Originally Posted by
Mojotex
Down here in SE Al., it is extremely rare for a "fawn buck", i.e. first fall buck, to have "antler" broken through the skin. In fact, in 40+ years of hunting SE Al. and South Central Ark., I have never seen a single yearling buck on the hoof or on the skinning rack with horn above the hairline until near the very end of the season (Jan. 31 , this year Feb. 10) .... and then only 2 and only barely. As far as managing deer on 500 acres of open land, I cannot imagine how that'd work well unless every hunting groups surrounding the property buys into the same philosophy.
500 acres is plenty of land to get management results in IL. Not sure where the OP hunts though.