Here is what is great.... where else on the internet would this be an entertaining dispute about something almost entirely meaningless without devolving into insults, spamming, banned users etc?
And for what its worth to those pointing out the evidence against the deer is mostly circumstantial.... so is the evidence for the deer.
Without the mount, all you have is some pretty weird photos of it both alive and dead (who here has snuck up and taken in-season film polaroids of an ancient alert bedded buck facing you hunting during season?) and the word of some buddies 20 years back who say it looked fine to them, not to even mention all the other weird deer he shot that have also just vanished. Mitch is the one who came out and proclaimed to all that once again he had shot another record buck, this time the biggest in history! It wasn't the doubters who made the claim and thrust this buck into the spotlight for all to see... Then the heat turned on and he changed his tune and just vanished for a couple of decades. If the evidence against the deer is weak, the evidence for the deer is equally weak. Nowadays when you shoot a true record, there is a borderline investigation to substantiate your claim by game and fish to head off any disputes like this. Saying "he was a good hunter" doesn't conjure state and world record deer time and time again onto the property he is hunting of all the millions of acres in the state. His son even stated fairly recently that no house fire ever happened, Mitch still lives in the same house, and the mount itself is safe.... which adds another documented lie to a long list about this deer....so why not just end this once and for all and prove everyone wrong, and prove all of your loyal fans and supporters RIGHT, claiming your title as the best to ever do it? In my opinion, the only reason that makes sense is because the buck is a fabrication in some way.