I know that deer are not capable of rational thought,

No animal other than Humans are capable of rational thought. However, the ability to recognize danger and respond to like situations in the future (avoidance behavior) requires no rational thought. Just conditional memory.

Exactly,.....Thats what makes it so ironic (and entertaining) that so many hunters continually try to apply a rationalization process to their actions...

HAHA,...all we need to do is get the deer to read TNDEER and then they would know what they are supposed to do!!!!

Just for the record,...I have my doubts about many humans too...

I think animals in general key in more so on what works as a point of conditioning....not so much as what doesn't work....

Funny how deer can know the difference between the farmer and his tractor and a hunter in his truck/atv. I've watched deer stay in the far field while farmer does his thing but let a atv or truck come to the tractor and the deer will bolt. Don't know what is in their head but they probably have more intelligence than me...

Funny how deer can know the difference between the farmer and his tractor and a hunter in his truck/atv. I've watched deer stay in the far field while farmer does his thing but let a atv or truck come to the tractor and the deer will bolt. Don't know what is in their head but they probably have more intelligence than me...

When you find one that can count to ten you let me know alright!?...

Actually it's a pretty easy process to understand. Tractor has never caused them harm, hence the deer ignore it. At some point the deer had a negative encounter (which they classify as "danger") with a truck/ATV. They then react very negatively to a truck/ATV in the future. The big question in many researchers minds is how did the deer learn the truck/ATV was dangerous? Was it taught to them by their mother? Was it a first hand experience? Can deer "learn" by watching what happens to other deer? Basically, the big question is, how do deer learn what is and is not dangerous?