Don’t you hate it when you have a camping trip planned and the forecast calls for terrible weather? Have you ever canceled a camping trip because it was too cold or rainy? I don’t have that problem anymore. Last November I decided to go to hunting camp with a bunch of my friends. We made our plans a couple weeks ahead of time so we’d have plenty of time to get our camping equipment ready. As opening day of deer season got closer, I watched the Weather Channel and the prospects didn’t look very promising. The forecast was for a snowy, freezing weekend but we were sure it wouldn’t stop us from hunting down our prey.

The fact is I had canceled too many camping trips in the past and recently bought a four season family camping tent and some thermal sleeping bags to prevent it from happening again. The tent sleeps up to eight so I knew there would be plenty of room for the four of us and our gear. I also knew we’d be warm and dry because the four season camping tent is built to fight off strong wind and heavy snow.

As Friday approached, I packed all my equipment with complete confidence that we’d be going hunting as planned. Not only that but people without the right camping gear would be canceling their trips. Fewer hunters in the woods would mean better hunting for us. Also, you know how it seems like the deer know just when the season starts? Well, maybe because of the lousy weather they wouldn’t hide quite so carefully.

The weekend finally arrived and we packed our camping gear in the car and headed for the woods. Suddenly it dawned on me that we left the picnic backpacks with the sandwiches for our first day in it. We don’t barbecue on Friday because by the time we get to camp and set up our gear, it’s too late to bother cooking.  After the first night though, we take out our barbecue tools and grill up dinner on our portable grill.

Finally we hit the highway. I couldn’t wait to get to the woods and set up our camping equipment before the bad weather started. For me there’s nothing better than a weekend at hunting camp with my best friends and the anticipation of the hunt to come. Stay tuned and I’ll tell you how we did on our winter weather hunting trip.