Suddenly a flicker of shadow from under the low branches made me turn. A buck raced downhill, keeping the maples between us. I ran to the side and saw two larger bucks already well up the opposite hillside. Bedded deer may lie tight, forcing you to approach on the very path they used if you are to roust them. Of course, their back door is ajar, ready for a quick exit.
Deer make trails when they forage, both on site and to and from their beds.
Some paths leading from bed to victuals show heavy traffic. Fencerows funnel whitetails to croplands, and tongues of tall sagebrush channel mule deer. Other foraging routes are less conspicuous. Deer coming off a hill may get tailwinds as evening thermals descend. A constant prevailing wind moves with the animals to bed if it meets them outbound.