Oh, okay. I just realized a minute ago that my prereq bonuses were off - they seem to be .3 per tech with these settings, instead of the .2 I was working with. This means that they are indeed working the deer, and they are not researching a technology with a prerequisite, i.e. they are teching Fishing, Mining, Hunting or Mysticism. Of those, Hunting makes by far the most sense. Thanks!
Mansa Musa of Zululand in PB14 - with Aivoturso