Mature Piebald Buck For Georgia Bowhunter

An unbelievable hunt unfolded for Jamie Standard, of Greensboro, the morning of Nov. 5 at around 9 a.m.

While bowhunting his lease in Greene County, Jamie was able to take down a very unique piebald buck that for Jamie and most hunters is the deer of a lifetime. The main-frame 9-point piebald has been on his trail cameras off and on since it was born in 2018. But the unique buck had not been seen since 2020.

“I’ve been hunting every free second I could get this year,” said Jamie. “And I actually wasn’t hunting for him this morning—we have a few other good bucks that I’ve been watching on camera.”

A piebald deer is one with varying degrees of white splotches that are caused by a genetic abnormality. While there is no way of knowing how rare the condition is, an estimate often cited is that less than 2% of white-tailed deer have the genetic condition that causes a piebald appearance. The term piebald originated from magpie, a crow-like bird with white splotches of plumage, and the bald-like appearance of the white splotches. Solid white albino deer have a different genetic mutation. Earlier this season, a solid white buck that was not an albino was taken in Calhoun County in southwest Georgia.

It is even rarer for a piebald deer to reach 3 1/2 years old like the buck on Jamie’s Greene County property. Piebald deer often have other genetic abnormalities that make survival difficult—arched spines, deformed hooves, shortened jaws and short legs. Not to mention they are highly visible to predators.

Jamie Standard with the mostly white piebald buck that he’s had on trial camera since it was born in the summer of 2018.

At 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 5, Jamie arrived at his JX3 Hybrid Hunting Saddle that was positioned in a setup on a cedar draw near planted pines. As mid-morning rolled closer without much activity, Jamie gave his Knight and Hale Pack Rack deer call one more rattle, and he waited. Jamie said it felt like a long 15-minute wait, but sitting patiently turned out to be well worth it.

“When he showed up, he came right to my tree, aggressively,” said Jamie. “He was looking for a fight.”

The piebald buck came in so fast that he walked a few steps past Jamie’s tree, allowing the bowhunter time to draw back on his Mathews V3.

“At first I was just thinking, ‘Oh My God, how can I get him?’” said Jamie as the buck was facing directly away.

Just as Jamie thought he may lose this chance at taking him, the buck turned around and offered a shot, although it was still a bit dicey.

“He was probably only 5 steps from the tree,” said Jamie, “I had to lean over, almost pointing straight down to get my shot.”

The buck didn’t go far and dropped within about 65 yards from his stand.

Jamie took the buck to Jake Rowe Taxidermy in Watkinsville where he plans to have a full-body mount done.