Deer camp is a special place, and nothing I can write here could possibly explain it if you haven’t been a part of one. But I’ll still try.
For me, deer camp started in northern Minnesota in a 20x30-foot one-room shack jammed from wall to wall with bunk beds, a tiny kitchen table and a wood-burning cook stove. After most days, wet clothes were hung close to the ceiling to dry by morning. When supper/storytelling was finished and dishes were washed and put away, friends and family members scattered. Some cleaned their rifle; others sat down with a cup of coffee, hot chocolate or cold beer and grabbed a well-worn deer hunting magazine to kill time before bed; still others dusted off the deer camp cribbage board and started talking smack.
Most deer camps aren’t fancy. Our version had electricity but no running water. Can you say “outhouse?” I dreaded walking through the snow at o’dark-30 to our outhouse before getting dressed for the day’s deer hunt. It was common in early to mid November for air temps to remain in the single digits. Frozen toilet seat = no fun!
Although no two deer camps are identical, one common thread shared across them all is spirited debate. Pick your topic — Ford vs. Chevy, Winchester vs. Remington, .30-30 vs. .30-06 (my strongest deer camp memories predate the 6.5 Creedmoor), hunters have strong opinions and aren’t afraid to share them.
One topic that often comes up in camp is shot placement. Firearm hunters debate whether it’s better to “break down a deer” with a bullet to the shoulder vs. aiming a few inches further back to take out the lungs only. My dad and Uncle Walt got after each other on this topic more times than I can count on all my fingers. Dad liked to drop whitetails in their tracks; he always aimed for the shoulder. His brother Walt said it ruined a perfectly good shoulder roast.
Walt and my dad are still living but now too old to visit deer camp during cold and snowy Minnesota Novembers. As I think about them, and remember their debates about deer anatomy, I wish I could go back in time and bring the following two gifts to our deer camp.
NBEF Mini 3-D Deer
According to the National Bowhunter Education Foundation, the Mini 3-D Deer is back by popular demand. This realistic deer model is molded from high-quality, durable foam and made exclusively for the NBEF by Rinehart Targets. The reverse side of the animal is cut away showing vital organs and major bones. This is a very effective tool to demonstrate the shot placement with the included stick pin. Model dimensions: 11 inches long, 10 inches high. Click here to order one for your deer camp; regular price is $75; it’s on sale now for $65.
