OG, I believe that you are right, the difference in population and food sources are the big reasons for the different deer behavior! If you have hunted both regions, you have seen these differences too! It is just amazing, the contrast between the behavior patterns of the same animal in two different regions!
Come to think of it, these contrasts go to show us that we should not be so critical of how people hunt from region to region and state to state. It is like hunting totally different game, and what works one place won't work in another! Wherever they are though, the Whitetail is a trophy animal, and consistantly harvesting them, usually takes good hunting skills reguardless of where you are!