Macon County Velvet Freak Has A Gazillion Points

Benny Overholt had seen this buck on his Macon County farm for several years, and the deer was normal until last season when it didn’t shed its velvet and didn’t drop its antlers after the season.

Fast forward to this season, and that velvet rack just kept growing… and growing!

“Having seen this buck of a lifetime opening day evening and not getting a shot caused a very long and stressful weekend,” Benny said. “My next hunt on Monday evening I stayed on the edge of his bedding area. With 30 minutes of shooting light, I caught movement at 65 yards. With one glance through binoculars, I knew it was him. I then focused on remaining calm and getting a shot. I prayed if I was to get a shot that it would be a lethal one.

“I drew back as he approached the lane I was hunting. He steps on the lane and angles right to me at 33 yards. I remember thinking what angle is best—front, through or behind the shoulder. I chose the crease behind the shoulder,” Benny said.

“Instantly I regretted my shot. In my mind I hit back 3 1/2 inches which would be all gut. I watched him run 100 yards and on to a lane. I knew with this shot I needed to let him lay a number of hours. So we gave him six hours and took a dog to track. Long story short, the deer ran 20 yards from where I had last saw him. The shot placement was better than I had played through my mind a thousand times. He had died very quickly. It was truly humbling to harvest such a magnificent creature. Memories for a lifetime.”

GON‘s Scott Hodges interviewed Benny on video after doing a photo shoot for the cover of the October 2021 issue of Georgia Outdoor News magazine.

Benny Overholt with his Macon County bow-buck. Who knows how many scorable points this Macon County buck will have when it’s eventually measured by certified scorers.