The first “real” book I remember reading was Duncan Dobie’s, “Georgia’s Greatest Whitetails.” It was my selection for a seventh grade book report. It was 440 pages and told the hunting stories of Georgia's biggest bucks. I couldn’t put it down.
The hunting stories shared on Bowsite have continued to feed that passion. As I read those stories, the scenes described unfold in my mind. The anticipation building as each post provided more details of the story. The excitement, absolutely real!
Now, I’ve got a story I want to share. It’s a story about a boy and his bow. That boy is my son, Walker. Who, while always my boy, is now an incredible young man. The bow a generous gift from a fellow “Bowsiter” and others from this community.
I hope this story will bring you as much excitement as does me to share it!
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At that time we hunted a little more than a hour from the house. That left us a small window of opportunity to hunt. But not long after we climbed into the stand, Walker told me he saw a deer. He took aim and squeezed the trigger. The deer fell and we celebrated! That memory is still fresh in my mind.
It wouldn’t be long though until he traded the gun for a bow.
Over the years, Walker joined me on some bow hunts. Even when he didn’t, he was always ready to join on a blood trail when there was one.
It wasn’t surprising that Walker soon wanted to try his hand at shooting a bow. About his seventh grade year we picked up his first real bow. A Bear Archery RTH Cruiser that offered a lot of versatility. After a year of practice he was on target and pulling good poundage.
Thanks to some very generous friends at our church, we’re fortunate to hunt some great land in Kentucky. Walker skipped some school days during 8th grade and joined me for his first time bow hunting. On the third day of that hunt, I was looking over his right shoulder as he harvested his first bow buck, and second deer ever! A perfect 20 yard heart shot.
We affectionally call it the “up-chuck” buck. About 30 minutes before the buck came in, Walker stood up in his stand below me, looked up and said, “I don’t feel real good.” He then proceeded to lean over and blow chunks and blue Powerade from his stand. When he finished he looked up again and said, “I feel better now.” He said he wanted to continue hunting, and we’re both glad he did!
Good luck, Robb
Once he got into high school Walker wasn’t able to make as many hunting drips due to other obligations. We had few sits but he was never able to connect on another deer with his bow.
He would graduate high school with honors and rather than going to college he chose to begin a career with our local electrical co-op training to be a lineman. Something he’d been talking about for a few years.
It was at this same time he learned how awesome the Bowsite community is!
Walker was still shooting his Bear Cruizer and although sufficient it was still more on the kiddie side. I had hoped to be able to do something for him for his graduation but that didn’t work out. I took a chance and sent an email to Jasper, asking him to consider Walker for the give-a-away!
And he did! Jasper chose Walker to give his Bear Kuma 30 to. It was a complete setup: sight, quiver, stabilizer, release, arrows, and a target.
Walker and I had the opportunity to meet Jasper when picking up some of the items. He’s a great guy and wonderful ambassador for the sport. We enjoyed his company, admired his trophy room, and shared some hunting stories.
Little did we know, we’d soon have another story to tell!
By the time hunting season rolled around, Walker had accrued enough PTO to head to Kentucky with me and our good friends for a few days. He’d been eager to get back and was stoked about going with his new equipment.
When we arrived we hurried to setup our stands in some familiar areas. This was the first time Walker would be on a separate area of the farm from me and bow hunting solo.
I had some decent action but no shots were presented. Walker hadn’t seen as much but told me he had done a little scouting and wanted to setup another stand. He’d certainly found some great sign. Before I left we looked it over and found a tree he could hang our Ol’ Man climbing stand on and hunt from.
Later than evening I loaded up and left for home, hoping Walker would get an opportunity.
When we arrived we hurried to setup our stands in some familiar areas. This was the first time Walker would be on a separate area of the farm from me and bow hunting solo.
I had some decent action but no shots were presented. Walker hadn’t seen as much but told me he had done a little scouting and wanted to setup another stand. He’d certainly found some great sign. Before I left we looked it over and found a tree he could hang our Ol’ Man climbing stand on and hunt from.
Later than evening I loaded up and left for home, hoping Walker would get an opportunity.
When I answered the call, it was all I could do to make out the image and his voice. Both were shaking like crazy! He was finally able to tell me had just shot a great buck out of the climbing stand he hung.
Thankfully, he didn’t spook and instead altered his course by looping back trying to get downwind. He stopped broadside in a clear lane at 42 yards. Walker drew his new bow and let it fly. It was a perfect shot!
He’s putting this buck on the wall to always remember his first solo bow hunting success. The memories will live on in my mind forever too. I hope and pray we’ll have more but this one is special. He’s stepped from boyhood into manhood… and he’s a bow hunter!
Thank you to the Bowsite community. I’m grateful for Jasper and the others on here investing in the next generation of bowhunters.
This story of a boy and his bow is Walker’s, mine, and ours collectively as a community of hunters.
Thanks for your part and letting me share it!
Blessings!
Congratulations to you on raising a fine young man. Thanks for sharing this awesome story and pics with us.
Very cool of Jasper to do the giveaway. Great stuff all the way around!
The best of Bowsite.
Pass it on and you get it back 10 fold in friendship.
Congratulations to Walker on the hunt, you for raising him up right, and Jasper for the gift!
Definitely some great people on the Bowsite! It’s good to be part of the tribe!
I’ll second what t-Roy said as it echos the thoughts I was having as I read everything!
Huge congrats to Walker on his buck and to you for raising such a great young man.
“I feel better now.” LMAO
Thanks for posting. Thanks to Jasper for the generosity that helped make it happen.
You are a good man Jasper!!!
Congratulations on a great buck Walker and well done dad!!!!!!
