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Noah Baker, a fourth grader from Pike County, Missouri, has taken two bucks during the 2026 season, according to Outdoor Life. The second was a 17-point deer whose antlers a taxidermist rough green-scored at 187 inches; the measurement is preliminary, not a final score.
Fourth grader Noah Baker of Pike County, Missouri, has taken two whitetail bucks this season, including a 17-point deer whose antlers a taxidermist rough green-scored at 187 inches, according to an October 30 report by Outdoor Life. Baker took the second buck with his father, Jared, during Missouri’s two-day early youth gun season on October 25.
The father and son were hunting near their home in Frankfort, overlooking a cut cornfield. They arrived at about 4 p.m. and set up a tripod rifle rest in a hillside haystack, according to Jared Baker’s account to Outdoor Life. Noah used his 7mm Remington rifle, fitted with a suppressor, while they watched deer move into the field.
At about 6:20 p.m., the buck they had been watching appeared roughly 80 yards away. Noah said he spotted it first. Jared used a grunt call, and the deer turned toward them; Noah then fired at the animal’s chest with a 140-grain Berger bullet. Jared told Outdoor Life the buck went down quickly. The family called friends to help bring the deer out of the field.
The deer’s antlers have not been reported as receiving a final score. A taxidermist who has the animal gave the rack a rough green score of 187 inches, Outdoor Life reported. The family did not weigh the buck. Earlier, on October 2, Noah took another buck—a 10-pointer rough-scored at 155 inches—with a crossbow. Both deer are with the same taxidermist for mounting.
A Second Buck in One Season
The report draws attention because Baker took two substantial bucks within the same hunting season, using different equipment and during separate opportunities. The October 25 deer was taken with a rifle during the state’s early youth gun season, while the October 2 buck was taken with a crossbow. The account also describes the hunt as a father-and-son outing, with Jared helping plan the setup and calling to turn the buck.
The figures should be read as preliminary antler estimates, not official final measurements. Still, the reported 187-inch rough score gives readers a clear indication of why the second deer was the focus of the family’s hunt. Outdoor Life reported that Baker plans to display the mounts in his bedroom.
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How the Hunt Came Together
Jared Baker told Outdoor Life that Noah shot his first deer at age six and has continued hunting and fishing with his family. The two had watched and planned for two particular bucks this season, and had found shed antlers from the animals. Noah took the first target buck, the 155-inch 10-pointer, on October 2.
For the later hunt, the pair chose a position overlooking a cut cornfield near Frankfort. Jared said the wind was not ideal, but they settled into the haystack and waited. Noah said the larger buck had been nicknamed “Dwayne The Rock Johnson” because of its size. When it emerged, the animal first moved into a patch of grass to look toward a doe before Jared’s call drew its attention.
The October 25 outing took place on the final day of Missouri’s early two-day youth gun deer season, according to the report. The source does not provide further details about the family’s hunting permits or the state’s regulations for the specific hunt.
“He shot his first deer at age six.”
— Jared Baker, Noah’s father, speaking to Outdoor Life
The Buck’s Final Score Is Pending
The 187-inch figure is a rough green score supplied by the taxidermist, not a final measurement. Outdoor Life’s report does not give a completed score, and the deer was not weighed. The article also does not identify the scoring system or say when a final score might be available.
The report relies on details provided by Jared and Noah Baker and does not include independent confirmation of the hunt or the antler measurements. It does not state whether the 155-inch estimate for the earlier buck is also a rough green score, nor does it provide a separate final measurement for that deer.
Mounts and Final Measurements
Both deer are reportedly at the same taxidermist for mounting. The next clear milestone is completion of the mounts and, if the family or taxidermist shares one, a final antler measurement for the 17-point buck. Outdoor Life’s report did not specify a date for either development.
For now, the confirmed details in the published account are the reported dates and methods of the two hunts and the taxidermist’s preliminary 187-inch estimate. Any later score should be distinguished from that rough green measurement.
Key Questions
Who is Noah Baker?
Noah Baker is a fourth grader from Pike County, Missouri. Outdoor Life reported that he hunts with his father, Jared Baker.
When did he take the 17-point buck?
Noah took the buck on October 25, 2026, the final day of Missouri’s early two-day youth gun deer season, according to Outdoor Life.
How large was the second buck?
The buck had 17 points. A taxidermist gave its antlers a rough green score of 187 inches; the report does not provide a final score or the animal’s weight.
What was the first buck Noah took this season?
Outdoor Life reported that Noah took a 10-point buck with a crossbow on October 2. Its antlers were reported at 155 inches.
Has the 187-inch score been finalized?
No final score was reported. 187 inches is a rough green score from the taxidermist, and a final measurement or its timing was not provided.
Source: outdoorlife.com
