The Deer in 99 Nights in the Forest: How to Survive, What Happens When It’s Hungry & More.
In 99 Nights in the Forest, the most feared creature is the Deer. It’s not your average animal. It’s a tall, creepy figure with antlers, glowing eyes, and sharp claws.
The Deer only comes out at night. If you’re away from your campfire, it will start chasing you. It can’t be killed. You can’t fight it. Your only option is to run or hide.
It Hates Light
The Deer is scared of light. Campfires keep it away. Flashlights can stun it for a moment. But don’t rely on light alone — it gets less effective over time.
If your campfire runs out, the Deer appears instantly near it. If that happens, run away immediately. Use trees or shelves to block its path. Its pathfinding is poor, so even small objects can slow it down.
What Happens When the Deer Is Hungry
Some nights, the game shows a warning:
“The Deer is hungry tonight.”
On these nights, the Deer becomes much more dangerous. It moves faster than your sprint, chases you on all fours, and has red glowing eyes. It also ignores light more easily and stuns for shorter time.
It’s not just the Deer — alpha wolves appear instead of normal ones. These are faster and more aggressive. If you’re far from the campfire on a hungry night, you’ll almost certainly die.
The warning shows up twice:
- Once during the day
- Again 20 seconds before night
These are signs to stay close to safety and never travel deep into the forest.
The Deer Gets Stronger Over Time
As days pass, the Deer becomes harder to deal with.
- It moves faster
- It hits harder
- It enters hungry mode more often
- Flashlight stuns get shorter
By Day 300+, the Deer becomes brutal. You’ll need better planning and fast decisions.
Don’t Try to Fight
Shooting or hitting the Deer does nothing. It cannot be killed or harmed. The only goal is survival. Keep your flashlight charged and your campfire burning.
On Day 1, the Deer won’t attack. This gives you a chance to explore and prepare.
Can You Become the Deer?
No. You can’t become the Deer. It’s not playable. It’s a story-driven enemy. There are fan theories and mod ideas, but nothing official yet.
Strange Behavior During Cult Attacks
During cultist raids, the Deer doesn’t attack. It just stands nearby, watching. Some believe this means it’s tied to the cult somehow. Others think it may even be protecting someone.
Is It Linked to the Missing Children?
Yes. Many believe the Deer kidnapped the four missing children. In the Day 99 ending, it reaches toward them but doesn’t attack. Some think the Deer is the mother, transformed by the cult. This theory is supported by strange objects like a syringe, plane wreck, and the mother’s absence in the story.
Is It Based on a Real Animal?
The Deer might look like an elk, but it’s not. It has antlers and a slimmer body. It’s more likely inspired by Wendigo folklore and the internet’s “Not Deer” myth.
Why Does It Run on All Fours?
When the Deer is hungry, it runs on four legs. This makes it faster and harder to escape. It also looks more animal-like and terrifying.
Quick Survival Tips
- Stay near the campfire at night
- Use your flashlight to stun the Deer
- Don’t travel far after Day 20
- Watch for “The Deer is hungry” warning
- Use trees and shelves to block its path
- Run — don’t try to fight
Final Thoughts
The Deer is more than just a monster. It’s part of the mystery. It’s tied to the children, the cult, and the forest itself. You can’t defeat it. But if you understand how it works, you can outsmart it.
Surviving the Deer is the true challenge of 99 Nights in the Forest.
More Reads: 99 Nights in the Forest Crafting Guide