Here's another thought for u Bailey and CH.
The area here has had an increased amount of posted ground by private land owners i nrecent years. The same as most of PA.I'm sure you have heard complaints of "no where to hunt","too many hunters on public land".
Limited access has driven many hunters to give it up. I also would have a tendency to believe that that has caused declining liscense sales across the country.
When u put more hunters in asmaller area w/ fewer deer(HR for habitat improvement) decline in hunter #'s will occur.

Pointers' numbers are an eye opener, aren't they?