Since humans first walked the Earth, they gathered around campfires.
To feast on fresh-killed meat brought back to camp by hunters, interact socially, and ward off the darkness. The flames off logs are hypnotic and magical, as they dance into the cold night air. For ancient tribes, alone in a primitive world, the red hot embers radiated a feeling of warmth and security.
To sit around a campfire and stare into the flames is to go back in time, to share a moment with ancestors of long ago, at the very roots of human civilization.
In our busy modern world, gathering around a campfire is a stress-reliever — a primal act that can have a calming effect. There’s no better way to end an otherwise hectic day than socializing outdoors around a campfire with family or friends.
For many deer hunters, a ceremonial campfire the night before opening day of the season, is annual event. Landowners who hunt on their own property often establish permanent fire pits at the center of their deer camp.
A campfire pit can be as basic or involved as you want it to be. It’s a matter of personal choice — how much you want to spend and where the campfire is going to be located.
If you live in a rural area, you can probably have a campfire anywhere you want, but if you are close to town in a subdivision, check with your homeowner’s association to determine if fire pits are allowed. If you live within the city limits of a town, check local ordinances to see if open fires and fire pits are permitted.
We’re not going to discuss “faux campfires,” powered by LP or natural gas that some homeowners have installed on their luxury patios or outdoor kitchens. We’re talking about real wood fires built from maple, ash, oak, hickory and other hardwood logs.
Let’s go over some points to consider about fire pit placement and construction:
* Choose a safe location for your fire pit. Locate the pit on level ground at least 25 feet away from your house, garage or shed. Avoid low hanging tree limbs or any nearby combustible materials such as wood piles or compost bins.
If you are in a subdivision or in town, don’t place your fire pit close to any property lines. Think about your neighbors. Are prevailing winds going to blow smoke into the back of your neighbor’s house or backyard. Practice over-the-fence diplomacy.
Make sure there’s enough room around the fire pit for chairs or benches. The side yard, between the house and the garage is a good choice because you’ll have lights on these buildings if you need see better. You might need some light when preparing smores.
* Prepare the site for the fire pit. If you are building a fire pit in your yard, you will need a solid, even base. First, mark the center of the fire pit by hammering in a stake, then tie a length of string to the stake that equals half of your fire pit diameter. Walk in a circle around the stake, marking the diameter of your fire pit. Use marking paint or hammer in a circle of stakes.
The fire ring should be about 35 to 45 inches in diameter. Next, with a shovel, remove the sod within the circle. Dig out the dirt to a depth of 6 to 12 inches, depending on how deep you want the pit to be. Fill in the base with about 4 to 6 inches of gravel, or fire proof bricks, for drainage.
* A free-standing metal fire pit is a popular option. Inexpensive, easy to maintain (just dump out the ashes), and relatively durable, these metal fire will last several seasons.
The fire is off the ground so it draws well for a quick start up.
Shop at Lowe’s to find several model of free-standing metal fire pits, including the 35-inch Garden Treasures, which is 22 inches high, made of steel construction with black high temperature paint, and includes a spark screen and poker for about $80.
* A metal fire ring is another excellent choice. Available with decorative cutouts, of moon and stars, or wildlife scenes, these handy fire rings can stand alone, or be inserted into a stone fire pit.
They are portable, making them ideal for taking to deer camp. There’s a big selection on eBay, and many items offer free shipping. Visit this site and search for metal campfire rings.
* Build a stone fire pit. Stone fire pits are the best option for a permanent site, and are ideal for patios.
Be prepared to spend a bunch of money for kits, which are available from many sources, local and online, for $300 and up. A second option is to do-it-yourself. Study up on construction and obtain stone and other masonry materials locally.
Stone fire pit kits sometimes include metal inserts with grates for grilling steaks, burgers, chicken or fish over the open fire. Woodland Direct, of Shelby Township, Michigan, offers free shipping with online sales over $99. Visit their website. Telephone customer service at 1-877-919-1904.
Some safety considerations:
To build a campfire that will start quickly, make a bed of wadded up paper, wood shavings, and small dry twigs, inside a circle of logs. Add larger sticks as the fire builds in strength.
It’s okay to put a couple of squirts of charcoal lighter fluid on your prepared bed of sticks and paper before lighting, but never start a campfire with gasoline. Always extinguish a fire or hot embers before turning in for the night.
Campfires are warm and comforting. It’s the perfect way to end to a beautiful Indian Summer Day.
Art Lander Jr. is outdoors editor for KyForward. He is a native Kentuckian, a graduate of Western Kentucky University and a life-long hunter, angler, gardener and nature enthusiast. He has worked as a newspaper columnist, magazine journalist and author and is a former staff writer for Kentucky Afield Magazine, editor of the annual Kentucky Hunting & Trapping Guide and Kentucky Spring Hunting Guide, and co-writer of the Kentucky Afield Outdoors newspaper column.