The differences that you guys are calling out are not possible to say with such clarity given the quality of the photo as posted.

The sticker point could be there.

The coloration is OBVIOUSLY going to look different, I don't need to go into photography and light effects and such do I?

Look at the left side (The deer's left). Look at the angles between each tine on that side. Look at the lengths of each tine as it compares to the next tine. Also notice the unique "sway back" that the tines on that side do.

I'd give it a 90 something % chance that it IS the same buck.

Bring YOUR picture to the guys house, and at night use the same camera to take pictures of the rack at the same distance at various similar angles.