Look at the start or end of the clue

This is a reversal clue - look for indicators like 'back', 'returned', 'up' (in down clues), or 'west' (in across clues)

Reverse the letters of a word from the clue

Answer: PUTREFIED | Wordplay: PUT (state) + a reversal (back) of IF in DEER (maybe ‘does’ – it seems a long time since I‘ve seen this trick)