Mobile Deer Camp

Go the tent route in search of whitetail adventure

- Tony J. Peterspm

A weekend camping trip with no hunting involved is usually pretty pleasant, provided that Mother Nature doesn’t conspire to ruin things. However, when you pair up several days of tent living with hunting white-tailed deer, the opportunity for things to go south increases substantially. But, it doesn’t have to.

In fact, operating from a mobile camp for a deer hunt can be a great experience. But, you must plan correctly and use the right gear. Naturally, you also must accept the reality of spending several days in a canvas dome amid uncontrollable factors.

Misery is Stupid

In my younger years, I couldn’t afford to stay in a hotel every day when I took hunting trips, and quite frankly, I didn’t want to. I wanted to set up a tent, eat simply, live simply and maximize my time in the woods.

I eventually realized that intentionally being uncomfortable was stupid. For most whitetail camps, you can drive your vehicle right to the spot on which you’ll pitch your tent. This is different than a western backcountry adventure when you’re counting ounces in a pack and hauling your entire trip on your back.

On a whitetail hunt, you can almost always outfit yourself with whatever you need to be comfortable. This is important on so many fronts. For me, it usually starts with sleep. Nothing saps the enjoyment from a hunting trip like exhaustion. When you’re sleeping in a tiny tent on a mountainside while hunting elk, exhaustion is a perpetual state of existence. For whitetails, it doesn’t need to be.