[Fyrman]

Had my closest encounter with a deer to date yesterday. I was riding slowly through my own neighborhood on my way home from work and decided to check out the new construction on a side road. Second gear cruise so I was probably doing ~30 kph and looking to my right up a driveway for all of 2 seconds. When I turned my head to continue ahead there was nothing but fur! The G-D thing leapt across directly in front of me and I know it went right over my front fender! Scared the hell out of me. I could smell him he was so close.

Crazy near miss.

Maybe those deer whistles you see on every geriatrics land-yacht aren't such a bad idea.

 

[crager34]

Glad you're ok.

 

[Guest]

It's a good thing they aren't carnivores...He would have dragged you off before you knew what hit you.

 

[garvinzoom]

EB1677 Animal Warning Devices

I share the thoughts in that study that deer whistles are a waste of money and even if they did work you were probably traveling to slow to make them work. We installed a set on every car/truck in the fleet where I work and the only benefit was for the auto parts store that was able to sell 500 of those things at once.

 

[Scott E. Bonds]

If you figure a deterrent out let me know. My county is covered with deer of all sizes and sexes and I have had many near misses.

The last one was different though, a doe jumped out of the weeds on a newly resurfaced road I was on. When her hoofs hit the asphalt she looked like she was on ice and fell flat on her stomach...splat, legs sticking out in all 4 directions. I dam near ran right over her as I expected the deer to just cut across the road.

I guess I am due as I have killed more deer than I can remember with guns and bows. Some day my head will be on the wall of some deer that takes me out proper.

 

[Heavy]

I almost met with a deer and a bear this weekend. The bear was closer than the deer. I don't think it would have been a happy meeting. Both cases were early AM. The deer came out of a field and I was, almost, ready for it. The bear popped out of the shadows at the side of the road as I rounded a curve. Really surprised me.

One of the drawbacks of riding quiet, gravel roads.

 

[gryphon51]

EB1677 Animal Warning Devices

I share the thoughts in that study that deer whistles are a waste of money and even if they did work you were probably traveling to slow to make them work. We installed a set on every car/truck in the fleet where I work and the only benefit was for the auto parts store that was able to sell 500 of those things at once.

I do not have a fleet of 500 vehicles to compile data, but I have only ever hit a deer or had close calls in a vehicle that had no deer whistles, the cars and bikes I have installed them on, I have not experienced such close calls....

my 2 cents.

 

[janiceclanfield]

I do not have a fleet of 500 vehicles to compile data, but I have only ever hit a deer or had close calls in a vehicle that had no deer whistles, the cars and bikes I have installed them on, I have not experienced such close calls....

my 2 cents.

Keep riding.

 

[Jonmo89]

I've never had a deer jump out in front of my yet, but just yesterday I was out for about 4 hours on some alphabet roads and had a couple close calls with other wildlife. The first was a fat little beaver that waddled across the road, which I was able to slow down for rather easily. The next was a trio of turkeys that decided to it was a good time to cross, which took off into flight about halfway across, but they were easy to avoid as well as I was only going about 40 maybe. I've slowed down for deer at the side of the road before, but have not yet had one run out in front of me, and I hope it stays that way.

 

[mikefryman]

Good to hear no crash. :thumbup: Did that close call with a bear on 28 below Deals Gap.
Spastic squirrels are the funniest.
Mike

 

[Fyrman]

Spastic squirrels are the funniest.
Mike

I've always been amused by the cagers that swerve to miss them.. too often causing accidents in the process.

They are funny to see react though. Left...right...left...right...$hit...scream...run! :green_lol:

 

[suzukigirl66]

It's interesting to read what you guy have to dodge in the US etc.
I had a mate that hit a kangaroo a couple of months ago on his Triumph Tiger, Neil is now riding roads with no wildlife to hit
The main things in Oz to miss are Wallabys (Wabblies) Roo's and Echidna's ( similar to porcupines) and stupid birds that decide to take off from the roadside just as I'm riding past!!

 

[Fyrman]

In my little corner of the globe deer are the big offender we happen upon most often but quite often I'll see porcupine, raccoon, birds that like to either wander across the road or fly low over it, (ie: Crows, seagulls, partridge, grouse, etc.), and on the rare occasion, might see a black bear or moose. Domestic cats and dogs can make for the odd speedbump as well.

Oh, and cagers.

 

[Heavy]

Wild Turkeys are pretty scary around here. They're big suckers and they fly at head height, especially when spooked out of road sides.

 

[Buckee]

Here in Cletusville, our trick to the deer whistles is to put 2 flat washers between the fender & the locknut before you wrench it down tight. When November hits, just spin it around 180 degrees. Take Bobbie Sue out for one evening drive and wham - enough venison for the whole next year! Just keep your knife in the truck.


OK I know I know I know - sorry, but I can never resist a chance to tell that...

 

[Speedo66]

My county is loaded with deer, no hunting with firearms allowed.

They are as common as squirrels, and we got plenty of those in addition to turkey, possum, raccoons, and coyotes.

Wife had a close encounter with Bambi some years ago to the tune of $4K damage to her Subbie.

Was down in NJ highlands a few weeks ago, big brown dog in the road. Oops, not a dog, bear cub. Hightailed it out of there before Mom showed up.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

The G-D thing leapt across directly in front of me

Similar thing happened to me on my KLR, with my daughter on the back. It did not go over my fender, but my front wheel did hit the back leg as it cleared across my path. I felt only a small impact and I heard my daughter say in a sad voice "oh, we hit the deer."

 

[Fyrman]

Similar thing happened to me on my KLR, with my daughter on the back. It did not go over my fender, but my front wheel did hit the back leg as it cleared across my path. I felt only a small impact and I heard my daughter say in a sad voice "oh, we hit the deer."

Thank gawd she gets the chance to complain, the alternative could've been a lot worse.

 

[Black Lab]

In the fall of 2007, I had a deer run out of the woods and right into me at the right passenger footpegs. The bike, the deer and me, all went down for a slide up the road. When I got up, the deer was gone.

I have had two other very near misses. One on a dirt road in New Brunswick, Canada, and the other here on Mount Desert Island. Both times, I could have reached out and petted the animal as it ran along side of me, (probably doing 35 - 40mph both times.). Just before they launched themselves into me, I jammed on the brakes, and the animal jumped over my front fender, and tumbled into the woods.

I recently got a deer on video as I passed it by. I was shooting footage off to the right of my bike, and when I spun the camera around to shoot forward, well there she was!

I do not call this a near miss by any means! But, kind of neat to watch.

 

[footloose]

I recently got a deer on video as I passed it by. I was shooting footage off to the right of my bike, and when I spun the camera around to shoot forward, well there she was!




And I was riding behind him, watching the deer trip out onto the road in front of him with his attention elsewhere, yelling and hoping I wasn't going to witness a catastrophe! :yikes: