How To Start Your Own "Deer Camp" Tradition

Deer Camp" is a great tradition among hunters in the Northeast. It centers on having a place to gather year after year with a group of friends and hunting familiar quarry in familiar country. I'm fortunate in that for the past 11 years I've shared the camaraderie and hunting of traditional "deer camp" in two different states with a close friend, his two sons and assorted others. In many ways, it's the highlight of my hunting year. And now that my two sons are coming of hunting age, I'm also fortunate that there'll be space for them in our camps should they choose to join us. Creating your own "Deer Camp" tradition nowadays is tough, I know, if you don't happen to know someone who belongs to one and can get you in. The next best thing is to create a tradition for yourself and your friends around an annual visit to an appropriate commercial lodge. There are quite a few of these lodges in Maine, New Hampshire and parts of New York, which for a very reasonable price will give you many of the benefits and pleasures of a traditional deer camp, without most of the responsibilities. In most cases the success rates at these places are not overwhelmingly high and they do not offer the trophy quality that you might get in Texas or the Midwest. However, they charge only a small percentage of what outfitters normally charge in those other areas. What you get for your money is acceptably comfortable accommodations and, usually, plenty of decent food without the work of preparing it. You also get access and general guiding to lots of land where you can hunt a mature "northwoods" buck, one of the toughest of trophies. And, finally, you get a place where you can develop your own tradition. At many of these camps, hunters return year after year, getting to know the country and improving their odds for success.... So, where do you focus your search for a "Deer Camp" lodge? Here are some suggestions in three states:

Maine: The woods of northern Maine is a classic area for........(continued)