|
deer camp
Sept 23, 2014 16:12:26 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by bart1533 on Sept 23, 2014 16:12:26 GMT -5
Just curious. Who all still does deer camp. How time has changed..When I was a kid I used to do deer camp with my grandpa and uncle and there friends. But it seem its a dying tradition..I used to love it..I couldn't sleep for day know opening day was coming and listen to all the great stories from all the old timers..I look back on it and miss it..but I still do deer camp on my property. .but everyone else in my family now just live on there spread...
|
|
|
Post by beermaker on Sept 23, 2014 17:02:20 GMT -5
Well, did you strike both the good AND bad side of a particular nerve!
I started a deer camp about 20 years ago with a diverse bunch of guys. Friends, uncles, cousins, etc. We had a blast for numerous years. It is a small plot of private ground that adjoins about 1k acres of HNF. The landowner lets us use it in turn for keeping the place maintained and warding off trespassers. We would spend 2-3 Sundays cleaning, cutting firewood, scouting, etc. A few of us would stay a weekend or two in bow season. But, the main event of the year was the opening of gun season. We would all arrive at about noon on Friday. Drinking and lying went on throughout the day while we all unpacked and set camp. Everyone was responsible for a meal, drinks, ice, etc. We all pitched in an were happy. Saturday was filled with dragging, skinning, and more story telling. We had a big dinner and sat around the fire for hours. There was always at least one guy that had shot a nice buck and would celebrate excessively.
Sunday was a sluggish morning, but we all (except for the guy mentioned above) hit the woods with enthusiasm and harvested a few more. After all dragging was done, a good lunch was served, a few closing cocktails, and off to the house. We would usually camp twice in gun season and at least once in muzzleloader. The only reason for anyone's absence was for being out of tags.
It has all gone to hell. Throw in an uncooperative wife or two, some kids, vaginitis, etc. and deer camp is all but gone. Last year, only two of us showed up and it was almost counterproductive.
To those of you that are still maintaining an active group and camp, please march on for the rest of us. I agree that "deer campers" are a dying breed and it bothers me just to think about it.
Good luck to everyone this year, especially to the camps.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2014 17:10:11 GMT -5
I wish I had a deer camp. I have a camp, just no campers.
|
|
|
Post by firstwd on Sept 23, 2014 17:14:01 GMT -5
I wish I had a deer camp. I have a camp, just no campers. You have campers, you built her a cabin. :-)
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2014 17:26:01 GMT -5
True. But I miss guy camp sometimes.
|
|
|
Post by Woody Williams on Sept 23, 2014 17:54:15 GMT -5
I wish I had a deer camp. I have a camp, just no campers. Is that an open invitation?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2014 18:05:14 GMT -5
Absolutely!
|
|
|
Post by HuntMeister on Sept 23, 2014 18:16:56 GMT -5
COOL!! Love Deer camp! When and what do I need to bring?
|
|
|
deer camp
Sept 23, 2014 18:29:16 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by firstwd on Sept 23, 2014 18:29:16 GMT -5
I'm in, but I hear chili turns into a bad idea the next day.
|
|
|
deer camp
Sept 23, 2014 18:30:31 GMT -5
via mobile
Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Sept 23, 2014 18:30:31 GMT -5
Always thought it would be nice to be part of a deer camp.. I started myself deer hunting as a teenager, and always hunted alone up until last year, when BIL started hunting.
We both have growing families, and my house will be paid for and I'll be buying land in a little under 10 years, so there is a little hope for a future deer camp tradition.
|
|
|
Post by jdaily on Sept 23, 2014 18:57:55 GMT -5
We have had a deer camp since I was about 10, (47 now). My father had 5 acres in Warrick County, on the back side of an old strip mine. In the early years, we used the old farm house for lodging and the old barn for hanging the deer. Every gun season, we would hunt opening weekend of gun and then, the week of Thanksgiving, many of the guys would take the week off from work and camp the whole week. A lot of drinking, poker and stories. When my father passed, I took possession of the property and the tradition continued. In the early 90's I sold the property to my brother, who built a new building for cooking and entertaining, because most had campers to sleep in.About 5 yrs ago, the coal company wanted to buy the ground, because they were going to re-strip the property that we hunted on and anything else around it. In exchange for the acreage in Warrick, they gave him quite a few more acres in Pike county. At that point, most of the older guys stopped coming to camp, but there is still 6 of us that camp and hunt at the new property. We are currently clearing an area for our new building. The plan is to build next spring. Excavation of the site will take place in November. Once the building is up, I know, we will get some of the old timers back, but until then, us young guns will keep the tradition alive. There's nothing like deer camp and I look forward to sharing the experience with my kids, in hopes that they keep it alive.
|
|
|
Post by beermaker on Sept 23, 2014 19:30:18 GMT -5
We have had a deer camp since I was about 10, (47 now). My father had 5 acres in Warrick County, on the back side of an old strip mine. In the early years, we used the old farm house for lodging and the old barn for hanging the deer. Every gun season, we would hunt opening weekend of gun and then, the week of Thanksgiving, many of the guys would take the week off from work and camp the whole week. A lot of drinking, poker and stories. When my father passed, I took possession of the property and the tradition continued. In the early 90's I sold the property to my brother, who built a new building for cooking and entertaining, because most had campers to sleep in.About 5 yrs ago, the coal company wanted to buy the ground, because they were going to re-strip the property that we hunted on and anything else around it. In exchange for the acreage in Warrick, they gave him quite a few more acres in Pike county. At that point, most of the older guys stopped coming to camp, but there is still 6 of us that camp and hunt at the new property. We are currently clearing an area for our new building. The plan is to build next spring. Excavation of the site will take place in November. Once the building is up, I know, we will get some of the old timers back, but until then, us young guns will keep the tradition alive. There's nothing like deer camp and I look forward to sharing the experience with my kids, in hopes that they keep it alive. Good for you and your brother. I grew up near your area and have hunted in and taken many deer in both counties. I shot my first deer in Pike county and will never forget that Sunday morning in 1990.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 23, 2014 19:42:30 GMT -5
We have had a deer camp since I was about 10, (47 now). My father had 5 acres in Warrick County, on the back side of an old strip mine. In the early years, we used the old farm house for lodging and the old barn for hanging the deer. Every gun season, we would hunt opening weekend of gun and then, the week of Thanksgiving, many of the guys would take the week off from work and camp the whole week. A lot of drinking, poker and stories. When my father passed, I took possession of the property and the tradition continued. In the early 90's I sold the property to my brother, who built a new building for cooking and entertaining, because most had campers to sleep in.About 5 yrs ago, the coal company wanted to buy the ground, because they were going to re-strip the property that we hunted on and anything else around it. In exchange for the acreage in Warrick, they gave him quite a few more acres in Pike county. At that point, most of the older guys stopped coming to camp, but there is still 6 of us that camp and hunt at the new property. We are currently clearing an area for our new building. The plan is to build next spring. Excavation of the site will take place in November. Once the building is up, I know, we will get some of the old timers back, but until then, us young guns will keep the tradition alive. There's nothing like deer camp and I look forward to sharing the experience with my kids, in hopes that they keep it alive. Curious how 5 acres supported that many hunters... Does it border public land or other land you could hunt?
|
|
|
Post by thecommissioner on Sept 23, 2014 21:46:32 GMT -5
I wish I had an old fashioned deer camp with friends and family. But they all died or moved away or aren't interested in coming to Indiana for hunting. So now I camp alone. Maybe it's less stressful that way but not as much fun as it could be.
|
|
|
Post by jdaily on Sept 23, 2014 22:27:24 GMT -5
We have had a deer camp since I was about 10, (47 now). My father had 5 acres in Warrick County, on the back side of an old strip mine. In the early years, we used the old farm house for lodging and the old barn for hanging the deer. Every gun season, we would hunt opening weekend of gun and then, the week of Thanksgiving, many of the guys would take the week off from work and camp the whole week. A lot of drinking, poker and stories. When my father passed, I took possession of the property and the tradition continued. In the early 90's I sold the property to my brother, who built a new building for cooking and entertaining, because most had campers to sleep in.About 5 yrs ago, the coal company wanted to buy the ground, because they were going to re-strip the property that we hunted on and anything else around it. In exchange for the acreage in Warrick, they gave him quite a few more acres in Pike county. At that point, most of the older guys stopped coming to camp, but there is still 6 of us that camp and hunt at the new property. We are currently clearing an area for our new building. The plan is to build next spring. Excavation of the site will take place in November. Once the building is up, I know, we will get some of the old timers back, but until then, us young guns will keep the tradition alive. There's nothing like deer camp and I look forward to sharing the experience with my kids, in hopes that they keep it alive. Curious how 5 acres supported that many hunters... Does it border public land or other land you could hunt? meta; it sat on the back side of an old strip mine, mined in the 60's, that we hunted on. I'm sure Woody has hunted this ground before.
|
|
|
Post by steve46511 on Sept 24, 2014 3:17:24 GMT -5
Interesting. I've not only never been, I've never heard of one local either. No wait, One. The one Waddell goes to when he comes around and only heard of it and know where it is, but it's local......and no, I'll never see it. I don't think that "camp" has the same type of facilities you guys mean. Most the parcels hunted up North here, there isn't enough wooded ground left to supports such. Since I've never SEEN one, I have to assume it takes larger parcels of woods or AT LEAST something other than 1000 acres of corn and beans? I never really considered the fact that there were many in Indiana. Most I've got in the back of my head that I recall reading about was from articles of Maine or PA, or so it seems. I feel it's great to carry on such a tradition for those that such IS a tradition but, to be honest, I.....really don't know if I would enjoy using such not as far as I see indicated here. I'm the first (to my knowledge) in my family to take a deer, I don't even think my nephews realize that, but 3 of my brother's 4 boys deer hunt and my sister's single son does as well. The three brothers hunt various parts of public hunting ground in Michigan and I've not seen any for more than a decade and the latter has at least two leases that no one else sets foot on without him getting something in return, not even for a doe. Not even his ol Uncle Steve who helped him track, took HIM deer hunting, took him ice fishing, and butchered all his deer while he was a youngster. So, nope, I can't wrap my head around a family camp traditionally used for deer. Equally interesting, (to me at least, LOL) is just exactly HOW such happened TO exist.....in Indiana?? The huntable number of deer in Indiana, REALLY has only existed the past what? 50-60 years?? 45 years ago was the first time I ever saw a deer TRACK. It would be tough for my brain to squeeze in THREE generations doing so in a camp. More likely just two, so I guess I'm not in the loop and am missing something here. I guess I think of such going back generation after generation like the Benoit brother's stories from Vermont but I never even wondered if such existed in Indiana. I try to be envious (but I AM tickled to death FOR YOU) of those of you having such within your group of friends and family but the thought of hunting with another person is a pretty alien concept to me. I've taken the wife out, one son out, a nephew or two out and a buddy that had no place to go. I "made room" for those I care (or cared) about as the desire became known even though I had but only 80 acres, (16 of it wooded) under my say so, at least while that lasted. That is gone now too. Six hunters in there and I no longer have an open blanket to invite someone else, but we never had "a camp". I have often dreamed of having such a camp to utilize but I am sure my thoughts of such differ from what is being discussed here. A small cabin, my old dog, Dew, snoring beside the kerosene heater and I'm reading something from Hemingway, Ruark, Capstick of hunts on other lands while listening to the wind blow snow in from the NW. The bow hanging on the wall has changed over the years as has the gun standing in the corner but one thing has never changed over the years: Even in my dreams, I hunt such a camp alone. I can't say doing so would be "better" or if sharing such would be instead. I guess it's just I started and learned on my own and somehow, the act of doing so became sacred ground? I really don't have a suitable answer. That's just the way it's been. So, too late for a simple answer but, short and sweet, this would be it..... "No. I don't still "do deer camp" and time hasn't changed things here. No one I know ever did." God Bless
|
|
|
Post by featherduster on Sept 24, 2014 5:37:38 GMT -5
I can make it too along with about 3-4 of my friends.
Whats for dinner I am starved, and by the way I want the lower bunk.
|
|
|
Post by DEERTRACKS on Sept 24, 2014 5:54:34 GMT -5
We have a unique deer camp that leads up to the annual adrenaline rush, & the eager anticipation of the opening morning of firearms season! My brother & I schedule off the same deer hunting dates to stay in my camper on a private farm. 2 other fellas (brothers) do their thing in their camper on the farm opening week of the firearms season. I got the landowners son & grandson started deer hunting a few years ago. A 3rd generation of the landowners family is being introduced to deer camp this year. Which I think is great for the continued family legacy of deer hunting & staying in touch with the family farm that dates back to the late 1800's. They too only hunt the 1st week of firearms season! They stay in their father/grandfathers house & do their thing. We all chat, trash-talk, joke, & help each other out during our stays. Our 3 separate groups seems to eliminate the typical deer camp multi-personalities differences in opinions & camp chore assignments of one group. Another thing that is very helpful in eliminating encroachment & safety issues is that we all have landowner-assigned areas to hunt so everyone is spread-out.
|
|