I don't know about other parts of the country, but in my area lions tend to kill a deer by choice and feed on it for a day or so, then move on to another fresh kill.

I think that the act of the kill is as important as satisfying their hunger. An old sheep herder I met when deer hunting when I was 14 told me about a lion he saw chase a deer right through his herd of sheep, not the least bit interested in the sheep. He did say that he lost ewes and lambs to lions from time to time, also. I've seen a number of lion kills on lambs and calves over the years, but a far greater ratio of kills have been on deer. We have a lot of livestock and fewer deer on the range as time goes on here in my State. Lions just seem to prefer venison...me too!