Three generations of hunters gather for deer camp at 'The Farm'

BEAR RIVER, MINN. - From afar, the little white house doesn't look like a traditional northern Minnesota deer camp.

But step inside and everything from the knotty-pine walls, the mounted deer heads, the chandelier made from antlers — and the aroma of venison slow-cooking in the oven — tells you this is a unique deer camp. And more.

This picturesque place, including a small bunkhouse and heated two-seat outhouse, is affectionately called "The Farm," and it is rich in history and lore. Three generations, age 15 to 85, gathered here last weekend for Minnesota's deer opener, continuing a treasured tradition on land homesteaded by Elmer and Emma Olson in the early 1900s.

Now their descendants call it home.

"It's not your typical underwear-hanging-from-the-rafters deer shack,'' said Darrold Persson, 61, of Hibbing, a grandson who now owns the getaway nestled in the North Woods near Bear River. "It's a preserved homestead. I'm so fortunate to walk the same ground that my grandparents did, where my mom grew up. This place is a big part of me.''

"If they outlawed deer season, we'd still come. Deer season is a way to bond across generations and spend quality time together. Non-hunters don't understand, but it's not about the venison, it's the stories we have, and the pictures, the tradition.''

At 85, Persson's dad, Don, of Hibbing is the patriarch of the place. He grew up just down the road and has known Myrna Olson, daughter of Elmer and Emma, since they were kids. They recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.

What makes it special?

"The scenery. The quiet. The memories,'' he said. One of his four sons, Denny, died of a heart attack at age 55 in 2005, and some of his ashes are buried there.

Another son, Dale, 51, left northern Minnesota for the Twin Cities for 25 years, but now lives near Pengilly, not far from The Farm.

"I can't wait to get here, and I don't like leaving,'' he said. "For me it's the camaraderie, getting together with family, telling stories, playing cards. There's a lot of laughter. Getting a deer is just a bonus.''

At 18, Taylor Persson of Hibbing is one of the camp's youngest hunters.

With his grandfather now 85 years old, and his uncle Darrold 61, he knows it's up to him and the other younger hunters to keep The Farm's long deer camp tradition.

"It will be kept,'' Taylor vowed.

The place has always been called The Farm because Elmer and Emma raised a few animals and had a large garden on the 160 acres they homesteaded. All of the food raised was simply to survive. "It wasn't a commercial farm,'' Darrold said.

After Elmer Olson died in 1962, Don and Myrna Persson became caretakers.

A well and septic system were added in 1982; a bunkhouse in 1991, a front porch — the main gathering place now — in 1998.

Besides its tidy white outside appearance, other things set The Farm apart from more typical northern Minnesota deer-hunting lodges.

"We're probably one of the few camps with a defibrillator,'' said Darrold. "We had the fire department come and give us first-aid training, too. Old guys like me want the young guys to know how to do that.''

Also the camp has its own website (www.perssonfarm.com). And when deer aren't in season, it serves broader purposes.

"It's a deer camp from October through November, but the rest of the season it's a family gathering place,'' Darrold said.

Then there are the poems, written by Darrold, hanging on the wall. In one about his grandparents, he wrote:

Continue to flourish — continue to grow.

Parents and children making memories to share

A heritage preserved — ever a family affair.''

As a storm dumped 3 inches of wet snow last Friday, 12 family members and friends gathered at The Farm. Though some didn't get to bed until 1:30 a.m., they all got up around 5 Saturday morning, ate a quick breakfast, climbed into blaze-orange clothing and hiked to their stands.

Darrold spotted fresh deer tracks on his trail, and climbed into his enclosed, elevated stand shortly after 6 a.m., then watched the woods slowly become visible. Light snow fell.

A shot rang through the woods at 7:10, a second at 7:15 and a third, more distant, at 7:30. Then around 8:30 came a single shot nearby.

"The great thing about deer hunting is it only takes one deer to make a season,'' Darrold said.

True words.

As everyone gathered for lunch back at camp, Darrold's son, Dustin, 33, of Oakdale, showed off a big 8-point, 215-pound field dressed buck he bagged.

"A doe walked into my shooting lane at 7:45,'' he said. He had an antlerless permit, but didn't have a clear shot. Even if he had, he wouldn't have taken it this early in the season, in hopes of getting a buck. But 40 minutes later, he got what he was looking for. A big buck briefly stepped into the open, then disappeared into the thick woods.

"That's the biggest deer we've ever shot!'' Darrold said, giving his son a hug.

Another memory at The Farm.