The football split the uprights and, except for the sound of the TV, the room grew mostly silent. Then the quietness was broken by the sounds of assorted complaining, talk of firing coaches, and cracking beer tabs. A few moments later, one of the hunters said, Where’s John? A brief survey around the room indicated that he was nowhere in sight. Finally, another of the bunch explained that he had seen him slip out with his bow and pack shortly after the game-winning kick (or game-losing kick in this case). Johnny had taken the game hard.
Deer camps come in many shapes and sizes – cabins, upscale lodges, dingy double-wides, and even tents. They’re a great example of how, for many, hunting is much more than just the kill. There are the ultra-serious whitetail junkies on hunting leases and clubs that tirelessly seek to manage, pursue, and take the largest bucks possible. Then there are those that simply want to get away and enjoy the tradition that is deer camp. Sure, many fall somewhere in between, but at some point of the weekend, everyone loves the camaraderie, food, pranks, and stories. Where I come from, there is another huge component to the deer hunting experience – college football. Talk about a can of worms.
Annually coinciding with hunting season, college football adds a unique flair to hunting gatherings around the country – to put it mildly. With it comes additional passion, smack talk, elation, and disappointment. I live and hunt in Texas and sometimes find myself thinking that the aura of college football in the fall is a southern thing, but know it is huge from coast to coast. Traditional matchups like Auburn-Alabama, Florida-Georgia, Penn State-Pitt, Texas-Oklahoma, and Ohio State-Michigan are huge and often merge with deer camp. On balance, it’s a wonderful thing but there are aspects of it that fall on both sides of the ledger.
The good.
What’s says America more than deer camp and college football? Before and after the hunt, football-watching brings everyone together and is a great way to burn off steam. And let’s face it, with stress and obligations temporarily left at home, it’s a rare treat to enjoy these fall pigskin showdowns uninterrupted with our camo-clad brothers. Further, it goes well with the good food, libations, and fellowship inherent in deer camp. If the hunting is slow, many college gridiron showdowns are at the ready to remedy it. Plus, early morning hunts can take their toll and football-watching sessions are great for intermittently nodding off. Indeed, hunting and college football boldly define autumn for many outdoorsmen.
The bad.
No good thing comes without downsides. If you fall into the fanatic class and let your team define your mood, you often defeat the purpose of the getaway in the first place. I’m a die-hard Texas A&M fan (translation, I’m disappointed a lot) and cannot count the number of times when ugly losses scarred my disposition on hunting weekends. For some, the resulting squirrely attitude stemming from games gone bad can last throughout the whole hunt. For me, this has led to sitting in the stand in a miserable state. I must confess that more than once, I’ve strongly considered shooting livestock following A&M games. I’m only kidding. Well, kind of…
Perhaps one of the worst symptoms of this crossover period is that sometimes, hunters tend to make it to the stand late. In these cases, needed bow practice, camp chores, and gear organization gets pushed aside. And the ensuing last-minute preparation sends them out the door at the last minute in a chaotic flurry. Inherently, binoculars or other gear are forgotten and hunting areas are disturbed during prime hunting hours. A hunt you’ve likely anticipated for weeks, if not months, has been damaged, if not ruined. Talk about an outcome that sabotages a love for whitetail hunting.
The ugly.
With college football often comes a bevy of passion and school pride. Though it has been rare, I’ve even seen fisticuffs between hunters from warring schools – and these were friends. Maybe it’s all the testosterone. I’m pretty sure that sometimes, libations also have a little to do with it. Either way, this falls firmly in the ugly category. Luckily, most guys seemingly have the ability to eventually shake hands and laugh it off.
Many hunting camps include drinking and college football certainly fans the fire. It undoubtedly lends itself to laughter and great folly-filled tales to be shared well into the future; sometimes, tales of idiocy, but I digress. The social time with libations of choice is not only okay but a huge part of the tradition in many camps. However, the ugly comes when it leads to campfire sessions lasting until the wee hours of the morning – when one or two turns into eight or ten. More often than not, fellow hunters are left waiting on someone during those precious early-morning hunting hours. It’s counterintuitive for the deer hunter – especially the serious one. Now I’m not blaming the great institution of college football for it, rather I only consider it an occasional accelerant.
All considered, deer camp and college football represent a fall and winter super-duo. In my mind, both institutions go together like touchdowns and tailgates or treestands and the rut. So, embrace the good and minimize the bad. That magical time is here.
As for Johnny, he turned out just fine. Following that disappointing Texas Longhorn loss, he arguably got it right. Although bent out of shape, he hit the woods early, took in the splendor of the outdoors, and ultimately settled in for an enjoyable evening hunt. Further, he later enjoyed a great night of food and laughter – and yes, the night game.
