Dooly County Bow Buck Should Crack Top-10

When Joseph Smith and his dad Bryan Smith, both of Cordele, first started getting pictures of a large 10-pointer on their Dooly County lease late this summer, they were hopeful that somehow, someway their paths would cross with the buck.

Joseph Smith’s Dooly County buck grosses in the 140s.

“He showed up on daddy’s camera first, and since it was set to video mode, we got some really good footage of him, and we could tell just how good of a buck he really was. When bow season opened, I was hunting him every chance I could. Any time I could be in the stand, I was,” side Joseph.

On the afternoon of Sept. 25, Joseph was perched at the top of his ladder stand hidden in a magnolia tree overlooking a hardwood bottom filled with white oaks.

Things started relatively slow, until around 7 p.m.

“I had two does come in to feed, and then they suddenly spooked and ran off. The stand I was hunting is near some train tracks, and around 7:20, I could hear a deer coming across the rocks on the tracks, so I stood up to get ready,” said Joseph.

Moments later two more does came into view. 

“A few minutes later I heard more rocks being kicked on the tracks, and then here comes the big one. All I could see was horns headed my way.”

Already standing, Joseph stood motionless, waiting for the right opportunity to draw back his Matthews bow. The buck continued to work toward Joseph’s stand, even pausing to make a scrape in front of a trail camera.

“It seemed to take forever for him to come in, but finally at 21 yards, he quartered to me, and I was able to draw back and let it rip. I knew the second it hit him that I had made a good shot on the buck.”

Excited, he called his dad, who was also hunting the property, to tell him the good news.

“He didn’t believe me at first, he thought I was just messing with him,” Joseph said.

With darkness approaching quickly, Joseph climbed down to check his arrow.

“It was covered with blood all the way from the tip to the fetching, and by this point I was feeling great about the shot. I hugged my daddy and told him I know this buck is down,” said Joseph.

“It was the best blood trail I’ve ever had, with a bow or gun. Blood was everywhere, and we went right to him where he was piled up right behind another ladder stand of mine. He didn’t make it much more than 80 yards.”

The 10-pointer has been green-scored at 144 4/8 total inches, and Joseph plans to have the buck officially scored after the required drying period. It’s symmetrical and is expected to net out in the mid to high 130s. The No. 10 bow buck from Dooly scores 130 4/8 inches, so Joseph’s buck should have no trouble cracking the Top-10.

“I just thank God for this opportunity. I know everything is ultimately up to Him, and I’m so thankful He let this happen. I can’t describe just how good it feels.”

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