National Conservation Organization - Whitetails Unlimited

2010 Deer Camp Tour a Success

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Wisconsin Field Director Jamie Merckx makes an announcement at the Packerland Deer Camp in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Shown are a portion of the door prize guns given away at the event.

June 24, 2010

The expanded set of Whitetails Unlimited Deer Camp banquets held during the past year was a rousing success, according to Dave Hawkey, Whitetails Unlimited’s VP of field operations.

“We held 15 Deer Camps last year, in eight states,” said Hawkey, “up from eight events in four states the year before. Overall attendance was about double, and everyone involved, from members, to field directors, to the sponsors all thought it was a great series of events.”

Things went so well that the Deer Camp series of events will expand again next year. “We’re still finalizing dates and locations, so I can’t release an exact schedule yet, but we’ll have a few more events in the next year,” said Hawkey.

“Our Deer Camps are patterned after our Grassroots II banquets,” said Pete Gerl, Whitetails Unlimited’s executive director. “These events are held in great venues, with great food, outstanding prizes, and once-in-a-lifetime hunting and fishing trips. At some Deer Camps one out of every seven people attending won a gun; at some events everyone attending received a door prize. We try to do something special at our Deer Camps.”

WTU Wisconsin Field Director LeRoy Schultz, who now presides over the oldest-running deer camp in the tour, works hard to keep his event fresh. “We had a taxidermy exhibit this year, and we’re going to bring it back next year. Everyone loved it.” They must have, because he had a 50% jump in attendance, with 630 people showing up in February for his event, where 150 guns were given away.

Missouri Field Director Dan Vogt had a brand-new event this year in Columbia, which was also a huge success. “We were able to provide a terrific Columbia shirt as a door prize for everyone attending. It was great to see their faces when they got such a great prize just for showing up.”

Industry support of the Deer Camp Tour was outstanding, resulting in high-quality merchandise, travel destinations, and outdoor-related artwork being available in record numbers. “Companies that have partnered with Whitetails Unlimited are getting direct access to the most passionate deer hunters in the country – WTU members,” said Gerl. “We’ve got custom-engraved firearms, art from the country’s top artists, merchandise that every deer hunter can use, and adventure travel packages that range from African safaris to hog hunting in Texas, to fishing in Minnesota and Wisconsin.”

“The proceeds generated from the Deer Camp Tour are essential for many of our national programs,” said WTU President Jeff Schinkten. “We’re very pleased about this past year’s success, and we’re looking forward to making next year’s Deer Camp Tour even better. The response from our members and our industry sponsors, both regional and national, has been outstanding.”

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