I remember hiking the Laguna Mtns in San Diego Cty in 80's. There was a large (hundreds) herd of deer that grazed there. After outlawing hunting and trapping cougars, now there are no deer left, or in hiding. An adult pair will take ten a year.
All the wildfires pushed the cats closer to the coast. Now they feed on elderly hikers and mtn bikers...
Actually Ronald Reagan (then Cali Governor) signed bills banning hunting lions in the 70s.
I lived in Elsinore in the late 80s, and in Orange earlier in the 80s. Both are along that same mountain range that extends from San Diego all the way to Anaheim.
There’s a small gap (a half to a mile-ish) and not very populated in Santa Ana river canyon/Prada basin.
I can assure you there are still many deer up there.
I’ve not seen herds of 100s but dozens to 25? 30? for sure.
At this point their only predators are coyotes and cars.
When they built highway 241 that runs from Santa Ana Canyon up over the mountain with legs down to Irvine, El Toro and Lake Forrest, many folks were surprised to see the deer crossing signs.
I wasn’t, I knew they were up there, lol.
Have seen them in the hills above Yorba Linda, too.
They are smaller and not sure of the species.
A little taller than a Great Dane.
The lion population is definitely on the rise here in So Cal.
Depredation permits are issued every year, usually 150-200 lions a year are taken by ranchers or State hunters acting on complaints by ranchers and home owners, and of course the elederly and mountain biking victims/families.