Time to Prep for the Hunt

Rob has rung the bell again with another GREAT letter to his kids, Victoria and Sterling. I am sharing it on the blog because some of the information pertains to Marshall and Vicki as well.

Here is some more information about deer camp.  It’s coming up soon!

Do Ahead of Time:

•                    Check the weather forecast and plan accordingly

•                    Acquire whatever clothing, gear, snacks and drinks you will need

•                    If possible, wash hunting clothes in scent-killer detergent and dry with unscented dryer sheets

•                    Watch videos on accurate rifle shooting

•                    Practice looking through rifle scope, working the rifle safety, and appropriate breathing/trigger squeeze

•                    Watch videos on proper shot placement

•                    Pack

•                    Load car

Bring Hunting Gear:

•                    Camo outer clothing -- maybe camo is not strictly required – but it probably improves your chances!

•                    Layers -- such as t-shirts, long underwear, sweats, fleece, shirts, pants

•                    Undies

•                    Warm socks

•                    Boots or sturdy outdoor footwear

•                    Hats – suggest beanie and ball cap types

•                    Gloves – for temps down to about 35 degrees, cheap camo or green or brown cotton gardening gloves will probably work (I can show you how to cut a slit in a glove for your shooting finger)

•                    Camo face netting -- maybe camo not strictly required – but it probably improves your chances

•                    Sunglasses

•                    Rain gear – I used to use a cheap vinyl camo poncho probably less than $10.  You can probably get a cheap rain suit (with pants and coat) for less than $25.  (You can probably return for refund if not used.)

•                    Backpack – for carrying water bottle, snacks, rain gear, extra layers, toilet paper, misc.

Bring Camp Clothes and Gear:

•                    Camp clothes -- jeans, shirts, hoodie, fleece, coat, underwear, socks

•                    Camp shoes -- slip ons are convenient for tent life -- but tennis shoes work too

•                    Toiletries – but no perfumed soap, scented deodorant, aftershave, or anything else that is highly scented

•                    Flashlight

•                    Headlamp

Bring Sleeping Gear and Clothes:

•                    Sleeping bag

•                    Sleeping pad and/or extra blanket for padding/warmth

•                    Clothes for sleeping in – such as sweats, shirt, beanie

•                    Pillows

Bring Other Stuff (If Needed/Desired):

•                    Drinks

•                    Snacks

•                    Glasses / contacts

•                    Phone

•                    Phone charger

•                    Camera

•                    Glow sticks

•                    Prescriptions

•                    Refillable water bottle

•                    Binoculars

•                    Cooler

•                    Camp chairs

Chris & Victoria:

•                    If you have your own tent, bring it and a ground cloth.

•                    We will have hammer for driving stakes.

•                    If you don’t have your own tent, let us know and we’ll bring a 2-person tent for you.

What to Expect:

•                    Kit and I will serve as your "guides" to show you the ropes of deer hunting – where, when, how, etc.

•                    We will provide all food.  Breakfast usually means helping yourself to sweet rolls, granola bars, pop tarts, fruit, etc.  Hot water for coffee, tea or hot chocolate is usually available at breakfast.  Lunch usually means making your own sandwich.  Dinner is usually a sit-down meal around the fire.  Snacks are available in deer camp.

•                    We will provide water, and some beer, wine and soft drinks.  If you have other (or greater) beverage needs, please BYOB.

•                    Everyone is responsible for cleaning his or her own plates and eating utensils immediately after each meal (unless we use disposables). 

•                    Electricity in deer camp is available at night and sometimes during the day – but is limited to essentials such as phone charging and subject to the reach of extension cords).  You will probably want to use battery operated devices and/or your own car chargers. The electricity in the camp comes from Kit's car battery and the adapter has limited throughput, so we have to be careful not to over tax the system (blow a fuse in the power inverter) with non essentials.

•                    There are no showers, sinks, or running water.  We will have some water jugs that can be used for washing dishes, washing hands, brushing your teeth, washing your face, and even a sponge bath if desired.

•                    We pee and poop in the woods.  This year, we plan to have a latrine for the weekend crowd, outfitted with a toilet seat, a privacy screen, and TP of course.    

•                    It gets dark early.  Headlamps and flashlights are mandatory.

•                    We wake up early and usually go to bed early.

•                    Before going to bed, you will want to have all of your next day’s clothes and gear planned and ready in order to minimize the prep time the next morning.

•                    Morning hunts involve waking up before dawn, dressing in the tent, having a quick breakfast, and driving and walking to a deer stand well before first light. Then, it involves trying to sit still and quietly for several hours (unless a deer is shot sooner).

•                    We usually return to camp during mid-day -- maybe from about 11 to 2 for lunch, possibly naps, maybe a trip to town, etc. Special note to Marshall and Vicki: Since you will be in a hotel, I will make my cot available to you if either one of you needs a nap during the day - but no hanky panky. 

•                    The afternoon hunts involve more of the same, from about 2 pm until dark (unless a deer is shot sooner).

•                    If you have a suitable vehicle, we can use it to drive to near the area where you will hunt.

•                    Walking is usually 1/2 mile to 1 mile at a time.  If vehicles are limited, all stands are within walking distance of the camp.

•                    Hunting from a stand involves a lot of sitting still and trying not to move or make any sound – even if it is hot, cold, raining, windy, etc.  Most stands are exposed to the elements.

•                    All deer need to be field-dressed as soon as recovered.  (This involves removing the internal organs.)

•                    If a deer is shot on a morning hunt, there will usually be a trip to town at lunchtime to drop the deer off at the processor.

•                    If a deer is shot on an afternoon hunt, we usually skin and quarter the deer at camp, pack it on ice overnight, and then take it to the processor the next day. If it is cold enough, we will simply hang the deer at camp and take the whole deer to the processor the next day.

•                    Because of your limited time in deer camp, if you shoot a deer, you will probably need to drive back to Arkansas to pick it up in a few weeks (assuming you want the meat to eat). If you bring an extra cooler big enough then you can take a quartered deer to a processor in your area to keep from having to return to Arkansas.

•                    The deer in these parts do not have huge trophy antlers (says Rob, the guy with two trophy deer from BBHE), and we don’t have the heads or antlers mounted.  But there is a taxidermist next to the deer processor, where you can get the hide tanned (for about $100) or the head mounted (for about $350).    

I can't wait to spend time with you soon.