I don't think there are real genetic differences in the deer of the two regions. The deer seem to be like people, differing in size. Tail length, etc, are not indicators of the region they were shot. One real difference is in taste. You will find these fat, corn-fed critters are much tastier than their hill-country cousins. I really think it has a great deal to do with acorn intake. Where I hunt in KY, there are tons of oaks, very similar to southern Ohio. The deer I shoot there before the acorn drop (season starts the first part of Sept), are less "gamey" than those killed later in the year. Acorns are a much smaller part of a deer's diet in farm country.