When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
As Mr. Miaga famously stated in the original Karate Kid movie "best way not get hit is not be there'!
Deer like moving near dusk, dawn and sometimes during foggy times and especially during the "rut" and/or the firearm hunting season.
Try to avoid (if possible) during these times and keep your speed reasonable with your low beam headlights on.
As the saying goes "when you see one deer more are around",
If (and when) you see a deer slow down as quickly and as safely as you can BEFORE hitting the deer.
Don't "swerve" trying to miss a deer BUT if you can SAFELY steer away from the deer without hitting anything else that's a possible option but keep in mind that it's much better to "hit the deer" than it is to hit a more solid object such as a guard rail. tree, bridge or worse another vehicle.
Some people swear by (and have) those little "deer alert" noise devices o their bikes, cars and trucks.
I've lived in an area for nearly 30 years that has a large deer population and I've had a few close calls but I've (thankfully) never hit a deer and I've never used those deer alert devices on any of my vehicles but that could also simply be good luck.
A lot of times, there's little to no warning. All of a sudden, they are there.
I got one on the bike years ago. Stayed up, but man I was sore (rib cage), and it tore the carb right off the bike.
My wife got one with her car, and a couple days later, I was passenger in my friend's truck, and telling him about it as we went past the spot. I was pointing at it, and damned if another one didn't pop out. He had NO chance to miss it, it was that fast.
Hunters in the woods now, so any time of day is prime. Between deer and wet leaves, it's time for a break. Ride 25 mph.
Humans suck at seeing things that aren't moving. But we are pretty good at detecting motion. So we frequently will not see that deer standing there, but we might pick up on that ear flick, as well the larger movements of a head coming up. Learn to actively look and actively scan, and very actively look where you sorta somehow either thought you saw something, or simply feel that you should look (frequently because you detected something but didn't even realize it). You will become better at seeing deer, as well other things.
Humans tend to hyper focus. We will be zero'd in on the road or the curve, and not be observing the area the road goes through. So we frequently don't see the deer standing right there, or even running through it, heading for the road. At least not until the deer is finally in the road we were hype focused on, surprising us. So actively and dynamically practice using wide vision. Actively scan with your peripheral vision. It is tiring, but I do find it worthwhile, as I often see things others that are with me do not. My wife is far better at it than I, and will see even more, usually several seconds before I do. So keep practicing to improve your skills.
Ive hit two deer in two cars. Both times in the fall, late in the afternoon. They were both moving as fast as they could, from out of cover, totally unavoidable.
........Some people swear by (and have) those little "deer alert" noise devices on their bikes, cars and trucks........
FWIW - Those deer whistles are worthless gadgets. It takes little time for the tiny hole in them to get clogged with dirt and debris. Thus rendering them useless.
I often ask my riding partner, who has them on his Triumph scooter, how often he actually cleans them. And not just by hitting it with a hose while cleaning the bike. He never has. Most don't service them.
If I thought they worked, I'd use them, as I have three confirmed kills to my credit.
Two with a car and one with a motorcycle. Two more and I reach Ace status. And Then I get to wear a white neck scarf. Or a body bag.............
Deer are nothing but hooved I.E.D.'s.
Last edited by Oko; Oct 27, 2025 at 08:38 AM.
Reason: spelling
Slow down.
Eye's scanning both sides of the road.
Try not to ride eve and daybreak.
Slow down.
Watch the cars in front of you for any odd movement.
Curves - always careful on bends and blind curves.
Slow down.
Hand and foot light on the brakes.
Finger on the clutch lever.
They say not to try and swerve to miss - BS, if you have good reflexes, quickly evaluate and try to avoid. Your skill level determines whether that is an option. I have had many close calls, but never hit a deer or large animal. I plan to try and keep it that way. Had some close calls with turkey dropping down from tree's in the morning - watch for them too.
You can only do so much, but those are the things that come to mind since you asked.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Avoiding Hitting Deer?
