It has been all over the news in the outdoor community: The Minnesota state record shed whitetail antlers that were discovered in Excelsior, Minnesota, by resident Jay Miller. According to official measurers who scored the antlers at a northern Minnesota sport show in February, 2011, the right antler scored 91 3/8 inches and the left antler scored 89 5/8 inches.

In the fall of 2010, the "Excelsior Buck" was captured on video. A few photos of the buck on the hoof have circulated, but chances are you haven't seen these ones.

The "Excelsior Buck" on the hoof.

The "Excelsior Buck" on the hoof.

North American Hunting Club Member Benefits Director Doug McDougal lives near Exclesior, so when he got wind of the video last year his curiousity peaked. "I started asking around," McDougal said. "Turns out the buck was feeding at my buddy’s deer feeder and it was bedding down in his backyard." 

McDougal stayed in touch with his friend, who was planning to hunt for the buck's shed antlers when the time was right. "One of his neighbors [Jay Miller] beat him to it," McDougal said. 

McDougal's friend was able to capture these rare on-the-hoof photos of the Excelsior Buck. Locals believe the buck is still alive, but can only speculate about how his antlers will shape-up in 2011. Either way, McDougal remains optimistic: "We’ve got plans for next year’s shed hunt." 

 The "Excelsior Buck" on the hoof.