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It’s almost here. Beginning at 7:05 a.m., eastern time November 15th, the first clap of thunder will be heard as a hunter unloads on a whitetail deer and the start of the 2010 Michigan Firearm Deer Hunting Season statewide.

The season is cherished by so many who live here, that the schools now call the opener “Deer Day” and many close so that youngsters can spend it with family and friends in hopes of taking a buck or doe themselves.

We’ve been readying for weeks (if not months - just ask my wife). The hunting clothes have been washed to remove as much human scent as possible. My son Tony has his bunched in a plastic bag with balsam boughs to mask any remaining unnatural odor.

Wednesday night my son Jake picked up the two huge jars of pickled and peppered eggs and pickled sausage a friend had prepared for us. They sit in waiting to be opened, a sign on them stating not until the 13^th, when they’ll be just right and everyone will be at camp to sample this year’s product. (Oh let the gas begin.)

Our hunters are checking in, listing their estimated time of arrival followed by a request of what staples they need to bring.

Our menu for the weeks to come will feature some home made specialties like Kevin’s wife’s chili which will be especially welcome after an expected cold opener. We’ll whip up some home made venison sausage that gets picked at throughout the week and fry enough eggs to feed an army. (Did I mention anything about gas yet?)

The game delicacies we’ve kept in the freezer will now be brought up to camp as part of the daily planned dinner feast, as wild turkey, walleye and venison from bow season a done up camp style.

My 24 inch iron skillet will be taken from storage inside the oven and placed in position on top of the stove for 14 days of cooking camp style fried potatoes and onions with just about every meal. I believe it actually becomes a heat source as I don’t recall it ever really getting a chance to cool off. (I’m talking about the pan and not the gas here.)

With a full weekend to “enjoy camp” without hunting, I wonder what Sunday will bring. Will we look like battle worn lions, resting and licking our wounds? Or will we remain like little kids, having too much fun to realize how sick we might be if we weren’t having so much fun.

Will all the important last minute details be covered?

Are the pins back in the UP silhouette cribbage board? Do we have a couple fresh decks of cards that aren’t stuck together like the sets from last year? Given that we have the weekend to play, will be need to bum a shower somewhere so as not to ruin the intended effects of the cleaned hunting clothes?

My forecasted answers to those questions are most likely no to all.

We’ll find some small nails or toothpicks to once again mark play at cribbage. The decks of cards already at camp have been stuck together for years and it only takes of couple of hands of poker and a spilled beer to loosen them up. As far as a shower goes, our sense of smell will be pretty much burned out by the opener and we figure if we can’t smell us, then the deer can’t either. (I think it’s that gas affect thing again.)

Keeping up the place won’t present a problem. Through the years we’ve worked out a routine where we know dishes have to be done immediately following the use of the last paper plate or that there is nothing left to lift the food from the plate to our mouths.

We don’t have to wash the spatula or mixing spoon as most of those are used when cooking and the heat sterilizes them so they should be okay. Pans used beyond the big skillet will be lined with foil which will be discarded if and when it falls apart or makes the other food taste odd.

While beer is not usually considered an appropriate breakfast drink, it is permissible to have it with tomato juice, thus making it fitting for the setting.

If we decide to go and visit another camp, it will be important to keep your cleanest pair of dirty jeans so we all look presentable for company.

All these considerations are important to fulfill the annual ritual of a UP deer camp on opening weekend. It is an integral part of the fellowship enjoyed each and every year.

Beyond that, while we hope you have fun, please take the time to be serious when it comes to safety.

Make sure you have smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in your camp. Check your gas lines for seal. Make sure heater vents are clear from obstruction. Most importantly, don’t take chances while hunting and follow the rules of using blaze orange (hat, cap, vest, jacket or raingear) at all times afield and dress appropriately for the weather. Make a plan and be sure your fellow hunters know where you are going and when you plan to return. Also, practice gun safety and ethical behavior. Know your target and do not point a gun at anything you do not intend to shoot. Be sure of what is beyond your target before you shoot.

We want to make sure the statistics that come out after this season are how well you did, even if you don’t get a deer, as long as you can return next year to laugh about it.