Young Hunter, Grandson of Earl Bentz, Scores Huge Tennessee Velvet

The 8-year-old arrowed a large buck with his crossbow that gross-scored 177 2/8 points.

September 14, 2023 By Game & Fish Staff

Age is only a number. Just ask Bentz Rich, the 8-year-old grandson of Hall-of-Fame boatbuilder Earl Bentz. He’s been tagging big deer … since his younger days. Well, at least since last season, when young Bentz harvested this nice 8-point whitetail at the family ranch in Tennessee.

The young hunter did even better during Tennessee’s "velvet hunt" at the very end of August, harvesting a velvet monster with a crossbow on Aug. 28 in Williamson County. The free-range buck gross-scored 177 2/8 points. The previous day, young Bentz killed his first coyote with a crossbow during the same hunt.

Earl Bentz, an inductee in the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, is the founder of Caymas Boats (Stratos, Javelin and Triton previously)

young hunter with coyote — Bentz Rich, 8, grandson of bassboat legend Earl Bentz, shot his first coyote last month in Tennessee (Photo courtesy of Earl Bentz)

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Young Hunter, Grandson of Earl Bentz, Scores Huge Tennessee Velvet

The 8-year-old arrowed a large buck with his crossbow that gross-scored 177 2/8 points.

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