How to Pack for Deer Camp in the Michigan North Woods

I come from a long family bloodline of avid deer hunters. I've have lived in Michigan my entire life and feel that some of the best hunting spots are right here in the Great Lake state.

The easy part is finding your favorite place to set up deer camp and then returning to the same spot year after year. The hard part is remembering all of the essentials of what to pack for your trip.

Typically most hunters take off a week or seven days to venture up north and set up their camp.

The Upper Peninsula of Michigan in some areas can be quite desolate with stores and supply outlet's scarce for many miles in between. Making sure to pack everything you need is very important.

I've put together a list of some of the essentials that you will need to pack to make your trip as stress free as possible:

Sleeping Bags- Bring the warmest sleeping bags and blankets you have. It is easy to strip down in layers but harder to get warmed up if you don't have more layers to add on.

Space Heater- This may be necessary if your camper has no heat. Please use caution when using a small space heater, they have been known to start fires if left unattended.

Firestarter and Kinling- Firestarters are essential to keeping the camp up and running. A small collection of kinling is a good idea to have on hand to get your fire started. Letting the fire die out is not a good idea. Try to keep some small embers going at all times. Be sure to remember proper fire safety tips when handling flames and flammable items.

Axe- A handy tool for cutting wood.

Extra Large Cooler and ice- Keep a large cooler filled with ice to keep certain items cold. Most likely it is cold outdoors anyway, but you should have a designated cooler available to keep food items from spoiling.

First Aid Kit- Having an up to date First Aid Kit is good to have in case of accident or injury at the camp. It could take a while for help to arrive so being prepared is important.

Flares- Important to have in case you have an emergency and need someone to find and locate you due to getting lost or poor weather conditions.

Rope Knife- These two things will come in handy for gutting your deer and hanging your meat. A knife or Swiss Army Knife are essential tools for the avid hunter, you can cut rope, gut your deer and open miscellaneous items with this utensil.

Guns, Bullets- Safely transport and store your gun and bullets in separate areas. Please use proper handling techniques with weapons and follow directions accordingly.

Hunting License- Be sure to have your license pinned to your jacket or vest at all times, hunting without one will land you in big trouble by the DNR and you could face jail time.

Tripod Grill- This is a must for every camp site. This will serve as your cooking space and also a way to sanitize and heat your water safely.

Pot and Cooking Utensils- A nice large cast Iron pot, can serve multiple uses for your deer camp. Make sure to pack wooden spoons, spatulas, can openers and also hand towels.

Paper Plates and Utensils- Don't forget the paper plates, so it is easy clean up. Throw them into the fire to prevent garbage build up. Save your plastic and discard appropriately. Id like to stay "Eco-Friendly" here, but water must also be conserved if you are camping away from civilization. If you can locate "Eco- Friendly" utensils then by all means do so.

Bottled Water- Water will most likely be scarce at deer camp, so bring as many jugs and bottles of water you possibly can. Drinking out of a live stream should be done with extreme caution due to water borne illnesses and bacteria.

Bucket- The bucket can serve for many uses, from storage, to hauling water and ultimately as a port a potty, but of course don't combine them all, bring several buckets along and mark them clearly for their designated uses.

Warm Clothing-Your one stop hunting and clothing outfitter is Cabela's located in Dundee, Michigan, you can also purchase from them online at cabelas.com. You will find every single outdoor weather gear imaginable here for your trip into the North Woods.

Compass and map- A must have for any outdoor adventurer that wanders into the woods or into unknown territory. It is very easy to get turned around and lost in any type of wooded setting.

Tarp- Don't forget to pack a couple of large tarps to use as foundations for work you may have to do while gutting your deer. These can also be used to wrap your belongings and keep things dry.

Easy to prepare meals- Snack items that wont spoil are essential for the trip. Crackers and beef jerky are good options. Preparing hot meals ahead of time is also a good idea for a variety of meal options. Most meals can be warmed up on a stove in your camper or over the fire using your tripod grill.

Misc- Don't forget toilet paper, candles, lanterns, cell phones, a radio and trash bags.

Remember this is a time to be at peace with mother nature and to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Searching for the twelve point buck is the easy part, so why not make your stay at camp simple and stress free! Being prepared is key to having a safe and enjoyable stay in the north woods.