The deer are not gone. I hunted the Allegheny National Forest this year for the first time in the past six years. In the face of the worst hunting conditions (dry, unseasonably warm, full moon, NO HUNTING PRESSURE, no snow) I managed to take my doe easily and saw two shooter bucks that I couldn't shoot (tagged out archery). I saw about 5 deer/day still hunting in a crunchy mess - I expected to see zero.

As for the deer sign, I undoubtedly saw more and better buck sign than ever in the area we hunt. Our camp saw two really nice bucks (harvested neither) and multiple smaller shooters. There were twice as many scrapes/rubs as anyone has ever seen in that area... the deer were there, but the slight hunting pressure and warm temps caused them to become a shade reclusive, and lay tight.

Around home, most everyone has tagged out on their bucks/does.

I wish the deer herd WOULD shrink, b/c I've crunched two of 'em this fall with my car.