Connor Merritt

Thanksgiving morning started tearfully for Ann Carol Tirey of Belzoni, Mississippi, but it ended with a triumph over a giant buck that shifted her perspective on life. Grieving the loss of her grandmother, who had been the cornerstone of her family’s holiday gatherings, Tirey found herself reflecting on the changes time had brought. But when a massive 140-class buck stepped into view later that day, she found a bright spot in an otherwise bittersweet Thanksgiving. 

“I was literally crying in the stand,” Tirey told the Mississippi Clarion Ledger. “I thought I was prepared for it, but I wasn’t.” 

Chasing the Giant Buck 

Tirey and her husband had been monitoring the buck on trail cameras, waiting for the perfect opportunity. That moment came Thanksgiving afternoon. While sitting in the deer stand, still wrestling with her emotions, Tirey spotted the animal — a 9-point giant buck with impressive antlers. “I literally had to wipe tears off my face to look through the scope,” she said. 

With her husband Eric by her side, Tirey took the shot, and the buck only ran about 20 yards before expiring. The deer’s impressive measurements — 17.25-inch inside spread, 21-inch main beams, 6-inch and 5.5-inch bases, and an overall rough score of 145 — marked Tirey’s first trophy buck. 

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More Than Just a Hunt 

For Tirey, this hunt wasn’t just about the harvest; it was about reconnecting with the joy her father had instilled in her for the outdoors. “He gave me my first rifle at 13,” she said. “He introduced me to hunting and a love of nature.” 

Returning to her mother’s house just in time for Thanksgiving dinner, Tirey celebrated with family members who came to admire the buck. Reflecting on the day, she said: “That morning, I was focused on what I no longer had… At the end of the day, I was reminded that I was looking at it all wrong. I have so many blessings and so many loved ones still left in my life and that’s where my focus should be.” 

Read the full story on the Mississippi Clarion Ledger. 

Find more giant buck stories on iSportsmanUSA. 

Photo courtesy of Ann Carol Tirey.