For Michiganders, Nov. 15 is more than just another date on the calendar. It’s a sacred holiday by hunters across the state. The excitement and anticipation start building weeks in advance, as we plan our time off, pack up our gear (camo, lever-action rifles, and an original Stanley thermos, not that teenybopper crap), and finalize our deer camp setups.
Unlike lesser holidays like Columbus Day, which pass with closed post offices and little else, the opening day of gun season for deer is celebrated through action. Think Christmas excitement with the gunpowder of the Fourth of July and a touch of Easter hide-and-seek.
At the heart of this day is family tradition. You’ll see anyone from grandpas to young kids head out together. Deer camp, with its dank wooden cabins, late-night card games, cigar smoke, and stories swapped around the campfire, is as much a part of it as the hunt itself.
It’s hard to pinpoint what I look forward to most as I head up north with a home-brewed pot of chili for the guys. There’s a shared bond in camp, as we clink mugs of steaming hot coffee, talk last-minute strategy, and anticipate what the day might hold.
Most years, in the early morning hours of Nov. 15, the woods come alive with the sound of crunching frost and the sight of blaze orange. Hunters settle into their tree stands and ground blinds, sipping bad coffee and waiting patiently for a deer to step out. The anticipation is palpable. Most years, I have a hard time sitting still as the excitement grows.
This glorious day is about more than just the hunt. It’s a day-long ceremony that brings entire communities together. In small towns across Michigan, local businesses thrive as hunters stock up on last-minute supplies and ammo. Store fronts post signs that say, “Good luck hunters!” Gas stations and diners are packed before dawn, as people grab a quick bite, a pack of smokes, and one last cup of coffee before heading into the woods.
Whether you come home with a deer or not, the memories and stories created on this most glorious of days are what make it truly special. As the sun rises on another Nov. 15, let’s raise a glass to the hunt, to the traditions that bind us together year after year, and to the bucks we’re chasing. This is a day worth protecting and celebrating now and for generations to come.
James Zandstra is an experienced outdoorsman with a passion for the Mitten State. Follow his work on X @TheFairChase1.
