Thread: hunting trips and hygiene

not something talked about but thought I would put something down for the new hunters setting off on their first trips in the scrub - not talked about and not ever really covered yup hand and butt hygiene - when we were culling we washed - in winter one had to be brave - race down to river yes race this whole exercise was done at speed - strip into river -out soap up - in and rinse of - out violently dry and back to hut /camp before one froze - but had to be done - actually was more scared of the eels than cold - but what if no river and water is limited - go down to your local chemist and get a tube of Fucidin or other anti fungal cream , a small spray bottle of hand sanitizer and a pack of baby wet wipes - take those in and use them and yes you are going to take them out with you - but you must wash your hands and ya butt - the consequences of poor hygiene are 1) ya give ya mates deli belly when its your turn to cook 2) you develop nasty case of crutch rash from not washing those parts - not pleasant at all - ask me how I know - the anti fungal will fix quickly - when I did my hut rounds as a Ranger at Waikaremoana I was asked regularly by trampers / school groups for vaseline or petroleum jelly or similar for crutch rash caused by sweat chafing - can be debilitating -be prepared