9-Year-Old Kentucky Hunter’s Big Crossbow Buck

Kentucky hunter Easton Holt is 9 years old and has been hunting since age 5, when Santa left him a TenPoint crossbow at Christmas time. Over the past four deer seasons, he’s taken several deer.

Easton Holt has been crossbow hunting for deer since he was 5 years old. Images by Anthony Holt

This season, a pair of bucks captured Easton’s and his dad, Anthony’s, attention. A taxidermist by trade, Anthony knows a big deer when he sees one, and these fit the bill. He set his sights on the larger buck, a big nine-pointer. He took that deer on Kentucky’s archery opener, and the second buck began showing up on camera during daylight not long after. Anthony and Easton had been watching this buck on their trail cameras for a couple of seasons now, and Easton wanted to try to take him.

Anthony said the forecasted east wind was perfect for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday following opening weekend. He had a ladder stand positioned for Easton with a lock-on stand beside it so they could hunt together. The stands were next to a big cedar thicket, which was the buck’s bedding area.

On Monday, the buck stepped out with 10 minutes of shooting light remaining. Easton watched and waited for a good shot, but the buck didn’t offer one, eventually walking away into the growing darkness. Anthony called his wife to drive in and push the buck out of the area, allowing them to climb down and exit the location with minimal impact.

After dad Anthony took his target buck earlier in the season, young Easton set his sights on his running buddy.

Undeterred, Easton was back at it the following afternoon. The buck didn’t show up, but it appeared on the trail cameras multiple times that night.

“On Wednesday morning, I told Easton that there was a really good chance the buck would show before dark again that evening,” Anthony said.

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Early that afternoon, the pair climbed back into the stand. As the evening progressed and darkness approached, the two hunters eagerly waited for the buck to appear. Suddenly, Easton whispered, “Dad, there he is.” Even though the stands were right beside each other, the buck had stepped out where only Easton could see it, and it was already almost within range. Anthony whispered to his son to get ready.

“He had to watch him for eight or nine minutes waiting for a good shot,” Anthony said. “He wouldn’t stand still. Other bucks were coming in by that point, and the big buck kept chasing them away.”

Easton remained patient and waited for a good shot. “I was getting pretty nervous at that point,” young Easton laughed.

Easton had to watch the buck for several minutes before finally getting a good shot.

Anthony said that “nervous” doesn’t quite describe his son’s demeanor as the encounter unfolded.

“To get the shot, Easton had to stand up and turn back to look behind the tree,” he explained. “He had one foot on the platform and his knee on the seat. When I looked over, I saw his foot shaking a hundred miles an hour. I whispered, ‘Bud, you gotta calm down,’” he said.

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After what seemed like an eternity, the buck lifted its head, almost as if it had been spooked by something, but it wasn’t looking at the waiting hunters. As the animal started walking away, Anthony bleated to stop it and whispered for Easton to take the 25-yard shot.

The hit was perfect, and the giant buck crashed into the thicket, disappearing from their view. Both hunters thought they heard the deer crash, but other deer were running, too, so they couldn’t be sure.

“After the shot, Easton immediately asked if he could take off his safety harness and climb down,” Anthony said. “I told him, ‘Buddy, you are shaking way too much to try to climb down right now. Let’s just sit here a bit.’”

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Eventually, they climbed down and went to the spot of the shot. Easton found the first blood, and Anthony pointed his flashlight down the path the buck had taken. The blood was heavy on both sides of the trail.

“Easton asked me, ‘Dad, do we have to wait?’ I told him, ‘Nah, it looks good. Let’s go get your buck,’” Anthony said.

Easton’s buck had 11 points and taped out at 145 inches. It’s his largest deer to date.

Once they reached the buck, Easton was finally able to get his hands on the antlers. The rack features long tines and 11 scorable points, taping out right around 145 inches. His Christmas gift served him well once again, this time, on his largest buck to date.

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