How do you tell if it is the same deer from last year

[rockb]

I see posts similar to "This is the same one from last year". Do the antlers grow back with exactly the same pattern as the previous years just bigger or are they always different? If different how can you tell it is the same one from a previous year.

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[Zeroed in]

Hard to say for sure due to the over-exposure (too much flash) of the pics? But with better and closer pics, you can tell by scars, hairlines (I have 1 which is 1/2 tiger striped from belly & up sides), pied markings and the sort.

 

[wildrider666]

Some are very territorial especially in climates where they don't migrate do to WX, food/water source or pressure from competitors, predators, and habitat encroachment. Since they shed every year, you may see the same animal but a new rack. All habitat factors being good, rack size should increase but likely take a different profile (wider, taller, symmetrical, non typically) and a lot can happen to alter them when growing (in velvet). The only sure way to tell if its the same monster buck is to use a branding iron. Lol

Disclaimer: Opinions are from a non biologist Whapiti Chaser.

 

[rockb]

Thanks.