4 Ways to Make Deer Camp Fun Again

Traditions at Camp Are as Essential as The Season Itself

By Pat Kolbe, Buck Fever Outdoors

As firearms seasons approach and open around the country, that typically signals one of the best phrases exclaimed throughout the year…”We’re going to Deer Camp!” For many, that phrase can evoke special big buck memories, nostalgic thoughts and feelings of past camps, people and traditions gone by. Traditions and fun that used to be. But wait. Why aren’t we carrying on some of these old traditions or developing new ones to celebrate the camaraderie of camp and bring back that passionate Deer Camp fun? If you aren’t getting as excited to head back to Deer Camp as I am this season, maybe you need to try one or a couple three of these suggestions at your backwoods whitetail shack! Enjoy and good luck this firearms season! 

Develop an ‘Opening Eve’ Tradition

Lots of options here, but do something that can and will be repeated every year on opening ‘eve’ of the season. Maybe it’s visiting a neighboring camp or certain watering hole (see more on this later). Maybe it's the entire group taking part in a riveting game of poker or euchre. Maybe it's popping in an old classic DVD movie, Escanaba in da Moonlight. That’s one of our camp traditions — after the evening dinner is complete, we all settle in with our favorite beverage of choice for some gut-busting laughs watching the tom foolery of the Soady Deer Camp and Jimmer Negamanee from Menominee. If you don’t have a clue what I’m referencing, you’re seriously missing out and should try to get an order in for this classic hunting movie. But warning - you can switch things up to playing cards or some other camp shenanigans once the warden shows up - things just get weird in the movie after that!

Wild Game Food Only

This might take the collective efforts of the entire group, but that’s the fun in it. At least when it comes to all of the main meals at camp - make them all have to include wild game! So bust out those recipes for cheese stuffed deer burgers, sloppy does, venison chili, goose steaks, or grilled pheasant wings. Not only does wild game taste even better at Deer Camp, but you’ll get to relive and retell all the stories of the successful hunts with each meal!

Largest Doe Contest

If your property or public hunting piece could use some ample doe harvests, a fun way to spice up the season is to have everyone throw $20 in a kitty. The largest doe taken, by weight, at the end of the season, takes the pot! Not only is this a great way to entice Uncle Jimmy to finally take out a ‘baldie,’ but it makes everyone think twice about the quality of the deer they are shooting. No more fawns or mistaken button-bucks…at least not if you’re after that prize money!

Visit Another Local Camp or Watering Hole

It can get pretty easy for your group to get stuck in a rut doing the same old thing each year. Cell phones have made it worse. Ever find yourself looking around camp and seeing a bunch of the group with their eyes glued to their phone and little conversation going on. Time for change. One of the best aspects of sharing a deer camp is hearing old stories of those antlers on the wall, tall tales about the legendary bucks that got away, and sizes and numbers that seem to get bigger as the night goes on. So what better way to spice things up, enjoy great hunting camaraderie and share a whole bunch of stories than inviting over or visiting a neighboring camp! No other camps nearby? Then it's time to draw straws, or see whoever is the one to refuse to eat that pickled turkey gizzard someone brought to camp. Loser gets the keys and can drive the group to a local watering hole. A good backwoods pub is always home to stories, eye scratching tales and if nothing else good laughs and libations. 

Remember to Just Have Fun

As we embark on the firearms season this hunting year - make sure to take some time to enjoy ‘Deer Camp.’ It’s what hooked most of us into this great sport in the first place. So slide out of the laser-focused big buck obsession for a bit and make sure you are still having fun, enjoying every aspect of the hunt — knowing that real success is the memories and times enjoyed together with family and friends sharing a Camp!