Skip to main content

Arkansas Man Fooled Sensational 201-inch Public Land Buck

Shawn Walker had to grind it out on his 2022 Arkansas rifle hunt. Finally on his eighth day, he downed a monster deer on public land.

Arkansas Man Fooled Sensational 201-inch Public Land Buck

Shawn Walker took this incredible Arkansas public-land buck on Nov. 20, 2022. Photo courtesy of Shawn Walker

“You have to be willing to get into the thick stuff, further in than most hunters will go, to find the better bucks,” says Shawn Walker. And on Nov. 20, 2022, he and his hunting buddies pulled two from Arkansas public land doing just that!

The hunt began slow as the group of hunters pushed their way deep into the property each day. The nearly two-mile journey into the area they were hunting was not producing. “We had just a few days left before our permits expired, and we were getting tired,” Shawn says. “Then my cousin, Jeff, spotted a giant. And we got fired back up!”

The huge buck was close, but he was just off the public ground on private property. So, they had to let him walk. But knowing the big buck was around boosted their morale. The next morning, after making the long hike one more time, they ran into a bunch of opening day duck hunters, ruining that hunt. The clock was ticking, and things were not going well.

sw-3
With long tines and a massive frame, this buck scores 201 7/8. Photo courtesy of Shawn Walker

“We had to get out of there and regroup,” Shawn recalls.

Later that afternoon, the hunters jumped some deer walking to their spot. “We were talking about not having our guns loaded when we heard something in the CRP,” Shawn says. “The buck and a doe exploded out of their beds just five yards from us when we stopped to load! We named him ‘OMG’ after that, because both of us said, ‘Oh my God, did you see that buck?’”

Shawn was back in his stand early the next morning, and he only had that day and one more to get it done. At about 7:30 a.m., he heard a shot. “My first thought was, he got him,” Shawn recalls. “But there was no cell service, so all I could do was wait to find out.”

A bit later, Shawn passed a small buck. Shawn says that he was tired from the long hunt and prepared to give up at that point. Then he spotted a group of does, and he anticipated a buck being behind them.

sw-4
Shawn and his buddies jumped this buck just a few days before he killed it. They named the buck “OMG” because they couldn’t believe how big it was. Photo courtesy of Shawn Walker

The deer were inside of 50 yards when Shawn spotted massive antlers and raised his gun. That action alarmed the does. “I had to make a quick shot,” Shawn says. “And deer went in every direction after I pulled the trigger.”

Jeff, and a friend who had joined the hunt, Brian, showed up a few minutes later. “The shot I had heard turned out to be them shooting another buck, and they figured I had the big one down,” Shawn explains.

It didn’t take long for the group to recover OMG, and his size was overwhelming. The long trip out of there was a little easier that day, despite pulling the two bucks on game carts. Shawn’s 6 1/2-year-old trophy scores 201 7/8. A true public-land giant!

sw-2
Shawn and his friend pulled both these bucks from public land on the same day. Photo courtesy of Shawn Walker



GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

From safety to proper placement, Blake Garlock covers everything you need to know about hunting from a tree stand.
Learn

How to Enroll in a Hunter Safety Course

From safety to proper placement, Blake Garlock covers everything you need to know about hunting from a tree stand.
Gear

How to Choose Your Hunting Rifle and Ammo

From safety to proper placement, Blake Garlock covers everything you need to know about hunting from a tree stand.
Learn

How to Mount a Scope on Your Hunting Rifle

From safety to proper placement, Blake Garlock covers everything you need to know about hunting from a tree stand.
Learn

How to Sight-in a Hunting Rifle

From safety to proper placement, Blake Garlock covers everything you need to know about hunting from a tree stand.
Learn

Archery 101: Everything You Need to Know About Compounds & Crossbows

From safety to proper placement, Blake Garlock covers everything you need to know about hunting from a tree stand.
Learn

How to Dress for a Whitetail Hunt

From safety to proper placement, Blake Garlock covers everything you need to know about hunting from a tree stand.
Gear

What Gear Do You Need to Go Deer Hunting?

From safety to proper placement, Blake Garlock covers everything you need to know about hunting from a tree stand.
Learn

A Deer's Year: Seasonal Guide to a Whitetail's Life

From safety to proper placement, Blake Garlock covers everything you need to know about hunting from a tree stand.
Learn

How to Scout for Whitetails

From safety to proper placement, Blake Garlock covers everything you need to know about hunting from a tree stand.
Gear

How to Use Trail Cameras Properly

From safety to proper placement, Blake Garlock covers everything you need to know about hunting from a tree stand.
Learn

How to Pick Your Hunting Spot

From safety to proper placement, Blake Garlock covers everything you need to know about hunting from a tree stand.
Learn

What You Should Know About Hunting from a Tree Stand

North American Whitetail Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the North American Whitetail App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top North American Whitetail stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All North American Whitetail subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top North American Whitetail stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use