I spent a few years and a few dollars at erindirt college....the first 3 years I searched every day for deer...and everyone around me would recount sightings...in 4th year a prof told me that they walked pretty openly about campus....it was just a matter of SEEING them...he said many students walked by without noticing them...so I started to observe...and I saw them....now, as an adult, I have deer all about my house...and I find they drift in and out of the woods...my 9 yo daughter is really good at spotting them....oftentimes I'll point out a couple of deer and she will or react me and tell me there are more than I saw...and sure enough after a few minutes more will materialize out of the woods.