I'm a little late in joining this discussion, but I'll throw my $0.02 in. The DOW down played the die-off from '07-08, probably because they didn't want the bad PR to impact license sales. I volunteered to help feed that winter and saw 1st hand how bad it was. I saw a ravine in the sage brush where the deer were piled up like cord wood. It was terrible. Fawn mortality was high. We've had a few mild winters and I believe the herd is slowly recovering.
One thing to consider about 54/55 are the OTC elk hunters. You'll bump into a lot of orange. Access is easier in 55. I'd go 3rd season if possible.
I took my brother elk hunting in 551 for 3rd season last year. We were all over that unit and saw lots of elk. I didn't see a single deer. Not even a doe. Maybe just a weird coincidence, but alarming.
