Another deer thread.
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Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 35,506
Likes: 27
From: Calgary eh
Another deer thread.
Last weekend me and a buddy were out for a short ride, with the setting back of the clocks due to daylight savings time, the days are a lot shorter now. Unfortunately the deer out there didn't get the memo about setting their clocks, so now they're out an hour earlier.
Well, it was just at that time when the pesky rodents are moving, about an hour before dark. We were going relatively slow maybe in the range of 80-100 km/hr (50-60mph). My buddy was about 200 yrs ahead of me. I saw the deer coming out of the ditch on his left and said to my self "**** a fck'n deer" (what else would you say?), and grabbed a handful of brake. I had the time because I could see it, it looked like it was about even with the buddy, couple hundred yards down the road. I figured it was gonig to cross between him and me and I'd have to slow way down and let it cross.
Then it bolts across the road, and actually passed in front of my buddy. He hadn't seen it because it came out right beside him. He had time to grab the brake but he said by the time he locked the rear wheel the deer was already in front of him. He didn't have a chance. There was no accident or collision but it was close, real close.
So my new theory is, this deer was a smart one and was able to judge the speed of the oncoming vehicle and make it across in time. It's the dumb ones, probably with bad eye sight that you have to worry about. They screw up and you hit them.
They should just declare open season on the dang things and get rid of them.
Well, it was just at that time when the pesky rodents are moving, about an hour before dark. We were going relatively slow maybe in the range of 80-100 km/hr (50-60mph). My buddy was about 200 yrs ahead of me. I saw the deer coming out of the ditch on his left and said to my self "**** a fck'n deer" (what else would you say?), and grabbed a handful of brake. I had the time because I could see it, it looked like it was about even with the buddy, couple hundred yards down the road. I figured it was gonig to cross between him and me and I'd have to slow way down and let it cross.
Then it bolts across the road, and actually passed in front of my buddy. He hadn't seen it because it came out right beside him. He had time to grab the brake but he said by the time he locked the rear wheel the deer was already in front of him. He didn't have a chance. There was no accident or collision but it was close, real close.
So my new theory is, this deer was a smart one and was able to judge the speed of the oncoming vehicle and make it across in time. It's the dumb ones, probably with bad eye sight that you have to worry about. They screw up and you hit them.
They should just declare open season on the dang things and get rid of them.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 11
From: Kentucky
I'm trying to do my part. Killed 2 of them last weekend and have them in the freezer now. Unfortunately, deer seasons aren't keeping up with the reality of fewer people hunting and the deer populations seem to be getting a lot bigger. Here it seems like there's a dead deer about every 200-300 yards by the road.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth, Texas
Not only that but it has gotten so damn expensive to go hunting. If you dont own land or have access to it, then you have to pay outrageous lease fees and some even charge on top of that for a trophy fee if you actually do shoot something.
I miss hunting, but I cant afford it and all my son's activities that he does.
Yes I can go hunting on public land, but I dont want to get shot.
I miss hunting, but I cant afford it and all my son's activities that he does.
Yes I can go hunting on public land, but I dont want to get shot.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 5,323
Likes: 37
From: NJ
NJ Deer in Rut
I'm in lead...all is great. Temp is about 63 music is on, bikes running great, and I'm hauling *** crusing at about 75 mph down the Parkway.
I'd like to think I'm attentive and a pretty sharp look out for things when all of a sudden a Grey Buck who looked like a small horse darts out of the woods on one side of the Garden State Parkway and runs across the road directly in front of me.
By the time I even noticed that he was even in the raod he was already a quarter of the way across and I was making a straight T-bone for him which I have no doubt would have killed me.
I saw him and braked hard and swerved left of him and prayed that he didnt freeze in the road and stand still. Had he decided to stand still, my avoidance plan would have backfired and I would have hit him at about 55-60 mph.
It was just that quick.
I knew I had avoided certain death that very moment and throttled down to what seemed to be about 45 MPH and cruised that way for a mile or so saying "Holy ****, Holy **** holy ****" Thats all I could say.....My buddy trailed behind watching my back. I knew I had nearly bought the farm.
Well it is Screwing season for dear in NJ now. The buck run back n forth crossing the roads looking for more dear to screw. Just watch out folks. It happens so fast. Drive safe and good luck to all.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 432
Likes: 43
From: Portland, Oregon
Anyone try a Hornet deer whistle? Do these gadgets actually work? In Oregon we have a huge deer and elk population and it is something I think about quite often. I was towing my 9000# boat over the coast range once and a huge herd of elk completely covered the road. I barely got stopped in time but was fortunate to be going uphill and towing fairly slow. On my bike it wouldn't have been pretty. 
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,486
Likes: 6
From: Union,Ms
In my personal experience,exhaust loud enough for the deer to hear helps.If your exhaust is too quiet,you slip up on them and they freak out,unless,as a previous poster stated,the bucks are in the rut and then nothing helps.
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Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 609
Likes: 0
From: Grand Rapids MI
Did i read that correctly? You have "smart ones" too? Up here in Michigan, all i've ever seen are mindless reactive ones.
Couple years back me and the ex wife rolled all day up in the back woods roads, coming home at dusk, back in the city and almost home, the incline we were rolling about 60 mph on had trees up to the shoulder of the road. Suddenly, 2 large deer come full stride out of the woods, 6 ft between them, and thank da man above i had zero time to react or even twitch because we actually thread between them! An *** to my right and a head to my left! Timing could not have been more perfect and neither one of us spoke for the last 1/2 home. Got off the scoot, kissed the ground and thanked the man above and then EXHALED! ...lol
Last week, one of our last 60* days, I took a 248 mile putt. Huge black lab decided to strut across the road as i was going by and he wasn't worried about some big *** loud dresser obviously! Then 100 more yards down the road the biggest damn wild turkey i ever saw decided to cross the road...and they are to damn dumb to give a chit...lol Later in the day, on the way home thru heavy traffic, I nailed a couple 1 x 2 finsih boards scattered in the 3 lane road, the nice part, no idiot cage hit me while trying to doge the boards themselves. Got home and grinned large...another great day!
All other road obstacles, including idiot cagers are now subconciously scanned for constantly and dealt with...deer however, remain my only and major fear.