Joe Smith’s 18-pointer

Firearm hunter Joe Smith of Elmwood heeded the advice of his uncle and bagged a buck on the opening morning of the 2007 Illinois shotgun season.

Smith, 18, was allowed to hunt a stand that his uncle, Steve Hayworth, had killed numerous bucks in the past. After getting lost on his way to the Knox County property, Smith arrived five minutes before deadline on opening morning. At approximately 7:15 a.m., Smith spotted a deer walking into a finger of timber from a cornfield about 70 yards away. He was just a few moments too late.

Soon after, two does walked under Smith. Remembering the advice of his uncle to be patient and let the deer walk in hopes of seeing a bigger one, Smith waited.

A short time later, Smith heard a bleat and observed the buck walking toward him in the timber. Smith shot once. The valley echoed with the shot and the deer ran 15 yards behind Smith, who shot a second time killing the buck.

The buck had a 21.5-inch inside spread, 18 points and field dressed at 275 pounds. Smith shoots a single shot 20 gauge with a rifled barrel.