What has changed? Deer Population explosion
I grew up in Pike County, Ky. Across the river from Mingo County. It was an extreme rareity to see deer in that area when I was a kid. Now, they are everywhere. Monsters. I know they don't allow rifle hunting there. But I can't see that as a factor alone. Not too many people bow hunted because you had 10% chance of killing a deer.
Same story can be told all over the east coast. I hear that on the eastern Shore of MD, in the 70-80's deer were almost wiped out. Now its the place to go. In fact, you can kill over 32 deer in MD. I know urban spraw is to be blamed in the urban sections, but what about the shore?
Only place it sounds like deer are not exploding is PA.
Could be less hunters? Better management? Better habitat?