In my opinion, every situation is different.

Depredation permits were never issued with the intent of killing every deer on the property who takes a bite of the crop. I've been on the neighbor side of this in years past, and it's not good for your hunting or your deer population if the farmers go too far with it. I'm not sure how guidelines on depredation permits are, but open season all, all night, every night, can't be good.

But neither is getting your crop hammered above and beyond what is considered normal.

There has to be a balance, but in the case mentioned it sounds like the farmer is on the winning end of the situation.