Dog Hunt Produces Top Buck For Atkinson County

When Cam Newmans, of Willacoochee, squeezed the trigger on a big Atkinson County 10-pointer while dog hunting on Dec. 27, 2020, it was a moment he will never forget.

“We hunt a small lease by dog hunting standards, it’s only about 5,000 acres. There’s 10 of us buddies on it, and we call it The Doctor’s Club. No still hunting is allowed, we only run dogs, and we love to do it,” said Cam.

Cam Newmans, of Willacoochee, with his Atkinson County buck and his daughter Blakeleigh, who turns 3 on Feb. 17, 2021.

But, the club members knew a giant buck could possibly be in the area that Sunday morning, and they had a hunch as to what block of pines he might be in.

“We have a few still-hunting clubs that border our property, and several folks had been getting pictures of a giant buck the past couple of years. We actually jumped the deer a few weeks ago, but he got away from the dogs pretty quick.”

At approximately 9 a.m., the dogs jumped a deer, and it didn’t take long to realize it was the one they were looking for.

“My good friend, Justin Beasley, who I’ve hunted with since my teenage years, was the first to see the buck running toward him down a pine row. He managed to get two long-range shots at the buck that didn’t manage to connect.”

Cam was standing in a woods road behind his truck and was in line for the next shot. 

“I saw a flash of white and horns as he crossed in front of me wide open headed out the other side of the block. I pretty much knew he was gone at that point,” said Cam.

Cam and several members of The Doctor’s Club hunting club in Atkinson County.

Little did Cam know, lady luck was about to show up.

“Right as he was about to cross out of the block, another truck came pulling down the road. I believe the buck saw it coming, and that turned him around.”

With the dogs still in hot pursuit, Cam jumped on his tailgate and readied his gun. When the buck busted out of the brush in a full sprint 30 yards away, Cam slammed the trigger of his Stoeger 12-gauge shotgun and let the buckshot fly. The buck fell immediately, and not long after that the celebration began with family and members of The Doctor’s Club.

The 10-point buck has been unofficially green scored at 147 4/8 inches and nets 144 5/8 inches, easily making it the No. 2 buck of all-time for Atkinson County. After the 60-day required drying time, Cam will have the buck officially scored and recorded in GON’s Georgia Deer Records.

Editor’s Note: Updated Oct. 11, 2021, Cam’s Atkinson County buck was officially measured by a certified Boone & Crockett scorer and netted 147 6/8.  It’s the No. 2 buck ever recorded from Atkinson County.

“I feel blessed to have been in the right place at the right time. I got lucky, but the moment wouldn’t have ever came to be if it wasn’t for the great group of friends I hunt with,” said Cam.