Curious, how many are fortunate enough to have an active annual deer camp with the same group of returning hunters. Here in the upper midwest,its steep in the tradition of deer camps but it is mostly firearm season.
I for one envy those that have this going. I can not imagine a more worthwhile endeavor! Memories that last though the year to keep our everday work-a-day world tolerable.
I only know about the ShrewHaven crew and BTW I look forward to that thread each year, its simple grand. Those fellas are rich,in a way beyond monetary value. A much deeper and meaningful rich! True blue tradition there.
I have a deer camp in north-central MN. Just a travel trailer with wood stove so if it is going to be below zero, she gets a little cool in November
I have a deer camp in da UP (Michigan), but unfortunately, it is only me and maybe 2-3 deer.
Great fun to be up there though.
CHuckC
Me and a great group of friends are starting one this fall. I cant wait as its my first opportunity at such a thing. It will be a recurring event if I have anything to do with it.
Here's a link to the Shrewhaven annual deer camp from western Upper Peninsula. Lot's of threads over the years here for our annual camp as well, but this gives you a nice video to watch that was on a TV show a year or two ago.
Shrewhaven deer camp (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C5sIKWBjoY)
I camp twice a year for deer hunting. On opening weekend of gun season, which I have not missed since 1964 (remember, I have not always been an archer). This is usually just me, with my son sometimes joining me.
The other group meets for a weekend in November, and I have gone every year since the 1970's. Some have come and gone, but others have been coming for many years.
We have a deer camp that backs up to 8,000 acres of public hunting land. We have 13 acres, with 10 small campers that make up a circle. In the middle of them we have a hut with a wood burning stove and we all gather there after a days hunt to tell stories and relax. For most of us it's only a hour drive from home and we spend every weekend there.the oldest member is 84 and he still climbs tree's and occasionally you will see him up one just standing on a branch ( he ain't right) but very entertaining. I could probably write a book with all of the stories that comes out of that hut. I look forward to camp as much as hunting season itself.
I picked up a place in the northern lower peninsula of Michigan last year. I believe the tradition got a great start last year and will only get better. It has 450 square foot primitive cabin on it, no running water or electricity, but it has a well with hand pump and an inverter in the wall for a deep cycle battery, wood heat. It was my brother and one nephew last year and we will be joined by another nephew this year. I love it! It is only 100 acres, but we have a ball planting food plots, making thickets, hanging stands and running trail cams.
I have a deer camp of sorts. Mostly it's a general hunting camp. I have a group of 4 guys (my two best buds, my old man, and myself) that go out and hunt for a solid week every October. None of use are land owners so we find suitable public land and set up camp. The only rules are no computers ,cell phones only for calling home and checking in! And everyone has to bring dinner for at least one night. This will be the first year we decided to get serious about deer. Just figured all you non land owners might like to know you can still have a deer camp. We have done this for 6 years now. It is one of the biggest highlights of my year.
This will be the Ninth Annual Southern Indiana Bowhunt. All are welcome: http://sticknstring.webs.com/2015southerninbowhunt.htm
My brother, Dad and one other guy hunt opening weekend of gun every year. We have a camper adjacent to thousands of acres of National and State Forest as well as Army Corps land around a reservoir.
We have a hunting camp across from our lease. To some it may just look like a group of trailers with a pavilion and fire ring but I love that place. A little piece of heaven.
You bet. In the glorious wilds of the U.P. I was fortunate enough to become part of this camp that has been going strong for 39yrs. We have lost some of the originals but we carry on the tradition in their honor.
You bet. In the glorious wilds of the U.P. I was fortunate enough to become part of this camp that has been going strong for 39yrs. We have lost some of the originals but we carry on the tradition in their honor.
My Brother in-law and his brothers built a little cabin on their mountain in the Catskills. But hey! We're "related" LOL!!! So... I'll "rephrase" that. "Our Family" has a cabin on a mountain in Delaware Co. NY. It gets more use during the gun season, But we've been planning some bowhunting trips for this & the coming years!!!
:campfire: :archer: :archer:
I have 17.6 acres in northern NY. It's next to a few hundred acres of public land. Just a camper but it's hunting camp. My dad's ashes are spread there & he's always with us. My 2 brothers & a friend are always there & we have visitors now & then. We bow hunt, muzzle load & gun hunt, but bow is most looked forward to. I've taken a couple deer & 2 bears there. All with a bow. Love it. Will be there in the morning. Good luck guys.
I've been a member of a rifle deer camp since the late 70s. I'll go down to the marsh and camp in Oct. for Sika but sponge on some friend's to take a shower at their camp. It's all good.
My family has owned 50 acres which backs up to a couple thousand of state land in Southeast Ohio. Been a gun camp for 30 years, but I'm trying to turn it into a bow camp to this year.
(http://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g438/Biathlonman4B/Mobile%20Uploads/B72ACA66-A651-4CC5-80C0-33F27692FC77_zpsnoyf3dtl.jpg) (http://s1101.photobucket.com/user/Biathlonman4B/media/Mobile%20Uploads/B72ACA66-A651-4CC5-80C0-33F27692FC77_zpsnoyf3dtl.jpg.html)
This will be the thirty-fourth year that Schlaggerman and I get together in northern Wisconsin for whitetails. We started by using his cousin's hunting shack, but Schlaggerman now owns a beautiful log cabin. Many traditional archers have walked through that door over the years. Life is good!
I was a part of one for many many years. It started in '67 and came to an end for various reasons in the late ninties. I sure do miss it. I hunt mostly by myself now, occasionally with my son. Memories are made, but none like the deer camps of years past. If I ever quit this game, the lack of sharing a deer camp would be reason number one.
Had one for years, but my hunting bud died last winter. Just don't have the heart to go back up there by myself.
Maybe in time.
I have been blessed to be invited to share many camps over the years. Can't beat the energy that comes with sharing a hunt with brothers.
I think Kenny's place is pretty special and what he has done for a lot of different groups of bow hunters for many years now.
Nice cabin to stay in and plenty of deer to hunt if your willing to put a little into it. Tom Porter showing us some skills!!!
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a28.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/a28.jpg.html)
Comfortable cabin!
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/a20.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/a20.jpg.html)
And time that goes by much to fast with good friends!
(http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac248/TmPotter47/null_zpsbd5b6cbb.jpg) (http://s904.photobucket.com/user/TmPotter47/media/null_zpsbd5b6cbb.jpg.html)
Yep, love deer camp :bigsmyl:
Tracy
We also have a camp in the UP of michigan. Only 5-6 of us attending most years. Has been in a fifth wheel camper for years but am starting to look into purchacing a few acres and building a cabin to make deer camp easier.
My brother just picked up some land this year in NY. It will be a bows only property and this will be out first year there. It will be his 2 sons, him and me. Looking forward to it.
There is nothing like a good deer camp. Although i do not have a good archery camp that I go to on an annual basis, I expect that to change...
Really glad to see so many carrying on the tradition.
Firearm or Archery really makes no difference in my eye, its all about the comraderie at camp, stories to be told over and over and many more stories yet to happen. That is part of what makes it soooo great!!!
Its especially needed these days more than ever, just to keep that flame alive!
I do a trad deer camp every year. Sometimes it is open to newcomers and sometimes it's just the original guys. We primitive camp and hunt with trad bows.
I had a lease for the previous 15yrs that I lost last year due to oilfield activity. It was just a 2-person lease, but me and my buddy spent a lot of time at that camp!
I just got on a new lease this summer, and have yet to meet anyone except the lease mgr so far. That should change in a few weeks once deer season gets going.
The life at hunting camp is a huge part of the whole experience!
Bisch
I agree with Bisch. Bow hunting is generally a solo venture,but coming back to camp and sitting around with other trad guys is AWESOME!
We have had a bow camp since 1999, the first 10 years we traveled all over to hunt but the last 6 years we have been set up in beautiful Grayling Michigan! We have a nucleolus of 5 or 6 of us ole vets then every year we have a good group of newbies checking it out. We look forward to going to camp for the next year, the same day as we have to pack up for home the current year :D
Michigan is great for having deer camps. We started ours in the U.P. back in 72 with a small trailer and 83 acres. My brothers and cousins are regulars there starting in October. Over the years we have had some interesting guests come hunt the wilderness with us for deer and bear. We now have a wood cabin with running water and solar.
I go back to WV each year to hunt my cousins farm. It's my father, myself, and a cousin that relocated to California 20 years ago. I moved to the Carolinas 11 years ago - so to have the three of us together is a special time. We stay at my aunt's house - so we aren't in a rustic camp, but the families all come too so we are strewn about on air matresses and sofas. We hunt hard, eat a ton, and make great memories every year.
My kids come with me for the first weekend of the trip (then back to school for them) and they have a blast roaming the farm and helping with the cattle and sheep. They are 7 and 5 - I'm not sure who looks forward to our "hunting camp" more, me or my kiddos. My wife loves deer meat too - it's a win all the way around!
That's my hunting camp since moving away - tons of memories.
Deer camp is typically my farm. Have a few friends and an uncle that come hunt random times throughout the season ... Within the past two years I have approached borderline hermit status ... And as the days and years progress I welcome the solitude more and more