Great read. that's how I grew up, thanks for the memories. There are still some deer camps like that way back in the woods of some places that millenials would think old Burt (RIP) was having Deliverance

AMEN!!!

I haven't been to "deer camp" in 17 years, "since my granddad passed away" and it makes me really sad because I lived for opening weekend! What's worse is that my son is about to be 8 and he's never experienced the majority of these things and that's unexceptable. My goal is to get us a little lease somewhere and start these much needed traditions asap. Great read bud.

Wow! I'm greatly moved that this was so well received. I'd hoped to stir a lil sumpn in folks. You'll be happy to know "2nd Rule" coming this weekend, along with a little funny thing I'm working on called "Dear Doctor Deer Camp". Dr. Deer Camp is the "Dear Abby" for rednecks and confused millennials. I think we will have a few good laughs, and hopefully conjure some more memories and possibly teach folks a bit about what we've obviously all experienced in the past. Like Merle said, "The good times ain't over for good".

Suggestions for topics Dr. Deer Camp might address??? PM me so I can keep it a surprise. Thanks!

Awesome post! for all the Old Guys go to the Photos thread and watch the video about "For all the old guys" -

Well said, and just might have been the best post yet.
Thanks for posting!

A man who doesn't share his money deprives himself. A man who doesn't share his wisdom deprives the whole world! If the tribe elders don't step up our game, we are going to lose this society. I'd rather it not be said that the world went to hell on our watch!

The "rules" has brought back memories of seasons past. If more kids shared a good deer camp this country wouldn't be in the shape it is now. I'm blessed to have spent time in camp with my dad. He's still with us but his mind isn't. I hope when I get too old to hunt I can at least still have my memories. I know deer camp is supposed to be the domain of men but my wife loves to hunt and when I head out every year there's tears in her eyes. Next year, she's going with me.

I could add a few things about being instructed by Dad and the other men on how to field dress your first buck kill and whether to "saw through the tailbone or simply leave intact and perform the "ring around the anus" to remove the bladder intact, all while you are only 8 years old with little to no knife handling experience, LOL. Also, when you are in that blind by yourself for the first time and every cactus you glance at or movement you see has you thinking Muy Grande is out there and to this day, 40 years later, a lot of those same thoughts still occur...
Overall, you nailed the nostalgia and experience of it for the vast many of us!

My Dad started taking me hunting when I was four years old.
This was my first ever trip to the deer lease in Young county. I can still remember shooting cans with my Dad's 22. And the smells and sounds of the bacon and eggs cooking over the campfire. Using my Dad's old-timer pocket knife and carving a stick so that I could roast marshmallows. Laying by the campfire with my Dad and brothers looking up at the night sky, while viewing the countless stars as far as the eyes could see. And The smells and sounds from the crackling campfire.
That was forty-eight years ago but it seems like yesterday!

My Dad is no longer with us. He went home to be with our Lord on June 22, 2013

Thanks Dad... For molding me into the man I am today

Thank You, sir....

And Amen

That was awesome! Brought back many memories for me.

Back in the day we had a rickety old cabin in Llano with a wood burning stove and my job was to keep the fire. Well I stuffed the stove with newspaper and wood to warm up the cabin in the AM and I prepared it for the next morning and left the lighter on top of the stove to be ready. It turned out there were some coals in the bottom and through the night the fire lit up and in the middle of the night it got hot and the lighter blew up and shot a hole through the wall just above my cousins head on one side and landed in my father's sleeping bag on the other side. Taught me a lesson real quick!

And yes it was pretty scary going to the outhouse in the dark!

What a great post! My memories are similar, only our camp house was my Ma maw's and Pa paw's house, where they had wood floors and gas heaters that only heated the air about 2 to 3 feet in front of them. The insulation, if there was any at all, didn't help at all.It would be freezing and I would be under the patch quilt cover's with my nose sticking out to breath. Hard to get out of bed until the smell of bacon and eggs hit my nose. What human can not respond to that. My dad,uncles and pawpaw would be seated around the tables discussing where each was going to hunt today and the ladies would be fussing over them,serving food and gabbing about whatever women gab about. Us kids would then get served and listen intently to what was being said, taking mental notes trying to increase our knowledge,for it seemed they new everything. When we were old enough, we would get to go of course, and try to apply what we had learned and heard. Nothing can prepare you for the experience of setting in the stand alone and about 8:30 or 9 when it starts to warm up and looking up in the stand to see 25 red wasp's looking at you and knowing they will get you before you can make it out the door of the stand. Or the times you were walking back to the vehicle after dark to meet up with dad,only to have a covey of quail fly up under your feet, or a big swamp rabbit stomp and scream and then take off. Ruined a few good pair of underwear that way.Learned how to use a knife and how not to! Understood after trial and error how to dress warm enough to sit for 3 to 4 hours in 30 degree weather. And those few days where dad said, son, we are going to set all day so take something to eat because when I drop you off, it's going to be a while before dinner. Man, who ever thought Vienna sausage could taste like T-Bone steak, but around 1 or 2 p.m., it sure does.And toilette paper, who needs it when you have 2 perfectly good socks on or a good pair of underwear that works as well. Man oh man, if I could only go back there. Share it with the kids and grand kids and in a way, we can go back there. As stated above, if we don't, it will be lost forever. "Not on my watch"!

Great post! I try to explain to my wife why I love it so much and why it is so important for me to provide those same memories/opportunities for my son. This is the closest I have read, that describes what I feel. I thank you for that. She never interferes but I know she doesn't quit understand either and that is ok.

Our old camp was a school bus that we removed the seats and installed bunk beds. Had a propane stove and the campfire going underneath the crooked mesquite tree. Camp Lonesome Oak was one of a kind that I have been unable to recreate but try my best. Oh the memories are grand!

What happens at deer camp, stays at deer camp............................................

That’s the way I was raised. I remember when I was 7 years old I told my mom that one of my dads buddies kept throwing up outside of the tent all night. My old man told me that if I ever told mom about anything that happened at camp I’d never get to go again. She never could get any information out of me after that.

Pretty much...

oh btw.............if you snitch on the Cop who pepper sprayed your buddies sleeping bag, you will NEVER set foot on the lease as a guest again, period.

Not sure I would want to test payback! What kind of buddy are you!

I wouldn’t snitch but I’d definitely kick his arse if he pepper sprayed my sleeping bag, and wouldn’t ever come back. Do people really put up with that?