Jeff, to answer the other question, yes absolutely crop rotation could have something to do with it. For example, there is a patch of property that I hunt in NJ that is public land that I have decided that if they plant anything other than soybeans I'm saving my license money. I have hunted this property for over 5 years and they have had soybeans rotated in there twice during that time. With the soybeans it is a slammer spot. Lots of deer and good hunting. This year corn[:'(]. I saw some deer there, but it was hard hunting and we saw tons of deer on the neighboring property where there is no hunting and soybeans were planted.

If you can find out what the areas around you had planted when you were seeing all those deer and find out when it will be planted again you should see an increase in activity.