Some genetics

[boneaddict]

3x4s and crab claws, genetics I will see in certain pools for sure.

[MLBowhunting]

Cool pics for sure. 

[nwwanderer]

Same buck or father/son, what do you think?

[Rainier10]

3x4s and crab claws, genetics I will see in certain pools for sure.

You have way more history with these deer year after year.  Do you think they have the "crab claws" from youth to maturity?  Do they ever get bigger or they actually older deer that have regressed?  I would think if they were regressing the main frame would get smaller also.  Most of the deer that I have shot with the crab claws still have a great frame and good mass.

[boneaddict]

Once a crab always a crab usually, at least in 4 year olds on up, maybe even 3 year olds.    Generally when they regress I see them drop their g4s first, then mains get stubbier 

[Rainier10]

Once a crab always a crab usually, at least in 4 year olds on up, maybe even 3 year olds.    Generally when they regress I see them drop their g4s first, then mains get stubbier

Thanks.

[boneaddict]

Filmed a guy this week that looks almost identical as a buck I filmed in the same exact spot 4 years ago.   Must be dad and son.  You guys are going to think I’m breaking my rules for cal bucks.   Nope, different buck
While I’m on the subject, pretty sure I got a non typical I had in the calendar as a young buck 2 years ago.  He grew up.   

[bearhunter99]

As always, great pics Bone.  There is an area we hunt where pretty much every deer we have taken has had huge back forks and crab claws up front.

[Okanagan]

Bone, Thank you!

Really interesting stuff shown by your usual great photos!

I agree on the genetics.  I killed three big bucks on the same ridge over a period of six years.  The last one was so obviously a son of the first that you'd think that they were sheds from the same buck if it weren't for the skull plates. 

The middle buck was different.  He had a distinctive rack shape plus a cheater point.  Halfway down the migration route off of that ridge I killed a similar buck.  Then 9 miles in the opposite direction to the migration route, I killed a similar buck many years later on the next ridge mass over.  All three of those bucks had the same basic shape and mass distribution but the genetic clincher to me was a cheater point in exactly the same place on all three racks.  Two of the cheater points were even shaped the same. 

I'd line them up for photos but they are scattered between kids and grandkids far from me.   Yours are fabulously better anyway!