Fall is a great time for camping, festivals abound near campgrounds

It is very enjoyable to sit around a campfire on a fall day.

     Fall is a great time for camping. The air is crisp, leaves begin to change color, and an evening campfire feels good, especially if it is warming a pot of chili. A long sleeve shirt is in order.

Fall has arrived, and so is some of the best camping of the year.

Summer’s oppressive heat and most of the pesky bugs are gone. A pot of chili or ham and beans on the fire makes sitting and enjoying the weather something special. It’s time for marshmallows and Smores.

Fall presents many opportunities for the RVer and camper. It’s just fun to get out and enjoy the weather, however there are lots of things to do. There are festivals, football tailgating, fishing, and hunting, including deer camp--a special time for many.

There are festivals galore throughout the Kentuckiana area. Many of them either have camping on site or nearby. 

There are far too many festivals to list. There is a website: indianafestivals.org, if you want to check them out. Hoosier festivals also can be found at festival.net (type in Indiana or the state you want).

Some RVers use their rigs for deer camp, while other hunters use tents. For many outdoors people, it is the favorite event of the year.

Deer camp has both the social and culinary aspects. The camp atmosphere may be better than the hunt itself. I suppose it is like the guys who go to the NASCAR race and never make it to their ticketed seat.

What hunters call deer camp varies widely. Some use the same cabin year-after-year. Others utilize campers, and still others set up tents. Many camps are quite simple, basically providing shelter, and others look like small tent or camper sites with many of the amenities of home.

(Indiana’s firearms deer season opens Nov. 15 and runs through Nov. 30. Archery season opens Oct. 1.)

Something that is a must at any camp is a campfire. A good fire starts with camp setup and may not go out until hunters are ready to head for home. It provides warmth, a place to cook, relax and swap tales.

Many deer camps are long-standing tradition. Some are on private property, or located in campgrounds, or setup where permitted on public land, such as national forests. Many hunters establish their camp a week or two prior to the season opener to insure they have the same spot they have used for years.

Several generations have sat by the campfires, told stories, heard stories--some of them many times. But that’s OK. It’s part of what deer camp is about. Sure there is the anticipated hunt, however reliving hunts from the past is a part of the experience. The deer get bigger and the weather and other hunting conditions get tougher over the years.

My favorite aspect of deer camp is food--the eating. In most camps, the night before the season opener is a feast. I’d rather get an invite to eat than to hunt.

Some people who harvest a deer early in camp, fry tenderloins or venison steaks. Some make strew with the fresh meat. That’s also a real treat.