OD07 Code

Preamble – What We Are.

We are bound not by uniform, title, or blood, but by responsibility. We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. What affects one of us affects all of us. What we protect together endures longer than any single name. This brotherhood exists to preserve what was passed down to us - the land, the knowledge, the respect, and the freedom to live outdoors as it was meant to be lived.

Rule I – Keeper of One Another.

We do not abandon our own. We stand for our brothers and sisters when they cannot. We correct each other privately and defend each other publicly. We do not tolerate betrayal, exploitation, or silence in the face of wrong. Strength is shared. Burden is shared. Responsibility is shared.

Rule II – Respect Earned, Not Demanded.

Respect within the brotherhood is built through:

-action

-consistency

-humility

-accountability

No one is above the rules. No one is beneath dignity. Ego has no place here.

Rule III – The Outdoors Is Our Inheritance.

The outdoors is not a product. It is not a trend. It is not a commodity. It is an inheritance passed down through generations of hunters, anglers, trappers, hikers, explorers, and workers who respected it because their lives depended on it. We do not “use” the outdoors.

We belong to it.

Rule IV – Protection of Land and Life.

We take only what is needed. We leave more than we take. We respect wildlife through ethical pursuit. We honor harvest through use, not waste. We treat land as something we borrow from those who come after us. Damage done in carelessness is still damage.

Rule V – Rights Passed Down.

The rights we exercise today were paid for by those before us.

-To hunt

-To fish

-To explore

-To gather

-To live freely outdoors

These rights were earned through survival, sacrifice, and stewardship—not convenience. We protect them fiercely, responsibly, and lawfully so they are not lost through neglect or abuse.

Rule VI – Knowledge Is Sacred.

What we know is meant to be passed on. We teach before we judge. We guide before we criticize. We protect traditions by practicing them properly. Gatekeeping destroys legacy. Education preserves it.

Rule VII – Conduct Beyond the Brotherhood.

When we wear the mark or walk unmarked, we still represent the same thing. Our words matter. Our actions matter. Our restraint matters. We do not bring shame to the land, the craft, or the brotherhood.

Rule VIII – Silence Is Sometimes Strength.

Not every truth needs to be broadcast. Not every place needs to be shared. Not every success needs recognition. Some things survive because they remain quiet.

Rule IX – Accountability.

If one of us harms the land, abuses privilege, or betrays trust - it is addressed. Ignoring wrongdoing weakens the whole. Correcting it preserves the brotherhood.

Rule X – Continuation.

We are temporary. The brotherhood is not. Our duty is not to be remembered, but to leave something worth inheriting.

Closing Declaration

We are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. We respect what was given. We protect what remains. We pass it forward stronger than we received it.

-This is not owner ship.

-This is stewardship.

-This is the brotherhood.