Historic Old Deer Camps

Long before the days of expensive hunting leases and internet scouting giving away spots, men would gather at the same place and same time every year. Ramshackle deer camps were usually built on small private lots with access to expanses of public land.

The tradition of hunt camps goes back to the beginning of man all around the world, but in North America there was an explosion of this tradition early in the 20th Century and especially following World War II. I believe more men being trained with firearms, men being comfortable in the outdoors, and the fellowship of men started in the military inspired many to participate in deer camps.

Searching the internet recently there have been some great video and article documentations of these old camps. The camps are still around, the deer are still around, but many of the original men have moved on or can no longer hunt. The stories today are being told by the children and grandchildren who have continued the tradition. These camps look the same as they did 60 years ago. The memories are still on the wall with game mounts, pictures, and the same old firearms within reach.

The smoke that currently drifts from the wood burning fireplaces has a new story and it slowly permeates the walls becoming one with the old smoke and stories.

Click NEXT below to scroll our collection of Old Deer Camps.

Sleicher Camp

Located within the Adirondack Park of New York, this camp is full of great history starting with Charles Sleicher in 1922. Currently it is going through the challenges of our times a large branching of the family and more distractions of the outside world to keep everyone from getting together. There are even talks of the camp being sold!

Edward Kanze wrote a great article that can be found here...

Part 2: Deer Camp - A Photo Essay | Resilient Forest Series | Resilient Forest Series

Every fall, members of the Sleicher family return to their Adirondack deer camp in search of something elusive. Like so many parts of rural culture, the ritual is timeless &nd

northernwoodlands.org

Rocking Chair Camp

This is one of my favorite videos about an old camp put together right before World War II in Michigan. The video is vintage itself, probably from the 70's or 80's using original slides and narration from an original member. It shows the evolution of the camps and the members hunting there. Unfortunately it appears the tradition stopped at some point and it isn't an active camp anymore. Some pictures were posted recently of it looking unused and rumors of it for sale.

Twin Lakes Camp

Another old Michigan deer camp. Several families and old connections like the Taddeucci's. This camp currently hasn't died off, it is stronger than ever and has even expanded to multiple local camps with multiple generations. The video below was done on the tv show Discovering, which covers the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is an especially good video because it contains interviews from 1993 with a couple of the original members and then has recent clips 25 years later.

The Sleight Deer Camp

Ronald and his son Jim give a tour of the deer camp his Grandfather started. Watch along as Ronald shares stories, pictures, and a history of the camp guns.

Camp White Ash

The video below was done on the tv show Discovering, which covers the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

Pearl St. Deer Camp

110 years old originally put together by a Sidney Clapp in the Catskills. It was initially used by Boy Scouts that Sidney was scoutmaster over. In 1947 one of Sidney's scouts Jack Langthorn acquired the camp from Sidney. Jack hunted it until he was 100 years old in 1997. Lefferts hunted it over the years and took care of Jack until the end, then acquired it after Jack died. The tradition goes on with the Lefferts.

Onion Pickers Deer Camp

Since 2014 there has been a great video documentation of the hunting & shenanigans at the Onion Pickers camp. This is an old camp in Michigan, none of the original members are still hunting it, but the next generation has kept it active and fun every year.

I especially like this first video from 2014 that starts with an interview with one of the original members.