Is this checking?

[Vgo750]

Cut this tree down last weekend and sealed the ends yesterday and saw this.
 

It is on both ends of the log.  I obviously don't know how deep these cracks go but im guessing this is really bad???  These cracks developed in only a few days...is this normal?  Is this checking?  Would sealing sooner help to prevent this?  And finally, should I split this log to see I can get any staves out of it or is this log probably caput?

[macbow]

Yes, it occurs very fast.
Need to seal right after cut. Even before hauling.
Still good though try using the large checks to start the splits.
Also after ready to store spray with bug killer.

[Bowjunkie]

I don't go after bow wood without a can of shellac and a paint brush handy. I seal it before it goes in the truck... or upon arriving home at the latest.... now you know why.

[Roy from Pa]

Yup, seal the ends as soon as you set the chainsaw down. But it will be fine, like Mac said, start the splits where it's checked.

[John Scifres]

Let's see. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. And yes and no.

[Pat B]

Split it along the biggest check.
 Checks don't hurt bows unless they run off the limb and if they run off the limb then the bowyer didn't follow rule #1, follow the grain.

[Osagetree]

Or, cut'm longer so checks can be trimmed off.

[NYArrow]

That's amazing, I can't believe it would check that quickly.

[Roy from Pa]

If things don't work out right when splitting it, you could always salvage some of it and splice billets together too.

[Eric Krewson]

Looks to me like the log is telling you how it wants to be split, not necessarily a bad thing.

Mike McGuire, the osage "Guru", always looks for these types of indicators to determine how he splits a log.

[razorback]

I'm with Eric, looks like perfect places to start the splitting. logs already started the work for you. Looks like some real nice rings to chase as well in all but one of those sections (bottom right)