The terrain/vegetation here just doesn't support deer numbers like you see in Middle/West TN and the East TN valley. With the exception of the mountains of East TN, the northern Cumberland Plateau is probably the poorest deer area in the state. But the deer numbers do seem to have declined in the BSF, and no one really has a good answer as to why. Some of it again is terrain/vegetation, which is poorer (for deer) in and around the gorge than in other areas of the plateau. But there just aren't as many deer there now as there used to be.
There aren't nearly as many wild boar, either, but we know why that was...the NPS contracted trappers and shooters to take them out. There are very few hogs in the park now.
I've seen more deer here in my area of W. Tn in the last 6 months than I can remember in a long time. They just opened this week a new 2 mile connecter road they build through the woods....really nice 2 mile drive with hills creeks etc...I drove it this morning for the first time and saw no less than 15 deer in that 2 miles....Had to slow down at one point to almost a stop to let 5 cross the road 75 feet in front of me.
I can go within 10 blocks of my house in any direction and see 10-30 every afternoon. Cotton, wheat and corn fields all around me and they come out between 4-6 to feed.
This area I live has all been developed in the last 10-20 years....I had a deer hunter friend of mine tell me that at one time this area I live in had more deer per square mile than any place in Tn. West of the Tennessee river.