John is a quiet, introspective 13-year-old boy who lives on a Minnesota farm with his grandparents after his parents died in a plane crash. He usually enjoys farm chores and hunting, finding peace in the routine, but his grandfather's terminal illness disrupts his sense of normalcy. Struggling to process his grief and the impending loss of his father figure, John heads into the woods for deer-hunting season alone, beginning a profound emotional journey.

Clay Borne is John's grandfather and primary father figure, who has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Despite his illness, he maintains clear eyes and steady hands, and attempts to keep a sense of normalcy on the farm. He is practical and accepting of his fate, sometimes growing frustrated when his family's grief prevents him from enjoying his remaining time.

The Doe is a wild deer in the Minnesota woods that exhibits unusual behavior, often watching rather than fleeing from humans. She becomes the focal point of John's solitary hunting trip. As John tracks her through the snow, she serves as a physical reflection of his emotional state and his attempts to understand life, vulnerability, and mortality.

John's grandmother helps run the family farm in Minnesota and is deeply attuned to her grandson's needs. She is visibly distressed by her husband's terminal cancer diagnosis, openly expressing the emotional devastation that the rest of the family tries to internalize. Despite her grief, she remains a steady caretaker, always having food ready for John.