JR Hossack

Hunter, Fisherman, Outdoorsman, Author.

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Gold Coast Queensland Australia

Welcome To The Camp Fire Talk

Gathering around the campfire is a tradition that spans thousands of years, originating from the need for warmth and communal planning in ancient tribes. Campfire conversations have instilled a deep connection with nature and our place within it.

Tales, both factual and embellished, are exchanged among old friends, often accompanied by a beverage suited to the location – in Australia, it's typically a beer, while in Africa, it might be the potent Jagarmaster, and in North America, a regal Crown Royal.

The symbiosis of man and fire, combined with the serene beauty of the natural night sky, has the power to evoke profound emotions, even bringing tears to one's eyes.

Hunting Camp Fires We have Shared Across The Planet

My favorite camp fire is reliving old hunting trips back in the 1970's and 80's...

Back in the late 1970s, in a quaint country town named Albury, I encountered a pair of newfound companions at a deer hunters club, and thus began a friendship that would span decades. Together, we seized every opportunity to pursue our passion for hunting, particularly in pursuit of Australia's iconic Sambar deer. Almost every second weekend,

I embarked on the journey into the Victorian high country, a drive that stretched for approximately four and a half hours, sometimes extending to seven hours, depending on our chosen destination. In those youthful days, distance posed no significant obstacle to our adventures.

We blazed trails, both new and old, venturing into remote territories such as the East and West Buffalo Divide Tracks, and the Wonnangatta and Humphrey watersheds. Hunting deer was arduous work, unlike today when their population has proliferated.

Back then, merely catching a glimpse of a deer, let alone a stag, was considered a blessing. Thus, we established a tradition of embarking on a yearly backpacking expedition into the Humphrey River via the Teatree Range, where we would set up camp.

Over the years, our camps evolved, gradually becoming more comfortable. Eventually, we constructed a shelter to shield us from the elements, a simple structure with just a roof, purposely designed not to encroach upon the wilderness. This shelter served as a first aid refuge, ready to assist fellow hunters or fishermen who found themselves in peril during frequent river floods. Remarkably, despite enduring three bushfires and over four decades of time, our shelter still stands today.

Constructed from pre-fabricated materials in my old 4 WD workshop, including trusses and a second-hand tin roof, transported atop the roof rack of my trusty G60 Nissan Patrol soft-top, the journey of building this shelter became a labor of love.

We embarked on approximately eight backpacking excursions before our adventures came to an end, encountering moments of peril and exposure, but also weaving tales of camaraderie and triumph around countless campfires beneath the star-studded skies of the Victorian high country.

These stories have transcended borders, shared with friends around the world, passed down through generations, and cherished as enduring memories of the rugged beauty and indomitable spirit of the Australian wilderness.