I do not believe the white flash spooks deer to a large extent from my experience although I think there could be the odd deer that may shy away from it.

I've spoken to a wildlife biologist that was involved in one study and knows of another study that both determined that the deer that jumped came back when they could not associate any harm with the flash. When no harm came from the flash and other deer were still standing there they then settled down.

I also e-mailed three digital trail camera manufacturers that were selling IR cameras and asked them if they had done any studies or if they knew of any studies that showed that the white flash spooked deer. Two did not answer me and the other stated that they had not done any study and that their field people did not think that the white flash spooked deer. This company said that when they stated that the white flash could spook game they were talking about bears.