The question we posted on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages was rather simple: “Name a tradition you do at deer camp.” We had a feeling this would generate some replies, and we were right! Thousands liked the posts and more than 500 people commented. Also expected, responses came from every corner of North America.
From Florida to Virginia and Maine to Montana, hunters chimed in with some hard-and-fast traditions and some “expected occurrences.” Either way, the responses had us all here smiling, knowing full-well that the American Deer Camp is alive and well!
Here’s a snapshot of the traditions you uphold at your deer camps:
Jeffrey Dale
Nickel, dime and quarter poker every night!
David Sigler
I used to go to our shack with my dad to help him prep the cabin the weekend before opener.
J. Breznik
Our tradition, starting back in the early ’80s, is with every deer taken, as we field-dress, we pull out the inside tenderloins and fry them that day on a black-iron pan. When finished, we put the pan on the kitchen table and everyone grabs a toothpick. Whoever shot the deer gets the first piece — then we all start eating.
Adam Cary
Homemade tacos. And if you shoot at a deer and miss, your hat gets shot at from everyone (bow or gun)!
Brandon Shrawder
David Allan Coe’s greatest hits on repeat.
Gary Eubanks
I remember my first deer camp at 10 years old and how excited I was! The tradition was sitting around the campfire and listening to the old timers tell of past deer hunts and various adventures. Most of the time it was tales about “ol’ snort” outsmarting them again. Now I’m an old timer telling the tales. It never gets old even though we do.
Chris Malloy
We have a campfire and watch “Alone in the Wilderness.”
Larry Whaley
Every morning of deer camp, as I was loading my gun getting ready to hike out to my spot, I would ask my dad which bullet was going to do the job. He would select one, and I would then make sure that was the shell that went into the chamber as I loaded up. We did that almost every day of every year of deer camp until he was no longer with us.
Ricardo Taylor
Opening morning tradition of corned beef and hash.
Hannah Young
We would watch shows like “The Flying Nun” or “Flipper the Dolphin” because the TV reception was terrible and those were on the only channels we could get at the cabin.
Tiffany Minton
If someone kills their first deer, we rub the blood on their face. I remember doing this when I got my first deer when I was 6.
Roy Gordon
If you miss a deer, we cut off your shirt tail!
Jim Rehbein
Here in West Virginia, rifle season opens the Monday before Thanksgiving.
Every year, the club celebrates by having a full Thanksgiving dinner at the cabin Sunday night.
John Racioppa
Sit around the fire and ask everyone, “Where you gonna hunt in the mornin’?” and when they tell you, you reply …”That’s where I was gonna hunt!”
Kevin Ahern Sr.
Night before opener: Big pot of venison chili and brats on the grill.
Justin McCameron
When I was young, on opening morning, my grandpa would take me to the filling station and get me an RC Cola and a Moon Pie. I miss that man more than I can say.
Scott Simmons
Wood fire grilled T-bone steaks (thick ones) and sweet potatoes on the same fire the night before opening day, and the leftover steak (if any) is breakfast before heading out.
Corey Noe
We have a tradition where if you miss or wound a deer you have to receive a lick from a boat paddle we call “Yellow Mamma.” We are on our fifth paddle. Some people take it personal when somebody wounds a buck they have been hunting.
Scotty Webb
We always had chili on the first night at camp. My dad always made it for us. So much for being scent-free the next morning!
Adam Carlson
We watch “Escanaba in Da Moonlight” on the eve of opening day of gun season.
Robert Warren
Hammer our spent brass in a tree at camp after you kill something. Good way to keep score.
Shawn Phillips
Always forget toilet paper and come back with one less sock.
Robert Kirlin
We buy a thick slab of longhorn cheese and break off a piece as we sit around the fire at night for good luck. No idea where the idea came from.
David Mattoon
When someone gets a deer, we all bet $1 on the weight of the deer. The closest person without going over wins the money.
Kc Barter
When I was little, my grandpa and I always listened to “Da Turdy Point Buck” song by Bananas at Large.
Stephan Olschewski
We argue about what’s the best way to skin a deer … even after 30 years of skinning deer.
Jim Pickering
First one back to camp does the breakfast dishes!
John McDowell
We keep track of how many shots people take during the week and at the end of the week the person who takes the most shots has to place their hat on a post at 20 yards. We all then set up a firing line using buckshot and just pepper it! Then, the person has to wear what’s left of the hat to dinner that night with all our landowners.
Mike Tatko
Playing Da Yoopers’ “Second Week of Deer Camp” song on opening morning!
Robie Day
We have multiple camps that get together at our camp the night before season … with more grills and smokers than the barbecue aisle at Lowe’s. Lots of stories, laughs and euchre (a card game), too!
Kersten Greene
Spending time with family, the excitement just being at camp, not at work. When I was a kid, it was an incredible experience. The younger you were, the farther you slept from the wood stove. Hot stew to warm the belly. Learning how to play poker. The stories of deer that were almost shot.
Gig Fuhrman
Dad always gave us a big Hershey’s chocolate bar to add to our opening day lunch. It was usually eaten before lunch! Nothing like a cold chocolate bar when sitting on the stand.
Greg Wells
Deer heart stew for dinner the night before gun season.
Rick Mak
For as long as I can remember, the first Saturday night’s meal is one I’ve put together: homemade lasagna with garlic bread.
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