I have read many of his blogs and stories on-line. This is not a bashing thread. Please start your own if that's what you feel like doing or go to another site there is plenty of that going on. What are the facts? Facebook misunderstanding? Any antler experts have an opinion? Maybe just forget about it and pray for him and his family? I am not sure on this one and if this turns into a circus please delete. I really 100% am not sure of the exact issue?
Hard to say what I really think w/o sounding like I'm bashing the guy. I'll leave it at, you can only lie for so long before the truth comes out.
All I have seen is the Facebook link a buddy sent me yesterday. The Antler Collector guy bought and sold a rack a few years back, then somebody noticed it was awfully similar to a buck Marc supposedly shot. Somebody made a good point in the comments, the deer in question is the only deer he isn't holding by the rack for the trophy pics. I'm not saying guilty or innocent, just seems a little fishy to me
Here's the link I got https://m.facebook.com/?_rdr#!/grou...k&id=738110119543122&ref=m_notif¬if_t=like
I'll be honest, I had no idea who the guy was until last week when someone asked me about him. I had to look up who he was and what the issue is. Here's what I know. If I'm wrong on any of these someone can correct me. - Marc is a guy from IL who is known for hunting from the ground using a ghillie suit. He even sells his own suits via his website. - Marc is a taxidermist - He is currently the person with the most B&C whitetail entries of deer shot with a bow (this was previously held by Andrae Dacquisto but after some run-ins with the DNR and some minor violations they removed some of his records) - People online are questioning the validity of one of Marc's trophies (shot in 2010 or 2011 I think), saying it looks an awful lot like a buck that was found dead in Kansas in 2008 (or thereabouts) - Marc was a member of the Illinois Whitetail Alliance (the group put together to try and enact some change in IL deer hunting regulations and goals), but has since been removed from the group after allegations started coming out Those are the facts as I have been able to find out. If anyone knows otherwise feel free to correct me. As for the allegations I honestly have no idea. I'll admit that the photos look fishy (he's not holding the rack in any of them) and the buck looks identical to the Kansas dead head I saw pics of. If anyone call pull off a "Rompola" hoax, you'd think someone with a taxidermy background could. So it's certainly possible, and the IWA dropping him makes things look even worse. To me it looks like a bit of a smoking gun, but until someone actually proves he didn't kill that buck or he admits to the hoax then it's all just heresay. For reference, here is the buck and the dead head. Dead head on the left.
I personally think he is lying. The deer are too close, and who shoots a buck that big and doesn't take a picture with his face in it hold the horns with his hands and a huge smile? Not bashing the guy I just don't believe he shot that deer. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I've been following Marc for a while and have really enjoyed reading his articles and hearing him speak, but those racks are identical. Not looking good for him.
He does have pictures with his face in them. http://www.trophyridge.com/sites/www.trophyridge.com/files/u6/Marc6.jpg
I don't think they are "exactly" the same. Looks like some kickers on the dead head and maybe a bit of difference on the main beams between the g1 and g2 on the left side?
The kicker on the base could have been removed pretty easily, especially by good taxidermist like Marc. Everything else looks identical to me. Even where the G2 and G3 get a bit wider in the middle. I hope it is just a misunderstanding and the buck is legit, but it's not looking good at this point.
Is there someone closing in on his record? Just curious to a motive for faking this deer. I could see someone in his position worried about losing the title and decide to add another buck to the list Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It does look like a kicker on dead head at the base that isn't on the one he shot. I don't know the guy and never heard of him either until about a week ago but I do know how Internet gossip blows up.
Either the deer had a pedicle that was way off what is normal, or he didn't mount the rack correctly.
My bad, I take back that comment. I still don't think it looks good. Especially that there is some discoloration where the kicker would have been taken off. And he is a taxidermist so everyone knows it would be easy for him to fake Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It looks like he's released a statement of sorts. Notice the "nothing illegal" as opposed to "nothing wrong". Lying about killing a deer isn't exactly illegal, but as the fine Internet investigators will tell you, it's certainly wrong.
I picked up on that last night when I was reading. Almost admitting to something, but still covering himself somewhat.
I think it could be illegal if he registered those bucks. And if he won a prize (and I don't know if he did or didn't) for the IL Deer Classic, could he possibly be charged with fraud?
Never heard of the guy. Is he being accused of photoshopping the photo? I'm not perfectly clear on what he's being accused of? Did he model some antlers from a deer and slap them on another because he's a taxidermist? I looked at the photo, and there's a slim possibility that it was photoshopped, but it's slim, it's also hard to tell on a photo taken from the www. Here's what I can tell you about the photo. It was taken using a Canon Powershot SD750 It was taken using a Self timer It was taken on 10/13/2010 @ 10:05am Now you've just gotta figure out when he says he killed the buck.
I don't want the knowledge, but isn't it possible to see the coordinates of where the photo was taken?
