Badger Deer Camp - Badger Sportsman Magazine

hunting. Hopefully lots of hunting. This is the reason for
it. To gather with your friends and family in the pursuit
of that ONE deer, the BIG one, the deer that legends
are made of. But of course, some years the pickin’s aren’t
so good. The stories told of the ONE that got away will
encourage camp attendees to venture out year after year
for the same goal.
Sandstone Camp began in the late ‘60s early ‘70s. No
one remembers the exact date as guys just seemed to
come and go at will, never any rhyme or reason as to who
would show up at any given deer camp.
Original members of Sandstone Camp were Stuart
Swanson, Andy Neumann, Bill Neumann (Andy’s
father), Jerry Verhaagh, Marshall Kostuch, Tom Melezen,
Peter Swanson (Stuart’s son), Roger Hardy (Stuart’s sonin-law),
Mark Melicke (Stuart’s son-in-law), John Maves
and Carl Maves.
Over the couch in the living room at deer camp resides
a blown up photo of my cousin, Connie Maves. Forever
known as the Potato Princess, daughter of the Potato
Queen, my Aunt Cassie Maves and Uncle John. The
original photo was held by the members who were forever
teasing Connie that they would have it blown up and
displayed. One year they made good on their promise and
had the couch sized poster framed and a plaque attached
proclaiming Connie’s title. She became the groups living
mascot and sometime cook. Loved by all and held in
dearest regard as a member of the deer camp “family”. It
is the camaraderie of the members and the bonding that
makes deer camps so special. Everything in good fun with
some hunting thrown in.
Every year before deer camp begins, the “Windsock
Mascot” is hung outside the door. The windsock, a recreation
of a deer hunter,
was from a Leinenkugel
beer display at the
local Piggly Wiggly.
On a beer run, Stuart
Swanson along with his
wife and her girlfriend
decided that it needed
to come back to camp
with them. Stuart’s
wife’s girlfriend was
Stuart Swanson, dressed
to “kill” and showing off his
reward.
DEER CAMP
The Potato Princess, in her regalia,
with sunglasses to avoid being recognized.
quite adamant, offered a few dollars and off they went
with the prize in hand.
Stuart, a 40+ years attendee, first met Marshall Kostuch
in school. Marshall, known as the “Wabeno Flash”
introduced Stuart to deer camp in the late 60’s. He’s been
going ever since.
Tom Melezen, known
affectionately as “Bananas”,
was often the brunt of
practical jokes. One year,
the other fellows found a
dead deer in the woods.
Long dead deer. They told
Tom that they had gotten a
deer but were unable to find
it. Tom headed out in the
direction they told him that
he could probably find the
deer. Stomping around in
the wooded area, Tom yelled
out, “I found it!” The other
guys rushed out to see and had a good laugh at Tom’s
expense for finding the bloated, dead deer.
Tom also talked about the deer that got by him because
it was blinded by the brass shell casings from all the shots
taken trying to bag it. Tom had the last laugh anyway. He
bagged a 19-1/2” spread deer. He said it had horns longer
than his gun. It’s true, bigger is better.
Kate Erbach does production and layout for Badger
Sportsman. She misses the farm.
NOVEMBER 2011 ❘ Badger Sportsman ❘ badgersportsman.com ❘ 25