Over the years, my group of historical reenactor friends have grown closer and closer to each other. We have shared many camping trips (historical and modern), the various struggles of aging, and some of our most personal experiences. We have laughed together in the good times and supported each other when difficulties came. We have become self-chosen family members with our own set of traditions. One of those traditions is gathering each year in the late autumn for a Deer Camp, just as we have come together for a Winter Camp near the end of that season. I believe that we have been enjoying Deer Camp for at least 20 years.
Each year a weekend has been chosen, everyone volunteers to bring various food items, and a plan has been formed to include time to sit on deer watch and time to enjoy the company. Weather is watched with a particular attention paid to the possibilities of cold, snow, or rain. This year rain dominated the daylight hours while overnight cold ensured that an early morning walk would sound like stepping on bags of potato chips. It didn’t matter, we knew that wildlife was in the area thanks to images from a trail camera. We all planned strategies we wanted to try to see if any one of us would have an encounter with a game animal or two. Unless one actually sees an animal, you are just taking your flintlock for a walk in the woods.
Many times deer have been seen, shots have been fired, and sometimes deer have actually been taken during this annual hunt. While the goal is always to at least see deer, sometimes it would be impossible to fire a plausibly safe shot. In those cases we try to enjoy simply sitting in the woods in a place where we could observe a deer or another animal. If one of the group is fortunate enough to harvest a deer, we all partake in the joy and often will share in the meat from that deer during another camp. Rare is the year when no deer are seen but in that case we still have the opportunity to share the time with some of our closest friends. The time together is special no matter the outcome of the time spent on deer watch.
Having the chance to be in the woods is one of the goals that brings the group together on this weekend. Another goal is simply to enjoy each others company. Both of those goals were met in Deer Camp this year as well as seeing deer in their natural habitat (no clear and safe shots were available this year). We renewed out friendship in one of our favorite settings. It seems funny that after all of these years, we still have a lot to talk about. And the joys last long after we leave the camp.
Generally once we all return home, there is an email discussion about Deer Camp and how much fun we all had over the weekend. I’ll close with some quotes from a few of the participants. These quotes will give a brief taste of the joy and camaraderie we all feel about each other.
M.L. – I would like to thank all of you for making this another great weekend and for ALL the usual reasons.
R.P. – Was great to share time with you all.
C.S. – Thank you for another great deer camp and time spent doing what we chose to do! Food was great as always, thanks to the cooks and cleanup crew (the OCD guy). Nice to spend time with my brothers.
W.P. – It was a great camp. Waking up, getting the fire going, starting the coffee and sitting by that fire and enjoying that first cup. Getting ready before daylight and heading out to the woods when I can just see to walk. Sitting in tree stand, watching for that deer show up. Even after sitting for 3 hours seeing only birds and heading back to camp. Sitting by the fire and getting warm while someone cooks breakfast. It was all wonderful and look forward to the next camp with everyone. Its going to be a long winter waiting to camp again at my second home and my brothers that I never had. Thanks to everyone who made such a great camp.