I've noticed that some areas/properties are a sink for deer & for every one you remove another appears to replaces it, so whilst it doesn't appear that the relative abundance is changing at this location, its having an effect on the densities & dispersal in the less ideal niches within the range. At one property I witnesses the removal of over 2000 fallow does & spikers from a single corn crop over a single season. The next year there was no noticeable difference in population at this "sink" yet several klm's away the decrease was noticeable. The deer simply moved to fill the vacuum, & there was still the overall effect on reducing dispersal & conflict on adjoining areas. I've also witnessed the release/escape of over 2000 fallow from a property 40 klm west of mine over a decade ago, now there isn't a fallow in that area. They weren't all shot, they just failed to thrive & dispersed to country more to their liking. I saw it again just a few years ago at another spot when some alpaca fanciers bought a deer farm & tipped out 500 fallow. Be lucky to see a deer there now, even though all those deer born on that farm should have some loyalty or attachment to that site. They were obviously missing an important need & whichever place nearby that happens to fill it will become the "sink".
The only way to manage any wildlife population be it deer, ducks, roo's etc is to monitor. This means establishing honest indices of abundance. Getting relative abundance & monitoring trends isn't hard to do or expensive in most cases. Unless someone has established an indices & is monitoring & adapting the management to this, then using the term "management" is disingenuous to those who do.
As for "four hours drive" thats just a wee trip up to the shops for some of us.
Sharkey