I guess like the title suggests is there anything to make the wildlife smarter than your average COW!

they just stand there and let me put my finger in there bum, and after a two or three second delay they finally lope off, usally in a large slow arch that allows me to put three more arows in them and kill them at level 1

maybe a animal stealth detection overhaul, something to put the deer on the same level as the dang rabbits, at the least they manage to run in a somewhat timely manner

ok sorry for the rant , so if anybody knows of a mod that would help out that would be great, and thanks in advance

man I miss the oblivion deer

Funny, I always have these animals running away from me, not doing a good job of it as they stay on the path I am following, but running away just the same. But, I don't sneak up on animals.

If your sneaking up on them, then stop sneaking, that will give the animal a more sporting chance. Me, I leave the animals alone. Someone is working on a Sneak Detection mod, don't know if it applies to animals or not. The thread is active in this section, find that and see if it does what you want.

SkyTEST Realistic Animals and Predators? - http://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/10175