A 10-Year-Old's Unforgettable Ravin Experience

Successfully hunting a buck is a milestone every young hunter dreams of. Read how one 10-year-old used a Ravin R20 to make an unforgettable shot, harvesting his first archery buck with the guidance of a trusted mentor.

Many “firsts” in the hunting world become life long memories for all of us. In this installment of Ravin’s Success Stories, we dive into an amazing story of Levi’s first archery buck alongside the guidance of Ken, a close family friend eager to mentor this young and passionate hunter in the whitetail woods. Through persistence in the blind, confidence behind his R20, and his surrounding support, Levi was determined to find success. 

Can you tell us about why you started mentoring Levi?

Hunting has been a passion of mine, and over the years, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of passing on knowledge, ethics, and traditions to the next generation. When Levi’s parents came to me and asked if I’d take him out on my property, I was thrilled to be the one to guide him to his first archery buck. He had been eagerly awaiting this trip for quite some time and even passed up on a few smaller bucks in hopes of finding a larger one that we knew was on my family's property. 

 Equipped with my Ravin R20 crossbow, Levi was set up for success, but I wanted to ensure he also had the right guidance—helping him not just with the technical aspects of a crossbow hunt, but also with the true reasons behind hunting whitetail deer. My goal was to help him create a memory that would last a lifetime, one that wasn’t just about taking a buck but about the experience, the lessons, and the opportunity to share a memory together. 

Tell us about your experience during this hunt:

It was a crisp autumn morning in Wisconsin. The anticipation of this hunt was high and we couldn’t wait to get out into the woods. We knew there were a few bucks that would be perfect for Levi’’s first archery buck, but it would take all of our patience and focus to successfully harvest one. We made our way to the stand and prepared for what was to come next.

We set up a Boss Buck decoy at 30 yards in the field, waiting patiently for the action to unfold. At 4:05 PM, we spotted a nice buck chasing three does about 200 yards away. Suddenly, the does turned and ran straight toward the decoy, with the buck locked in and following closely. Within moments, he was laser-focused on the decoy, now just 30 yards from our ground blind.

 As the buck approached steadily, Levi got the crossbow ready. With his excitement kicking in, I gave him tips and guidance to relax and focus, allowing him to wait patiently for the perfect shot. The buck circled the decoy twice, carefully inspecting it. On the third pass, as the buck moved behind the decoy, Levi had his moment. I whispered some last second tips and gave him the go-ahead as he squeezed the trigger—delivering an absolutely perfect shot.

The Ravin lighted nock zipped through the air, passing cleanly through the vitals. The 8-pointer bolted, making it just 60 yards to the edge of the field before wobbling and collapsing.

Levi’s face lit up with pride and joy! We worked our way out of the ground blind and walked over to retrieve the buck —a moment of pure triumph that marked the beginning of a lifetime of hunting adventures. The Ravin crossbow proved to be the perfect tool for his first successful hunt, creating a memory that will undoubtedly be remembered for years to come.

I told Levi’s parents that this is something I want to do every year. The excitement and joy I felt in helping him harvest this buck beat any other hunt I have been on. I've shot enough deer in my lifetime that I don't get that excited about it, but for a kid like that, it was truly great.

Tell us about your R20 and routine maintenance after the season?

I’ve had a few different bows in the past. I started out with conventional bows when I first got into archery, but after some neck surgery, I started having difficulties with drawing. That’s when I made the switch to crossbows. I’ve tried a couple of Barnett crossbows, and while I did have success with them, they always felt a bit awkward to handle.

Then, when I started working at Hardcore Outfitters with Mike and Connie, I had the opportunity to sell and demonstrate Ravin Crossbows. I got to help customers set them up, shoot them, and really experience their performance firsthand. And honestly, that’s when I fell in love with the Ravin R20.

What sets the Ravin R20 apart for me is its precision, speed, and overall feel. It’s compact, easy to handle, and it just feels solid. For someone like me with my shoulder issues, a youth hunter like Levi, or just the every day hunter, the R20 takes all the worry out of archery season and makes the experience enjoyable.