I got a picture of this guy on my cam yesterday and understand its obvious he's messed up all over with bad genetics, but what really causes this to happen like his messed up rack?

Genetics for a weird rack? I dont buy the "Bad" Genetics thing. That may be the most prolific baby making,disease resistant, bad boy in the woods right there.
Doesnt mean he's not a shooter, just dont base that decision on "Bad Aesthetics".

Looks more like an injury could have caused it. IMO most bad genetic racks will be something you see on numerous bucks on your place. We've had it for over ten years. Good 4 on one side with no brow tine and straight horn on the other side.

We got several that have nice wide and tall six points with no brow time we are eight or better so we did not shoot them last year but this is our second year and they are going down this year

Sounds like a rule change of one cull a year is needed.

Bad genetics? maybe , maybe not.

I'd say an injury!!

No this is not a Buck with bad genetics. Auburn University (yuck) did a recent study of like 70 bucks with normal antlers on one side and a big spike on the other. In every single case they discovered the the messed up part of the antlers were from injuries not genetics. In conclusion the article (on D&DH) said not to cull these bucks if one side of the rack in impressive because the spiked side is not passed down through genetics. His rack will be messed up forever if the injury to the Pedicle is severe but his young will have normal genetics. Let him live and pass that one good side on.

well guys I ain't the expert that's why I'm askin y'all's opionion

If he is a mature deer I say drop hammer, if not give him some time

The deer looks to be an old deer. Some swaying in the back, neck connecting low on the chest, and a head patch, all signs of an older deer. He could be on the way down. I would guess pedicle injury caused his left side to be a spike. These usually happens, during an all out fight. To me, he would be a trophy.

Blumsden hit the nail on the head. I would shoot him just because he is taking up nutrition that a better potential buck could use. I don't know if it is genetic or injury, but I don't think the auburn study was completely conclusive. One thing for sure, not killing him isn't going to help anything. He will make good sausage.

The biologists have a lot more knowledge on these one side screwed up racks, but I guess I'm just hard-headed. I still think that genetics plays a role. So be it.

Just a thought...If it is genetics, do you think killing that deer will make a difference in the future buck racks in a free ranging White-tail herd?
A lot of studies have come out over the last 10 years on SOOS (Spike on One Side) deer. Most of these concluded that disease, or injury were the culprits for this phenomenon. Even injuries away from the antler pedicle, or head of the deer can sometimes cause deformities of the opposite side antlers, e.g., a buck is hit in the right hind quarter by a vehicle and survives the collision, but then displays a messed up rack on his left side the following year. Sometimes this is a temporary occurance and other times it is permanent.
IMO, the deer you have pictured is a mature Alabama buck. He would be on my hit list, but not because he is deformed, or genetically flawed, but beacause he is mature. Yes we all dream of and love those big P&Y and B&C racks, but unless you are deer farming in a high fence you are not going to be able to affect the genetic outcomes of deer very much. Mother nature will take care of that and besides; the obvious visual characteristics you can see in the bucks there is always that other part of the genetic code passed on by the doe, which is not visible when it comes to antlers.