they would have been close to shedding velvet about 5 1/2 months ago so thickness depending on how accurate your estimate is could be the cause but i would think with acorns dropping in late september and early october you would need lack of rain to have been in the summer foliage months of may june july and august. there was heavy rains here in wisconsin stopping some of the planting in late may and early june. In my opinion (im no agriculture professional) the fields were as full as they usually are here the conditions where obviously different there but i don't think that lack of rain was the primary cause. Spindly or thin racks are usually due to malnutrition or lack of essential minerals sometimes injury. i think genes can play a part, please don't go out trying to cull the deer herd of these genes your doing so in vain a majority of time. If you want to do something about it plant food plots and maybe put a watering holes some salt and mineral licks. 3 years ago i shot a spindly 8 point, this year i shot one of the thickest racked 8 points i have seen. my brother shot a nice thick 8 last year to. i think there just must be the right amount of nutrion in the area and we planted food plots for the last 4 years now to. mine is in my pictures if your curious.