Faith & Family:
Three Deer, One Stand, and a Season We'll Never Forget
By Jake Boyer
Some hunting seasons are measured by antlers on the wall or meat in the freezer. Others are measured by moments – quiet ones, loud ones, and the kind that stay with you long after the season ends. This past fall in York County, ours was measured by faith, family, and blessing, all woven together on one special farm and from one unforgettable double tree stand.
In the summer of 2025, my son, Gabe (12), and my girlfriend’s son, Gavin (13), attended archery camp with Raised at Full Draw. Sandy and I volunteered alongside them, watching the boys grow not just in skill, but in responsibility and respect for the outdoors. Both Gabe and Gavin earned their Hunter-Trapper Education certifications, taking an important step toward becoming ethical, knowledgeable hunters. At the time, we had no idea just how meaningful that foundation would become later in the year.
This led us all to a season and a story we’ll remember for the rest of our lives. A huge part of this story belongs to an incredible family in York County – men of faith who live out their values every day. Ed, Zach, and Caleb graciously gave us permission to hunt their farm. That permission wasn’t given lightly. This family believes the farm itself was born out of God’s calling and purpose, not specifically for hunting, but for stewardship, provision, and service. We were welcomed not just as hunters, but as people they trusted, and that made all the difference.
Gavin’s first season started with archery. Over the course of a few hunts, we saw many does and a handful of young bucks, but none had come within range. Then on Nov. 9, from the double tree stand on the farm, Gavin and I watched two small bucks sparring roughly 110 yards away, near some vegetation at the end of the waterway. One of them, a big four-point, eventually broke off and worked its way in, closing the distance to just 25 yards. When the moment was right, Gavin released his arrow and made a perfect double-lung shot. The buck ran back toward where it had been sparring and then suddenly dropped within sight, just before it reached the cover.
There was a big high-five in the stand, then suddenly the other buck began kicking at the fallen deer. Without missing a beat, Gavin said, “Hey, stop kicking my deer!” It was pure joy, the kind you can only earn.
Then during rifle season, Dec. 1 brought another chapter into this story. On that frosty morning while hunting alone, I was seeing only small bucks. Bucks are legal for the boys, but not for adults in Pennsylvania. I spotted three of them, including one with a broken-off rack with only a couple of inches of main beam on its left side and two points on the other. I had promised Gabe we would hunt this stand in the evening, so I decided to sneak out to avoid ruining Gabe’s chances at one of these bucks later that day. As I slipped away, I caught sight of a big eight-point about 200 yards out before it disappeared behind the terrain.
Using the hedgerow with a small drainage ditch as cover, I stalked in quietly. At times I was down in the ditch using the banks to ensure I wasn’t spotted. I eventually crested a knoll to the left and found myself just 35 yards from the buck’s new position. One well-placed shot ended it quickly, and the deer dropped. I was grateful, not just for the harvest, but also for the opportunities the generous landowner had provided.
Later that afternoon, Gabe only had an hour to hunt after viewing a movie with cousins who were visiting from out of town. In his previous three seasons, Gabe had taken three does with a rifle. This past year, he made the decision to pass on doe and wait for a buck. On the walk to the tree stand, about a dozen does came running into the trees along the fence row near us, evidently spooked from a neighboring farm. With no bucks present, Gabe made the decision to continue to the tree stand. We climbed into that very same double stand. It was Gabe’s first time ever hunting from the stand.
As soon as we settled in, with the safety on, I asked him to aim at a patch of vegetation at the end of the waterway to ensure he’d be able to shoot safely and comfortably from his seat. This was the exact spot where Gavin’s buck had fallen a month earlier. As Gabe settled in behind the rifle, I glanced up and saw movement. The buck with the broken-off rack stepped out right where Gabe was aiming. Calmly, he said, “It’s the broken-off-rack buck.” I told him, “It’s up to you, buddy.” Gabe didn’t rush. He made a well-placed shot into the vitals. The buck ran about 20 yards, circled back, and died right next to where Gavin’s deer had fallen weeks earlier. Again, a large high-five was shared.
Gabe then recounted the split-second decision to continue past the does and how the outcome would’ve been different if we hadn’t continued. He said, “Split-second decisions can change everything.” Wisdom beyond his years, in hunting and in life. All of this from the same stand, the same farm, and the same blessing.
When we shared the news, Ed, Zach, and Caleb were genuinely excited for us. They told us how blessed they felt to be able to offer us the opportunity to harvest three beautiful animals and provide food for our family. In that moment, it was clear that this wasn’t just about deer. It was about faith lived out, generosity shared, and families brought together.
Gabe, Gavin, and I were blessed. In a bigger sense, we all were. Faith and family met us in that stand, on that farm, and in that season, and that’s a harvest we’ll carry with us forever.
In the summer of 2025, my son, Gabe (12), and my girlfriend’s son, Gavin (13), attended archery camp with Raised at Full Draw. Sandy and I volunteered alongside them, watching the boys grow not just in skill, but in responsibility and respect for the outdoors. Both Gabe and Gavin earned their Hunter-Trapper Education certifications, taking an important step toward becoming ethical, knowledgeable hunters. At the time, we had no idea just how meaningful that foundation would become later in the year.
This led us all to a season and a story we’ll remember for the rest of our lives. A huge part of this story belongs to an incredible family in York County – men of faith who live out their values every day. Ed, Zach, and Caleb graciously gave us permission to hunt their farm. That permission wasn’t given lightly. This family believes the farm itself was born out of God’s calling and purpose, not specifically for hunting, but for stewardship, provision, and service. We were welcomed not just as hunters, but as people they trusted, and that made all the difference.
Gavin’s first season started with archery. Over the course of a few hunts, we saw many does and a handful of young bucks, but none had come within range. Then on Nov. 9, from the double tree stand on the farm, Gavin and I watched two small bucks sparring roughly 110 yards away, near some vegetation at the end of the waterway. One of them, a big four-point, eventually broke off and worked its way in, closing the distance to just 25 yards. When the moment was right, Gavin released his arrow and made a perfect double-lung shot. The buck ran back toward where it had been sparring and then suddenly dropped within sight, just before it reached the cover.
There was a big high-five in the stand, then suddenly the other buck began kicking at the fallen deer. Without missing a beat, Gavin said, “Hey, stop kicking my deer!” It was pure joy, the kind you can only earn.
Then during rifle season, Dec. 1 brought another chapter into this story. On that frosty morning while hunting alone, I was seeing only small bucks. Bucks are legal for the boys, but not for adults in Pennsylvania. I spotted three of them, including one with a broken-off rack with only a couple of inches of main beam on its left side and two points on the other. I had promised Gabe we would hunt this stand in the evening, so I decided to sneak out to avoid ruining Gabe’s chances at one of these bucks later that day. As I slipped away, I caught sight of a big eight-point about 200 yards out before it disappeared behind the terrain.
Using the hedgerow with a small drainage ditch as cover, I stalked in quietly. At times I was down in the ditch using the banks to ensure I wasn’t spotted. I eventually crested a knoll to the left and found myself just 35 yards from the buck’s new position. One well-placed shot ended it quickly, and the deer dropped. I was grateful, not just for the harvest, but also for the opportunities the generous landowner had provided.
Later that afternoon, Gabe only had an hour to hunt after viewing a movie with cousins who were visiting from out of town. In his previous three seasons, Gabe had taken three does with a rifle. This past year, he made the decision to pass on doe and wait for a buck. On the walk to the tree stand, about a dozen does came running into the trees along the fence row near us, evidently spooked from a neighboring farm. With no bucks present, Gabe made the decision to continue to the tree stand. We climbed into that very same double stand. It was Gabe’s first time ever hunting from the stand.
As soon as we settled in, with the safety on, I asked him to aim at a patch of vegetation at the end of the waterway to ensure he’d be able to shoot safely and comfortably from his seat. This was the exact spot where Gavin’s buck had fallen a month earlier. As Gabe settled in behind the rifle, I glanced up and saw movement. The buck with the broken-off rack stepped out right where Gabe was aiming. Calmly, he said, “It’s the broken-off-rack buck.” I told him, “It’s up to you, buddy.” Gabe didn’t rush. He made a well-placed shot into the vitals. The buck ran about 20 yards, circled back, and died right next to where Gavin’s deer had fallen weeks earlier. Again, a large high-five was shared.
Gabe then recounted the split-second decision to continue past the does and how the outcome would’ve been different if we hadn’t continued. He said, “Split-second decisions can change everything.” Wisdom beyond his years, in hunting and in life. All of this from the same stand, the same farm, and the same blessing.
When we shared the news, Ed, Zach, and Caleb were genuinely excited for us. They told us how blessed they felt to be able to offer us the opportunity to harvest three beautiful animals and provide food for our family. In that moment, it was clear that this wasn’t just about deer. It was about faith lived out, generosity shared, and families brought together.
Gabe, Gavin, and I were blessed. In a bigger sense, we all were. Faith and family met us in that stand, on that farm, and in that season, and that’s a harvest we’ll carry with us forever.
