Is it the same buck?

Founder · Jan 22, 2021

Here’s a question for you mule deer experts. You analyze antlers and share your thoughts. Is this the same buck?

We’ll start with eyeguards. The bucks right side eye guard on both bucks is about 2 inches. The right side is more of just a big bump.

Next, look at the ends of each main beam. The bucks right side is pretty flat looking. The left side sorta turns upward as it nears the end.

Next, the bucks left G2. It comes off the beam and increases in wide as it goes up. It’s also longer to the fork than the bucks right side.

Next, the right side. It’s a short distance from beam to the split. The width also increases from bottom to top.

What do you guys think? Same buck? Obviously both bucks were in the same country.

JB1975 · Jan 22, 2021

Same deer, but I am no expert.

Tristate · Jan 22, 2021

Probably but not for sure

Shadow · Jan 22, 2021

I’m thinking yes. The short eye guard being closer to the ped in both pictures Is pretty telling.

Chesterwyo · Jan 22, 2021

Same same.

SS! · Jan 22, 2021

Homer · Jan 22, 2021

Drnaln · Jan 22, 2021

No...The G4s on the velvet buck wouldn't have grown to the length of the hard horned buck. Also the right back fork on hard horned buck forks lower down.

Founder · Jan 22, 2021

One more little piece. You can see both bucks were living in Grey rock country. That’s not everywhere.

Homer · Jan 22, 2021

still not the same buck...even if the rocks were blue

JakeSwensen · Jan 22, 2021

Different buck in my opinion..

SS! · Jan 22, 2021

Plot twist: founder has some of the bucks blood from the velvet and has the DNA results.

Founder · Jan 22, 2021

Here’s that pic of the rocky landscape. The buck I photographed also lived about 4-5 miles as a crow flys from the outfitters camp who killed that buck. ?????

Founder · Jan 22, 2021

This is the only other tidbit to possibly match. Looks like “maybe” I can see the top edge in the dead buck pic.
I don’t know, I was just analyzing it and thought I’d see what others think.

DH56 · Jan 23, 2021

Most likely the same one.

JakeH · Jan 23, 2021

Looks like the same buck to me.

Muleman1 · Jan 23, 2021

I’d say yes same buck

JakeH · Jan 23, 2021

Founder said:
Here’s a question for you mule deer experts. You analyze antlers and share your thoughts. Is this the same buck?

We’ll start with eyeguards. The bucks right side eye guard on both bucks is about 2 inches. The right side is more of just a big bump.View attachment 23253 View attachment 23254
View attachment 23255

Next, look at the ends of each main beam. The bucks right side is pretty flat looking. The left side sorta turns upward as it nears the end.
View attachment 23256
View attachment 23257
View attachment 23258

Next, the bucks left G2. It comes off the beam and increases in wide as it goes up. It’s also longer to the fork than the bucks right side.
View attachment 23260
View attachment 23259

Next, the right side. It’s a short distance from beam to the split. The width also increases from bottom to top.
View attachment 23261 View attachment 23262

What do you guys think? Same buck? Obviously both bucks were in the same country.

Screenshot_20210123-091239_Samsung Internet.jpg

To me this brow tine is very telling and pretty unique. Its harder to see due to the blury picture and the velvet but they are the exact same shape in both bucks.

link · Jan 23, 2021

I think its the same buck. Nice buck.

Founder · Jan 23, 2021

JakeH said:
View attachment 23292To me this brow tine is very telling and pretty unique. Its harder to see due to the blury picture and the velvet but they are the exact same shape in both bucks.

Here’s a slightly different angle of that browtine.

Founder · Jan 23, 2021

Yes, I’m still investigating.

I’m obviously bored.
Look at these two photos and there very slight bow in the G2. Where the arrows are pointing.

JakeH · Jan 23, 2021

I am 100% convinced its the same deer.

Deerlove · Jan 23, 2021

That eye guard matches.

MuleyFreak72 · Jan 23, 2021

It’s the same buck

buckhorn · Jan 23, 2021

Well after over 50 years of hunting mule deer and having a passion for their antlers I consider myself an expert.
I also would consider Founder an expert and he’s looking at all the details correctly.
Along with all the other indications of this being the same buck I think the fat G4s are also an indicator.
I see no indications at all that these are different bucks.
Good work Brian!
Fun topic!

jmighty · Jan 23, 2021

The bulk really look the same

hogg_65 · Jan 23, 2021

Same buck. Better looking with the velvet gone.

Founder · Jan 23, 2021

When I first saw this buck I was real impressed, then after looking at video I decided he wouldn’t improve enough to be of interest. The video/photos were July 20th.
If it’s the same buck, he ended more impressive than I would have thought.
I killed a buck one year that between July 31 and September 3rd, he grew nearly 5 inches on back forks.
If this is the same buck, he put on a nice chunk.
But that is always the challenge with scouting in July, is the guess on how much more they’ll grow. Still working on my craft!

JakeH · Jan 23, 2021

Founder said:
When I first saw this buck I was real impressed, then after looking at video I decided he wouldn’t improve enough to be of interest. The video/photos were July 20th.
If it’s the same buck, he ended more impressive than I would have thought.
I killed a buck one year that between July 31 and September 3rd, he grew nearly 5 inches on back forks.
If this is the same buck, he put on a nice chunk.
But that is always the challenge with scouting in July, is the guess on how much more they’ll grow. Still working on my craft!

I've seen bucks absolutely blow up in August and others that dont do much at all. But if you think about it, I see bucks drop in January every year and have seen some still packing in late March. (seen one mature buck still packing in May once) So I think it really comes down to when they dropped their sheds determines when they finish off growth of their next set, And my own personal opinion is that the timing of their sheds dropping is timed by when they dropped as fawns from there mothers, witch is effected by when there mother was bred (first, second, third cycle) during the rut. Just a theory I have thought about with what I have observed over the years.

Gator · Jan 23, 2021

Same buck. Good Genetic

Ultimag · Jan 23, 2021

No different deer

muleybeast · Jan 24, 2021

Looks the same to me. Cool thread.

HalfAce · Jan 24, 2021

Same buck.

mulebuck · Jan 24, 2021

Same buck to me.

Magnum P.I. would be proud of Brian.

BrianID · Jan 24, 2021

I think it is the same buck. Many similarities on the rack and general location of buck plus the gray rocks have me convinced unless someone can notices something that proves otherwise.

Another unique thing about this buck is the tip of the G1's. The left one curls up in both the velvet and hard horned buck. The right G1 finishes a little short and straight in both the velvet and hard horned pictures.

I also try to look at the ears to identify bucks. Nothing really noticeable from these pictures on the ears. There might be a possible small cut in the bottom right ear of the velvet buck. Do you have any other pictures of this deers ears.

I wouldn't expect a buck to put on that much tine length after July 20th but it is possible. I would expect a buck to only add an inch or two on the tip of each tine after July 20th. Assuming it is the same deer it put on on impressive 4"+ on the G2s and G3s after July 20th.

I find this type of investigation very interesting. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

BrowningRage · Jan 24, 2021

I think its the same deer. Man, that thing put on a LOT of inches after the velvet pic.

SS! · Jan 24, 2021

Ok let’s see a full pic of this buck dead

T264 · Jan 25, 2021

257roberts · Jan 25, 2021

It looks like the same to me

Buckhunter1955 · Jan 25, 2021

Same gene pool for sure.

ColdBore · Jan 25, 2021

I'm going with "same".

The right side front fork is the clincher for me.

The last two pictures in the first post tell the tale.

nripepi · Jan 25, 2021

It sure looks like it based on the eye guards and that little kicker out the back as well as the rest of the tines lining up with the same curves, just amazing he put that much length on. My only hesitation is many bucks don't look as heavy when they come out of velvet and he looks heavier (probably just the photos) with way longer backs. He really grew. Any thoughts on his gross score and how many inches he put on?

Tikka · Jan 25, 2021

Same deer...

Zeke · Jan 25, 2021

There’s one thing that I’m the very best expert on and that’s the fact that I would have shot that “hard-horned” buck too.

Ya, same deer.

Zeke

Is it the same buck?

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