Deer camp .

[Pine]

Deer camp was some of my best memories .
I haven't had a group of hunting partners for many years now , and I do miss it .
We had some good eats and of course the dice or card games .
But I think the best part was pulling the string on a couple of the old guys .
You would hear the same stories every year , but it's all good .
I did make the mistake this one time of getting the first deer on opening day back in the mid 70s .
We could only get one deer per year back then .
The mistake was that I automatically became the camp B.. I mean I was on KP duty while everyone else went hunting .
I sure do miss those times .    

[stack]

I also miss the old time deer camp. Used to go with my dad and a bunch of his friends for a week every year. Now I spend a week up north with my son deer hunting every year. Yes we do use trad gear!!!

[GRAYBEARD]

Like Stack, I would go with my Dad and his friends. They were all WWII vets of different branches so there was a lot of jibes and jokes. This was all rifle hunting but special just the same. Being invited to become a member was a special moment for me. These were all men I looked up to for many reasons.

[Pine]

I have to add , the older couple that owned the cabin and property had a buck only policy .
I remember the first time I was hunting with my bow he asked me if I wouldn't shoot a doe even though I could have legally .
 This one year that old guy ( in his 70s at the time ) shot a buck about 100 yards behind the cabin and it was up hill all the way .
The buck ran down the hill and dropped just a few yards from the buck pole .
He said that he did it that way on purpose .
We sure got a lot of milage out of that one .

[TIM B]

Killed a elk first day couple years ago....camp B for the rest of the week lol
It was great time though....
Tim

[ron w]

Getting a animal and winding up the cook......sounds perfect to me! I hunted from a camp in the Adirondacks for 40 years.....I do miss it but times and people change.....and sadly it's just not the same anymore. Still love to hunt the big woods but just can't do it like I once did.

[Vesty]

I'm blessed to be part of a U.P. camp that was established 43yrs.ago. Last year was the last year for one of the original camp members but a whole new generation carries on the traditions. We camp in Copper Country State Forest for 10 amazing days. I look forward to this camp the moment we pack up and head home. Deer camp in the U.P. is part of my being.

[stagetek]

Graps, I agree completely. I miss the old gang. I'm pretty much the last man standing out of our group. We had a blast. My son enjoys hunting with me during our gun season. But, bow season I'm solo. Still fun, but not the same. The best times of my life were in deer camp with the guys.

[ron w]

I have to add to my thoughts above.....the camp I am a member off was started in 1922. It was purchased as a fishing camp and then guys that came to fish got together and formed a club. All the original members are gone with a couple of their kids still active. I started as a guest in 71' and joined in 78' A lot of stories and tall tales are still told around the wood stove.

[Rough Run]

Deer camp holds some of my finest memories, outside of my children.  A week of camp, and working to earn the privilege to participate, helped me form a great deal of who I like to think I have become.  I wouldn't trade those years for anything.  And I would give a pound of flesh to share that experience with my boys.

[Red Beastmaster]

What's better than having your own deer camp?.................Having a buddy with his own deer camp!

For several years Joe and I hunted with Ed at his camp and private property. It was only a half hour drive for each of us and we would join up every other weekend throughout the season. We took turns providing the meals and each pitched in to do the chores. We all shot stickbows which made our bond even stronger.

The hunting was fantastic! Deer and turkeys everywhere. it was the only place that I ever witnessed true undisturbed rut action, including buck fights! We hung stands and expected them to still be there when we returned.

I never laughed so hard as I did at that camp. Three comedians sitting next to the wood stove enjoying a cold one can make for some wild tales! We also solved most of the worlds problems.

Unfortunately we lost our brother Ed to a brain tumor. We were blessed with the time we had together. Joe and I still hunt together and fondly remember the good times we had at Ed's camp. It was the best times of my life!

[D. Key]

I too miss the great memories from Deer Camp.  Living on your own property where you hunt is great but if you don't have someone to share it with, is sometimes lonely.  I hunted many years with my best Bud but he now has a family and doesn't hunt anymore and I sure miss out time together.

Camp "B" reminds me of a story I heard once:

Guys go to deer camp and draw lots for KP and Cook duty.  The first one that complains then becomes the Cook.  Poor guy hasn't had anyone complain all week and there was only a couple of days remaining in the hunt and he was still Camp "B".  He had the thought...I will throw sand in my Biscuit mix, get a complaint and get to hunt.  He made the Biscuits and when they began eating one guy said "THERE'S SAND IN THESE BUICUITS...But they're just like I love them".  Poor guy never did get to hunt that year.

[Pine]

Doug , that must be a universal rule about the complaining .
Yep , the coffee is perfect , never had better beer pancakes and that black trim on them is just incredible .
Those were some good times ......  

[Al Dente]

This will be the first year without my Dad.  It was hard walking through the door knowing he will never step foot across the threshold again.  I know he is with me in spirit, but not sharing any more of those precious times in the woods with him will be sorely missed.  Ti voglio bene assai Papa.