How The Weeks Were Won: Bucks That Earned 2025 Shoot-Out Spots

For more than three and half decades, a group of Georgia hunters killed a buck that garnered membership into an elite club. The latest members of that group—GON subscribers who killed a big buck through luck, dedication, woodsmanship or a combination of all—will take the stage at the Ag-Pro Outdoor Blast July 27 to compete in the 36th annual Truck-Buck Shoot-Out.

The last man, woman or child standing in the pellet-rifle competition will leave the arena in a brand-new pickup truck from John Megel Auto Group. Second-best earns a Firminator from Ranew’s Outdoor Equipment.

This amazing big-buck contest is possible due to GON magazine subscribers and the contest sponsors. In addition to chance for the grand prizes, the qualifiers are already big winners.

The weekly winners during bow season earned compounds from Georgia-based Obsession Bows. The winner during the youth/primitive-weapons week earned a new CVA Optima V2 rifle, and the winners during gun season each take home a Savage 110 Storm deer rifle.

All weekly winners also earned  prize packages from 4S Advanced Wildlife Solutions and safety harnesses from Hunter Safety Systems, plus Doe Estrus Heat and Bowhunter’s Fatal Obsession from Scrape Juice. Wildcard winners earn Shoot-Out spots and get a $250 gift card from Agri Supply, 4S and Scrape Juice products, a high-performance ultralight cooler from Rugged Road Outdoors and an HSS safety harness. All 21 of our Shoot-Out contestants receive specialized Shoot-Out jerseys compliments from our long-time friends at Realtree.

Let’s meet the first half of this year’s Shoot-Out field. Next month we’ll meet the rest of the qualifiers.

Week 1: Bob Coombs,   County: Fulton,   Date: Sept. 15,   Net Score: 165 6/8 Typical

One of the first to tap into the big-buck phenomenon that emerged in the north Atlanta suburbs was Bob Coombs, of Roswell. Bob’s first record-book bow-buck was killed in 2004, and he has since added eight more, plus a crossbow buck in 2006 that still ranks as the No. 2 non-typical ever killed with a crossbow in Georgia.

Bob gives a tip of his camo hat to luck for much of his success, particularly his Week 1 winner this season.

“I had the opportunity to meet Harry Norman of Harry Norman realtors before he passed away,” Bob recalled. “I asked him what the secret to his success was, and he said, ‘A lot of hard work and a little bit of luck…’ Then he looked at me and said, ‘You know, the harder I worked the luckier I got.’

Bob said, “First, I was lucky when I got a call at my company. There was a tree on a house, being in the tree service I rushed right over. As an urban bowhunter, I knew the property had some potential… I was lucky that I had been in this urban hunting thing for a very long time. And I was lucky that I was able to strike up a deal for the privilege of bowhunting this 16 acres in north Fulton. The first year of having the property, I got lucky taking my biggest buck ever—the number one buck (gun or bow) in the state of Georgia  in the 2020-2021 season.”

That buck netted 167 1/8 typical.

“Well, as luck would have it, I got lucky again. One of my younger deer developed into a fantastic buck. I was really lucky that he didn’t get killed by a car or another hunter the season before or even the season before that. And I was even more lucky that he stuck around… I was lucky he loved my food plot…”

Bob called this buck ‘Chuck.’

“Earlier in the year, I was in a car accident. It seemingly wasn’t really bad, but it wrenched me around with a nerve pinching in my neck and shoulder. I was in deep pain with a long ordeal with an orthopedic group and being prescribed nerve-blocking drugs to deal with the pain. With the season rapidly approaching, I decided not to even try to pull my bow back until the day before season. Finally the day came, and I couldn’t pull my bow back. I called my bow tech, and he told me I could lower my bow one and a half turns on each limb. I still could barely pull the bow back. And of course I had to re-adjust the site. What a mess.

“I hunted the morning hunt and did not see a single deer, so I got back down, went to the house and shot my bow a few times to make sure my adjusted target was true. It seemed on the money. Despite the pain, I got back in the stand. I’m lucky enough my bachelor group came running in, with two younger bucks fighting violently in the food plot. I have never seen deer fight so violently in my entire life, and surprisingly early in the season. The two younger bucks clashed so violently that Chuck was jumping out of his skin with every crash. One time he jumped toward the fighting bucks, and it was like he realized that he jumped the wrong way into danger, and he jumped back in the direction he had come from.

“I was a nervous wreck… Finally, he eased into range, and the moment of truth came. I barely got the bow pulled back. He had finally calmed down, and I calmly squeezed off the shot. I felt the shot was absolutely perfect… so confident in fact that I packed up and dropped my gear to the bottom of the tree. I swung around my food plot where I saw him exit. I looked in the high grass—not a stitch of blood. Immediately I decided to call my tracker, who agreed to be there in the morning. After an hour or so of tracking, his dog wanted to run toward a nearby subdivision. An hour later he called me and showed me a post on Instagram where a deer hunter had found the deer dead in his backyard. He sent it to me and asked me if it was my deer. I told him it was, and I immediately reached out to the hunter, and he quickly got back to me.

“Technically, my deer tracker tracked him with a dog—and social media. Talk about luck.”

 

Week 2: Matthew Hvizdzak, County: Houston,   Date: Sept. 27,  Net Score: 187 6/8 Non-typical

The story of Matthew Hvizdzak and a buck he named “Lucky” spans multiple seasons. Matthew tells his full story in an article that’s too long to appear here, but we highly recommended you read the full story here.

Below is just an excerpt written by Matthew:

“A few years back my wife and I purchased our new farm with the mindset of building our dream home and giving our children the opportunity to grow up on a farm like we did. Whitetail habitat that would produce big deer was at the top of the priority list. As I have progressed through my hunting ‘career,’ I’ve become obsessed with land management and growing mature deer. As an avid bowhunter, I have fallen in love with the chase, targeting a specific mature deer and playing the ultimate chess match.

“The new farm had a ton of potential. I invested a lot into my alfalfa fields, which would serve as the cornerstone of my property habitat and deer management. In my opinion, it is the absolute best food source in terms of both attraction and nutrients. Bean, clover and corn fields were strategically placed throughout the property for additional food and hunting purposes. Areas of the farm were left thick and untouched to serve as bedding and sanctuary. I also implemented a supplemental protein feed program and heavily fed Antler Xtreme products to provide additional nutrients, vitamins and protein, and we noticed an immediate improvement in overall rack size.

“The summer of 2022 was the first year this specific buck came on to the scene. I made a promise to my younger brother that if he bought a bow, I would let him come hunt the farm to get his first bow kill. My intent was to let him hunt an area of the farm that was easy to get to and was non-invasive to kill a doe. I hung a camera and stand on the edge of my dove field only a couple hundred yards away from the barn. One deer specifically stood out. This accidental discovery would begin an absolute obsession over the next few years and eventually lead to the highlight of my hunting career. This buck would soon be given the name ‘Lucky’ after one of my neighbors stated ‘he would be lucky to get to the age of five because of how big he already was.’ Our best guess put Lucky at 3 years old based on his body characteristics. He probably weighed somewhere around 140 pounds and had a rack that more than likely would have grossed 125 to 130 inches. The neighboring landowners and I realized this specific deer had very good potential, and if kept alive, could be something special. I want to emphasize at this point the importance of good neighbors with the same mindset and goals when it comes to managing a deer herd and growing big deer. I would be willing to bet 95% of the hunters in the state own and or lease land to hunt on that is not large enough to fully encompass a deer’s overall territory. In my case, I was fortunate enough to have neighboring landowners with the same mindset and goals.

“From the summer of 2022 and on, I was hunting Lucky. I was hunting this deer not with the intent to harvest him, but with the intent to learn him. I knew in a few years he would be a very good buck and on the hit list, so I wanted to take the time then to learn everything about him. I’d venture to say I saw him within bow range 15 times that season. He frequented food plots and feeders often in the daylight and was very active during the rut. Again, all tale-tell signs of a 3-year-old.

“In 2023, Lucky kept much of the same habits and patterns. Best estimates would put him around 170 pounds with roughly a 155-inch rack. To this day, I still remember the rush of adrenaline I had every single time he stepped out in 2023. By most accounts, a 150-plus in Georgia is an absolute stud and would by far be my personal best.

“The summer of 2024 rolled in with much anticipation. This would be the first year Lucky would be on the hit list, regardless of size. I still remember the exact moment when I received the first summer 2024 picture of Lucky. I was looking at the largest deer I’ve ever personally gotten a picture of and estimated him out to be in the mid 170s. Over the summer, he kept his normal feeding patterns. He frequented all of his traditional areas, and the neighbors were also getting pictures of him. In August, however, he did something he had never done before. He locked down onto about a 5-acre block of woods that bordered one of my fields planted in corn, beans and sunflowers. This was the same place I had first gotten him on camera, which was an area I initially deemed a non-invasive doe-killing spot only a few hundred yards from the house and barn. When analyzing why he chose that spot, it all made sense. He had food, water and cover, and the location gave him a vantage point to view much of the farm. Leading up to the 2024 archery opener, he fed every afternoon in the cut corn and beans.

“The emotions I had climbing into the stand on opening day were overwhelming. Years of work and preparation were coming down to this moment, and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. It’s amazing what a deer can do to a grown man. Opening day always reminds we of how much I love to hunt and sit in the stand. It is a tranquil time, and watching the deer and other wildlife is therapeutic.

“With minutes left in legal light, I watched a large body slowly work through the pines. Every deer in the field picked their head up when he stepped into it. He worked his way right to me and stopped at 17 yards completely broadside. I drew back and held behind his shoulder like I had envisioned and practiced hundreds of times over the summer… but… it was just too dark. I could see him clear as day, but when looking through the peep, it was a blur. I reluctantly elected not to shoot and let down. This deer was too special to me to take a risky shot.

“The following day I watched the weather and the wind. It was not as ideal as the day prior, and as most hunters in the southeast know, just because the weather says one wind direction, you will more than likely get everything but that. I stood at the barn looking up toward the stand, bow in my hand, deliberating on whether to go or not. I decided to roll the dice. I climbed up in the stand and sat for about 15 minutes analyzing the wind before accepting defeat and acknowledging how stupid I was for trying to hunt a swirling wind going right to his bedding area. I slowly climbed down and went to another part of the farm. The trail-camera photos that evening confirmed that he showed up again right at dark. Over the past couple of weeks, I noticed was he was trending later by a few minutes each day. I decided to stay out of the woods for a few days until he started trending earlier again. I had my eyes on a forecasted cold front coming in a few days that might bring him back out earlier. In my mind, he wasn’t going anywhere unless I gave him a reason to leave. The last thing I wanted was to be climbing out of the stand at dark while he was coming in.

“A few days later, the forecasted cold front showed up. With it came a steady northwest wind that was not ideal but could potentially work. Eager to get after him, I decided to roll the dice again. The cold front was a welcomed surprise for September, and both the deer and I were thankful for it. The field was active early, and deer continued to pile out of the woods. When Lucky stepped out into the field a hundred yards away an hour before dark, I just knew it was going to happen. All the other does and young bucks came straight out into the field regardless of wind, but not him. He slowly worked his way back into the pines and walked the edge of the field toward me in order to wind check the entire field. When I realized what he was doing, my stomach dropped. As expected, he got to within about 50 yards from me and froze as soon as he walked into my wind. I felt nauseous as I watched him turn around and sneak off into the pines and brush. Trail cameras would confirm my ultimate fear that evening. For the first time in almost a month, he did not show up at all that night.

“Over the next few days, Lucky vanished. I had pushed the envelope hunting a marginal wind and got caught. It took several days before he finally showed back up, but even so, it was all at night. I painfully learned a lesson and decided I would not hunt him again until the conditions were absolutely perfect. Hunting took a back seat for a few days as Hurricane Helene was developing off the coast of Florida. Most early projections had middle Georgia directly in its path, so much of that week was spent planning and preparing for the worst. To our good fortune and to the terrible fortune of east Georgia, the hurricane pushed farther east. When the storm came through on Sept. 26, we received relatively strong winds and heavy rainfall, but very little damage was done.

“The morning of Sept. 27 I woke up to assess the storm damage, which turned out to be very minimal. The day was beautiful and the weather was perfect. I didn’t get a single trail-camera photo from the night before, which wasn’t surprising given the fact we just had a hurricane come through. I knew that afternoon would have the conditions I had been waiting for. I climbed up that afternoon with high hopes and optimism. It was early in the afternoon when the first few deer stepped out. A couple of young bucks were feeding in front of me. Thinking it was still too early, I decided to stand up and practice drawing on the young 8-pointer that was standing in front of me. While I had my pinned buried behind his shoulder, him and another young buck went rigid and threw their heads up facing the woods. I slowly let my bow down and looked up. I’ll never forget that moment, as it is seared into my memory. Lucky walked into the field and the sunlight was lighting up his rack. My knees immediately went weak, and heart felt like it was going to come out of my chest. From that moment on, I never looked at his rack again in an attempt to control my emotions. As he fed toward me, I literally closed my eyes and put my head up against the tree. When Lucky saw the other two bucks, he came directly to them, and in doing so, came to within 17 yards of me. He fed for several minutes with his head down but was quartering to me. A quarter-to shot is less than ideal, so I forced myself to be patient. At that moment, a noise came from the barn, and all the deer picked their heads up and looked down the hill. Panic set in for I knew at any second the deer could potentially spook and another opportunity would have slipped through my fingers. With him looking away from me and down at the barn, I drew back. Because he was still quartering to, I put my pin as close as possible to the backside of the shoulder in an attempt to get as much penetration into the vitals as possible. I took a deep breath and squeezed my release. The next 30 seconds all seemed like such a blur. All I can remember is watching my arrow go through him and bury into the dirt. He took off into the direction he came from, and as I am watching him, a thousand thoughts are running through my brain about my shot placement and if it was good enough. As he was running into the woods 80 or so yards from me, his back end started going out and his legs started to wobble. At that moment I exhaled in relief and knew that I had done it.

“Someone I don’t often give enough credit to in dealing with my hunting obsession is my wife, Hanna. She has been with me through the very beginning of this journey, and the one thing that she asked was that she be the first person I call if I shot Lucky. I called her and then made several other phone calls to family and friends to let them know that the story of Lucky had finally reached its conclusion. After waiting a few hours to play it safe, friends and family helped me track a deer of a lifetime, and within roughly 120 yards of my stand, we found him. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined putting my hands on a deer of that caliber and on my own farm in middle Georgia. Lucky was officially scored at 193 3/8 gross and 187 6/8 net as a non-typical and deemed the new Houston County No. 1 all time.”

 

Week 3: Craig Greene, County: Jones,   Date: Sept. 29, Net Score: 166 7/8 Non-typical

“I was fortunate enough to take the best buck of my life on Sept. 29, 2024, a 17-point non-typical that scored 166 7/8,” said Week 3 winner Craig Greene, of Gray. “The most amazing thing in my mind is that it happened here in south Jones County, only a few miles from my home. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of good deer—and good deer hunters—in Jones County. But bucks that massive are just so extremely rare around here, especially for a bowhunter. In my mind, I always figured I’d be extremely lucky to have a chance to shoot at a buck scoring 150. I thought I would have to go to Kansas or Illinois or somewhere else far away. And I’ve hunted in Kansas, Illinois and Montana.

“I began bowhunting in 1983. I had hunted with a gun before that, and I still used a gun some after I started with the bow. But the last buck I shot with a gun was a decent 8-pointer in 1987. I had shot a 4-pointer with my bow earlier that season, and as I was dragging that 8-pointer out, I realized I had gotten a lot more excited shooting that 4-pointer with my bow than anything I had ever killed with a gun. So I’ve hunted with a bow only since then.

“Maybe the best buck I had a chance at before this past year was on a hunt in Illinois a good many years ago. I missed the shot. That gnawed on me for at least 10 years. But it was also a blessing, because it helped me focus on getting better with my bow and as a hunter and in patience. I practiced shooting my bow a lot for many years. Maybe too much, because now my elbow and shoulder bother me at times, and I’ve had to cut back on my shooting. But even that played a part in getting my dream buck.

“I first became aware of my buck in December of 2023. That’s when I first got pictures of him on a trail camera on a tract of land I had just started hunting that season. I knew right away he was what had always been in my dreams. But there was a problem. I had already killed two bucks that season. So I put up a stand for my hunting partner of several years, and he hunted it a few times before the season ended but never saw the buck. I kept the cameras up and got more pictures, and on March 9, 2024, we found both of his sheds. A friend scored them and estimated they came from a buck in the 160s. I continued putting out corn and supplements all through the summer, and I got pictures of him on trail cameras as his new antlers grew.

“I’ve never been so excited for a deer season to start as I was for 2024. I finally saw him from the stand on Sept. 20, but he was too far away. I watched him five or six minutes, and he finally came within range and turned broadside. But when I drew back, I couldn’t see him in the peep sight. I didn’t think it was that dark. So I let off, drew again, and I still couldn’t see him through the peep. It was too dark.

“So I sat there… For 45 minutes after dark, I sat there, giving him time to move away without seeing me.

“I hunted a couple more times in the next several days without seeing him. I wanted to hunt more, but the wind wasn’t right. But I was running out of time. I was supposed to leave for a moose hunt on Oct. 1. I had promised some friends I’d go, but I really didn’t want to leave.

“Finally, on Sept. 29, I went back to the stand one last time, even though the wind was not what I wanted. I was watching three smaller bucks about 30 minutes before dark when a shooter buck came out. Well, it would nearly always have been a shooter buck, but I was hunting only one buck, so I just watched him and a doe or two that came in to the side. Then I looked back around, and I saw him. My buck.

“Five minutes later he was within 17 yards and turned broadside. I began to draw—had just started and had very little pressure on—and my elbow popped. It had done that before. It wasn’t that loud, but I heard it, and the buck heard it. He turned his head up and made kind of a U-turn. But he didn’t run, and he put his head down. I noticed the does moving a little, so I pulled back again. That can be a good time to draw when they aren’t looking right at you and there’s a little bit going on away from you.

“So he stopped moving about 25 yards away, broadside again, so I sighted and let fly. I felt good about the shot. He bounded away, and I could see him for about 85 yards. I didn’t hear a crash, but I thought I had made a good shot. I waited a few minutes and came down the tree and went about 300 yards to my side-by-side. I tried to call both my sons, but neither answered the phone. So I called a young friend I hunt with who lived nearby, and he got his dad who I also hunt with and called another friend, and they all came to help me trail the deer. I finally got my oldest son, and he came, too.

“I was pretty calm until I got the first guy on the phone, but then I lost it. It finally hit me what I had done. But I’m glad the buck didn’t fold up where I could see it and that I didn’t look for it right away. I’m glad I waited for the others to get there to trail with me. We only had to go about 50 yards from where I had last seen it, but it was a lot better to have them all there with me. They all knew what buck I was hunting and what it meant to me, and it made it a lot more fun to have them with me.

“It was my dream buck, and the dream had come true.”

 

Week 4: Wesley Hines, County: Macon,   Date: Oct. 5, Net Score: 154 6/8 Typical

The final week of archery season can sometimes be the scoring period of Truck-Buck where a smaller buck wins because of fewer entries. Not last year.

“I have been watching this buck grow for three years,” said Week 4 winner Wesley Hines, who killed a huge buck with his crossbow while hunting in Macon County. The buck netted 154 6/8 typical.

“I have been hunting him since opening weekend, and he only seemed to come out when I wasn’t there,” Wesley said. “Saturday (Oct. 5) was the first day I could hunt since the Flint River flooded. I had a lot of deer activity, but mostly young bucks and does.

“He came through the pines and ran all the other bucks off and turned to give me a 35-yard shot. After my shot, I heard him crash, and then I recovered the deer. I quickly realized he was the biggest buck I have ever shot.”

Wesley’s Week 4 winner is the largest crossbow buck ever from Macon County, which is historically one of Georgia’s best big-buck counties.

 

Week 5: Wyatt Holton, County: Lee,   Date: Oct. 12, Net Score: 152 4/8 Typical

The youth firearm/primitive weapons week of Georgia’s deer season gets a lot of young hunters in the woods, and it took a south Georgia monster to win the week last season for 8-year-old Wyatt Holton.

“We had only one trail-camera picture of this buck from summer, but we knew he was in the area from a couple of sightings we had of him over the past couple weeks,” said Wyatt’s dad Patrick Holton.

“We set up a ground blind overlooking a long road that I hoped the buck was crossing going from bed to planted pines. Most of the deer in this area would take this travel pattern making their way to a cut corn field to feed at night. Several smaller bucks made their way across the opening during our time in the blind, but as it got closer to the end of the day several more deer made the same travel pattern.

“As we watched the road, we saw the big buck come out at the end and make his way down the long road. I watched him with my binoculars to make sure it was the one I wanted Wyatt to shoot. When he got closer, I could easily tell it was the buck.

“The buck quartered away from us at about 100 yards, and Wyatt put a perfect shot on him behind the shoulder. The big buck only went 50 yards before piling up in the edge of the woods. It’s always special to be with your kids anytime, but having two of my kids in the blind with me made it even better.”

 

Week 6: Brad Gregory, County: Turner,   Date: Oct. 25, Net Score: 153 7/8 Typical

“I got my first picture of this buck about nine days before rifle season,” said Brad Gregory about his Week 6 winning buck from Turner County. “He was pretty consistent showing up most evenings right after dark. I had a couple of pictures of him before dark the Thursday evening before rifle season. I hunted him three afternoons hoping he would show up again in the daylight, but each afternoon, he was a no show.

“I took off work Friday, Oct. 25 because I had a couple things to get done around the house, and I had thought about hunting a couple hours that morning. The weather forecast that morning showed a calm wind. I tried to talk myself out of going because I had no morning pictures of this deer, and I really like a little wind in my face.

“It got light enough to see about 7:15 a.m. At 7:30, I saw my first deer, a young 4-point. The 4-point smelled the trail I walked in on and followed me to within 12 feet of my stand. He never was alarmed. I give credit to my rubber boots and Dead Down Wind cover scent.

“He finally turned around and browsed out of site. While watching him, four does came out in my shooting lane and were eating around my feeder. The buck came out into my shooting lane at 7:53, and I shot after seeing enough to know that he was the one I had pictures of. The buck made it about 25 yards before piling up.”

 

Week 7: Sonny Mayfield, County: Morgan,   Date: Oct. 27, Net Score: 143 6/8 Typical

For 20-plus years, the GON office was nestled between dairy farms and hay pastures between Morgan and Putnam counties. We’ve recently moved a bit north to Watkinsville in Oconee County, but our roots will always be tied to that slice of rural heaven in middle Georgia. Our Week 7 winner knows that area well—Sonny Mayfield lives in Putnam and does some of his hunting in Morgan County.

“My nephew wanted to hunt that morning, so we met at a private property in Morgan County,” Sonny said. “The 11-point buck came out less than a half hour after daylight headed to his bedding area. Shot him in his shoulder, and he only ran 40 yards. Very happy my nephew was there with me to make the moment special,” Sonny said.

 

Week 8: Garland Keller, County: Talbot,   Date: Nov. 7, Net Score: 146 5/8 Non-typical

“I was sitting in a single-man ladder stand in hardwoods where there were a ton of acorns on the ground,” said Week 8 winner Garland Keller about his stand location in Talbot County. “I haven’t had much activity at my trough feeder near the hardwoods, so I decided to hunt over the acorns.

“At around 5:25 p.m., I looked to my left and saw a buck cruising through. I couldn’t tell how big he was, but knew he was a good deer. He presented me with a shot, and I took it and he hit the ground!

“I got down out of the stand and went to look at him and immediately knew what deer it was. We have had him on camera the past two seasons, and he finally slipped up.”

Garland’s buck ranks No. 10 all-time for Talbot County in the Georgia Deer Records at GON.com.

 

Week 9: Mike Mundy, County: Gwinnett,  Date: Nov. 10, Net Score: 155 2/8 Typical

“I woke up Sunday morning (Nov. 10) with a busy day ahead of me. I had an open house from 1 p.m. to 2:30, and then I was going to the woods,” said Mike Mundy, of Flowery Branch.

Like most hunters with cellular trail cameras, a priority of the morning routine is the check the camera app for overnight activity.

“I checked my COMMAND pro trail camera, and to my surprise there was this buck standing in front of my camera, which I’ve never seen on the property before that picture at 6 a.m. that morning,” Mike said.

“I called my dad and said we need to go to the woods, and I was going to put him on this buck. He had a slammed-up evening and couldn’t go, so I went (love ya dad).

“I got in the woods at 3:30 p.m., and at 4:45 this deer was to my right at 20 yards from me. Mind you it was misting rain, and the woods were very quiet with about a 5 mph wind. I waited to take my shot, which seemed like 20 minutes because he was facing toward me. Realistically, it was five minutes, but seemed like an eternity.

“Once he turned away from me, I took my shot. He ran about 50 yards, and I heard him crash. I immediately called my dad and wife and told them I got the biggest buck of my life. After I got him loaded up, my dad and friends met me at the processor, and they couldn’t believe how big this deer was.

“The hunt was fantastic, but seeing the look on my dad‘s face and the memories we made talking about this year will last forever.”

 

Week 10: Levi Nobles, County: Sumter,  Date: Nov. 13, Net Score: 142 2/8 Typical

“I have had this deer in front of me three times previous to this morning and just never had the opportunity to take a shot,” said Levi Nobles about the Sumter County 9-pointer that he killed with a bow on Nov. 13. “I saw this deer Sunday afternoon locked down with a doe. They both made it in bow range, just never had a clear shot.

“I took off work Monday morning to hunt him. I got in the stand early, the wind was right. My thinking was all I need is this doe to come by, and he will be behind her. Deer started moving right at daylight, and around 8 a.m. I caught movement about 200 yards in front of me. I got binoculars up and could tell it was him, and he was heading to me without the doe. He got within 100 yards and started to turn and walk a different route. I picked up my grunt call and blew it one time real soft, and he turned and looked straight my way. He came all the way in to 32 yards, and I was able to draw and get a shot off. A morning I will not forget anytime soon.”

 

Runner-Up Wildcard: Zak Germaine , Gwinnett County, Net Score: 149 1/8, Date: Nov. 12, Week 9

The Runner-Up Wildcard is a spot in the Shoot-Out each year for the highest-scoring buck of the season that doesn’t win a week outright. Zak Germaine, of Commerce, earned that wildcard with a Gwinnett County bow-buck that netted 149 1/8.

“I had this deer on camera since June,” Zak said. “I put out a bunch of cameras and figured out over the course of the next few months every move he made, where he slept, what trails he took, etc. Come opening day of bow season the hurricane that came through Florida had the wind whirling around good. Another good 10-pointer stepped out before the big one did, and he caught wind of us, and they spooked off.

“Almost every day for the next two weeks I had encounters with this deer but absolute luck was on his side. Even drew back on him one time and had multiple within 10-yard encounters with him but again, pure luck was on his side and he got away. He disappeared for a few weeks, and I thought my chances of ever seeing this deer, let alone kill him, were gone.

“On Nov. 10, he showed up randomly at 4:15 p.m. on camera, and I knew I had to get in the woods as often as I could. I got settled in the tree on Nov. 12, and at 5:10 p.m. I saw antlers coming through the woods about 70 yards away. I honestly thought it was a smaller deer, and I didn’t mind it much attention except to just keep up with where it was going. Before I knew it, he was 15 yards away, and I started shaking because it was him. He walked closer to 10 yards, and I stood up and grabbed my bow. When I began to draw back, something spooked him and he darted off about 10 to 15 yards and stopped and then turned back to me. He walked back again to 10 yards, and I shot and made a great shot. I heard him crash in the woods about 80 yards away. I waited for an hour then got down and had great blood and was able to follow it easily until I saw my Luminok glowing and him laying beside it. He was the biggest-bodied and antlered deer I’ve ever laid eyes on in Georgia. He grossed 165 inches, but unfortunately he broke off his double left brow and nearly half his right G2. He should have been a 180-inch deer, but I couldn’t be more thrilled and blessed to have been able to even chase this deer and fortunate enough to even killed it and do it with a bow.”

Zak made in the Shoot-Out for a chance at the truck and Firminator, and he also earned the wildcard package that includes a $250 Agri Supply gift card, mineral and attractant from 4S Wildlife Solutions, an HSS harness and Shoot-Out shirt.

Next month we’ll feature the remaining Truck-Buck winners from the 2024-2025 season.