What happened in unit 2G was that the deer population just crashed to meet the level of the existing habitat and environmental conditions. The habitat did improve slightly because nature reduced the deer populations to a level that matched those harsh winters, which was actually lower then it normally needs to be. So with fewer deer the habitat has improved, but not enough for any major or long term increase in deer numbers.
The herd crashed in 2G because the harvests have exceeded recruitment reducing the herd from 15DPSM in 2000, to 8 DPSM in 2007. Cutting the herd in half results in twice as much food for the remaining deer.
The deer population will, and all indicators are that it already is, increase to meet the improved habitat as long as we have normal winters. But, in the northern tier mountainous areas of the state the deer numbers will always experience some normal, and even significant, up and down trends based on the annual environmental variables.
The 2007 AWR shows that the herd in 2G decreased by 23% from 2006 t0 2007, so either you or the PGC professionals are full of it!!
WHO SHOULD HUNTERS BELIEVE, THE PGC or RSB?