I’ve read that nationwide, deer populations were at their lowest ever during the great depression - for that very reason.
another reason the population is so low is out west the introduction of wolves take a lot of deer and elk. Here in Michigan, we still have lots. I have them out in my clearing eating the apples that fall off the old apple tree’s. Apples aren’t good for anything except deer. Only saw a live buck once, its usually female’s with young, sometimes last years young un will travel with mom and her new one...