Deer camp dinners

[turkeyfeather]

I started to look thru the archives but that was tedious.    So I figured WTH start a new one. Our boys are finally big enough and we have the time to have our first ever deer camp this year. (instead of just going out for a day at a time) So I am looking for ideas and advice for food for the little rascals. Do you do breakfast or just snacks, is lunch just a sandwich and back to the blind and I could use some new camp dinner ideas. I would like to have a different menu than summer camping.

[pianoman9701]

Have instant oatmeal before the morning hunt - quick and energy-filled. Make use of prepared foods like Eggbeaters, fresh hashbrowns, home fries, and cubed potatoes (in the bags), other fresh potato and macaroni and cheese sides. Corn on the cob, aerosol pancakes, fresh pasta with fresh sauces (alfredo, pesto, marinara). Use a Food Saver to prepare meals in advance. Have plenty of chips, cookies, juice boxes, Jiffy Pop, and smores for the little guys.

[Dhoey07]

The old man and I, have this for dinner at hunting camp ever year

Rice-a-roni, cream of mushroom soup and a lb of burger.  Not sure what you would call it, but it fills ya up and keeps ya warm.

[Bean Counter]

Id rather get out to the field a little bit later with a full belly than be out at first light and starving. I see and kill plenty of deer in the mid day so I don't like going back to camp. I snack on small stuff throughout the day

One thing I did new for elk camp this year was foil dinners. Made them before leaving home so they were already ready after a long day of hunting. Take some HEAVY DUTY aluminum foil and spray it with Pam. Then throw in ground venison, tater tots, peas, sliced celery, carrots, onions, mushrooms, or whatever and add some butter, pepper, and Lowrys salt. Throw it in the fire for 10-15 minutes and dance around like wild Indians. 

Having a pair of long tongs helps retrieve the foil pack.

[Bean Counter]

Oh yeah, you want a nice mature fire with some coals to put the foil packs on. Just putting it in the flames might burn the food

[Buckmark]

Id rather get out to the field a little bit later with a full belly than be out at first light and starving. I see and kill plenty of deer in the mid day so I don't like going back to camp. I snack on small stuff throughout the day

One thing I did new for elk camp this year was foil dinners. Made them before leaving home so they were already ready after a long day of hunting. Take some HEAVY DUTY aluminum foil and spray it with Pam. Then throw in ground venison, tater tots, peas, sliced celery, carrots, onions, mushrooms, or whatever and add some butter, pepper, and Lowrys salt. Throw it in the fire for 10-15 minutes and dance around like wild Indians. 

add spoonfull of creamofwhatever soup to the foil pack also...













Having a pair of long tongs helps retrieve the foil pack.

[Stein]

For some odd reason, my kids both can't camp without egg in the hole for breakfast.  It's real hard, take a slice of bread and use a pop can to press a hole in the middle.  Then, butter both sides and flop it in the pan.  Crack an egg in the middle.  Cook, flip, cook and serve.  Munch on the hole part while it cooks, I hear that is the best part.  I cooked it once and now it pretty much is mandatory.

Hobo dinners work well for dinner as everyone can pick their own ingredients.  Take your favorite meat and vegetables and butter.  Put it in foil, seal it up and cook over the coals or on a bbq.  Pretty hard to mess that one up as well.

My suggestion would be to find something that you only do while at hunting camp and it will pretty much be a hit.

[Seahawk12]

Breakfast is almost a must.
I can't function without coffee so the grill is heating up anyways. Getting something hot in the stomach is going to be well worth the effort. Instant oatmeal, eggs, pancakes, ect. Anything to get the engine warmed up.
I don't come back into camp for lunches as I prefer to be out with eyes in the field. I bring a sandwich and snacks and water.
That just leaves dinners as the big meal.
I love putting beer brats in tin foil with 8-12 ozs of beer. Kids may not like that as much.
Pre-cooed items are also great.
I will also pre-boil a few pounds of chicken legs and put them in a few large zip lock bags with my favorite marinades. Then while in camp I can just heat up the grill and throw some on and get the desired crispiness to the skin. It cuts down on camp cook times and is excellent eats without worrying about any kind of bacteria contamination from raw chicken.
Another item that I will pre-cook is potatoes. I will boil a dozen or so small red potatoes and will use them in a variety of dishes. Mash em up and make SOS. Dice em up and fry them with sausage/brats and onions.
Hope you and the kids have a great trip!!

[washelkhunter]

Dinners this year will be elk steaks, stew, fried chicken, spaghetti, meat and bean casserole, red beans and rice w/kielbasa, grilled tri-tip, tamales, pulled pork tacos and poached salmon. If we come back to camp we usually have camp potatoes, eggs and bacon. We forage for mushrooms and will cook up whatever small game we come across. Most of its already precooked so its just an easy heat and eat. We shove bakers in the wood stove on the way out for the evening hunt and theyre ready to go by dinner time. Love camp food.