RE: same buck from last winter
 

Yep, I concur; definitely the same deer.

I, too, had heard various hypothesises on what caused holes in antlers; my taxidermist had told me that it was a sort of beetle that would bury up in the antler while in velvet. Makes me wonder after seeing him carry it into his next rack.

Good luck pursuing him.

RE: same buck from last winter
 

Same buck. Nice one though!