The second time in the series that this episode title was used. The first "Bonanza" episode titled "The Deserter" was the fifth episode of season 4, in 1962, and guest-starred Claude Akins.
The Episode Title Card for the first episode with this same title (1962) had the words "The Deserter" on two lines. For this rendition (1969), the words "The Deserter" are on one line.
The music in this episode is the same as the theme music of Michael Landon's future series "Little House on the Prairie". Both series had the same music director, David Rose.