First impression -
still looks pretty shady

- sure a plot will grow if the soil is good -but look at it knowing that shade might play a role in how much biomass the plot will produce. If the plot is nibbled bare - then your deer population is telling you that you need more - and if its not eaten a lot - then they either don't like it a whole lot - or you don't have a ton of deer feeding here.

I figure its about 1/5 acre (9000 square feet)- does that sound right?

FH