A couple of observations from an old coot who doesn't care if the deer weighed 400 lbs or 800 lbs.

First, it is not unusual for gases to "bloat" a deer (here in the midwest in November)after it has been shot and recovered the next day; I have seen it happen personallymany many times. When I saw the original thread my guess was that it wasn't recovered right away looking at the hair and the size of the paunch area. Also the shotlooked to be too far back from what I could tell.

No one holds their bow back for 10 minutes....unless they are under bowed...My guess is he is referring to the time as an expression of measurement. Much like we would say, "if I have told you once I have told you a thousand times don't play with matches!

The measuring issue.... There are charts that designate chest size with live weight.I know a number of people thatuse them as a way to get a handle on a bucks weight in absence of a scale. How accurate are they? I know not. As far as the bloating issue affecting the measurement; being that the swelling is farther back the effect would be minimal. What is more important is how the tape is ran. By that I mean loose, tight, straight, etc.

The pictures....I'm willing to give these guys the benefit of the doubt. They may not have followed the steps some others would have, but that is a personal thing. They could have thought this was just another big midwest deer until all the attention began pouring in who knows...who cares.

I will be the first to admit that photos can be some of the most deceiving things we look at. They can be manipulated in so many ways, even without photoshop.....

I submit exhibit A your honor......




....And Exhibit B.......




Were these photos "shopped"?????