These are mule deer, frequent travelers on the greenway behind our house. I have lots of photos of them with the inappropriate lens that happens to be on the camera when they show up. I thought this series was interesting not for image quality, but something I noticed about their behavior. The herd decided that they'd avoid a nearby pedestrian so they stopped grazing and formed up to get back to cover. In the series, you can see the lead deer shift their ears away from the threat 200 yards to their right, forward to check out the woods in front of them. The deer in the center of the formation are listening to each side, and in the rear, they're listening behind them.

The aperture was a mistake but the lens is very forgiving of mistakes.

[Bob Harris]

Interesting post Dave, I have noticed basically the same thing with the pronghorn antelope. It seem like each one has a certain job or assignment. I have seen a couple of groups of deer down here in Peyton, CO., but they are even more cautious than the antelope. Looks like the deer in the rear is a young buck who is moving his girls out of danger. tfs, Bob

[daacon]

Well spotted they are shy creatures for sure - keeps them safe I suppose.