Shrew Haven _ 2020 Deer Camp

[1Arrow1Kill]

It's Deer Camp . . . the only explanation that's needed!  My bow hunting partner Kirk (65) and I (67) have been sharing Archery Deer Camp together since the early '80s.  Our Fathers were hunting partners who started hunting together in 1952.  They would always take us out of school for the Opening Week of Rifle Deer Season and we'd set up the portable Red Shack they constructed together in either Munising, Onaway or Wolf Lake, MI each year.  When the Fathers gave up hunting due to age/health, Kirk and I gave up rifle hunting and have hunted only with bows ever since.  Kirk's Father passed away 4 years ago at 92.  My Father is 91 and still calls us to see how Deer Camp is going.  Our first Crown Royal toast each fall in Deer Camp is to our Fathers and the Red Shack.  October 1st rates right up there with Christmas, my Anniversary and my Sons' Birthdays.  

[Ray Lyon]

A whole suckling pig on rotisserie
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Greg wanted the jowels and took the head

[Ray Lyon]

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[Ray Lyon]

Leg of lamb (2) marinade for 24 hour with fresh lemon juice, olive oil, red wine, garlic, salt, pepper,oregano and rosemary

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Getting wood/charcoal coals ready

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Cooking to 135 degrees over low coals(medium rare)

[Ray Lyon]

And of course leftover lamb makes outstanding gyro's

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[Ray Lyon]

For October we had great weather.  For the upland enthusiasts we had a young Lab in camp, but she got some great training on ruffed grouse and woodcock. We bagged 9 woodcock and 1 grouse in three hunts, should have had more, but still fun. By the end of the first weekend there was snow pretty much all the time and unfortunately it taught us some deer movement patterns too late so some of the historical hotspots didn't produce as many encounters.  Also, there were more than a few extremely still days.  The kind where a mouse passing gas at 50 yards sounds like a wooly cushion.  Four encounters ended up as busts because of it.  Finally the snow showed we weren't the only hunters on the prowl
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Wolf

we're on the prowl and keep the deer on edge.

But it also showed us some dandy tracks of the Yooper Thirty Point Buck 😉
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Bear

[Ray Lyon]

As Ron pointed outI constructed a couple of ground blinds one of which produced two solid opportunities that came up short by Tim Cosgrove and I.  None the less it proved to me that even with other large predators on the prowl that they can be effective and they will be a bigger part of my repertoire. 

[Ray Lyon]

Back to the magical aura of deer camp.  The afternoon/night I cooked the lamb I turned back to the cabin to see it's gas lights soft glow and some guys getting ready for dinner. I captured the image with my cellphone but it really does not do it justice.  A Northwoods Cabin associated with deer camp takes on a life of it's own that only those who experience the yearly tradition fully understand.

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It's to be cherished

[Ray Lyon]

As was posted on another thread, Roger was the only one to hang a deer.  He was using his Super Shrew Lil Favorite recurve hunting the oaks on Banana Ridge.  We should have taken his cue much earlier in the hunt and also searched out the oaks. 
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Roger showing his dapper look arriving to camp
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But he's all business in the woods
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[woodchucker]

I love the night-time cabin picture, Ray!!!

JMHO, curtains don't belong on cabin windows.....

[Ray Lyon]

So this is 'Shrewhaven', the 'Grousehaven' of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.  It's also the testing ground for Shrew Bows.  This year I was testing a 54" Super Shrew Classic Hunter II and it's a fantastic little bow that packs a punch. 
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Here's Tim's 52" CHII and a dandy Yooper buck rub.
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Here's the group photo of this year's gang
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[Ray Lyon]

It may be a remote cabin, however fresh apple pie made with honey crisp apples from my family's farm and butter crust was on the menu. 

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[randy grider]

Dang Ron ! Hate to hear about your bad luck , but sounds like you are making the best of it, and when you di get back in the game will have 2x the fun. Im ready for a week in camp myself.

[STICKBENDER98]

Thanks so much Ray for all the updates, this is always one of my favorite threads to read.  I'm not sure when you guys find time to hunt with all the food you prepare, and naps that surely follow with a full stomach!!!  I miss the time spent hunting the UP, I haven't been up there since Dad passed in2015, left some ashes in one of his favorite spots.  My brother and I keep talking about going back, but just haven't been ready to go with Dad.  I know the weather, and obviously the clear cut had an impact on your hunts, but am curious in your opinion how the deer herd looks?  The last up where we went we saw 7 deer and 9 wolves, not a good ratio.  Have herd the wolf numbers were down a bit, and deer were starting to come back.


Jason

[Ray Lyon]

Jason, there are more deer.  We were seeing lots of does with fawns.  We only cut the one wolf track and it's probably been ten years since we've seen a Wolf on property.  Probably about 5 years ago we cut another wolf track in the snow

[Burly]

Thanks for sharing pics , look forward to seeing them every year. I miss hunting in that area of the Yoop.

[Skates 2]

Love this thread every year!!!

[Trenton G.]

It was an easier winter up here last year. The herd seems pretty healthy,  and I've seen lots of does with multiple fawns this year. Still seeing lots of wolves though unfortunately.

[Ron LaClair]

Meantime while the boy's up in Shrew Haven are getting fat on roasted pig suckling, 10# super chickens and legs of lamb, the old man is living on rice and beans and trying to hunt (unsuccesfully so far) with his bad leg around his RedBird's Nest cabin

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[woodchucker]

A man needs MEAT Ron!!!! Put a couple HotDogs in them beans!!!

Glad to see you're up and around, Ron!!! GOOD LUCK!!!!!