Different species of deer have different habits. However some general tips if you are walking a woodland. Late evening deer like fallow for example like to leave the woods to feed on open fields during the night, and likewise early morning sees them return to the woods, so walk the perimeter of the wood at this time making sure to keep the wind in the right direction so it doesnt blow your scent towards them (the wind direction will dictate where you actually start your walk). Take note of where you place your feet, do not snap twigs, walk on gravel tracks, or through mud that makes a sucking noise, always have a good background for your body and do not silhouette yourself against the sky, if opening gates or climbing over them (under is better than over) be very careful that they dont squeak as you do so and do not twang wire fences. Four things will give yourself away to deer (and other animals),
scent, movement, noise, and alarm calls from other animals & birds. Deer react different in woods than in open fields, in open fields they will generally take flight when they spot you usually to the nearest wood but in woods they may take flight but will sometimes freeze instead and stand perfectly still in the hope you will pass them by without seeing them (unless you happen to have a dog with you which will scare them). Lots of people walk straight past deer in woodland without ever seeing them despite being only yards from them. If you see a deer do not point at it and do not make direct eye contact. When walking woodland you have to learn to try to look through the wood so to speak, what gives you away to the deer is what gives them away to you too, only they are better at it than us, often a little movement that catches your eye turns out to be a flick of an ear, a different shape in the fauna that catches your attention turns out to be a deer standing perfectly still motionless. It might sound funny but sub-consciously when looking for deer in woods you are really looking for movement and shape and listening for noise such as snapped twigs or the swishing of bracken etc. Deer do also have regular haunts which become apparent when you walk the same area regular, and in woods they spend some time just lying down so dont just look at one level with your eyes. Best of luck and take advantage now while the undergrowth in the woods is still relatively low as once the bracken and undergrowth grows high it can be harder to spot the deer, likewise the same applies to crop fields. Also I dont know what type of deer you are hoping to see (or have seen crossing the road), and like I said above different types have different habits, but the next couple of months fallow bucks will be casting their antlers so keep a sharp eye out. ATB
For a bit of practice see if you can spot the two fallow deer bucks in this photo, think ''shape'' and notice how the horizontal back/spine stands out against the vertical tree trunks (pic taken by me last year in wyre forest)
