Mark Smith - Jacksonville

Mark and his 14-year-old son, Jake, booked their first-ever mule deer hunt with us. They wanted the full wilderness experience, from setting up camp to stalking game deep in the mountains. But there was one challenge—Jake had never shot anything beyond a paper target.

For two days, we worked on his technique, coaching him on shot placement and patience. On the third morning, we spotted a mature buck bedded down at 250 yards. Mark wanted Jake to take the shot. With steady hands and a deep breath, Jake squeezed the trigger—his first ever harvest. The look on his face, a mix of pride and excitement, was something his father said he’d never forget. Neither will we.