Is this the same deer???

[Cody Gruchow]

ok so the family property in menagha MN has giving up some nice deer lately. we have a nice 3-4 year old buck roaming around, my cousin thinks its the same deer, i however think its close but not the same. what do you guys think? age? score? same deer?

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[Go Big Red!]

Same deer in my mind.  The crab claw off the right side is where I decided.

Score = 130-140     Age 2.5

[Cody Gruchow]

2.5? my cousin says the same thing, he might be.

[Mayfly]

I've seen a lot of deer that look close but aren't the same but i'll say without a doubt if this is the same property then its the same deer. Like mentioned above the crab claw was my first indicator but I always need a few to be convinced. Look at his G3 left side. See how at the tip it slightly curves in? Same with and with no velvet and actually his right G3 does the same as well. Brow tines are pretty close as well. Nice deer 

[Cody Gruchow]

so i was wrong, to me it just doesnt seem like he has the same mass. the picture is just from the other day the 28th, the date on the cam is wrong. so he dissappeared around hunting season which is unfortunate

[Mayfly]

so i was wrong, to me it just doesnt seem like he has the same mass. the picture is just from the other day the 28th, the date on the cam is wrong. so he dissappeared around hunting season which is unfortunate

Lose a lot when they lose that velvet.

[deadeye]

I'd be 99.99% sure it's the same deer. 

[Cody Gruchow]

then hes gonna be real nice this upcoming fall! lol

[HUNTER2]

Same deer. I saw one just like him on my place today.

[MTCOMMER]

Yep, I agree with everyone else.  Same deer 
-- I would give him a score between 125-135
and also agree he is 2.5 - a pretty smart one too, to hide during the hunting season.  He will be a dandy next year, FOR SURE!

[Go Big Red!]

so i was wrong, to me it just doesnt seem like he has the same mass. the picture is just from the other day the 28th, the date on the cam is wrong. so he dissappeared around hunting season which is unfortunate

Lose a lot when they lose that velvet.

How so?  The antlers shrink once the velvet comes off?  I honesty don't know.

[Mayfly]

so i was wrong, to me it just doesnt seem like he has the same mass. the picture is just from the other day the 28th, the date on the cam is wrong. so he dissappeared around hunting season which is unfortunate

Lose a lot when they lose that velvet.

How so?  The antlers shrink once the velvet comes off?  I honesty don't know.

Yes they shrink about half... 

No, just the velvet adds a layer and once that layer of velvet is gone they may look a little more spindly. Make sense?

[Swany]

I read once that velvet can be anywhere from 1/8 to 1/2 inch thick too. That would add up to looking like a lot of lost mass.

[JohnWester]

bet he scores closer to 120-125

[Go Big Red!]

so i was wrong, to me it just doesnt seem like he has the same mass. the picture is just from the other day the 28th, the date on the cam is wrong. so he dissappeared around hunting season which is unfortunate

Lose a lot when they lose that velvet.

How so?  The antlers shrink once the velvet comes off?  I honesty don't know.

Yes they shrink about half... 

No, just the velvet adds a layer and once that layer of velvet is gone they may look a little more spindly. Make sense?

That makes sense.  I knew it added some "mass" to the look of the antlers, I wasn't sure as to what happens after the shed the velvet.

I read once that velvet can be anywhere from 1/8 to 1/2 inch thick too. That would add up to looking like a lot of lost mass.

Anyone shot a deer with heavy velvet?  Taxidermy folks have a better idea?  Need you expertise Auggie!!!

[HD]

Yup....it's the same deer.....

I've got a rack in my freezer that has velvet on them....just haven't done anything with them yet....(been in there for 7-8 years now)  The velvet does add mass though....

And before you ask, I'm just lazy I guess... 

[Cody Gruchow]

well you can tell the huge mass difference between the one in velvet and the one without. i figured he would go closer to 140. but i figured him to be older than 2.5 but im really the only one who thinks that so he must be younger than i think

[Mayfly]

well you can tell the huge mass difference between the one in velvet and the one without. i figured he would go closer to 140. but i figured him to be older than 2.5 but im really the only one who thinks that so he must be younger than i think

I'm going to go 3.5

[Go Big Red!]

well you can tell the huge mass difference between the one in velvet and the one without. i figured he would go closer to 140. but i figured him to be older than 2.5 but im really the only one who thinks that so he must be younger than i think

I'm going to go 3.5

Why so old?  He doesn't seem to have the old deer look to him with the sagging belly or the grey muzzle.  Kinda reminds me of FireRanger....

[naturalistmn]

I'm with MNO all the way.   Definitely the same deer by several antler characteristics.   Also I'd have to agree with 3 1/2 years old.   If you look at his body characteristics you see distances, to me, that represents a 3 1/2 year old.   For example, the width from the top of his shoulders to his briscuit is rather large.   Something you don't really start to see until the 3 1/2 year old mark.   Also, at this time of year deer are begining to "build up" their bodies from the rut and an early winter.   For this deer to hold these body characteristics I'd definitely estimate his age at 3 1/2.   As for score, it is hard for an eight point to score high.   Takes a lot of mass and length.    One of the most over estimated frames of all times.   I would geuss this deer at under 130.  

www.mnoutdoorsman.com/eyeswideopen

[kenhuntin]

That is the same animal.
Velvet antlers weigh way less than I ever thought. I held a road killed set once and they felt more like feathers than antlers

[Mayfly]

For example, the width from the top of his shoulders to his briscuit is rather large.   Something you don't really start to see until the 3 1/2 year old mark.   Also, at this time of year deer are beginning to "build up" their bodies from the rut and an early winter.   For this deer to hold these body characteristics I'd definitely estimate his age at 3 1/2.

That's almost exactly what I was thinking. 

We also don't have a good side profile shot. I think he has a little belly too and I think if that was shown better we'd have more people saying 3.5

[MTCOMMER]

I was thinking 3.5 at first, but ended up going with 2.5.  It really all depends on the deer, so its hard to tell age by rack size.  It could be a freakishly huge 1.5y/o or a lagging 4.5y/o, you never know.
   It is a nice deer though, hopefully you find his sheds and see him next year.  I wonder how that crab claw on the right will look like.  Should be a really nice deer!

[Cody Gruchow]

tim i do have a side photo, ill post it

[Cody Gruchow]

heres some side shots of him

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[MTCOMMER]

Lookin pretty healthy for how tough the winter has been 

BIG BODY on him too.

[naturalistmn]

Great photos.   Yep, definitely the start of a hanging belly.   Also, the shape of his hind end is full and rounded.   These pictures, to me, really confirm a 3 1/2 year old age class buck.   Also remember a 3 1/2 year old buck, in all reality, isn't really all that old.   So, age characteristics like being gray are not going to be apparent just yet.  His "disappearing act" is a classic sign of accuiring some age as well.  Pretty deer.

[Cody Gruchow]

cousin swears up and down that he is 2.5 years old. i said he was 3 to 3.5 years old. you guys really helped me out hahaha. i said no matter what he is a awesome animal and gonna be a real nice trophy this year when he is 4.5 years old! also this deer is going to the top 3 on my list for this years upcoming deer season.

[whiteoakbuck]

im gonna agree that looks like the same buck to me cool pic's also 

[Cody Gruchow]

well date is off but here he is again these were taken last weekend, we have around 600 pics of him in the past few weeks.

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