Hi t roy,

The fact those deer stand there and appear to make themselves easy targets is probably "because" there is no rifle hunting in that part of the country. When I lived on Aberdeen Proving Grounds, (I actually lived on the Edgewood Arsenal side), deer would be out grazing in the open fields around the housing, the airfield, and the warehouse facilities. They would always be out well before dark.....well after sunup....and frequently in the middle of the day. The reason they stood around like that ignoring everybody.....was because they were NOT being hunted there!

As soon as you got "behind the fence".....back in the areas where hunting was permitted....you'd better believe the deer were acting like well "deer". No standing around in broad day light.....little movement through the day...unless joustled....and just as spooky as deer any where else they are hunted. Deer may not "think" like we do...but it doesn't take long to condition them to the specific conditions of the "threat". I have a feeling if you were allowed rifles in Illinois...within a very few years......you'd have a different opinion about that "target practice" thing!

In Alaska when you spook the "spruce grouse" they usually just fly eight or ten feet off the ground into a tree. And then sit there and stare at you. If your throwing arm is any good you could nail them with a rock. Actually, slingshots and pellet guns are frequently used to harvast them for the pot. They act that way because for centuries their enemy and threat was fox, or wolves, not men with guns. (Most Alaskans still call them "stupid chickens".) But they evolved to respond to the threat. Deer on the other hand....are conditioned much quicker!