Pepper spray was my idea...does anyone have any other suggestions? It's nearing the rut and they are starting to get aggressive. I had one stomping his feet and snorting at me last fall so I ran away.

Thanks Amy! I added a couple more things onto my list for winter gear!

I do not know what kind of deer you have in Montana but I've never worried about attacking deer. The snort and paw to warn other deer of your presence - maybe, if it's a female with young one. I've had them snort at me behind our garage and I'm know to "Boo!" or growl like a dog or just plain "oh stop that..." Once, I even came with 5 ft of a baby in my garden with no consequence. Oh yes - check this out:

https://www.itsahuskything.com/t13072-surprise-in-the-backyard?highlight=another+surprise

Since we've had Ami, they avoid the mowed areas almost completely.

I do want to note - most of the time last winter, I was over-heated the way I dressed. Ami walks so vigorously in the winter, I could probably walk in just long underwear and sweats and hat/goves! Plus, I don't know about you, but my damn nose runs like a faucet in the cold (the call it vaso-motor rhinitis. I call it a pain in the butt.) So, pack tissues.

We mostly have mule deer. I don't worry about them much with the exception of the fall and spring. A woman I know her ended up having to take her dog to the vet from injuries a deer did by stomping on her. She was walking her and a doe with a fawn charged her.

I just want to add in and say, it's not like I walk outside and check around corners for the deer. They are here, but it's not this huge battle or anything.

I hate when your nose runs in the cold and then it freezes! I never knew the was a name for it!

I couldn't get the picture to load on my phone...I'll look tomorrow when I get to my computer.