What NOT to do in the outdoors

We asked what NOT to do in the outdoors across our social platforms and Forum community, and here’s what folks had to say.

Never make out in the woods assuming no hunters are watching.
Take a leak in a mosquito-infested swamp while looking for the trout pond.
Never forget to bring toilet paper.
If you’re going for a bear poop, make sure the foliage under your butt isn’t poison ivy.
Trespass.
Forget to bring a compass — it’s awkward when you have to eat your friends.
Litter.
If you can carry it in, you can carry it out. Respect the outdoors.
Never use pine cones as toilet paper. Told my wife once to just use a pine cone, just one of the many reasons she doesn’t go camping with me any more.
Leave garbage/recyclables behind. It is a danger to wildlife and just a lazy thing to do.
Not tell anyone where you’re going, and when you’ll be back.
I always find a lot of garbage at shore fishing spots so I bring a bag with me to clean up what I can. Worm containers, pop cans, old fishing line, etc. Pretty sad that people are like that and lack the respect of our precious outdoors and waterways.
Do not wipe with plants that have “leaves of three.”
Do not forget to stop and just take in the beauty that is Canada.
Don’t be the slowest one in your group in bear country.
Get wet in cooler/cold weather.
Never eat berries that are unknown to you.
Never skip the basic safety gear. You don’t need to bubble wrap yourself but wear the life jacket on a boat or the safety glasses when using a chainsaw. I almost had permanent vision loss a few years ago from a wood chip.
Never leave a campfire burning after walking away. Always put it out.
Never drink untreated water.
Never leave garbage outdoors, whatever you pack in should be packed out.
Never forget your first-aid kit.
Have any sort of expectations when fishing with small children for the first time.
Go gentle into that good night and/or rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Bark at the moon…you’ll confuse the locals.
Don’t pee on an electric fences.
Look around before you drop your pants in the woods – there’s usually a trail cam watching.
Turn down an outhouse-using opportunity.
Steal your guide’s fishing spot.
Don’t underestimate how quickly weather conditions can change. Too many times for me on the water have started out as a beautiful morning, sun shining, light breeze, comfortable temperatures. A few hours later winds are howling, heavy rain and even sleet are blowing sideways, and temperatures have dropped drastically. Spring is notorious for these drastic shifts, but I’ve had bone-chilling drops in the middle of summer too. Usually, not a big deal if you are close to your hunt camp or cottage, but if you are canoeing far off or on a drift boat down a river and didn’t pack clothes to layer and a rain jacket, time in the outdoors can not be fun. Hypothermia in the summer can happen.