diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
index 8afee6d..e9ed637 100644
--- a/.github/pull_request_template.md
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@
 
 <!-- One paragraph: what changed and why. "Fixed bug" and "Added feature" are not summaries. -->
 
+## Target branch
+
+- [ ] This PR targets **`dev`**, not `main`. All PRs land in `dev`; `main` is curated by the maintainer at each release. If your PR is on `main` by accident, click "Edit" on this PR and change the base.
+
 ## Linked Issue
 
 <!-- Every PR should be linked to an issue.
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index bdca56b..2302c41 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -2,6 +2,17 @@
 
 Thanks for helping. The project is moving quickly, so the best contributions are focused, easy to review, and easy to test.
 
+## Branch model
+
+Odysseus has two branches:
+
+- **`dev`** — where all PRs land. Things can be in flux here; the merge button gets used freely.
+- **`main`** — what users run. Curated and tested by the maintainer. Fast-forwarded to a stable `dev` commit at each release.
+
+**Open your PR against `dev`, not `main`.** The GitHub "base" dropdown defaults to `dev`. If you opened a PR against `main` by accident, click "Edit" on the PR and change the base — no rebase needed.
+
+End-users cloning the repo will land on `dev` by default. To run the curated/stable version: `git checkout main` after clone.
+
 ## Before You Start
 
 - Search existing issues and pull requests before opening a new one.