If multiple deer have been seen with the same "defects" I would say that it is a gentic issue. Where I hunt there is a definate "tall racked 8 point" genetics. Every year we either see or kill Bucks that look identical to ones from previous years. The same racks. Even down to the G3 on the right side is nearly as long as the G2, but on the left side the G3 is shorter than the G2 like you would expect.I've side by side compared bucks from multiple years and they are nearly identical.This is clearly genetics. It wouldn't be a far stretch for me to believe that your scenario is genetic.