Deer season is officially closed, and we’ve got a lot to be thankful for.
We kicked off the season with a special PLM (Private Land Management) tag generously donated by the California Deer Association’s Intermountain Chapter, along with the help of several others who made this opportunity possible.
It didn’t take long for this young man to fill his tag with a buck of a lifetime! Not only was it an incredible deer, but it was his very first buck. That’s going to be a tough one to beat!
We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make this hunt happen. Opportunities like this mean so much more than a successful hunt. They’re an investment in a young man’s life, and we don’t take that lightly.
Our 3rd Annual Deer Camp
Three years ago, we walked our first student through hunter safety and helped him get his first deer. That same year, we held our first deer camp with just two junior hunters.
Fast forward to this fall, and our 3rd Annual Deer Camp brought 20 people together! Five hunters had deer tags, and three had bear tags.
What a weekend! There were stories and laughs, good food, devotions around the fire, and plenty of time spent building relationships and making new memories.
Four of the five boys had opportunities to take a shot, and two came away successful. But there was still plenty to take home from the weekend even for those who didn't fill a tag. We capped off the final weekend of deer season with one more successful hunt!
From Field to Table
You've heard us say it before: hunting isn't just about the kill. For us, it's also about helping families put food on the table and teaching young men skills they can use for the rest of their lives.
This fall, we got to use the ranch for something new. We brought boys and their families out to learn how to clean and butcher their own deer. It was a true field-to-table experience, and we're excited about what this opens up for the future.
Our hope is for the ranch to become a resource for families throughout our community—not just a place for camps and retreats, but a place where we can regularly spend time together, learn practical skills, and build relationships.
Right now, there isn't a butcher in our community-- we've been borrowing a freezer (thank you, Tony!) and making hour-long round trip to get everything taken care of. Our goal is to install a freezer and skinning hoist right at the ranch so we can do more of this work on-site.
These may seem like simple things, but having the right resources will make a big difference. It will allow us to teach more kids and families how to process their own harvest, provide for their families, and carry those skills forward.
If you'd like to partner with us to help make this happen, we'd love to hear from you!
Next Stop: Waterfowl Season!
With deer season behind us, we're already gearing up for waterfowl season. We're looking forward to more early mornings, time in the blind, and opportunities to invest in these young men.
As always, thank you for being part of Father’s Tracks. Whether you've donated, volunteered, helped make a hunt possible, or simply encouraged us along the way, we are so grateful. None of this happens without people who believe in what we're doing and are willing to invest in the next generation.
We're excited about what lies ahead!
With gratitude,
-The Father’s Tracks Team