Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Birth of a deer camp

For several years I called the shool's attendance line to let them know my son was suffering from a severe case of Buck Fever and should be much better by Wednesday.

He missed 2 days for the MN opener. He's a smart kid, but not smart enough to miss 10 days in a month.

Although his homework was to bring in venison jerky.

Hell yes!

I think I'm starting to get that "Buck Fever" too. Might take clear to December to get over it.

Good shootin" Weezy!!

When I was in 10th grade my mom said I could stay the whole 2 weeks at deer camp with my 80 year old grandpa. It was just the 2 of us with grandma making breakfast at 4am each morning and packing our lunches. We came home to a warm dinner and a pepsi & whiskey...I was 6 years from legal drinking age yet. I'll never forget it as long as I live.

My chemistry teacher tried to fail me when I got back, but couldn't when I aced the final. My geography teacher gave me an A when a I gave him a stick of venison summer sausage. A good man, that guy.

I learned more those 2 weeks hunting with gramps than I ever did in all of 10th grade - not all of it fit to print! I sure miss him.

Report from No Chance Hunt Club-

Very quiet opening morning - especially for State land. Your scribe was in his ladderstand at 0600. He noticed right off the bat that he was facing the wrong way, even though his face was in the wind. At 0750 a noise in the leaves was heard over his shoulder on his weak (left) side. He turned to see the biggest buck he's seen in a few decades moving at a trot. Range, 20 yards. Scribe then tries to get his rifle up and around while trying to stand up, throws the scope up and gets off two shots faster than it took to read this sentence. Scribe's brother later says he knew it was me and 2 misses after hearing the shots go fast fast in succession. Handsy, kneesy for 2 hours looking for blood or hair. Nothing. Dejected.

Same stand day 2. Nothing. Still festering over snap shot miss. Thinking of ways to get back at brother. Turned stand 180*.

Day 3. Still bummed. Sleep in to 0700. Too warm for hunting clothes. Put on jeans and BO shirt and vest. On stand at 0800. Very windy. Tree moving 8". Getting woozy. See movement to my right - same path as Mr. Big. Doe, but she's looking backwards. Encouraging. Hear some grunting, see more movement, get the scope on it, buck - but not Mr. Big. Have to leave for home in 2 hours. Find the crease and squeeze. Bang, flop. 4pt. Not big, but he'll eat. Went old school with Win. Model 100 .308 with 180 gr. Fed Fusions.


Postscript:

Pickled delicacies had their desired effect on the camp. However, emergency run to convenience store for Immodium the night before opener was in order.

Kuerig was kinda nice.

Catered food was awesome. Cheap too. $8 for prime rib and the fixins'. Chef is the nephew of camp old guy. I think that's going to happen again.

Skinny jeans guy rifle was sighted in by another camp member. When SJG got into his blind, he found that 30-06 shells don't fit into...wait for it...a 270! Somebody didn't have bullets for the 1st 2 hours of the season. Glad they're lifelong friends.

You f'n a right you did.

Well I'm a truly blessed man. I get two opening days this year. I'm at least as pumped for round 2 as I was the first time around. I'm more prepared for this one, as long as I don't forget anything.

But since almost everyting is ready, I find myself wide awake at 0100 listening to the wind blow through the trees and the mouse traps snapping the little necks on the bastards that are eating my crackers. He even kicked a few times like a high shoulder shot deer.

If I was living here by myself, since I can see from the upper level into the kitchen, I'd set up shop on the upper level with the daisy 760 pump BB gun and bait those suckers out into the open and let the copper fly!

Whooo loo loo loo loo loo

May the Red Gods smile down upon you in Cheezeland, buddy. Hope you have a great hunt.

GREAT story, CFT. I never got to hunt with either of my Grandpas as I was the second youngest of the second youngest on both sides of the family, which meant that both grandpas were just too old and I was too young for that to happen. I think the hunting camp experience is one of the greatest things a person can experience afield and I'd give nearly anything to have been able to have an experience like that.

Good Luck Tzone!! have a great weekend!

Pssssst, it's winter.


Time to hunt deers.


(we finally have freezing temps and snow)

Hows the road going to be Dave? When are you heading to camp?

Awesome story.

Yeah, this is the STUFF that makes it special !

+1

Good luck, Tom & Noah.

Make some memories.














& some meat !

There might be some beer and Jim beam present as well.

You gots that right !

Hoping & praying for a great weekend for everybody.

Roads were slickeren snot here this morning & I nearly needed a pry bar to get into my truck ! Rain turned to ice/freezing rain & then snow last night.

The camp road is terrible, but it will be frozen hard so it should not be a problem navigating past, through and around last weeks muddy tire ruts.