Non typical growth?

Can anyone tell me how similar or different a big non-typical muley can grow from one year to the next? Here are some more specific questions about the differences between a set I found and another buck. There are similarities between them, but enough differences to leave me wondering if it could be two seperate bucks with the same genetics.

Questions: 1.The G4 on left side is broke off then there is another fork after that on the main beam. - Could this fork disappear the next year?
2. The G2 and G3 both fork on the right side. - Could thse forks disappear the next year?
3. There are double brow tines on the right side. - Could this become one brow tine the next year?
4. The main beam on the right side splits three ways at the end. - Could these points be smaller the next year?

I really appreciate any helpful insight anyone can give me on this.
5,944
bigbuck92
Darn i cant see the whole pic cause they're all cut right down the middle. That is one awesome buck though!
13
waynedevore
Tell you what :thumb Those are fantastic finds. My opinion on NT. His antlers will be basically the same each year except for size. The odds of having identical growth each year is not likely. He will add some points and lose some.
13
AntlersOutWest
welcome! They have changed the site around a bit and the pictures get cut off now. Try to down size the pict to show the entire thing..

Those sheds are impressive! my jaw dropped when I looked at them :thumb

I really think it depends on many factors. If the spring is good they can grow emensly. Age, area, feed, genetics im sure has a huge impact on how large they grow..
13
MuleyMadness
I believe I have the image issue fixed, it should AUTO resize them for you now.

As for your questions...

1. YES
2. YES
3. YES
4. YES

That's just my personal opinion, but a buck of this caliber and trash can and will change a lot from year to year. So you and your buddies shed could be the same buck?
13
Default Avatar
Wow!!! What a buck!
13
Default Avatar
Boy, hard to say. I would say it's safe to assume it is the same deer's antlers from a year before. I had the same thing happen to me with this huge set I have. I found another shed not more than 500 yards from the set, that looks to be from the same buck the year before. I think I have the other side too, but not sure. It is really hard to tell. ](*,)

Either way, thats a once in a lifetime find! Enjoy it! Have him scored Non typical and put him in the Shed Hunters book. He'd be a top 10 buck I'm sure. 10sign:
13
182BC...4Now!
elkowalik, those things are freakin' HUGE! The fronts on that buck are amazing! I'm assuming the shed your friend found was found in a different year or partially chewed up? Anyway, based on what I've seen/read here's my thoughts on your questions:
1. I would say that the point coming off the mainbeam after the G4, a 'G5' if you will, will come back year after year on this buck. It is definitely an established point.
2. The forks off the G3 & G4 could disappear. I've seen many cases where forks like this have actually switched sides. If I was a bettin' man though, I'd say they come back next year.
3. From my experience, browtines are hit or miss, especially the ones coming off the burr. Bucks tend to develop "character points" and grow them year after year (like the split kicker coming off the left G3), but most of the time I wouldn't consider a browtine a character point on a mule deer...most of the time.
4. The split at the end of the right mainbeam looks to me like it is the result of the buck running into something while he was in velvet. I'd bet on the 'G5' coming back, but not the drop.

Like others have said, he may add/lose some points, but you should be able to tell who he is from year to year fairly easily. Just my 2 cents....oh yeah, what state did you find those in?
13
sneekeepete
Great pics!!! I think all your questions have been answered too!
13
NotEnufTags
Sorry, I can't answer your question but I had to pipe in and say that is one killer set of sheds. I bet you have perma grin year yound from those. Congrats. I've read that you can tell from the burrs on the bases if your buddy's shed side is from the same deer that yours are from. I'm not sure what to look for on the burrs but maybe someone else here could describe what to look at for you.
13
waynedevore
Yep, the shape of the burrs are like fingerprints, might get bigger but the shape will be the same year after year.
13
Default Avatar
Simply said, "Those are awesome"
Randy
13