Spike Buck Attacks Ware County Woman

Donʼt gore the hand that feeds you—a lesson never learned by a Ware County spike buck that was living high on the hog, until Oct. 4.

That Wednesday, Sandra Fuller, of Waycross, was heading for the pickup truck in her yard and then on to go shopping. She had seen the spike buck near the house earlier that morning.

“He was a pet deer,” Sandra told GON. “Thereʼs five houses in our area, and heʼd go from house to house. Weʼve got pictures of him on the front porch when he just had nubs, heʼd come up on the front porch and eat.”

The deer had never acted aggressive toward people. But as Sandra crossed the yard to the truck, the deer charged up, stood on its hind legs and struck at Sandra with its forelegs, knocking her to the ground. Having been well-fed by the neighborhood, the buck weighed more than 150 pounds and had 8-inch spikes, and as soon as Sandra was down it began trampling her.

“Before I could turn over, he messed up the right side of my leg with his horns,” Sandra said. “I couldnʼt get up.”

The buck did not let up as Sandra tried to roll away. Her husband was away, her children off at school, and no neighbors were around to help. She isnʼt sure how long the attack lasted but said it was at least five minutes.

Finally, Sandra gripped the buckʼs spikes with her hands and was able to hold the buckʼs nose in the dirt. By then, the familyʼs German shepherd had sailed over the backyard fence and was biting at the deer.

“I was kicking the deer and holding his horns at the same time, and the dog was nipping at him. He finally stopped for a breath.”

Sandra had now rolled over near the truck and was able to get her hand on the door handle and pull herself up. She got inside the truck and started it, pulling toward the porch so that she could go inside and call for help, but the buck stood by the truck door, waiting. Sandra drove instead to a nearby convenience store where she met an ambulance.

Sandra was cut and bruised over her back and legs, with more than 50 scratches and abrasions, and 15 deeper gashes and puncture wounds.

“I had a good set of deer prints in my back,” Sandra said, adding that she has now recovered from most of the injuries. “Iʼve still got some knots and bruises. My left wrist—he stomped it—itʼs back to normal.”

Ware County Sheriffʼs Deputy Jack Whisenant located the buck later that morning and knew he had the right deer when it did not flee as he approached. The buck was shot and turned over to DNR. Sandra said the buck was not the only tame deer in the area.

“Thereʼs a doe around,” she said. “But nobody messes with her anymore.”