Let the bucks go so they can grow is my moto. I would rather drop a dozen does than a few small bucks unless they are scrub bucks with jacked up racks just to keep the gene pool strong. I have as well heard that about the deer population and I live in Il also. Even though the papers around here are saying the harvest was up from last year, not according to everyone I have spoke with who was out. I hunted 2-1/2 days first season, 3 days 2nd season and saw NOTHING!!!!!!!! Saw a bunch of deer during bow season, took 1 scrub buck n 3 does.