A hunter in Mississippi has made headlines after harvesting a giant 10-point buck that he had been tracking for several years. Dylan Cadby, a hunter from Livingston, Louisiana, was finally able to catch the mature buck, known as “Baby Ten,” after being patient and allowing it to grow. The incredible 150-class buck had stunning antlers and had become the talk of local hunters, who had watched its growth over time.
The Beginning of the Journey: Dylan first saw Baby Ten back in the 2021-22 deer hunting season. At that time, the buck was just a young 2 ½-year-old. Even though he was still young, Dylan could see the potential in the deer and believed it could grow into something special. “This was my No. 1 buck to get on this year,” Cadby shared, highlighting how important Baby Ten was to him. Over the next few years, the buck developed and became a true giant.
Dylan spoke to neighboring hunters, asking them to let the buck roam freely and grow. They agreed to give Baby Ten the space it needed to reach its full potential, which turned out to be a great decision. By the time Baby Ten was 5 ½ years old, its antlers were much larger and more impressive than anyone had expected.
Challenges in Tracking the Deer: As the hunting season began in the fall, Dylan set out to catch the big buck. However, Baby Ten had become difficult to track. In previous years, the buck would regularly show up on trail cameras and feed at nearby food plots. But this year, things were different. Baby Ten disappeared for long stretches, and Dylan began to worry that someone else might have already caught him.
“I thought somebody had killed him during the early velvet season,” Dylan recalled. For weeks, Dylan didn’t see or hear about the buck until late November when the trail cameras started picking up pictures again. But these were sporadic, making it even harder for Dylan to figure out when or where Baby Ten would appear.
Despite this, Dylan stayed hopeful and continued hunting. He even passed up several good bucks that came into view, all while holding out for Baby Ten. “I was crazy for passing on these bucks, but I wanted him,” Dylan admitted. His patience paid off when he finally got the chance to take his shot.
The Big Moment: On December 10th, Dylan was in his hunting stand near some white oak trees that were dropping acorns. These trees are known to attract deer, and Dylan was hopeful. At around 2 p.m., he settled into his stand, and within 30 minutes, he began to see deer moving into the area.
A mature 8-point buck came into view, but Dylan didn’t take the shot. “It was a deer that any other year, I would have taken,” he explained, but his focus remained on Baby Ten. As he watched the 8-point buck walk away, he second-guessed himself but knew he had to stay focused on his target.
Just 15 minutes later, two does entered the area, and Dylan noticed they were looking behind them. He immediately guessed that a buck was following, and he was right. Out of the woods came Baby Ten, and Dylan’s heart raced as he saw the massive antlers from 60 yards away.
To keep his nerves in check, Dylan focused on the body of the deer rather than its impressive antlers. He made his shot, and he was sure it was a good one. “After I shot, I came to pieces,” Dylan shared. He couldn’t wait to tell his friends and fellow hunters about the big catch.
Tracking and Finding the Trophy: Though Dylan was confident in his shot, he called a friend with a tracking dog for help. The dog was still young and needed some experience, and Dylan knew it would be a good opportunity to train it. Sure enough, the dog found the buck just 30 yards away from where Dylan had shot it.
The massive 10-point buck had a 17 1/2-inch inside spread, with main beams measuring 21 3/4 inches and 22 inches. Its longest tine measured 11 inches. While the deer still hasn’t been officially scored, Dylan estimates the buck will score in the 150s. “He has crazy mass,” Dylan said, especially between the G2s and G3s, where the antlers were thick and heavy.
Though Dylan was thrilled with the catch, he couldn’t help but feel a bit bittersweet. “A lot of neighbors were hunting him,” he said. “It stinks to see that chapter close, but I was tickled I was the one to be able to take him.”
(Source : newsbreak.com)
