Deer of the Year Archives - Page 83 of 93

April 30, 2026

Samantha Brown's unusual drop-tine Stanly County buck won North Carolina Sportsman's December Bag-A-Buck contest.

Salisbury woman is December Bag-A-Buck winner

Samantha Brown of Salisbury really had no idea what she’d shot when she squeezed the trigger on a Stanly County buck late on the afternoon of Dec. 29. […]

Cora Lee Downer killed this huge Sumter County 8-pointer the morning after Christmas. It's a shoo-in to make the South Carolina record book.

Textbook or text buck? Sumter teen scores on huge 8-pointer on Dec. 26

Brian Cope

“I think he’s here.” “Yupp he’s here but his butt is to me.” “Are you sure? Take your time for a good shot.” “I see big rack but he won’t turn.” […]

Kelly McAbee's huge Cherokee County 11-pointer had a 22 1/2-inside spread when he killed it on Dec. 1.

Blame it on my brother — Gaffney man takes huge buck at 318 yards

Dan Kibler

Kelly McAbee of Gaffney admitted he was burned out. He’d sat one box blind on a piece of property he hunts in Cherokee County six straight days, and he was ready for a break. […]

Craig Hester's huge 10-point buck fell on Nov. 27, just four days after he hung a stand to take advantage of sign he'd discovered while rabbit hunting.

Rabbit hunt was stroke of luck that put Person County hunter on huge buck

Craig Holt

A rabbit hunt turned out to be one of the best days ever spent afield for Craig Hester of Person County, because it put him in the right spot to kill a huge 10-point buck on Nov. 25 that may score in the low 160s. […]

Roger Cox's beautiful Dillon County buck, killed on his first trip to a friend's property, is in the 150-inch class and weighed 208 pounds.

Loris hunter scores on 150-inch buck on friend’s property in Dillon County

Dan Kibler

Roger Cox of Loris said it all happened so fast, he “didn’t even have time to get nervous” – and that was probably a good thing. Cox killed a 150-inch, 208-pound, 10-point buck near Dillon last Friday, in part because when the deer suddenly appeared out of a swamp, he was in range and presented a killing shot as soon as Cox saw him. […]

Jeff Kirkley killed this huge main-frame 8-point buck after it was spooked out of a swamp by some duck hunters.

Mullins hunter scores on huge buck spooked by duck hunters’ shots

Jeff Burleson

Since deer season began, Jeff Kirkley of Mullins had hoped to run into a huge buck he had picked up on one of his trail cameras along a Marion County swamp. […]

Joseph Harris killed this great Orange County buck with one slug from a 20-gauge shotgun.

Prep wrestler takes great Orange County buck with shotgun slug

Craig Holt

It’s well known that teens often make decisions by relying on their feelings rather than logical thought progressions. Sometimes, that approach works – just ask 16-year-old Joseph Harris. […]

Johnny Lawrence killed this great non-typical buck on the first day of blackpowder season in Rockingham County.

Pine Hall hunter knocks off great Rockingham County non-typical buck

Craig Holt

Out of a thousand week-old trail-cam photos, one had Johnny Lawrence of Pine Hall so excited he woke up extra early on Nov. 1, the opening day of blackpowder season in Rockingham County. […]

Tim Oakley's huge drop-tine buck from Caswell County was the result of two years watching him grow and letting him walk.

Burlington hunter drops hammer on huge Caswell County buck

Craig Holt

Hunters who don’t think it’s possible for deer to grow trophy racks in a county that gets above-average hunting pressure need to talk to Tim Oakley of Burlington. […]

Dalton Smith, 19, of Chesnee, made this huge non-typical buck his first ever with a bow.

Snap, crackle, pop! Spartanburg Methodist freshman kills huge buck

Dan Kibler

Snap, crackle, pop! Cereal noises to many people, but on the afternoon of Nov. 15, to Dalton Smith, a 19-year-old from Chesnee, it was the sound of a big buck – a big, big buck: 16 points and 180 pounds. […]