Getting camp ready for Opening Day
Photo by Forrest Fisher Many hunting camps across our southern tier are composed of older hunters who gather to mentor the younger folks, organize camp food, play card games, and share stories, as aging body joints slow them down.
Photo by Darren Schwenckbeck Hunting with his dad (Jake) as his mentor on youth firearms weekend earlier this year, 15-year-old Wyatt Brauen used a 300 win-mag to down this huge trophy buck in the Southern Tier Hunting Zone.
Photo by Forrest Fisher Many hunting camps across our southern tier are composed of older hunters who gather to mentor the younger folks, organize camp food, play card games, and share stories, as aging body joints slow them down.
Photo by Darren Schwenckbeck Hunting with his dad (Jake) as his mentor on youth firearms weekend earlier this year, 15-year-old Wyatt Brauen used a 300 win-mag to down this huge trophy buck in the Southern Tier Hunting Zone.
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Across Chautauqua County and throughout New York’s Southern Tier, hunting camps have been busy places during the lengthy early big game archery season. For the firearm hunters, another important date is fast approaching.
Opening day of the regular big game firearm season arrives next Saturday, Nov. 21, and that means hunting camp preparations are shifting into high gear.
Anyone who has ever been responsible for getting a hunting camp ready knows the list is never quite finished. There are the everyday necessities: soap, paper towels, drinking water, coffee, plenty of groceries, snacks and, perhaps most important, an ample supply of toilet paper. Those camps with wood-burning stoves have hopefully already seasoned and stacked their firewood, ready to keep the camp warm when the November temperatures take a turn for permanent snow.
Preparing for deer camp involves a whole lot more than stocking the cupboards. For the camp organizer, the real work often begins far outside. Tree stands and ground blinds need to be inspected, shooting lanes cleared, ladders and platforms checked, and safety harnesses and lifelines examined. Loose boards, worn straps and questionable steps deserve attention before anyone climbs into position. New hunters joining the group should receive a proper orientation, including camp rules, property boundaries, safe firearm handling procedures and an understanding of everyone’s hunting locations. It's fun, but careful planning is needed.
Then there’s the equipment. Are the ATVs, tractors and other transportation vehicles fueled, serviced and ready? Are flashlights, headlamps and spare batteries available for those late-day recoveries? Is there a dependable means of communicating between hunters? A well-stocked first-aid kit, emergency contact information and basic repair tools should also be part of the plan.
Individual hunters have their own preparations. Warm, waterproof boots, insulated clothing, gloves, hats and quality rain gear can make a long November day considerably more comfortable. Scent-free hand warmers are a nice addition too. Binoculars, shooting sticks, rangefinders, field dressing knives, sharpening tools, blaze-orange clothing, ammunition and properly sighted-in firearms all deserve a place on the checklist. Don’t forget spare socks, coffee thermos, water bottles, a compass or GPS, and a fully charged cell phone with a back-up battery cable. It'll fit in the fanny pack.
Back at camp, attention turns to the practical details of handling a successful harvest. Is the deer hanging area clean and ready? Are gambrels, ropes, knives, tarps and coolers set to go? Is there a plan for transporting a deer from the woods? Drag ropes. Cold storage and proper meat handling arrangements are important, too.
Then too, there are the supplies that don’t necessarily appear on a hunting checklist but somehow become just as important: favorite snacks, a deck of cards, a good supply of beverages, and ingredients for the traditional opening-day meal. After all, celebrations are part of the experience.
Yet the real treasures of hunting camp can’t be purchased at an outdoor store. They’re found around the kitchen table, where stories from previous seasons are retold, sometimes with a little extra detail. They’re in the shared secrets about a particular ridge, field edge or deer trail. They’re in the advice offered by an experienced hunter to someone heading into the woods for the first time. They’re in the friendships that grow stronger with every season.
For some, deer camp is a family tradition stretching back generations. For others, it’s an annual gathering of friends who look forward to spending a few days together as much as they look forward to hunting.
So, as Nov. 21 approaches, take another look at that checklist. Get the chores done, check the equipment, stock the shelves and make sure everyone is ready. When opening morning finally arrives, there’s nothing quite like stepping outside a warm hunting camp, greeting familiar faces and knowing that another season of memories is about to begin.
Gotta love the outdoors.
Outdoor Calendar
Nov. 15: Ripley Rod and Gun, Turkey Shoot, noon start, shotgun, rifle, pistol, open to all; 9820 Rod and Gun Road, Ripley.
Nov. 17: Children in the Stream Youth Fly Fishing/4H Program, Fly tying/fly fishing classes, 7-8:30 p.m., free, Costello Room, Rockefeller Art Center at SUNY Fredonia, For info: email Alberto@albertorey.com.
Nov. 18: Fly Tying Class, 6-8 p.m., free, Falconer Rod & Gun Club, 329 Falconer St., Jamestown; info: 716-467-0782.
Nov. 21: Opening Day of NYS Southern Zone big game regular firearm season, runs through Dec. 13.
Nov. 21-22: NY Concealed Carry Class, Bear Lake Rod and Gun, 4391 Cassadaga-Stockton Road, Stockton, limited seats, register at 716-410-6692.