[Mad Matt]

Just came back in from a late afternoon/dusk ride here in Michigan. It's clear and not too cold so that means there are deer EVERYWHERE! Plus hunting season is underway and regular firearms season starts on the 15th. So the deer are pretty jumpy.

One thing though is that they seem to HATE the sound of the EX horn. So far they have run away from the noise without fail. One was even shooting poop as she hopped some brush.

That's if you see them and blow the horn though. It's the one that you don't see that you have to watch out for! :-\ Anyone have any good advice on keeping the deer away. Aside from switching to a Muzzy in the fall? Actually around here deer are present all the time it's just that right now they are super active.

 

[Guest]

You can try those deer whisltes, cost about a buck, and they stick to the front of your bike. I've heard a lot of mixed reviews on them, as to whether they work, or are just a gimick...

I just always use high-beams on country roads, and when you're near corn fields or between thick bush, slow down a bit.

I nailed a deer once in my car. Riding down a dirt road, middle of the night, in a snow squall - 10 feet of visbility tops. Finally, I come to a pocket of trees, the snow clears, and I'm thinking "Sweet, I can see again and speed up now-OH MY GOD DEER" and a deer flies over my hood, up the windshield and shoots back over top the car. Entire incident lasted 2.5 seconds and ended with my front end coated in deer hair/guts, and a dead deer behind my car.

Can't even imagine nailing one on the bike and walking away from it.

 

[ninjamon]

Deer are a real problem this time of year. The best defense is probably not riding in early morning, late evening, or night. I read an article in one of the motorcycle mags within the past year or so which said the sonic whistles do not scare the deer away. I don't think the article was real scientific on how they came to that conclusion...if they give you peace of mind, well they're only a few bucks(no pun intended).

 

[bprintz]

As ninjamon said the best idea is to avoid driving at the riskier times. I beleive the most active time for dear is around the time when the sun is setting / rising as they are starting to move around quite a bit, be extra careful in these times.

I have had the whistles on a car before, and really can't say whether they do or don't work... all I can tell you is I've never hit a deer and have seen plenty. On the otherhand I have been in 3 deer accidents, all of which occured late at night (when I wasn't driving either). Speed added to the factor of at least 2 of the accidents, though I don't know if it would have completely avoided them - but it may have helped.

My parents, and a few of my friends use the whistles on their vehicles and swear by them (all with no deer accidents) and there are quite a few deers up here. I don't see how it could hurt, and for a few bucks it's not a big deal at all. Even if you get them try and keep to a reasonable speed at night, and always stay alert.

Cheers,

Dave

 

[Super Sneaky Steve]

I'm in White Lake MI. aka the sticks, so I know what you're talking about.

When I first saw this thread I thought someone hit one. It's just a matter of time. Has there been an accident on the new site yet?

 

[Guest]

Has there been an accident on the new site yet?

Yeah, we let you in

 

[2dogs]

Well I hit a deer this summer with my car. It came close landing in my lap. I didn't have a deer whistle and I still don't but ya know, I should, if there's the slightest chance they work.

 

[knightslugger]

Every hit a flying turkey?

well neither have i, but i came very close last year!

 

[luke]

I came within about about 3 feet of hitting a deer in the jeep on the way back home from Platteville. It was about 2 miles south of Muscoda for those of you who'd like to explore it on a map, its pretty much bumblefsck USA. Anyway, deer are especially hard to see now even when its light out because they blend in with all the other browns and the fields where the corn's been picked. I'm reasonably sure I have a flat spot on my tires now...

the one time I hit a deer was with my mom's 99 ford ranger. I was going about 70 sometime after midnight and came up on 4 deer lined up across the road. I hit the last one with the drivers side corner in the shoulder. that pretty much ripped the whole front end apart, dented the hood and smashed the fender. the solution of course was to drive home and order parts and have them painted through the connection at the local body shop and fix it myself. Course, a year later my sister hits a deer with the same truck, and that time they made an insurance claim.

 

[Guest]

Watch out for the SECOND deer; Missed the doe by a few feet, her fawn got tangled in our trailer. Made best use of the meat.

Deer whistles need a very specific separation between the two parts for maximum effectiveness, like 3' or so. Most air moving over a car hood or bumper doesn't hit the whistles very well either. Just a "feel good" product IMO.

 

[Guest]

Watch out for the SECOND deer;

Definitely good advice! Almost all deer I've encountered travel in packs of three. If I see one, I assume two more are ready to kamikaze infront of my car or bike.

 

[ptaylor]

here in virginia i just tote the 12 gauge, terminator style

 

[FarFetched]

WATCH THIS!http://www.metacafe.com/watch/2011/deer_vs_motorcycle/
Pretty cool!

 

[blent87]

Every hit a flying turkey?

Not a turkey, but my brother and I almost took out an owl. We were driving in his little Kia Rio down a side road at about 55 mph when all of a sudden we see a huge bird (good 2-2.5 ft. wingspan) swoop down into our lights. We prolly came within 3 feet of hitting the thing, scared the crap out of us, though!!!!

 

[FarFetched]

here in virginia i just tote the 12 gauge, terminator style

I like my SVD (Dragunov) 7,62 with 4fold scope. It takes care of a deer from a mile away.
I like to snipe and then hike to my kill....
Some people like it different way!
Very nice rifle!
Cheers!

 

[MrSciTrek]

My nephew was driving his siter home from work out northwest of Omaha, Maple Street, near the Elkhorn river. He saw a deer racing through the underbrush on his left. His dad taught him that if you see one deer... SLOW DOWN: there could well be more right behind. So he slowed down...

...and right in front of them, a sprinting mountain line bursts outta of the brush in hot pursuit of the deer. Awesome.

 

[hollywood]

Every hit a flying turkey?

well neither have i, but i came very close last year!

Did you see? Someone answered you, scary huh?

 

[dragknee]

once i hit a humming bird in my car... well... it was either a humming bird or the largest mosquito in north america.

never hit anything on the bike. although one time i was riding, and it was REALLY windy out and a corn cob came flying out of a field and hit me right in the face lol.

One was even shooting poop as she hopped some brush.

LOL scared the $#!+ out of him.

 

[Frog]

I've never hit anything alive bigger than insects, but peoples around here are used to shoot their cigarette tops still lit out their cars windows.. I did manage to catch one and threw it back to it's original owner at next light... Priceless ;D

 

[Smoky]

Mad max where in MI? back in sagnasty and even here in Lansing theres deer all over never hit one allthough they have come close. I did hit a seagull once in the car swooped down outta nowhere and smacked into the windshield.