle in case it is jammed when a big bear charges you, as you read of in a book. It hardly ever happens, and, if it does, make up your mind that you will be a dead hunter anyway, for it's 20 to 1 you would not get the pistol busy in time and it would not stop the bear anyway. The pistol and belt will make your hips so sore walking long distances that unless you are used to it, it will cripple you, and it means another gun to keep clean m camp-a constant source of worry.

10. Don't forget that sewing kit in your ditty bag, which should contain safety pins, needles, thread, darning cotton, buttons, wax, etc.

11. The tail of your sweater is fine for darning if you unravel a bit of it.

12. But two heavy woolen lumberman's shirts are more comfortable and warmer than a sweater or a coat.

13. If thirsty and without water, put a small stone or a button under your tongue; it will keep your mouth moist.

14. Plan your work. Let each member of your party have a certain amount of work allotted to him and every one do his share.

15. Do not have a dirty camp. It should be cleaner than your home. Crumbs dropped on the ground don't show like they do on the floor, but flies and insects find them. Destroy all refuse from the table in the fire. Don't pollute the woods.

16. Unload all firearms as you come into camp.

17. A well-soaked cloth wrapped around a bottle will keep it cool. Bang it up in a breeze in the shade.

18. A little vinegar in water boiled in your pots or pans will take away the smell of fish.

19. Keep all of your extra matches in a large bottle.

20. Signal of distress. Three shots: fire once, wait five seconds and fire again twice.

21. Remember it is warmer to sleep m a snowdrift than on the bare ground.

22. To keep ants away from rations set a box on four sticks standing in tin cans or saucers full of water, and the ants can't get to them.

23. Talk to your dog or horse-he is just as lonely as you are.

24. Cheap guns make poor shots and poor sportsmen.

25. Don't think you know more about hunting than your guide. Remember conditions vary in different places.

26. Always take the natives' advice as to living conditions and avoid sickness. They have learnt by experience, and experience may be costly to you.

27. If your boots are wet, scrape away some hot dirt or sand from under the fire and fill them with it. They will be dry in the morning.

28. To avoid sore feet, wear large shoes with small hob nails that cannot be felt through the soles, a thin pair of socks, soaped on the heel on the inside next to the feet, and a heavy pair of woolen socks over them. This will positively prevent blisters.

29. If you fall into the water, no matter how cold the weather, take off all of your clothing and wring it out as dry as possible and put it on again. You will be warmer afterwards and avoid colds or worse.