Shrewhaven Lodge-a slightly different year

[Ray Lyon]

Well camp wrapped up a few days ago and it was certainly an oddball year!  Probably best described as the year of medical issues.  First for yours truly the season never got started.  September 26th, while finishing up a two week vacation visiting our daughters in college not too far from camp I ended up in ER with a leaking appendix.  5 days later after some complications I was released and my wife drove us the 5 hours home. 2 days later I’m back in our home town ER with an Ileus/infection and end up having a NG tube(up your nose down the throat and into stomach) placed and an an IV in the arm with tube running to my heart which fed me and delivers antibiotics.  They pumped 4 canisters of bile out of my stomach and essentially shut down my digestive track for 4 days.  Get released after 5 days in hospital and have another week at home with low grade fever and night sweats.  Follow up with surgeon and CT scan shows abscess where appendix was removed.  Back into outpatient procedure to have catheter placed in my side to drain off abscess while at home for next five days.  Catheter removed and now I’ve got 7 more days of antibiotics.  So five weeks after appendix removed and I’m still not ready for the woods.  Needless to say I was not in camp!!!

[Ray Lyon]

Next up we have Ron and Roger.  Ron has continued to have issues with his feet and Roger was driving him to camp because it’s a 8 hour trip and Ron’s wearing walking boots.  However, Rogers son and daughter-in-law find out the baby there scheduled for mid November is coming during the first weekend of camp so they’re not getting started until four days into camp making for a very abbreviated trip!

Ron essentially cheered the gang on from sidelines and Roger had some deer sightings and was entertaining a fat black bear on top of banana ridge

[Ray Lyon]

Kevi was having some kidney issues and an issue with his finger right before he was scheduled to head north.  Kevin’s son-in-law Eric owns a landscaping company and this late warm fall put a cramp in his wrapping up lawn care before he could head to camp.  Kevin got medical clearance and Eric wrapped up enough lawn maintenance so they could join in camp a few days late.  Kevin is master of the rotisserie and Eric grows organic fed chickens that are huge and they also did a whole young deer

Eric on stand

[Ray Lyon]

Tim and his son-in-law Eric have had their own medical challenge.  Eric’s wife/Tim’s daughter needed a bone marrow transplant and Tim was best option for match.  A week before camp she finally came home after months in hospital.  Tim made it to camp on time but Eric was limited to just a few days in camp, but even that was a blessing.  Tim got into some deer in a new spot but just couldn’t close the deal.  Eric had deer around him but no shot opportunities. 

Eric enjoying sunrise

Tim making good use of ground blind

[Ray Lyon]

Finally, our resident chef and first guy in camp, Greg, got it done on a nice doe

Yes there may have been a little celebration

The last night before camp broke Greg had a nice 8 point coming to him and at 12 yards he had bow up and tension on string but a doe on his downwind side busted up the party before it could begin.

And so, it was not quite the year we had all envisioned but the 30th year of camp is in the books and we’re going to start planning for next year!!

[Ray Lyon]

New stove pipe on wood stove

Appropriate sign

[woodchucker]

Thanks for the update, Ray!!!!! Congratulations, Greg!!!! 

Deer Camp is a sacred place. For those who get to experience it, ranks right up there with kids & Christmas!!!
Many years we go home empty handed.... Some years, we miss it altogether....

But, there's one thing that remains constant..... "Well, maybe next year!!" 

[Al Dente]

There is no such thing as a "bad" year at hunting camp.  Although the attendance may change year to year, with some ascending, some unable to attend, etc..., it is still a cherished place where memories are made and relived year after year.  Good luck to everyone who had ailments on a full recovery, blessings and prayers to your loved ones.

[GCook]

Appreciate the report.
Congratulations to the hunters who were a to tag animals as well as to the ones who beat the odds and were able to even get there.  May everyone be healed and be in a better place by next camp.

[Pine]

Thanks for sharing 

[Mike Malvaini]

Wishing Ron well!!!

Thanks for sharing.

[Ray Lyon]

Thank you for all the kind comments and well wishes. As usual there is post camp banter and razzing going on in our group text.  I’m sorry for the long winded medical version, however it was an intricate part of changing the nature of camp.  Hopefully we got all of our ailments out of the way in one swoop and we’ll be back to normal for years to come and our deer hanging results look more like this photo from a few years back:

 

[Ray Lyon]

Well, I’m continuing to feel better. Still had some night sweats three nights ago (but no fever).  CT scan and HOPEFULLY last appointment with surgeon this coming Wednesday.  My first hunt of year, yesterday (and maybe last if they find some new infection growing), almost 6 weeks into our bow season.  Hunting back on the family apple/cherry farm where I’m chief deer manager, along with a couple of friends.  For November 7th we have a LOT of foliage remaining.  This deer made the mistake of showing up on the maiden voyage of my Super Shrew Classic Hunter II (Shrewhaven Member bow version).  I had texted my wife after I watched the deer go down from my tree stand and she replied ‘I bet it feels great to have some normalcy back in your life’.    It was a good day to have a good day!

Creek bottom just off apple orchard

Geese flying low back to the bay

Kustom King Trailmaker 3 blade results

First blood 2 steps from hit

Already thinking about next year at camp!!!!

[Flingblade]

Congratulations Ray!   Glad you were able to get out in the woods and get a hunt in after everything you've been through!  Hope you and the others continue to heal and come back strong in 22!

[JR Chambers]

Congrats buddy. You will be drinking bourbon in no time 

[tzolk]

Thank you for the lovely post! It’s tough getting older.  I look forward to the annual Shrew Haven camp tales. Congratulations to Roger on the new grandchild!!!!!