That's sad to hear, but it's a fact of nature I suppose. If they were orphans, they may have been weak and seeking refuge in what they thought was a safe place, and may not have been able to survive outside in the woods in safety. Just a thought......

We get deer in our yard occasionally, but not nearly as frequently as in previous years. As little as Sparky is (12 lbs), he will take off after them, but of course he never gets close, so it's probably instinct for most dogs to pursue them.

Don't blame yourself - you had no way of knowing the deer were in there. I wouldn't blame the dogs either in spite of how upsetting it must have been.