"Remarkably, the southern 1/3 seems to have faired mch better and numbers are still very good."

I have hunted the same Southern MI acreage for over 40 years. This year by far has been the worst deer hunting I have had in all those years. I sat all day opening day and the day after and only saw 2 does. Usually, I see anywhere from 25 to 40 deer on opening day.
I have talked with neighbors and friends and they are reporting the same results. We have about 40 people entered in our "biggest buck pool." As of this evening we only have one person who has gotten a buck and that was a smallish 7 point.
People are reporting the bucks they are seeing are spikes and small fork horns and that the does and fawns are smaller than previous years.
IMHO I think last winter was also hard on the deer in our area.

To sit back hoping that someday, someway, someone will make things right is to go on feeding the crocodile, hoping he will eat you last--but eat you he will. Ronald Regan.

NRA Life Member, US Army Veteran