Autumn rut? The deer are way more active this time of year? I rounded a corner on a MUP a few years ago in mid October, and a large buck is straddling the path. Holey crap! I skid to a stop about 8 feet from the buck. The rack sure looked awefully big and pointy that close up. The buck just looks at me for a moment. then *Zap* he bounds back into the forest and is gone. He probably went back to his harem and told all the does about the "human stare into the rack" encounter he just had.