Self started traditions

Wild Bill Bucks · July 17, 2012, 12:28 PM

I have 3 children who are all grown now, and have families of their own. When they were about 5 or 6 years old, I would take them squirrel hunting on the very first day of season. We would always clean and roast the very first squirrel of the season, at the end of the day, over an open fire, with a hickory stick run through it.

This was always a really big deal to my kids, and now they do the same thing with all of their children. Always leads to some good memories being told over the fire while we're waiting for the squirrel to get done.

Any of you guys have anything, you do as a tradition at your camps?

buck460XVR · July 17, 2012, 06:07 PM

You mean like watchin' Escanaba in da Moonlight the night before openin' mornin'?

It's like Christmas.....but with guns!

TheNatureBoy · July 17, 2012, 06:29 PM

When we got to our hunting camp we used to watch "The Outlaw Josey Wales" the night before open season (deer) started. Put us in the right frame of mind :-)

Youngshooter · July 18, 2012, 01:11 PM

Quite simply put as what we call a "Feast fit for kings" the night before opener. Sit around the fire and blabber about this and that, or "fixing the world" as we call it!

Daggitt · July 18, 2012, 08:36 PM

Home made Chicken and Dumplings. The chicken is cooked on the grill with hickory chips. Followed by Crown Royal while everyone assembles their gear for the next morning. It's my favorite night of the year.

tchunter · July 19, 2012, 12:19 PM

We had to move our opening day of deer season celebration to the weekend before. It tends to get a little wild and we were paying for it on opening day. Our family and friends bring a bunch of monster bucks and hang them all over my dads shop. Meanwhile we roast a hind quarter from a deer from the year before. Once the time is right we lower the first buck my dad ever got mounted down to about 4 feet on the wall. Then my little brother who is now chief takes a set of rattling antlers and fights the buck on the wall. We call him the deer god. From there the horns get passed to everyone, those not willing get shamed out of the shop! Sounds a little crazy but man its fun. Oh ya, 23 years running.

Edward429451 · July 19, 2012, 05:13 PM

Since many of the Christmases had guns under the tree, we started going shooting on Christmas and sometimes on New Years.

sc928porsche · August 9, 2012, 11:39 AM

Every year, opening weekend of deer season is the family reunion. I havnt missed it in 40 years. Camp seems to stay about the same size though. My kids go each year too. Uncles are pretty much gone now and so are the Aunts, but a lot of their children take their place. My grandfather started this tradition and I hope it keep going long after I am gone.

Pahoo · August 9, 2012, 11:58 AM

I have a popcorn popper that can be used over campfire. The smell fills the air. I dump the kernals, into a large brown paper sack. Butter, salt and shake each batch till the sack is full. We pass the back around and take turns getting one handful of popcorn. What falls on the ground will be gone by morning.

Be Safe !!!

Rembrandt · August 9, 2012, 06:25 PM

Get together at the "Hunting Lodge" and have a wild game feed.....show off latest hunting toys and game camera pics. Followed by watching "Jeremiah Johnson" and Larry Huffmans "Legendary Whitetails" video of the largest deer ever taken.....(Hole-in-the-horn, Jordan buck, Breen buck, Raveling buck, and others.)

big al hunter · August 10, 2012, 10:36 PM

The muzzloader elk marks the start of our big game seasons. Several years ago we started cooking a roast for dinner the night after opening day. Opening morning we hunt the morning in such a way that we end up in the best mushroom growing forest. We pick a bag full of chantrelles to put in the pot. At lunch we prep the roast, potatoes, carrots, onion, and fresh mushrooms. Put it in the oven at 250 and go hunting. When we come back to camp after dark it smells heavenly and tastes soooo goood. My son bugs me all morning "when are we gonna pick mushrooms, is it time yet". I love it, good food great memories

July 17, 2012, 12:28 PM	#1
Wild Bill Bucks Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2005 Location: Southeastern Oklahoma, Next door to Sasquatch Posts: 1,232	Self started traditions I have 3 children who are all grown now, and have families of their own. When they were about 5 or 6 years old, I would take them squirrel hunting on the very first day of season. We would always clean and roast the very first squirrel of the season, at the end of the day, over an open fire, with a hickory stick run through it. This was always a really big deal to my kids, and now they do the same thing with all of their children. Always leads to some good memories being told over the fire while we're waiting for the squirrel to get done. Any of you guys have anything, you do as a tradition at your camps?

July 19, 2012, 05:13 PM	#7
Edward429451 Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,457	Since many of the Christmases had guns under the tree, we started going shooting on Christmas and sometimes on New Years. __________________ "Always place your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark" Lazarus Long "Understand that the enemy is not the enemy in his own eyes ;this may offer you an opportunity to make him your friend. If not, you can kill him without hate, and quickly." Lazarus Long

August 9, 2012, 11:39 AM	#8
sc928porsche Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2008 Location: now living in alabama Posts: 2,325	Every year, opening weekend of deer season is the family reunion. I havnt missed it in 40 years. Camp seems to stay about the same size though. My kids go each year too. Uncles are pretty much gone now and so are the Aunts, but a lot of their children take their place. My grandfather started this tradition and I hope it keep going long after I am gone. __________________ No such thing as a stupid question. What is stupid is not asking it.

August 9, 2012, 11:58 AM	#9
Pahoo Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2006 Location: IOWA Posts: 4,415	Who doesn't love popcorn I have a popcorn popper that can be used over campfire. The smell fills the air. I dump the kernals, into a large brown paper sack. Butter, salt and shake each batch till the sack is full. We pass the back around and take turns getting one handful of popcorn. What falls on the ground will be gone by morning. Be Safe !!! __________________ 'Fundamental truths' are easy to recognize because they are verified daily through simple observation and thus, require no testing.

August 10, 2012, 10:36 PM	#11
big al hunter Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2011 Location: Washington state Posts: 619	The muzzloader elk marks the start of our big game seasons. Several years ago we started cooking a roast for dinner the night after opening day. Opening morning we hunt the morning in such a way that we end up in the best mushroom growing forest. We pick a bag full of chantrelles to put in the pot. At lunch we prep the roast, potatoes, carrots, onion, and fresh mushrooms. Put it in the oven at 250 and go hunting. When we come back to camp after dark it smells heavenly and tastes soooo goood. My son bugs me all morning "when are we gonna pick mushrooms, is it time yet". I love it, good food great memories __________________ You can't fix stupid....however ignorance can be cured through education!

July 17, 2012, 06:07 PM	#2
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 1,102	You mean like watchin' *Escanaba in da Moonlight* the night before openin' mornin'? It's like Christmas.....but with guns!

July 17, 2012, 06:29 PM	#3
TheNatureBoy Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2007 Posts: 1,088	When we got to our hunting camp we used to watch "The Outlaw Josey Wales" the night before open season (deer) started. Put us in the right frame of mind :-)

July 18, 2012, 01:11 PM	#4
Youngshooter Member Join Date: July 10, 2012 Posts: 49	Quite simply put as what we call a "Feast fit for kings" the night before opener. Sit around the fire and blabber about this and that, or "fixing the world" as we call it!

July 18, 2012, 08:36 PM	#5
Daggitt Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2011 Posts: 265	Home made Chicken and Dumplings. The chicken is cooked on the grill with hickory chips. Followed by Crown Royal while everyone assembles their gear for the next morning. It's my favorite night of the year.

July 19, 2012, 12:19 PM	#6
tchunter Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2010 Location: Decatur, MI Posts: 113	We had to move our opening day of deer season celebration to the weekend before. It tends to get a little wild and we were paying for it on opening day. Our family and friends bring a bunch of monster bucks and hang them all over my dads shop. Meanwhile we roast a hind quarter from a deer from the year before. Once the time is right we lower the first buck my dad ever got mounted down to about 4 feet on the wall. Then my little brother who is now chief takes a set of rattling antlers and fights the buck on the wall. We call him the deer god. From there the horns get passed to everyone, those not willing get shamed out of the shop! Sounds a little crazy but man its fun. Oh ya, 23 years running.

August 9, 2012, 06:25 PM	#10
Rembrandt Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2002 Posts: 1,795	Get together at the "Hunting Lodge" and have a wild game feed.....show off latest hunting toys and game camera pics. Followed by watching "Jeremiah Johnson" and Larry Huffmans "Legendary Whitetails" video of the largest deer ever taken.....(Hole-in-the-horn, Jordan buck, Breen buck, Raveling buck, and others.)