Smaller Deer in Fairfield County

This deer fence in Redding shows the dramatic impacts that deer have on forest vegetation. It also shows that deer don't have very much left to eat in some areas, and likely explains the smaller deer weights reported by hunters from 2007 to 2009 in Fairfield County.

MALE YEARLINGS:
State Average = 104.4 lbs
Lowest average = Zone 11 (Fairfield County) 100.0 lbs
Highest Average = Zone 2 (in Litchfield County) 112.1 lbs

** Fairfield County yearlings weighed 4.4 lbs less than the state average and 12.1 lbs less than deer in Litchfield County.

MALE ADULTS:
State Average = 142.5 lbs
Lowest Average = Zone 11 (Fairfield County) 136.0 lbs
Highest Average = Zone 2 (in Litchfield County) 157.7 lbs

**Fairfield County adults weighed 6.5 lbs less than the state average and 21.7 lbs less that deer in Litchfield County.

Are these deer smaller in stature, or are they failing to put on fat for the coming winter? How long have the deer been smaller in Fairfield County? Is there anything else that might explain the lower reported weights?

This data is from http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/wildlife/pdf_files/game/deersum09.pdf, Table 10.