A practical checklist

  1. Use field notes for stable access directions, names, and persistent landmarks.
  2. Use activity notes for today’s work, observed condition, or incomplete pass.
  3. Review a temporary detail before promoting it to a permanent field description.
Illustrative recordA worked example

Field note: “Enter from east lane; north gate serves adjoining pasture.” Scouting note for October 1: “East lane soft after rain; parked outside gate.” One explains the field generally, the other explains that visit.

What to avoid

Avoid storing a changing condition only in the field description. Without a date, a future reader may assume an old observation still applies.

All field history guides