Hunter: Robby Tieman
Points: 12 (6L, 6R)
County: Greene
Season: 2020-2021
Hunt Story
I snuck into my ladder stand in an acorn flat, with a rolling creek bottom in the distance, around 5:45 a.m. With sunrise at 6:50 a.m., I like to get in at least 30 minutes prior to shooting light. The weather was changing as a cold front was moving through, and the temperature overnight had dropped into the 30s. At around 6:15 a.m., deer began to move around me. I heard buck grunts, and could see the silhouettes of deer running around me within 50 yards. I kept still, trying to make out any antlers on the grunting bucks. While it was still dark, I eased my rifle up on the shooting rail and prepared myself. I had a nice buck on camera, and several others I was dreaming out appearing as the sun began to rise. As I could start making out does and bucks, the action picked up and deer were everywhere. The grunting and chasing continued, and it was now legal shooting time. I put the crosshairs on a small buck at 40 yards, and he another small buck in my scope darted off. I looked up, and saw a large bodied deer moving their direction. With a deer directly under my stand, I moved slowly to get the new buck in my scope. I immediately saw a large antler frame on this deer, and waste to no time pulling the trigger! With the crack of the shot, deer scattered. I lost track of where my buck ran in the commotion, and didn't see him go down or hear him crash. I had missed! Such a close shot, and the possibility of not sealing the deal on my big buck made me sick. I waited a good 45 minutes for things to settle down and get brighter sun before checking for blood. Around 7:30 a.m. I climbed down, and began to walk towards the location the deer was standing when I shot. It wasn't but 40 yards away... and before I get there I look to the right and see his white belly. He didn't run 50 yards! I immediately saw tall tines, and thought I had killed the giant I was after. As I walked closer, I became confused. It was not the deer I had on camera, but another big buck I have never seen before. After running cameras all summer, this guy was a stranger. It was a true blessing to take this animal, my personal Georgia best buck. My friend Max Lang helped me age him at 5+ years old.
