I had my target buck last year make it through the season and he had some interesting character on his right G2, hard to ID him by body right now as all the bucks look big and healthy. Last night got some good pics of some bucks and there was one with what looked like a thicker G2 in velvet and was wondering if that could be him as I remember him having the same look last year in velvet. I am not asking anyone to ID a specific deer, but just asking if you have seen bucks throw trash or splits or spaded tines year to year in the same place. I always thought these things were more random, but maybe they are genetic?

Ive seen it both ways.

I shot a buck we had on cam for 4 years. He went from an 8 to an 11 to a 13 to a 12 the year I shot him. 1.5 was a typical 8, 2.5 typical 10 with double brow, 3.5 typical 12 with same double brow, and 4.5 was a typical 12 with out the double brow, it didn't break, he never grew it that year.

Have also seen progressions where they look identical from year to year just bigger and older.

generally there'll be something in the location that would have you believe it's the same deer. Maybe spaded/bladed where a kicker was, maybe just small bumps where a kicker was. I'm keeping my eye on a deer that as a 3yo had a split brow and a triple brow, last year as a 4yo it had a slight look of wanting to have a split brow and tines where his kickers were on its G2s were bladed. Went from a 13pt down to a 9pt where only 8 would count.

Seen all types of things happen with kickers, splits, double rows or drops with bucks. Seen them have NT points in the same locations year after year. Seen them grow them every other year. Seen them grow them once and never again. Seen bucks with kickers on one side on a G2 and split on the opposite G2 one year then the next year swap sides on the NT points. Buck stayed that way the next 3 yrs with the NT points. Certain genetics traits will show up in the herd in multiple bucks...split brow(s) or kicker on G2 or bladed back tines or mule fork G2(s), etc. Rainfall years like this will show more of the common NT points across the herd in age classes.