Our hunting lease is located in the southwestern part of East Texas, also known as the Post Oak Belt, just outside Cayuga. It's a cattle ranch that's been in the same family for three generations. 'The Overton Hunting Club' has been leasing the land for over 50 years. The oldest member (in age and membership time) is the small town doctor from Overton, 85 year old Dr. James Hamilton.
The lease is called the 'deer camp.' Of the 11 men who are currently members, there are three small camp houses and two old camper trailers. The 'houses' are not much more than a metal storage building, a wooden shack on top of a flatbed trailer, and the Taj Mahal of the camp, Doc's cabin, which is just a wooden storage building with a porch.
Grump, Uncle Ty, cousin Eric and barely 4 year old Will in the Jackson bunk house. (2008)
The deer camp has evolved quite a bit since I started coming for visits. I wasn't raised around hunting and never stepped foot on a hunting lease until roughly 2008. So when I started joining Daddo on a few trips I would just sit in the deer stand and 'photo hunt' the wildlife with my canon rebel 35mm camera. I enjoyed the quiet, the smells, the views and the family time. I've never been when any other members were hunting. I've been on weekends when no one else had plans to go and on warm spring days when the fishing in the ranch's water holes was just good enough for relaxing. The last time I went was about 4-4.5 years ago. Will and Cole were around 3-4 years old and only sitting on the deer stand to watch. They were still more or less preschoolers who easily got bored with the waiting while hunting and the cold weather kept them snuggled in their bunk instead of heading out for the 4:30 am hunt. They were babies the last time I was there and still depended on their momma for snacks, cuddles, and safety.
Will's first 'hunt' in the stand (notice the endless snacks)
Cole's first trip to the camp was Spring 2008. (almost 2)
Four year old Will awaiting the next ride.
While I've been staying home either pregnant or with an infant, Daddo and Grump have taken Will and Cole to the lease multiple times each year. I've only heard the stories of how they sat on the stand 3-4 hours at a time in freezing temps meticulously watching for movement along the tree line. The late night hog hunting stories are my favorite, especially when Cole tells them. I've received the cell phone pictures of the good hunts and events that these men call milestone moments. I can remember the time Cole, young enough he still had a little bit of a speech problem, came home from the camp bursting through the door and told me about how 'Daddo saw this big butt.... the biggest butt he'd ever saw!'
I was definitely missing some fun and special moments down on the lease, but they were memories I knew were for my boys and their dad and grandpa to make together.
Needless to say I was a little surprised and a bit overly excited when Daddo invited me AND the littles for an overnight hunt on the last weekend of youth deer season. No one else would be down there and the weather was expected to be mild.
Sure I over packed a little as always and planned for each snack, meal and how many changes of diapers were needed in 36 hours. But I tried to be as low-maintenance as possible so the idea of inviting 'Momma and little sister' wouldn't be frowned upon for the next decade.
It was a glorious couple of days. The weather was perfectly sunny and mild for a January hunt and as usual my kids were easily entertained by the beautiful nature God created for us.
I was absolutely amazed at the change I saw in my older two boys since the last time I was there. Even from the time we left our house to the time we pulled up to the camp, they magically evolved from 7 and 9 year old brothers acting as little boys do, to these mature, masculine hunters. They became a wealth of knowledge and I was the 'kid' asking a ton of questions.
The entire weekend had me just reveling in the fact that my boys will be MEN some day. I'm not talking about just physically larger in size and development. I mean real, Godly, men who serve their family, their community and their God.
You're probably thinking I'm crazy! I got this all from one weekend at the deer camp? It was so much more than that. I was the person in the unfamiliar place. I was needing their guidance and know-how. I needed their reassurance. I learned so much about them!
Daddo's stand has writing on the interior walls listing important dates including the boys' first hunts, each years' kills, and a couple of years say 'shut out- the deer won' and 'Flooded- no hunts.' This is Daddo's hunting journal!
There are so many precious boys in the world today. I witness some wonderful mommas and daddos every day in my little circle of life who are doing amazing jobs at raising their little men. I am always watching and trying to learn how to be a better momma to boys. In the hussle and bussle of our busy routines, I know I forget at times just how important my role is as a parent. We are raising a human being and are responsible for their life now as well as the person they grow up to be.
After that wonderful weekend, we returned to the normal life of school, work, after-school activities and daily challenges and I was back at the helm of 'Momma know-it-all' with the instructions and to-do lists for everyone. But now when I'm at my wits end because my son can't remember to put his dirty clothes in the hamper, or his plate in the sink.... or the basketball back in the locker so I don't run over it AGAIN with my car..... I think back to the weekend at the deer camp. That's the place where my boys can tell me the names of every deer stand, what a game trail is, and explain to me the many regulations for deer hunting. That's the place where they pop out of bed before dawn and can get out the door in three minutes. That's the place where I find myself a relaxed passenger on the back of a four wheeler driven by a 9 year old.
That's the place that gives me a glimpse of what they will be one day. Now if I can get them to stop smacking at the dinner table, we'll be ready for manhood.
I was definitely missing some fun and special moments down on the lease, but they were memories I knew were for my boys and their dad and grandpa to make together.
Will's first kill was a 250 lb hog. The cattle ranch is overrun by hogs terrorizing the rancher's pastures and cows. He loves to hear about one less hog to worry about.
First hunt, November 2012, 8 years old
Cole's first hunt and his first buck! December 2013, 7 years old
Needless to say I was a little surprised and a bit overly excited when Daddo invited me AND the littles for an overnight hunt on the last weekend of youth deer season. No one else would be down there and the weather was expected to be mild.
Sure I over packed a little as always and planned for each snack, meal and how many changes of diapers were needed in 36 hours. But I tried to be as low-maintenance as possible so the idea of inviting 'Momma and little sister' wouldn't be frowned upon for the next decade.
It was a glorious couple of days. The weather was perfectly sunny and mild for a January hunt and as usual my kids were easily entertained by the beautiful nature God created for us.
Rhett and Cora's first deer camp visit. Eating snacks on the porch.
Perfectly at ease at the camp.
I was absolutely amazed at the change I saw in my older two boys since the last time I was there. Even from the time we left our house to the time we pulled up to the camp, they magically evolved from 7 and 9 year old brothers acting as little boys do, to these mature, masculine hunters. They became a wealth of knowledge and I was the 'kid' asking a ton of questions.
The entire weekend had me just reveling in the fact that my boys will be MEN some day. I'm not talking about just physically larger in size and development. I mean real, Godly, men who serve their family, their community and their God.
You're probably thinking I'm crazy! I got this all from one weekend at the deer camp? It was so much more than that. I was the person in the unfamiliar place. I was needing their guidance and know-how. I needed their reassurance. I learned so much about them!
Will showing me how to make a 'deer call' with buck antlers.
There are so many precious boys in the world today. I witness some wonderful mommas and daddos every day in my little circle of life who are doing amazing jobs at raising their little men. I am always watching and trying to learn how to be a better momma to boys. In the hussle and bussle of our busy routines, I know I forget at times just how important my role is as a parent. We are raising a human being and are responsible for their life now as well as the person they grow up to be.
After that wonderful weekend, we returned to the normal life of school, work, after-school activities and daily challenges and I was back at the helm of 'Momma know-it-all' with the instructions and to-do lists for everyone. But now when I'm at my wits end because my son can't remember to put his dirty clothes in the hamper, or his plate in the sink.... or the basketball back in the locker so I don't run over it AGAIN with my car..... I think back to the weekend at the deer camp. That's the place where my boys can tell me the names of every deer stand, what a game trail is, and explain to me the many regulations for deer hunting. That's the place where they pop out of bed before dawn and can get out the door in three minutes. That's the place where I find myself a relaxed passenger on the back of a four wheeler driven by a 9 year old.
That's the place that gives me a glimpse of what they will be one day. Now if I can get them to stop smacking at the dinner table, we'll be ready for manhood.
Pictures from Momma's fun weekend at the camp. May it be less than 5 years before I'm allowed to go back.
CL kind of likes her spot on the four wheeler. As we rode across some bumpy holes on our way to sit on the stand one evening, she started crying. I told her to 'shhh' so not to scare off the deer. She sucked it up and held on. When we got to the stand and I turned her around and noticed a big bruise on her cheek from where the gun rack she holds on to hit her while going over those bumps. What a mom I thought. What a tough hunting girl! We didn't scare away the deer!
Rhett's first 'hunt' in the stand. He watched so closely.... and ate and told 'deew stowies.'
CL takes a look out the deer stand window.
Will getting into character before the evening hunt.
A deer stand's first purse.
Sunset from the stand.
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