I appreciate the thoughtfullness and intelligence of the opinions expressed!These are challenging issues and it seems as if many of us are having to deal with them.In the catskill mountains of New York we have over mature forests,no logging is permitted on state land.The sun doesn't hit the forest floor so there is very little browse and cover.In addition to that we have suburban sprawl where there is more and more land that is not huntable but because of vegatation and security from hunters and coyotes we have the vast majority of our deer herd being artificially supported in and around lowland residential area's.There are very few deer in the mountains because of the food and cover being in short supply and where the majority of the deer are you cannot hunt them.It is messed up.
I would much rather see fewer deer and see the forests be healthy than the other way around.
The Manitoba example is similar to what I experience every year hunting in northern Idaho.Very healthy forests,low deer densities but still quality hunting.