Well, I will never leave an unfinished homestead project out in the open for a curious deer ever again. It really is the only explanation. Hooligan children didn’t do it because….. We don’t have any hooligan children in this rural neighborhood. Anyway, I’m sure you’re wondering, “Didn’t do what?”. Nature gave me this Christmas present last Monday:

 

 

My chicken tractor looked like this on Christmas Eve:

 

 

 

You might remember my post on unfinished homestead projects, of which the chicken tractor was one. I needed about 30-60 more minutes to finish it. The chickens would have loved their gift I’m sure. You might be wondering how I know it was a deer. I deduced it mostly from other options seeming unlikely. A small deer herd beds down in our yard a few nights per week. I imagine that one of them crawled in through one of the open areas (there were some areas that still needed wire), and then freaked out when it couldn’t get out. The curious deer managed to thrash the tractor several feet away from where I left it.

 

Video: A Tour of my Wrecked Chicken Tractor

 

 

 

Are Deer Curious Animals?

As I have learned, and much to many a hunter’s delight, the answer is yes. According to Petersen’s Bowhunting, deer are very curious animals. Hunters can use this characteristic against them because each deer needs to investigate for themselves. The author, Zeke B. Pipher, describes a surreal hunting incident. He shot a turkey, and it landed right in the middle of a game trail. Worried that it would put off deer using the trail, he makes a move to remove the turkey carcass. Deer actually come along before he can remove the turkey, and he got to watch all of them investigate it, despite being agitated. Then just a few minutes before hunting hours end, he lands a 9-point buck who had to sniff the dead turkey. Amazing! I will have to try “curiosity hunting” when I start bow hunting!

 

So another lesson learned on the homestead: Deer are curious and simultaneously not super intelligent. Don’t leave your unfinished projects out for them to wreck.

 

Has deer curiosity graced your yard or homestead? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments!