FUEL OIL, CANVAS & STRAW
When I was a young boy growing up on a dairy farm near Millington, Michigan, I couldn’t wait until I could go deer hunting with my father, grandfather, and several uncles that had just returned from service in WWII.
As a poor farm kid who milked cows every morning and evening, and planted a huge garden for vegetables for canning, I didn’t know I was poor as we always had lots of food including beef, pork, and many jars of fresh garden vegetables to eat.
My passion for deer hunting and going into the woods with my relatives was always on my mind. The year was 1952 and I would be old enough to purchase a hunting license and go with my dad and family deer hunting. (NOTE: Few white-tail deer lived in Tuscola County in the 1950’s and if you saw a track or a real deer you quickly rushed to tell your parents.)
Life in the 1950’s was much different than today. We had no television, no cell phones and very few trips away from the farm due to duties requiring morning and evening milk chores. Our farm land was contiguous to other land owned by my uncles and grandparents.
We burned wood in both our furnace and kitchen cook stove. My mother would bake bread and cookies on the wood fired cook stove and life was much slower than today. Our wood-lots supplied firewood and logs for building. The creek, running through our farm supplied many fish and every Sunday, after church, my father would take me fishing. On Friday evening it was shopping day for farmers. I, with my mother, sister, and father would go to the town of Millington and buy supplies for the week from the local general store. My father and I would let the women do the shopping and we would go to the local appliance store to watch the Friday night fights on television. Such great fighters as Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, and Kidd Gavalan were my favorites. The appliance store had the only television in town and locals would all gather to watch the boxing matches. Much laughter and local gossip were exchanged at these gatherings.
Prices in the 50’s were very low compared to today’s prices. Soft drinks were 5 cents, candy bars 5 cents, and .22 rimfire shells were 20 cents a box of 50 shells, as I recall. Gas sold for 10 cents a gallon and a loaf of bread cost 10 cents. Prices were low, but also money was scarce. My first job, in high school, paid 50 cents an hour and my first car cost 100 dollars (1949 Chevy Coup). Much different than today’s prices.
Life was good and very busy, but my burning passion to go deer hunting found me asking many questions, reading excessively about deer hunting and dreaming about the big buck I might harvest on the hunting trip up-north with my dad and relatives. Finally, I turned 14 and was eager and very excited to be included on the hunt.
Our family hunted near Gladwin, Michigan, close to the small town of Bently, Michigan. We prepared for weeks before our November 15th journey to the woods. Excitement was always high among the hunters who were ready to go north.
Preparation for the trip included loading the trailer with many boxes of supplies. We owned a used canvas army tent that was 16 X 16 feet square, with a high peaked roof. For heating we had a fuel-oil stove that had a long stove pipe chimney that went straight up and through the peak of this pyramid tent. Bales of straw were loaded to serve as our “mattress” for sleeping and huge amounts of food were stockpiled for use in camp. Excitement was everywhere as the seven of us prepared for a week in the woods hunting deer.
Most deer hunters in the 1950’s used lever-action rifles. The Winchester Model 94 30-30 or .32 special, the Marlin Model 336 in both 30-30 or .32 special caliber with a few hunters using the Savage Model 99 in .300 Savage caliber. Also, many hunters in the 1950’s used smooth bore shotguns with rifled slugs or buckshot loads. Our hunting budget was minimal as most items were from our garden or farm. I desperately wanted to buy a Winchester Model 94 lever action, but couldn’t afford the 64 dollars needed for a new rifle. My first gun for hunting deer was a 12 gauge double barreled shotgun, borrowed from my grandfather, loaded with rifled slugs. My Grandfather had a Marlin lever action in .32 special and our family still owns grandpa’s rifle.
Hunting clothes also have changed greatly since 1950. Most hunters then wore red/black plaid shirts and Soo-Wool coats and pants. Long underwear and heavy wool sox’s were the mainstay for the deer woods. Felt shoes were worn under 5 buckle over-shoes, or some hunters wore leather boots, with heavy wool sox’s. My first boots were waterproof. They looked good but were very cold. My second year of hunting, I wore Sorel boots that had rubber bottoms and leather tops. They were much better as they had felt liner, and kept your feet much warmer.
We always arrived at camp one or two days before season opened. This day was spent setting up the camp and some years we had to shovel snow to get the tent set-up. When the camp was ready, we played cards or went walking in the woods looking for a place to sit on opening day. My dad, grandfather and uncles had hunted this area many times and knew where they were going to hunt. Being my first hunt, my dad put me in a good location, near him, and that spot was where my first deer season began.
Breakfast on opening morning came early. We got up at 5am with lots of laughter and joking surrounding the entire camp. Food from the farm was prepared and we all enjoyed a big breakfast in anticipation of shooting a trophy buck. My dream of being in deer camp was unfolding and I was as excited as a child on Christmas morning. I loaded my borrowed double barrel shotgun, put extra shells in my pocket and walked with my father, flashlight in hand, to our assigned hunting spot. All hunters returned to camp at noon and we cooked a huge meal and got ready for the evening hunt. No hunter got a deer on opening day and I personally did not see a deer my first day of hunting.
At the end of the week I had seen three deer, my grandfather had shot a spike buck and my uncle had got a four point. This was our total harvest for seven hunters. The bucks were trophies in my eyes and I really wanted to get a buck, but was very happy to be a member in the camp. It wasn’t until my second year in deer camp, armed with a used Winchester 30-30 lever action that I paid the sum of 27 dollars, with one dollar per week until I had it paid for. I loved that lever rifle and now was a member of the group with my own rifle.
Yes, deer hunting has changed greatly from the early days of the 1950’s. The old fuel oil burner, canvas tent, and straw for a mattress has also been upgraded. Memories are made from harsh encounters, but all in camp enjoyed the woods and were very proud of hunting the mighty white-tail buck.
Now at 86 with many years of deer hunting, I often think of those early days that began in the 1950’s. There is magic in the tent camp and I will never forget how it all got started. Wishing my best to all the deer hunters in the woods and hope each shoots a trophy white-tail. Success in harvesting a big buck keeps us coming back. Shoot straight and enjoy the memories….
