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The Last Deer Season

11/13/2016

5 Comments

 
Two years ago there was 20 inches of snow on the ground.Two years ago I met a lot of wonderful people. Two years ago I had more hope.

Where did the last two years go? Last hunting season feels like yesterday.

I haven’t heard of any change in the U.S. Forest Service’s decision. The leases still expire on January 1st and 90 days after that anything left in the forest becomes the property of the USFS.

I went out to Camp Woodtick with my Dad and Justin a couple weeks ago to clean up around the camp and haul stuff out. It’s a shame how it looks cleaner and better than it has in years because we have to take it out. Most of the decorations my mom made are now gone and my deceased uncle’s fly fishing gear packed up and put in storage. The deer skull that Dad and Justin cleaned and hung on the wall in the film is now sitting on my porch.  The stoves, generator and what’s left will be hauled out after deer season. And then we will close the door and leave. Camp Woodtick will remain until the USFS comes in and removes it themselves.

Surprisingly I didn’t take any photos of the camp. I guess I wasn’t in the mood to. I’ll let the photos and video footage from 2 years ago be my memories. Not photos of any empty shell.

I did take some photos of my brother-in-law Dan’s camp when we went for our annual fall trip in October. We managed to take a group photo with the camera timer.

Picture
Next fall we will start a new tradition. Dan, Justin and my Uncle Lawrence bought a piece of property north of Trout Creek to build a new hunting camp. So far the outhouse is built. I will say this outhouse is 10 times better smelling than the one at Camp Woodtick which is used by porcupines more than humans. This camp won’t be the same or nearly as adventurous as the other two as it has a gravel driveway you can drive a car in. I’m sure it will be utilized more than the last because of the ease of access.

My thoughts are with all the camps I went to and the camps I didn’t have a chance to see this hunting season. I’m sorry the film wasn’t enough to create awareness and make a change to the “policy”. It was the best I could do. As I drove home Friday night I thought about everyone coming up and getting ready for hunting season, for many the last one in these camps. I thought about my Dad and how he still has hope. I stopped on my road to dry the tears in my eyes so I didn’t walk in the house crying and Justin wondering who died.

There are still 138 days. Make the most out of them and this hunting season. Take photos, tell stories, make memories, drink a few beers (if you do), laugh and if you need to shed a few tears, do it and don’t be ashamed.

On a positive note, the weather forecast looks much better than 2014. I leave hunting season to the guys and stay home and take care of the dogs. Justin just built me an awesome new blind on our property. Good luck hunting!

In case you need a little cheering up now, here is a video of bloopers and outtakes from the making of “UP a River.”

Up a River Behind the Scenes-Outtakes from Kristin Ojaniemi on Vimeo.

5 Comments
Diane Moilanen
11/14/2016 08:31:48 am

Very well written.. you did so much for so many by fighting for these camps and sharing these stories and camps with all of us. Thank you, Kristin, and it is indeed a sad deer season

Reply
April Sayles
11/17/2016 08:42:51 am

You did an awesome job capturing what going to camp means to us!

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Todd Fencil
11/18/2016 01:02:33 pm

Diane Moilanen said it well....great job capturing the essence of deer camp and for giving us all a gift we can cherish for the rest of our lives. You gave it your best and we cant thank you enough! I write this having just left 30-06 camp this morning and on my way back to Grand Rapids. No bucks, but many laughs and a few tears and a lot of reminiscing!

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chris tippen
12/9/2016 09:39:45 am

can anyone tell me why are we getting winter 2016 tax bill?/ Thank you..

Reply
best portable generator for home link
8/20/2017 12:36:06 am

Deer season is always love because it helps alot

Reply



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    Kristin Ojaniemi is the producer/director of the documentary "UP A RIVER"

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