Got a response from the wildlife officers for South Mountains on this.
The original rule was for antlered deer only but it was apparently changed in Raleigh to allow "either-sex" on the Cleveland and Rutherford County portions of the game lands only and is stated that way in the 2017-2018 regs book if you dig around.
Since the regs book is allowing either-sex to be taken in Rutherford and Cleveland Cos portions of the SMGL, despite the text of the new regulation, the WRC officers are going to allow either-sex to be taken.
Antlered only hunting on the Burke and McDowell Cos portions. So you have to know which county you are hunting in prior to shooting an antlerless deer or you will get a ticket.
Edit: See pg 57 of the 2017-2018 regulations digest.