If it is on one of your food plots, it is private land I am guessing, right? By the time the bucks shed their antlers, they should be pretty well done trying to roam and breed. Of course, it is consequential, but I would imagine you could limit hunting on the land your food plot is on and potentially keep the deer of concern from being killed. He could also be in danger of being hit if he is anywhere near a road. Most of the time, and I say most, the conservation departments in our states have management figured out down to a science. There are a ton more deer now than there were fifty years ago, thirty years ago, and even ten years ago, at least in a general sense. I certainly understand that this can be dependant upon region. Just trying to help you rest easy though and I hope he is around next year. Also, most bucks are going noctournal since rut activity is done. BB