Ah, deer camp. You can almost smell the winter woods, feel the chill of the northern wind, hear the crunch of the new-fallen snow, and savor the aroma of steaks and potatoes cooking over an open flame. The welcome scent of evergreens and woodsmoke conjures up memories of large-bodied bucks and frosty November mornings. A week in deer camp with good company is about as close to heaven as one can get.
Most hunters of yesteryear were not picky about their deep-woods accommodations. Deer-camp quarters were expected to be rustic and primitive — and often they were just that. At worst, the most basic requirement that hunters hoped to realize was a place to stay dry and warm at night. At best, lavish cabins built by more affluent individuals or clubs offered nearly all the comforts of home. For those seasoned groups of hunters who had been at it awhile, most cabins offered a fireplace for warmth, or a wood-burning stove for cooking and heat, a sturdy table for eating and playing cards, and some creaky bunk beds. Uncomfortable as they usually were, they offered the promise of a few hours of rest for weary bones and muscles after a long day in the elements.
Cabins, shacks and primitive shelters came in all sizes and shapes. They were as varied and diverse as the hunters who used them. In cold weather, wilderness hunters constantly on the move often made temporary shelters out of pine boughs and saplings that were suitable for a night or two of camping. Those shelters might have been large enough to sleep three or four men. Of course, if the weather permitted, one could sleep out under the stars next to the fire.
Those individuals not fortunate enough to have a cabin often had to improvise with tents. For trips lasting a week or longer, large wall tents were usually furnished with some sort of stove for cooking and staying warm in subfreezing temperatures. Here you could store your food, bedding and gear and keep things relatively dry.
Some cabins or shacks, occupied only once a year during deer season, were oftentimes in a dilapidated state of repair after bears, porcupines and other creatures of the wild had gotten inside and ransacked the place during the off-season. Some wilderness cabins were small and cramped one-room affairs. Others were more spacious with a main living area and a large bunk room holding beds or cots.
No matter what size or shape they happened to come in, and no matter what state of repair they were found to be in at the beginning of the new season, these much-loved structures became home-sweet-home for a few days or weeks. Despite the frustrations of leaking roofs, snowflakes and raindrops blowing in between the cracks, no indoor facilities, no electricity and no running water, these rustic cabins in the wilderness were a pure piece of outdoor paradise.
Here’s a stroll down memory lane.
A Feast for the Eyes
It’s a cold and snowy day somewhere in the North Country as this hunting family admires the fruits of their labor in front of a very stout cabin. The patriarch of the family holds two fine rifles — a Winchester and a Marlin. His wife and son each hold a rifle as well. This family has much to be proud of. Photo circa 1900.
A Cozy Deer Camp
After a long day’s tramp chasing gnarly whitetails, these four seasoned long-rifle hunters have erected a fine weatherproof shelter out of evergreen saplings and boughs. Now they are enjoying a well-earned respite as they warm themselves by the fire, wait for supper to cook in the large pot, and admire the considerable pile of venison and bone stacked in front — including one whopper buck. Titled “Deer Hunter’s camp in the Northwest,” this vintage stereoview was made in the northwestern portion of the Adirondacks of New York around 1880.
A Snug Cabin in the Woods
Smoke billows out of the chimney of this log cabin, indicating that a number of happy hunters are warm and cozy inside. Outside, the fruits of their labor clearly weigh down a stout buck pole, the results of several days in the woods. Leaning against the wooden ladder next to the cabin are two of the hunters’ rifles, the one on the left being a semiautomatic Remington Model 8. The photo is believed to have been taken in Upper Michigan, circa 1910 to 1915.
At Home in Remington Camp
The name “Remington Camp,” on the side of this deer shack may be an appropriate designation as two of the hunters standing in the midst of several hanging deer are holding Remington pump-action rifles — Model 14s or Model 25s. Of course, the man on the right with his hand on the small buck obviously is going against the grain with his lever action. Judging by the 1925 or 1926 Studebaker, the photo was taken in the mid- to late 1920s.
Remington is one of America’s oldest gunmakers and one of the largest U.S. producers of shotguns and rifles. The company was founded in 1816 by Eliphalet Remington in upstate New York. Today, Remington operates plants in Kentucky and Arkansas, but the original firearms plant and custom shop is still located in Ilion, N.Y.
Bounty for the Chef
This classic photo is well composed and has a great deal happening in it. With a spike buck and a doe hanging, along with two raccoons, the knife-wielding chef is ready to demonstrate his culinary skills for this congenial group of hunters. Young and old, they all have a role to play at the camp. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, eating was almost as important as hunting, and it was not unusual for larger deer camps to hire a chef for the week.
The men are holding an assortment of meat-getting firearms: side-by-side shotguns, Winchester lever-action rifles — including one Model 1895 in the foreground, and at least one Marlin lever action. This outstanding camp photo could have been taken in any number of states from Pennsylvania to Minnesota. Photo circa 1910.
A Pint-Size Cabin
As long as the hunting is good, these three successful hunters don’t seem to mind the fact that this tiny trapper’s cabin might get rather crowded. The three deer tied to the roof logs are proof enough that hunting in the area must be very good, indeed. Plenty of venison makes cramped quarters a bit easier to handle. Photo circa 1920.
