**A Morning to Remember: Walker’s First Bow Season**
September 13, 2025, was the day my 7-year-old son, Walker, and I had been counting down to for weeks. It marked the opening of bow season—a tradition deeply rooted in our family, and one we’d been preparing for with relentless excitement. Countless hours were spent practicing with Walker’s TenPoint crossbow, sighting in on a target deer from 35 to 40 yards. He was ready.
Before dawn, we set out at 4:30 AM, arriving at our hunting spot—a patch of private land in Moore County, NC—by 5:45. My hope was to slip into the box blind before the deer began to stir. Just as we pulled in, my phone buzzed. A trail camera notification revealed two does already meandering through the woods. I turned to Walker and whispered, “We’re going to ease down the path to the blind. Okay? Stay close. No flashlights. Be quiet—we don’t want to spook anything.” He nodded, and off we went, navigating the dark path with quiet determination. Walker did amazing. We passed within 30 yards of the does, completely undetected.
Once inside the blind, we settled in, hearts pounding with anticipation. Our target deer, a buck we named “Crazyhorn,” was the one we hoped to see. The trail camera flashed intermittently, signaling movement. Then, at 6:05 AM, an 8-point buck stepped into view. He had first appeared on our cameras four days earlier. We called him “Eyeguard” because of the kicker tine above his eye. He was bigger than Crazyhorn.
Still cloaked in pre-dawn shadows, we watched the camera flash again and again. Suddenly, a loud blow echoed through the woods. Every animal within earshot scattered. My heart sank. I thought the hunt was over. Walker looked up, confused and disappointed. “Why did he do that, Dad?” he asked. I masked my own frustration and replied, “He probably smelled us. But look, we’re not giving up. I’ve seen deer come back after they blow. Just sit tight, buddy.”
It was around 6:30. We waited.
Fifteen, maybe twenty minutes passed. Walker was growing restless. Then, faint footsteps to the right of the blind caught my attention. I focused in and saw the silhouette of a large-bodied deer just 15 yards away. I whispered, “Big deer, but I don’t know if it’s him.” We held our breath as the deer approached the corn pile. The sun peeked through the trees, casting just enough light to reveal his antlers. Another flash from the trail camera lit up the blind. I quickly turned my phone face-down to hide the glow. “It’s him,” I whispered.
Walker’s eyes lit up. “Crazyhorn?” he asked. “No,” I replied, “It’s the big buck from earlier.” As the sun rose higher, the deer became easier to see. Walker whispered, “Oh my God, it is the big one.”
I slowly eased the crossbow out the blind window. Walker tried to position himself for the shot, but we hadn’t accounted for his height. He couldn’t line up the 30-yard dot through the scope. He trembled like a leaf in fall. Trying not to laugh, I smiled and said, “Calm down, son.” Walker grinned, “Daddy, he’s big. I was trying not to laugh.”
I remembered that feeling—the rush of adrenaline, the thrill of the hunt. I leaned in and whispered, “Only way this is going to work is if you stand in your chair to see over the rail.” I helped him up, and he knelt on the seat. “I see it. Second dot?” he asked. Before I could answer, the bow fired.
The arrow hit high and back. I turned to Walker. His lips were trembling. “Smoked him,” he said, grinning from ear to ear. The adrenaline shook him so hard the chair legs rattled like a woodpecker on a tree. We cried out in celebration.
We called in friends to help track the blood trail. It led us to Walker’s trophy buck. He was exultant. I looked at him, pride swelling in my chest. “Your Grandpa Big Ed would be so proud of you,” I said. “I know he’s smiling in heaven, watching me pass on what he once taught me.”
I thank the Lord for that beautiful morning—for the memories made, the tradition honored, and the bond between father and son that grew stronger in the woods of Moore County.
Hunter’s name: Walker Massa
Cameron, NC North Carolina
Moore
09/13/2025
9-point buck
