Deer are pretty good with those hooves. They kill rattlers with them.
I read that an attacking deer lowers its head and pushes forward until it makes contaact with its antlers - then SHOVES HARD. Moral - be sure to grab the antlers before they make contact with your body.
However, such incidents are rare ones and probably brought on by excess testosterone during the rutting season.
Yes, the attack on my friend happened during the rutting season, and yes he did grab the deer by the antlers, but you would not believe how flexible those forelegs are.
Of course if you grow up loving the woods you will see things that no one would believe if you told them. It was always a happy situation when I would have another witness to some of the weird things I have seen animals do that is not in the books.