Excellent summary of the problem.

The woods in the Southern Teir of NY are suffering too. Our property was so bad that in some sections - there were no trees less than 20 years old, especially in the older woods. Even when a tree would fall in the woods, trees would sprout - but never get bigger than knee high with all the browsing.

The year round food plots we've planted along with doe harvest has helped, but probably not as much as the last two major ice storms and brutal winters both in 2003 and 2002. Our deer population had been KNOCKED back and we saw this year a real change in the understory - especially the younger woods and where we've cut some trees out.