Buck Fever: The Deer Hunting Tradition in Pennsylvania

Having hunted deer for many years in Pa. not 10 miles from the site of this story, I found the late author's account to be completely a completely accurate of just what the "deer camp" experience is. From the excess of food brought to camp, the re-telling of the stories of past hunts to the darker side of camp life, the books rings true. My copy has been read and re-read each fall as the thoughts of camp begin to seep into my consciousness. A great read.

This slender book captures the essence of the annual trek north to deer camp - the rush to pack, convenience stores, cabins, car breakdowns, and finally the silent woods where time stands still. In camp, hunters share their experiences by the fire, twist the antenna to bring in the Steelers game on an old black and white tv. Although largely ignored by the rest of the world, a million deer hunters and 200 years of history surely qualify this ritual as an essential part of American culture and tradition. Hunting is like a family reunion where you can chose your relatives. When someone is too old to come out, it is as if they've died. The trophies on the cabin walls are reminders of the hunter's mortality, not the deer's, because the deer remains long after the hunter's last visit. Hunters don't fear death, they fear the empty interval that will come after their last hunt. Even natives of this area will be fascinated by the history and biology described here. This book could have spent a thousand pages explaining the importance of days in the woods watching, silent, meditating, being pelted by the weather and seeing the sun glide across the sky. But hunters already know these things. Many nonhunters will not "get it," but for hunters this book's simple description of everyday life in camp is powerfully evocative.

What a delightful book for any deer hunter, but particularly for those who, like me have hunted in PA all their lives. I gave it to every member of our camp a few years back. The chapters alternate between a natural history of deer in PA and the story of one camp outside of Pttsbrg. I reccomend it very, very highly.

Buck Fever is a well written book about a local man and his memories of years of hunting in Penn's Woods. The book is easy to relate to, and stirs the memories of past hunting experiences. Living in the Pittsburgh area, I am able to enjoy his work for the Post-Gazette, but the book is unparalled by any of his other work. I highly recommend that you read the book, espically if you travel from the Pittsburgh area to hunt every fall.