semi it seems as your old rules should have done the trick. Do you have a food source not natural but planted like beans, corn ect that the deer can feed on? It doesnt matter how big an area of land you manage, you have to have enough food to keep the deer there or they will relocate to a better food source.
Along with a good food source you have to keep the predators in check, if unhunted they will breed and take a toll on the herd. I know even with all we do to keep the deer on our propertys, if there's a better corn or bean field planted somewhere else that provides the deer with food and more security (Posted Land wich is'nt hunted) the deer will relocate there.
One piece of property we hunt that's only 265 acres has always been a deer haven with pleanty of deer available to shoot. This season the deer sightings were nill to none. 2 miles down the raod they planted a new corn field and the surrounding property is owned by non hunters, the deer whet there and why not, they have food and no on hunts them. We know this as we spotted the corn field at night and saw over 100 deer feeding, while we were'nt seeing any at our place.
Also another place we hunt usually has apples and acorns by the bushel. This year we had a Bad Freeze that ruined our apple crop for the year and the Red Oaks also suffered the freeze, thus the deer moved to where the food was.
Food is No1 with keeping deer on your property, then security, if either is changed the deer will leave.
Hope things change for you and wish you all the best.
(BP)