I don't know if it would be proper to call it intelligence, but maybe more so of a situational or surroundings awareness.

If a buck reaches the age of 4 1/2 in my area, odds are he will be the top dog for his home range, and odds are he was probably there as a 3 1/2 year old (that is usually as old as deer get around here) so that means for possibly the first time in his life he has been in the same area for the last couple years. Basing this loosely on an several articles I have read on how far a yearling buck will go to get out of his birth area (5-10 miles) then once he gets there that might not be the spot he ends up in....

So getting back to the question, he is starting to be more like a doe in that has been born and lived in the area, ever notice how them old does always pick you out? They know what does and doesn't belong. Wonder what would happen if you put a dummy or maniquen (sp?) and leave it in a stand all year long on a busy trail, then take it out when you want to hunt that spot......