Here's the deal with pronghorn. Historically they didn't have to deal with fences. When ranchers started to build fences, the pronghorn wouldn't jump them. They would come to a fence, drop to their belly and crawl under. However, that is changing and today, once in a while you will see on jump a fence.
Also, apparently pronghorn mothers teach their fawns to look both ways before crossing a road. So, when a pronghorn (when not being shot at or chased) comes to road (even just a ranch "road"), it will stop and look before crossing that road.
Very interesting observations and thank-you for posting this.
Over the years I have discussed this very topic with many hunters.
It is my belief that animals are not capable of cognitive "thought" process as in Humans and that animals are driven by, and "learn" as, a reaction to stimuli.
This stimuli can take many forms, environmental, human/hunting pressure etc.
I spent a number of years simply watching Sambar deer here in Victoria, with no intent on shooting them.
I found the "dumbest" were weaned Stags that are normally ousted from the protection of the Mother at quite an early age.
Therefore these young stags do not have the benefit of the learned behaviour being imparted to them by the more worldly Mother.
Until they reach a greater age bracket and learn by direct exposure to stimuli they are relatively easy/predictable targets.
I have a good friend living in Southern India, on a coffee and tea plantation.
On a regular basis he has Gaur coming down his driveway to rub on the steel gates protecting the home with no fear what-so-ever.
Leopard regularly make attempts to take the household pets and require a substantial effort to be driven off.
There is a generational learned behaviour that Humans post no/little threat and that behaviour has been passed down just as early humans passed down "education" via stories, songs and dance and paintings.
My friend has regular daylight sightings of Gaur, Leopard and Elephant.
These animals have lost the generational learned behaviour that Humans pose a threat. Another reaction to, in this case, a lack of the stimuli.
I don't know, I might be all wet on this one but it is a question I have been asking myself and many other hunters now for more than four decades.
Can animals actually think or are they simply reacting to what they have learned.
Are some "smarter" than others or have some simply been exposed to higher doses of the type of stimuli that makes them appear as though they have made a "decision".