I used to do quite a bit of running, and I'd see deer once in a while, always does. Then one crisp November day I encountered two very large bucks with HUGE racks on the trail in front of me. I first saw them when they were right on the trail, about 100 yds away. I continued to run towards them, and they just stood there. I eventually slowed to a jog, and then a walk, to give them time to move off the trail. They were not intimidated by *my* narrow-assed self in the least. Judging by their size, they had both been in the gene pool a while. I can only surmise that the rut wasn't in full swing yet, since they were still hanging out together.