6 Card Games For Deer Camp and How to Play Them

Deer camp hosts some of the best card games known to man. Here are six card games that everyone at deer camp should know, plus how to play them.

Memories are made at deer camp, there is no denying that one bit. Friendly competition exists within, making deer camp, well deer camp. Friendly competition exists as you arrive with your truck comparing to your buddies, to your equipment, to your hunting success. Aside from all of this, at the end of each day, each man has the opportunity to redeem themselves at the card table.

For me, growing up in the Adirondack Mountains, everyone was at deer camp each weekend. This was a great opportunity to host card games within your own group or invite members of other camps to join you at your card table. Often times we would split the card games between our deer camp and my father's buddy's deer camp. When the cards came out, the change jars were open and the games were on.

Below are six card games we used to play and are well known amongst most deer camps.

1. Pitch

Number of Players: 2-6

Difficult Level: Medium

Items Needed: Deck of Cards, Pen and Paper to keep score

Object of the game: Pitch is a trick-taking game where each player can bid on the value of their hand and plays to take tricks and get points. One player will win the bid and try to take all the points. Holding key cards can get you extra points. The goal of the game is to be the first player to reach the winning score of 7, 11, or 21.

2. Spit

Number of Players: 2

Difficulty Level: Easy

Items Needed: Deck of Cards

Object of the game: Be the first to rid your cards from your stock pile to the spit pile.

3. Euchre

Number of Players: 4 Players (Two Teams of 2)

Difficulty Level: Medium to High

Items Needed: Deck of Cards striped to make 32 cards-(A, K, Q, J, 10, 9, 8, 7), 28 cards (7's omitted), 24 cards (8's & 7's omitted)

Object of the game: Win at least three tricks. If the team that fixed the trump fails to get three tricks, they are "euchred". Winning all five tricks is called a "march."

4. Spoons

Number of Players: 3-10

Difficulty Level: Easy

Items Needed: Full Deck of Cards, Spoons (or any collectively similar item)

Object of the game: Be the first to get four of a kind or grab a spoon when someone else gets four of a kind. Be the last man standing overall. (Rules similar to H-O-R-S-E or P-I-G)

5. Bluff (aka Bull$#!t, Hogwash, BS)

Number of Players: 4+

Difficulty Level: Easy

Items Needed: Full Deck of Cards

Object of the game: Be the first to rid all of your cards without being caught bluffing.

6. Golf (aka Knock)

Number of Players: 2+ Players

Difficulty Level: Easy (Great game to play with younger kids as well)

Items Needed: Deck of Cards

Object of the game: Have the lowest score after 9 or 18 hands (much like a round of golf).

There's no denying a good card game can kill some time. Card games at deer camp is more than just that. Deer camp card games create bonding opportunities and fun moments that help pass time. Poker is always a great game to play but we wanted to step outside your comfort zone and introduce you to some different card games. Win or lose at the card table, nothing beats being at deer camp with your closest of friends and family.

Like what you see here? You can read more articles by Dustin Prievo here. Follow him and his hunting team, Top Pin Outdoors, on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

NEXT: GAME FACES: A STORY OF DEER HUNTING AND POKER