Not to get in on the current debate but I just read something that speaks to this. I am currently trying to learn how to tan hides and I was reading a book (lots actually and I am not home so I may be misquoting), Deerskins to Buckskins,but back when the whitetail deer was being devastated there was a huge market for buckskins. The market was really big in Europe among royalty and other wealthy folks and also here in the states. I will see if I can find where I read this (may take a couple of days, expecting new chicks any day now so I'll be busy) but to answer your question, yes, the whitetail deer devastation was market driven in to some degree, a large degree from what I remember, but I am not 100% sure.