I've seen this many times over the years. Cool and overcast mornings - just before and just after sunrise - the deer are out running errands, or going to Wyoming or some darn thing!
I had 3 of the largest deer I've seen in years stroll across the road in front of me yesterday morning....with conditions just as I noted above. At least the last one to cross was a buck with a nice set of antlers. First two might have been big does.
Very rarely see them on warm sunny days. COLD & sunny days, yes - but not warm days.
I registered these deer in this section of my morning route into my mental log for future rides.
I've no problem slowing for deer areas - only gets to be a problem when being followed by a fast approaching car. I've enhanced the rear lighting on each of the 4 scooters I've owned to help deal with this.
Still, I'd rather deal with deer at dawn than play on my scooter mid-day in auto traffic!
Major Tom