Hunting And Outdoor Sports
Ben Hill County hunter overcomes medical challenges and shoots two magnificent bucks.
Ben Hill County hunter overcomes medical challenges and shoots two magnificent bucks.
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Douglas, Georgia
The magnificent buck materialized out of the forest and moved closer. Walker Smith raised his 7mm PRC rifle with a Vortex scope, hoping to squeeze off a shot before the buck escaped, as it had done three times previously. At just 19 years old, Walker has faced more challenges than most can imagine. When he was only 12, a serious accident almost killed him and nearly ended his hunting forever. This accident involved an all-terrain vehicle that flipped over several times, severely injuring his leg. After being flown to a hospital in Florida, he underwent 12 surgeries and spent nearly two months in the intensive care unit. "I almost lost my leg," Walker recalls. "The doctors told me if we had been 15 minutes later to the hospital, they would have amputated my leg. It was a long healing process." It took nearly two years for him to fully recover and return to the sport he loves. Fast forward to June 2025, and doctors discovered more issues. Walker learned he would require another significant surgery just before the hunting season. "I didnt think I was going to hunt this season at all," he mentioned, explaining how he had to undergo a procedure resembling open-heart surgery to reconstruct his chest. After a week in the hospital, Walker finally received permission to drive in early October. "I love bowhunting and couldnt," he said, fearing that this hunting season might remain out of reach. Fortunately, his recovery went well, and he was able to engage in a crossbow hunt shortly before the rifle season commenced, though he needed assistance to cock the bow. Before the season started, Walkers father, Hugh Smith, acquired a 340-acre property in Ben Hill County, Georgia. This area is only about 45 minutes from their hometown of Douglas. Composed of 124 acres of cultivated peanuts and cotton, along with longleaf pines that are now around 13 to 14 years old, Walker captured pictures of a one-eyed 8-point buck inhabiting the property. On October 27, he set out on a cold, drizzling afternoon. He found shelter in a Redneck Blinds shooting house elevated about five feet off the ground, which kept him dry while he awaited his prey. Through the haze, he soon spotted Ol One Eye and took decisive action. I called a few times on the grunt call, he stated. Just 10 minutes later, the buck came in grunting at me, running in circles trying to find other deer. I took him out at about 80 yards. He went about 30 yards and piled up. Its mainframe was an impressive 19 inches. But Walker wasn't finished yet; there was still a larger buck in the vicinity. A few days later, on October 29, he returned to the same blind and patiently waited for the big 158-class buck he had photographed. After several close encounters that left him empty-handed, he finally spotted the giant buck about 90 yards away and took aim. Despite concerns about his previous shot accuracyespecially given the lack of bloodWalkers determination led him to contact a professional tracker, Dan Wise, who arrived with a tracking dog. The tension was palpable as they searched, ultimately leading to the dogs return toward the very spot where Walker had taken his shot. Fortunately, Dan's dog located the big deer just 20 yards behind the blind. That buck turned out to surpass all expectations, with green scores from different individuals recorded at 158 inches and 162 inches. Walker reflected, To go through my medical condition and to be healed so fast, then to have a week of hunting like I did, that was surreal. It was a thrill to chase deer of that caliber on my own familys property. This story is a testament not only to Walkers resilience but also highlights the importance of land management and conservation coupled with the joys of ethical hunting, especially on lands passed down through families. Walker's triumph serves as an inspiration for many, showing that with patience and determination, even the toughest challenges can be overcome.