I saw 13 deer on a short 1:10 ride late yesterday afternoon! Considering I was riding loops in a large park it is probable that there was at least some double-counting, but still It is, of course, easier to see them before the leaves return, but they do blend in with their surroundings - all of that brown. They all appeared to be quite young, probably all born last year.

One sighting was interesting. I watched her run up to the road - then she stopped, walked across the pavement, then started running again when her feet hit the grass. It was like she was remembering deer-road-crossing school instructions