Opener eve tradition

[itsashooter]

Half the fun of the hunt is Friday, the day before opening day! I've heard of some very interesting tradition hunters do. We sit around a small lake at camp on a dock, smoke cigars( with non hunting clothes on, of course), and then start the filling the night air with so much Banter and giving each other a hard time, saying who shoots first, blah,blah...isn't it great? We will be looking for a relative of this buck I got a couple years ago! Share your thoughts! Good luck!

[Boar]

Hey welcome, good post, but sorry im pretty dull but i guesse its a tradition of getting ready an checking the list, got that, thats ther, this over here, set the coffe pot, wallet is here in this pocket, knife is sharp, no mayo, crud, run to store, make sandwhiches, put hot water in thermos, check wallet again, look for lisence, find lisence cant find wallet, turn on ovev to preheat, got socks, boots, long johns, Honey take out the garbage! Im busy! i mean ok.... find wallet put lisence in it an back in pocket, oven is ready for potatoes, potatoes are for hashbrowns in the morn. Were outa potatoes, crud back to store, take out garbage, return from store to find fresh coffe cause i hit ON instead of timer. potatoes are in the oven, new pot of coffe set on timer. Locate shells an put with gun at front door, wrong shells, locate right shells, gun fell over from cat brushing up against it, crud good thing its a luepold scope, kick the cat, potaoes burnt, new potates in oven, thermos has hot water in it but dumped out the mold for last year, Honey have you seen my... never mind found it, put that there, Honey tommorow you need to rake the leaves up, Dear Im hunt tomorrow, WHAT YOU NEVER TOLD ME THAT, I MADE US PLANS FOR BINGO, sorry dear, silent treatment in place, very good. all set, jump in bed its only 2 A.M. remember oven is on, Crud potatoes burnt again, guesse its cereal. Lie down again, get up check timer on coffe pot again, kick the cat. Man i cant wait!.

[itsashooter]

Boar, that's awesome.! I would guess 95% of us go thru the same thing. But wouldn't trade it for,anything! Non hunters just won't understand this obsession!

[leech~~]

We have a few young guys in our group so we are pretty tame. Pizza in Walker and then tell jokes and fart in the log cabin until no one can stay up any longer!

[itsashooter]

Ah..fartin in the ole deer camp. What a special treasure and sometimes art form. Who says we don't have fun!!

[cavalierowner]

It sounds like our group is pretty boring too. We spend the evening double checking that everything is laid out and ready to go. Then sit around and have a beer or two. Off to bed by 9:00 or so, as we are up by 5:30 a.m. (4:30 on Sunday time change) so there's time for a good breakfast and the 20 minute drive to our hunting area.

[nofishfisherman]

Hey welcome, good post, but sorry im pretty dull but i guesse its a tradition of getting ready an checking the list, got that, thats ther, this over here, set the coffe pot, wallet is here in this pocket, knife is sharp, no mayo, crud, run to store, make sandwhiches, put hot water in thermos, check wallet again, look for lisence, find lisence cant find wallet, turn on ovev to preheat, got socks, boots, long johns, Honey take out the garbage! Im busy! i mean ok.... find wallet put lisence in it an back in pocket, oven is ready for potatoes, potatoes are for hashbrowns in the morn. Were outa potatoes, crud back to store, take out garbage, return from store to find fresh coffe cause i hit ON instead of timer. potatoes are in the oven, new pot of coffe set on timer. Locate shells an put with gun at front door, wrong shells, locate right shells, gun fell over from cat brushing up against it, crud good thing its a luepold scope, kick the cat, potaoes burnt, new potates in oven, thermos has hot water in it but dumped out the mold for last year, Honey have you seen my... never mind found it, put that there, Honey tommorow you need to rake the leaves up, Dear Im hunt tomorrow, WHAT YOU NEVER TOLD ME THAT, I MADE US PLANS FOR BINGO, sorry dear, silent treatment in place, very good. all set, jump in bed its only 2 A.M. remember oven is on, Crud potatoes burnt again, guesse its cereal. Lie down again, get up check timer on coffe pot again, kick the cat. Man i cant wait!.

Great post. Sounds like every night before I leave for a hunting/camping/fishing trip.

[BuckSutherland]

In my group we usually all try to tip back about 20-30 beers a piece, pass around a bottle of Jag until its gone, hurl then go to bed for about two hours. Wake up hurl again and go out to the stand to get some sleep. Some years it works that we are all there on Thurs night. Then friday we go crappie fishing and usually nail some monsters have a little fish fry and tame it down from thurs night. I am so pumped to go this year that I am going to lay off the adult beverages. Want to get a nice deer for the freezer as I love make my own pepper sticks, summer sausage and jerky for the fish house.

[NoWiser]

Hey welcome, good post, but sorry im pretty dull but i guesse its a tradition of getting ready an checking the list, got that, thats ther, this over here, set the coffe pot, wallet is here in this pocket, knife is sharp, no mayo, crud, run to store, make sandwhiches, put hot water in thermos, check wallet again, look for lisence, find lisence cant find wallet, turn on ovev to preheat, got socks, boots, long johns, Honey take out the garbage! Im busy! i mean ok.... find wallet put lisence in it an back in pocket, oven is ready for potatoes, potatoes are for hashbrowns in the morn. Were outa potatoes, crud back to store, take out garbage, return from store to find fresh coffe cause i hit ON instead of timer. potatoes are in the oven, new pot of coffe set on timer. Locate shells an put with gun at front door, wrong shells, locate right shells, gun fell over from cat brushing up against it, crud good thing its a luepold scope, kick the cat, potaoes burnt, new potates in oven, thermos has hot water in it but dumped out the mold for last year, Honey have you seen my... never mind found it, put that there, Honey tommorow you need to rake the leaves up, Dear Im hunt tomorrow, WHAT YOU NEVER TOLD ME THAT, I MADE US PLANS FOR BINGO, sorry dear, silent treatment in place, very good. all set, jump in bed its only 2 A.M. remember oven is on, Crud potatoes burnt again, guesse its cereal. Lie down again, get up check timer on coffe pot again, kick the cat. Man i cant wait!.

Awesome post!! Love it.

We usually just set up camp, do some last minute scouting if we didn't have a chance earlier in the fall, eat something, and go to bed early. Pretty boring.

[Bear55]

We have guys trickling in all hours of the night, for those of us who get there early we just kind of hang out, tip back a few cold ones, go through our gear, take a sauna and maybe play some cards to kill some time.

[Coach1310]

We usually spend Friday afternoon checking out the hunting area as we hunt public and there are usually new folks, logging, cutting etc that happens every year. Spend a bunch of time around the fire... telling the same old stories that never get old.... the time with everyone is as sacred as the hunting. I love the hunting, but doing it yourself and not sharing it with anyone does NOT compare to spending a few days in "camp" with a crew of guys every year.

[rkhinrichs]

going out to eat with the guys. and coming back and watching the Bulldogs or Gopher hockey game!! and just shooting the stuff!!!

[nofishfisherman]

I go up north with 2 friends but have only been doing it a few years and we've bounced around a little looking for public land to hunt. Usually we get up north and unpack the gear and it everything situated. We each have designated spots for our gear so we don't get things too mixed up and so we can find it easily early the next morning.

After the gear is unpacked we usually crack a beer and relax for a little while and then head to bed. Nothing crazy for sure.

When we know we are hunting the next morning we take it easy on the adult beverages. None of us wants to hunt with a hangover, or worse, still drunk. Last year we opted not to hunt the last morning of our trip since the weather was nasty and we were up late processing deer so we stayed up even later and let loose a little. Somwhere along the line we lost power at the cabin so the 3 of us guys ended up lighting a bunch of candles and sat around drinking PBR. It was so romantic.

[OnAFly]

Thursday night we roll up to the farm house. So far, it's still been standing when we arrive, but one of these years we'll end up sleeping in the truck. Friday we get up early and go put up and check on stands. During this time we have the 20ga ready for any grouse...we see none. That night we have a few beers, figure out who is going where, have a little dinner and go to sleep around 9. Opener morning we wake up early enough for eggs, bacon and toast and then it's out to the stands to watch grouse walk by every 10 mins, but no deer.

Saturday night is of course hunters supper in Grygla and a quick stop by Fourtown for a few beers and off to bed again around 9 or 10 to do it again the next day. We are pretty casual deer hunters and apparently also a pretty boring group.

[lichen fox]

Friday nite at our cabin, as the sun sets, we crack a 1.75 of Crown, fill up the shot glasses and make toasts...first to our family and friends that have gone to the big stand in the sky...then to a safe hunt, big bucks, and whatever anyone comes up with...Then we kick back, share scouting reports and discuss where all will be sitting on opening morning over a couple beers...usually most everyone is in bed by 10 or 11...

[nwhunter]

Thursday night, us 'locals' meet up at the deer shack to arrange gear, pick out our favorite stands and drink beer with fresh brats around a fire. Friday is when the activity really heats up. Guys from the cities arrive between 10 AM and 7 PM and we arrange gear, assign stands to the city guys, drink beer and have fresh brats around the fire. Saturday through the following Thursday are pretty much the same, only with people leaving... not too exciting, but great conversations with folks that we only get to see once a year telling the same stories.

[itsashooter]

This is what pumps me about the deer hunt. These stories and things we do before the hunt is what makes it what it is! By far, the best time of year is now up to the hunt, and sharing the most common, simple little stories that makes it so special. I hope the rest of the non hunting world or anti meat hunters take notes and learn a lesson. Most of those that think we are blood thirsty, gun firing slobs, may not realize we are really just a very special group of people, that love the outdoors, the camaraderie,the little but simple pleasures that get people together! We share a great value of fellowship, caring, and devotion and responsibility. Our values and pleasures we share should be envied the rest of the non hunting world! Can't wait, and keep the treasured stories and memories coming!

[picksbigwagon]

Mine starts with a four hour truck ride to Iowa. I am always the last one there and the discussions will have been going for at least 6 hours. We decide on which drive we are gonna start with, who is posting and driving, and then rehash new ways to do each and every drive. Last year with the rain, I specifically said we need to send a driver through these stands of pine trees, they didn't and we went ohfer on the first drive. I poked my head in the pines and 4 does ripped out the other side......this year they better listen to the sober guy

[Phunnyfarm]

This is always my favorite post of the year! I love reading how excited everyone gets for deer camp.

For me and our group, it's simple. Get to my in-law's place Friday evening, sit over the top of the laminated map of the farm, sip some Jack n' water, and talk strategy for the weekend with father-in-law and bro-in-law (the hunting party)! It's my best time to bond with those guys, and I wouldn't miss it for anything (unless I'm on death's doorstep).

[jerkbait]

We head to the shack Thursday night and get settled in, drink a few beers. Friday morning we get up and have some breakfast and do a little work around the shack then head out and put our gear in our stands and get them ready for the next day. We also swap out the cards in the trailcams and look at them when we get back to the shack on my buddies laptop. We have some lunch and then head to Grygla to drink a few beers at our favorite 2 watering holes there ,(some will know what the wink means, there are only 2 bars in town). We head back to the shack around supper time and get some grub and usually hit the sack around 9-10 o-clock. We want to be bright eyed and bushy tailed on Saturday morning.

[lakevet]

Thursday of course is Thanksgiving day so eat alot and visit alot at Mom and Dad's, Friday is visiting with other relatives, eating a second Thanksgiving feed and getting a little work done at one of the relatives places, Friday night head over to cousins farm which is headquarters for deer season. Everyone to bed early and sober after getting gear set out and guns loaded in the shop. Check weather and review drives for the morning. Discuss how the pumpkin army did earlier in November. Saturday up early, oatmeal, eggs and fruit then out the door for another muzzleloader season! Saturday night is the Thanksgiving feed get together with that side of the family after processing the deer we got that day. Then 3 more days of driving deer to burn off all the food consumed!

In summary lots of family, food and deer hunting!

lakevet

[slimngrizzly]

I guess my tradition is the weekend closest to Halloween. We have a big group that bowhunts at our friends cabin, The Buck Hotel. Lots of food, cards, football, deer horns, trail cam pictures and talk! Everyone is pumped seems like good bucks are hitting the ground every day or so at that time! Id hate to even guess how many beers have been sucked down in that place... enough to flood a small village! Bucks, beers, and the boys... its something I really look forward too!

MN Gun season is just another day... only I take a gun in the backyard. I wish I had a group to go off to a cabin with but I guess I do it the weekend before.

[Glock]

Saturday night is of course hunters supper in Grygla and a quick stop by Fourtown for a few beers

There is nothing better then the Grygla hunter supper. Bad for the arteries but smells so good when you walk through those doors. Of course we're talking about the first weekend (Turkey and the trimings) and not the second weekend (lutefish) right?

[RBuker]

I've had the chance to participate in many "hunter's suppers" over the years. My hunting spot is just north of Wadena. Is there any place that puts on a special feed up that way?

Randy

[itsashooter]

Anybody besides me kiss the last bullet when loading your rifle ? the one that is the first one out?? And I've already started my crazy dreams each night now, all about deer huntin, but too embarrassing to tell. And my mind is now hopelessly hooked on the hunt now. Sorry, my dear wife and boss. I will make no sense talking to anyone now for the next two weeks. I shouldn't even be driving, I may be as rut-crazed as a buck. I take all side roads to work now, so I go through any stretch of deer woods vs highway traffic. Ahh...this is better than Christmas when you were a kid!