Things I learned at deer camp

Its the second week of deer camp and all the boys are here...

I've lived out of state for a long time. Nine years. This is the beginning of my third year back in state. As such, its the third year I've put forth real effort trying to bag my first deer. Sorta. My gramps died the first year I was home, so after taking time for the funeral I didn't have much available for hunting. The second year, my teaching load was rough. So this year was the first, ever, I've spent more than for our five says in the woods.

Nothing. And,.my heater gave out. On the lucky side, I had my wool gear to test in the varied temperature extremes found in Michigan deercamps. It was 68 at points opening weekend, and less than 10 at others. And I was sitting motionless in a particle board blind. Yep, I'm lucky to have a blind and land to hunt on. Not the point. I got to test my gear!

1) wool is warm. I loved it. I was worried about it being uncomfortable but I was pleasantly surprised.

2) it doesn't hold stink. I have read about this phenomenon, but I didn't believe it. There are lots of smelly things at deer camp. Cigarette smoke, campfire smoke, few showers, gear that hasn't been washed in years, etc. and yet, I never put on my wool under layers and thought "oofta, this needs to be washed desperately". Hiking daily is a different story, but I was surprised as hell.

Thanks, deercamp!