Hook and Bullet Club - Deer Campers

[Lee Borgersen]

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Hook and Bullet Club - Deer Campers

by Nick Wognum...... Ely MN


Deer Campers:

We're now less than a week away from the 2007 deer season at Camp Cholesterol. Soon the pick-up trucks will roll in and park amid in the pines, filled with hunting gear and hopefully some eager hunters.

Bring your gun inside and hang it up on the wall - double check it isn't loaded. Remember it's okay if the hunter is loaded while in the shack, but the guns must be unloaded.

And all that gear you brought with, you know the drill. That extra pair of boots and those changes of underwear you'll never use will be your sleeping partner because extra room is not available at Camp Cholesterol.

For those arriving Thursday night, let's enjoy the evening with some telling of tall tales and reliving hunts of years past. That three-plus hour trek last year into the swamp after that buck can be talked about, but enough of the "nice shot Nick" comments.

Oh, most importantly, be sure to bring your rubber boots. If you have the 16-inch variety, these are bound to come in handy. There is water everywhere!

If it wasn't for Steve last Sunday, I would still be knee deep in the swamp looking for a new spot to get across. Remember ABL (above boot level) is not good.

On Friday morning, we need to tackle the list of things that need to be done before opener (nothing like waiting to the last minute, eh?).

Here is the list as of today: Fix meat pole; Build bridge across creek; Repair sandpit stand; Move two-man stand closer to trail; Stack wood; Hook up gas fridge; Fix outhouse steps.

Okay, that list is a bit long - we may need to prioritize. Everybody in favor of fixing the outhouse steps first? Thought so. Otherwise that could be treacherous. Especially when you're on the sprint from the stand and peeling clothes as you walk cross-legged...you remember those times don't you?

Hopefully between now and Thursday we can put together a final menu. Stuffed pork chops are a for-sure Thursday night and there's no way we can start the season without Bill's Famous Eat More on Friday night. I'll email a menu out, fill in the blanks.

And a reminder for our hunters travelling up I-35 with the other 500,000 hunters heading north, try to get to camp early enough Friday night so we can have our annual banquet.

As you no doubt remember, pickled herring does not provide a good base for the Captain. All eyes need to be open when the highlight/lowlight video from last season is played on the laptop.

We won't have our Shack Daddy holding down the fort for us this year. Jake's shoulder surgery kept him out of the stand in 2006, but look for him to be back with a vengeance this year.

With a little luck the sauna should be ready to go by Thursday night. The final touches, sawing, pounding and sore thumbs should be completed this weekend. Maybe. Hopefully.

The shack itself should be good to go, and sleeping arrangement are the same as in the past.

Lower bunks are issued based on seniority. Climbing up into that top bunk and thinking you're back in the sauna is part of the deer hunting experience. Or, one of our cold blooded campers chucked a monster piece of wood in the stove to cook us all out again.

When we have been able to get out in the woods, the deer are starting to leave their marks. There was this nice rub on the way to the camera - seeing that is enough to get your blood pumping. The deer camera was good early but has slowed as of late. Apparently the bucks have figured out it's time to start laying low.

But we'll still do our best to create some new stories and hopefully hang a deer or two on the pole. Dave will be out on his rock I imagine, and the two-man stands are likely to be father-daughter spots this year for Steve and I. That only leaves a dozen other stands for the rest of the guys to fight over.

So fill the cooler, grab your gun and point your rig toward the shack. It's time. Ready or not the season is upon us.

Here we go! Can't wait! See you at Deer Camp!

[Grute Man]

Sounds like a great time.  Yeah I'll have some pickled hering up at our camp (you up for that GOGETTER?) and I for sure know about walking cross legged. 

Good luck to everyone this season -- especially the younguns.

Have fun, shoot straight, and BE SAFE!!!

Grute