Deer have evolved a number of protective habits that seeminherent and universally adopted. One of these habits orstrategems (this seems to be a better word) is to travel upwind, in other words, to travel in the direction from whichthe wind is blowing. When they bed down they face downwind, depending on their sight to protect them from the frontand their sense of smell to protect them from the rear. Theydo not bed closely together; they take positions that cover allapproaches to the bedding area. When they are feeding theyhave a habit of lifting their heads frequently for a quick
glance around. When a herd is feeding fairly close together,there is never a moment when all heads are down at the sametime. If danger is detected by any of the feeding group, a hoofwill stamp the ground, a tail will flick—then the whole herdwill take flight with flags waving at top staff.
