We have been asking ourselfs that very question. As far as I know there are no mule deer within 250 miles of our place. It is a whitetail I am 99.99% sure of it. These two deer have caused me not to kill a buck this year.
We have been getting pics of a number of 120" to 130" 8 points all fall. My son and I bow hunted the week before gun season and these two showed up that week. I have been holding off wanting one of them. I have passed on a number of lesser, yet very nice deer, hoping for one of these. So far we have not seen either one live and in person.
Everyone knows if you kill the little ones, you will never kill a big one.